Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin Page A

She waited patiently.
    David Michael returned the rest of the cracker to the plate, then let loose with a barrage of nervous questions. “When we move to Watson’s, who will be my friends? Where will I go to school? Will I still see Patrick and Frankie?” (Current friends.) “Where will I sleep? Where will my mom sleep? Where will Louie sleep? What if Louie tries to come back to his old house?” The questions went on and on.
    Stacey did her best to answer them, but she didn’t think David Michael would stop worrying about the move until it was over.
    She mentioned that to Kristy at the next meeting of the Baby-sitters Club. “That’s a long time for a little kid to worry,” Stacey pointed out. “It’ll be three or four months before you move.”
    â€œInobutthdobawt.” Kristy had three pieces of saltwater taffy in her mouth. Claudia, the junk food junkie, had been sent a box of it by her aunt and uncle who were visiting Atlantic City in New Jersey. She had hidden the candy in her room, along with her Ho Hos and Ding Dongs and M&M’s, and had handed around pieces at the beginning of the meeting. We all had gooey mouthfuls of the stuff, except for Stacey, who’s diabetic and can’t eat most sweets.
    Stacey giggled. “What?” she asked Kristy.
    Kristy swallowed several times. “I know,” she said at last, “but there’s nothing we can do about it. Mom and Watson aren’t getting married until the end of September. Mom knows David Michael is scared, so they talk about the move sometimes. A little too often, in my opinion.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I asked.
    â€œWell, I don’t want to hear about the move day in and day out. I’m not thrilled with theidea, either — but for different reasons.”
    Mary Anne looked solemnly out the window. “I can’t believe you won’t be next door to me anymore,” she told Kristy. “All my life, when I’ve looked out my side bedroom window, I’ve looked into yours.”
    â€œYeah,” said Kristy huskily. “Me, too.”
    Before things got too sad, I said, “Well, when you look out your new bedroom window, Kristy, you’ll look right into Morbidda Destiny’s.”
    Everyone laughed.
    â€œYou know,” said Kristy, “we’ve been saying that a move across town is really no big deal. I’ll still go to Stoneybrook Middle School, and we’ll still be friends and all that. But what are we going to do about the meetings of the Baby-sitters Club? And how am I supposed to sit for Jamie Newton and the Pikes and everyone? No one’s going to want to drive all the way to Watson’s to pick me up, when you guys are right here and can walk to our clients.”
    We chewed in thoughtful silence. We must have looked like we were at a funeral.
    After a while Claudia spoke up. “Maybe it won’t be so bad. You’ll get new clients, Kristy. You’ll have a whole new neighborhood full of kids to yourself. When you can’t handle the jobs,we’ll go. Your move will expand our club. We’ll be baby-sitting all over town!”
    Claudia’s excitement was contagious. She and Mary Anne and Kristy and I reached for more taffy. Stacey reached for a soda cracker.
    â€œBut the meetings,” said Kristy, looking downcast again. “Who’s going to drive me to Bradford Court three times a week?”
    No one could answer her question. I began to have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.
    â€œCan’t you ride your bike over?” asked Stacey. “I know it’s a few miles, but you don’t mind a little exercise, do you?”
    â€œOf course not,” Kristy answered. “I love to ride my bike. But Mom won’t let me ride from Watson’s to Bradford Court.”
    â€œHow come?” I asked. “She lets you ride downtown and stuff.”
    â€œOnly with a friend. Safety