Kristy's Great Idea (Kristy hat eine tolle Idee) chapters 5-8
In our previous German/English adventures (Chapters 1-4), Kristy had her "tolle idee" to start that BSC, Claudia wore a lavender plaid sack, their new friend "Daisy" acted mysterious, Mary Anne bit her nails, and we got to hear every minute detail of Kristy's plans for the BSC.
Kapitel 5
The new BSC members get together on a Saturday to plan their little club. They work hard. No gossiping and giggling for them just yet. They informed all of the families that they already baby-sit for about the club and also write an advertisement in the newspaper. Then "Daisy" (in case one is reading this for the first time, "Daisy" is Stacey's name in the German edition. Why the change, I have absolutely no idea.) has the idea that they should elect club officers. If Kristy had thought of it, then that would be the Most Brilliant Idea Ever. In a later book, she probably would have pouted because she didn't think of the idea first. She's no prize here, but I especially hate later-BSC Kristy. Anyway, so the other girls agree with Daisy's tolle Idee, and that is how Kristy becomes President (Präsidentin), etc. Claudia brings out a bag of Gummi Bears (in both books) to celebrate. However, instead of celebrating, Daisy dramatically runs home. Kristy somewhat amusingly (and not incorrectly) thinks it is because of the Gummi Bears and offers to put them away. However, Daisy claims she forgot something. However, when she casually returns 20 minutes later, she is empty-handed. She tells them she forgot to do something at home, but Kristy is skeptical... Nobody else cares (Mary Anne has the sensitivity of a flea in this book) and they work on their flyer. The German edition has the good old KL5 number (although listed slightly differently as Kl-5, etc. German telephone number formatting is very different from American telephone number formatting), but the Kindle edition has "boringly" changed it to begin with 555. It also removes the girls individual KL5 numbers. This was probably a change for the better. 12-year-olds listing their home phone numbers = not a good idea!
The girls finish their flyer and Kristy goes home, just in time for "Mr." Watson's arrival. David Michael runs to great Mr. Watson. In the American version, he loves him, but in the German version he's feelings for Mr. Watson have been downgraded to "really liking" him. Kristy doesn't like Mr. Watson, however, so she goes up to her room and stays there until Elizabeth calls her down. Kristy's slightly more negative in the German version and wonders why she has to come down and say "Guten Tag," to Mr. Watson when she doesn't like him. Apparently she decides to punish Elizabeth for "forcing" her to speak to Mr. Watson, because she is all whiny and rude when she does come down to see him. Mr. Watson,trying to get on Kristy's good side, even brought Chinese food for them to eat together before he and Elizabeth go out. Since Watson is a (not yet stated) Real Live Millionaire, he apparently often brings food over. He also apparently comes often on the weekends that his kids are there. He's probably just trying to avoid Karen, but still, I have to agree with Kristy that it isn't the nicest thing to do. He could have gone out with Elizabeth on Sunday evening the kids were back home with Lisa.
Kristy tries to get Sam to unite with her in her dislike of Mr. Watson, but Sam and Charlie are instead polite and appreciative. Kristy, the lone brat at the table, rejects the Chinese food and makes a Peanut Butter and Strawberry jam sandwich (or a Peanut Butter and "gooseberry" Marmelade sandwich. A strange change since strawberries seem very plentiful here and strawberry "marmelade" is sold in all stores), which she cutesily bites into the shape of a snowman. Watson tries to make small talk with Kristy, but she basically ignores him until Sam steps in (Sam is far more sensitive than Mary Anne in this book). David Michael also tells Mr. Watson about the new "Soldaaten Joe" (G.I. Joe) that Elizabeth (or somebody) is going to buy for him. Watson admits he doesn't know much about them. he doesn't think Andrew plays with Soldaaten Joe dolls. Kristy rudely interrupts Mr. Watson to tell him that Andrew probably does play with Soldaat Joe action toys (in the later books, if one of the BSC charges tried to call G.I. Joe an action toy instead of a doll, they would be soundly lectured by the BSC) and that Karen probably plays with My Little Pony (Kindle Change from Rainbow Bright), or Barbie (if you're reading this in German), but Watson is never around to see this. Elizabeth finally wakes up from the apparent love trance that she was in (she was supposedly glaring at Kristy before, but she wasn't doing or saying anything), demands that Kristy apologize to Mr. Watson, and sends her to her room. Kristy says she is sorry to Mr. Watson... sorry that he is a terrible father (brat and that kind of talk "never" occurs in books or movies about "divorced kids.") She cowardly waits until she is halfway up the stairs to say this, then runs to her room and slams the door. Elizabeth is probably too busy wiping away Mr. Watson's tears, because she doesn't scold Kristy or even say anything else to her.
