The Baby-Sitters Club belongs to Ann M. Martin

I was texting a few of my few friends.

I'm Mary Anne Spier. I'm 14 years old. I'm a 9th grader at Stoneybrook High School. I recently started talking to two older guys, Jack and Rick who are 17. They're twins. In fact, they happened to be friends with one of Kristy's older brothers, Sam. In fact, they both attend that high school, too. Jack is graduating soon and Rick is in 11th grader. Rick was supposed to be in his senior year, but was held back a year. He's not a good student in math.

Later, Dawn thinks I had strangers on my phone. Dad wasn't home yet.

"Jack and Rick are not really strangers. They are Sam's friends, remember?" I asked. "Don't you remember he introduced us to them one time?"

Dawn didn't realized that I was right.

"If they do want to come here one day, I'll have to try to remember not to let them in when Dad's not home," I said. "I had to do the same when Logan's over."

"That's true," said Dawn.

I never broke that rule at all.

Dad came home with dinner. Sharon was on a business trip for two weeks.

I'm sure he won't mind about that. I don't know them well enough to hang out with them yet. The only thing is you can not agree to meet strangers in person, even if they're friends with a sibling, which makes sense to me. I would never do that unless it's okay with Dad. On top of that, I realized I didn't have their number and I wouldn't get that unless he approves as well. I know how to stay safe. On the other hand, he met the guys once before and approved them. It's good to make new friends.

Rick and Jack invited me to hang out tomorrow, but I said I couldn't. I told them maybe over the weekend. Then, I forgot about something: my stepbrother, Jeff, will be coming down and no one would be around, so Dad asked me to keep on Jeff on Saturday while he's at a meeting and I agreed to do it. He also told me not to make plans until he gets back home after five pm. I agreed to do so. Dawn would be baby-sitting for the Arnolds that day. Carlos and Meredith would be out of town for the day. I don't mind. I love Jeff.

The next day, I went to Dad and said, "Is it okay if I can trade my old phone to

"You may do that as long as you help pay the bill," said Dad.

"No problem," I agreed.

I don't need to worry about that since I baby-sit and I can use that money to pay the bill.

"I plan to keep my number though," I said.

"Some people do that," said Dad.

"I'll do that after school," I said.

"Okay," said Dad.