Stacey doesn't want to lose her childhood friend. But Laine's growing up way too fast for Stacey.

The meeting became quite busy.

But Laine looked bored. Well, that made sense. She wasn't part of the club. She had nothing to do. She couldn't take any of the jobs.

That was what I thought. But when the calls died down and there was a lull in the meeting Laine said, "Are you still going to be baby-sitting this summer?"

I guessed she was talking to all of us. "Sure," I replied. "Why?"

Laine shrugged. "Don't you ever think about getting real jobs?"

"Baby-sitting is a real job," said Kristy. "And a tough one. You have to be very responsible. After all, a baby-sitter takes care of children, and children are our future." (Laine coughed.) "Well, they are," said Kristy.

"Oh, but come on. Wouldn't you like to earn nice, regular paychecks that you could put in the bank, like adults?"

I was getting fed up with my New York best friend. "Laine, what's the point?" I said. "There is a point, isn't there?"

"The point," Laine replied tersely, "is that I got a real job for the summer."

"Your boss has my sympathies," muttered Kristy.

I shot Kristy a Look. then I said to Laine, "What job?"

"I'm going to run the cash register in Flowers and Bows."

"What's Flowers and Bows?" asked Claud.

"It is the trendiest boutique on the Upper West Side. About a million people applied for the job. And Mr. Kellner chose me. I'll be earning a regular salary and getting a paycheck."

Well, thanks a lot, I thought. Thank you for making me feel about two inches tall, Laine.

Stacey's Ex-Best Friend
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590449680