In her room, Kristy narrates that she actually thinks Mr. Watson is a good father, basically because he is not like her father. She just doesn't want him around their family (or becoming her stepfather.) Bratty, but not unimaginable for a 12-year-old. In the later books, she probably would have set up parenting classes for Watson to attend, or something...
Kapitel 6
Kristy comes home from school and finds the Thomas's copy of The Stoneybrook News which has, for whatever reason, seemingly only been delivered in the afternoon, and is, for whatever reason, under a bush in the garden. Kristy confirms that the BSC's ad is inside. Claudia comes over and she and Kristy bond over the thrill and excitement of seeing their ad in the paper (12-year-olds...) Then they decide to deliver flyers. Mary Anne is available to help, but Daisy's too busy dieting and being secretive.
Two days later, Daisy takes a break from dieting and being secretive so that all four girls can meet in Claudia's room for the very first BSC meeting!!! They all arrive early (better to arrive early because they are excited than to avoid getting The Look from K-Ron). Kristy is so early that she arrives at 4:30 (what a pest.) Claudia, naturally, is there, waiting with the phone in her lap to avoid doing her homework because she is so excited. Kristy rudely grabs Claudia's own personsal phone that she is generously letting the others use, and puts it in her lap. What if she was waiting for some stupid boy to call her or something, Kristy? Or what if she was about to make a call? Then there is a knock at the door. Idiotic Kristy and Claudia think it is a customer (since they're 12-years-old, I'm surprised their flyer didn't include their address, but it didn't, so why would they expect some client to actually show up at Claudia's?) but instead it is Janine. Apparently her best friends the Math Nerd and Her Computer were too busy to hang out with her, because she has nothing better to do than inform Kristy and Claudia that the "BSC Headquarters" sign on Claudia's door has a mistake. Since Claudia is not quite as brain dead as she would become in the later series, Kristy knows that she spelled all of the words on the sign right and had gotten all of the abbreviations right, too. Kristy rudely puts her hands on her hips and demands to know what Janine is talking about. It is Janine's house, Kristy, not yours. I think Mr. Redmont needs to assign her another essay about decorum to write. Janine wonders whether they need an apostrophe after the word Baby-Sitters. You mean she doesn't already know? Since there is no apostrophe after the German name of the BSC (Der Baby-Sitter Club), of course Janine has to wonder about something different. Therefore, she wonders: should their meeting time have been listed at "17:30-18:00" instead of "5:30-6:00." In both versions, there is not really a right or wrong answer, and the whole thing exists to make Janine look like a dork and have Kristy get annoyed by her.
Daisy "saves the day" by arriving, with Mary Anne arriving shortly after (why didn't she arrive with Kristy) they shut the door on Janine so that she can't "bother" them anymore. It is only 5:05, so they basically just sit around looking at each other. Claudia passes out candy. English edition: jawbreakers. German edition: "steinharte Sahnebonbons," which is basically hard candy (i.e. Coffee Cream Candy.) "As usual" Daisy refuses. Then the "soon to be official BSC timepieces" switches to 5:30 and the phone rings at just that time. The girls childishly shriek and scream and Claudia spits out her candy in order to answer the phone. While it is slightly better than her stupid later "whitty" habit of talking with her mouth full, still... gross! Anyway, it's only stupid Elizabeth...but she wants a sitter for David Michael. They all "suppress screams" and then discuss who gets the job while Elizabeth "patiently" waits on the other end of the line (no hanging up and then calling back?). Daisy gets the job (she is excited about it, once she learns that there is a chance she will meet Sam and Charlie. Ugh.) Shortly afterward, Kristy gets a job for "three-year-old twins" Pinky and Buffy McKeever." I hate that stupid plot line. Like Ms. McKeever would not have mentioned over the phone that they are dogs. Elizabeth calls again, on Mr. Watson's behalf to request a baby-sitter for his kids. Ha ha. Was Mr. Watson too scared to call Kristy? Even though the whole purpose of the BSC is to get jobs, Kristy whines and complains and refuses, so Mary Anne gets the job. Poor Claudia doesn't end up with a job, but she and the other BSC members get tied up with some stupid recurring prank call from Sam (asking for Jim Bertonlini and then calling and pretending to be him.)
