Dawn's a little jealous when there's a formal ceremony to welcome Jessi and Mallory into the Baby-sitters Club.

Well, sure enough, Claire and Margo (who are five and seven) had heard about the beauty pageant, and they did want to enter. There was just one problem. Mrs. Pike wasn't going to be able to help them prepare for it. She was all tied up with some big volunteer project at the public library, and she didn't want to back out of her duties. So she wondered if I'd help the girls prepare.

"Well," Mrs. Pike finished up, "what do you think? This job would be a little different from most. You'd have to help the girls choose outfits, rehearse for the talent competition, learn to greet the judges, that sort of thing. I'll get all the information we need from the pageant committee." She paused. "This is not the sort of activity I'd usually approve for the girls," she went on, "but they're dying to enter, and I don't really see a good reason for them not to participate. I just hope they won't be too disappointed if they lose.... Are you interested in the job, Dawn?"

I thought for a moment. I did want the job. It sounded like fun, and I needed some fun. I didn't want to cause any more problems among us sitters, though. On the other hand, this might be my chance to prove just how good I was with kids. Certainly as good as Claudia. Imagine if Claire or Margo won the contest and became Little Miss Stoneybrook! Plus, I wouldn't mind irking Kristy just a little bit to get back at her for the induction ceremony.

"I'll do it!" I said to Mrs. Pike happily.

I got off the phone and told the others about the job. Their reactions were interesting.

Jessi rolled her eyes - at the thought of the sexist pageant I guess.

Claudia and Mary Anne looked thoughtful.

Kristy looked cross. Very cross.

And Mallory clapped her hand to her forehead and moaned, "Oh, no. My sisters. My baby sisters. They'll be contaminated. They'll be brainwashed. If I become the sister of Little Miss Stoneybrook, I will absolutely die!"

Little Miss Stoneybrook... and Dawn
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590437178