The girls finish up their meeting and Kristy goes home and tattles on Sam. Kristy and Sam argue (he calls her a rat, and she 80's-ishly responds with, "I know you are, but what am I") and are sent to their rooms. Kristy doesn't care, since Mr. Watson was on his way over. Elizabeth was probably just hoping for some "private time" with him. Later, Kristy gets a call from Claudia. Claudia is all happy because she got her first BSC job: for Jamie Newton. Instead of being a supportive friend, Kristy is all pouty because she usually sits for Jamie, and Claudia apparently should have offered the job to her. She also sulks because Mrs. Newton called after 6:00. The horror! What if she was busy until after 6:00? It's ridiculous how these girls expect parents to stick to their little meeting times.
Kristy sulks and pouts the rest of the night. Only the thought of her sitting job with the "McKeever twins" cheers her up. If she only knew....
Kapitel 7
Kristy has her stupid job at the McKeever's. "Spoiler:" they are not twins, they're St. Bernard's. "Wacky" misunderstandings occur until that revelation (i.e. Kristy is shocked at the thought of two three-year-olds being shut away in a laundry room.) As pointed out by other snarkers, Kristy, the alleged dog lover, is uncharacteristically all nervous around Pinky and Buffy and doesn't really do that good of a job watching them. Ms. McKeever's niece (Ms. McKeever is "away for several days." Doing time?) instructs Kristy to play with the dogs and keep them outside. Kristy has them outside for about five minutes (they "comically" run to a neighbor's yard and for some disrupt the laundry that is hanging out to dry) before she hauls them back in. She gives the dogs toys to play with, but basically has them amuse themselves while she watches TV. Wasn't watching TV on the job one of the things that demonstrated that the Baby-Sitters Agency Baby-Sitters were evil sitters (and dirty Businesswomen.) Why is it okay for Kristy? Although nothing really that bad happens in her dog-sitting job, Kristy dramatically vows never to dog-sit again and bossily determines that none of the BSC members should other. She also decides they should start a club notebook to write about their jobs. So we have Mrs. McKeever to blame for that....
Kapitel 8
The first BSC notebook page was written by none other than that literary genius (I mean "pro") Claudia Kishi. She writes about sitting for Jamie and his three "cusins:" the Feldman brats. Her spelling is considerably better in this book than in the later. Fun fact: her spelling is perfect in the German edition. I wonder if the translator read the notebook entry, thought something along the lines of, "whoops, they spelled a few words wrong. Those American editors..." and--thinking she was being polite--corrected the errors. Anyway, so narrator Kristy kind of gloats over the fact that she didn't end up with the sitting job, as the Feldman kids were wild, and wonders why Mrs. Newton didn't mention that they would be there. She...blames it on Mrs. Newton's pregnancy. Just don't, Kristy...
Anyway, so Claudia shows up at the Newton's and meets the problematic Feldman children. Rosie, the youngest Feldman, and Jamie apparently don't like each other. Doesn't that make Jamie part of the problem? I wonder what kid Ann knew in real life that she based Jamie on, because he tends to be treated as though he is almost as perfect as the Perkins girls. I'm surprised Claudia didn't say that Rosie was "vicktimizeng" Jamie, or something. The next oldest Feldman, Brenda, is whining and crying because she is just getting over Chicken Pox, which...should the Feldman's have even brought her over then? I assume she wasn't contageous anymore, but it doesn't seem like a nice thing to do. It also doesn't make her a bad kid, either. Lots of kids--and adults--get crabby when they are sick. If it was Gabbie Perkins, Claudia would have held a candlelight vigil, or something. Since she is not: Claudia basically dismisses her as a brat. She also finds the oldest Feldman, Rob, a brat because he doesn't like girls...including girl baby-sitters (and, being 10, he probably doesn't like having a girl who is practically the same age as him telling him what to do.)
Once the adults leave (the Newtons amusingly appear to not say a word to Claudia), Rob tries causing trouble by suggesting that he and Jamie "get away from the girls" (the "stupid girls," according to the German version.) Claudia doesn't allow it, since he won't tell her where he is going, so Rob decides to retaliate. He enlists the help of his sisters in some sort of...mean baby-sitter contingency plan that they must have. He's all, "are we going to let her be mean?," and his sisters are all, "no, let's do it," and they all start running around screaming and jumping up and down on furniture (which I hate. There is some commercial here with a bratty little girl jumping up and down on her new bed while her parents smile "gently" at her. I can't even watch it.) First of all: is Rob Feldman two-years-old? He's much too old for that sort of behavior. Second of all, did the Feldman kids seriously gather together one day and decide things like "okay, so if we don't like the baby-sitter, you will run around screaming Rosie, you will jump up and down on the couch Brenda," etc.
Claudia and Jamie just stand there open-mouthed, which only encourages the Feldman brats. Then Claudia remembers how her parents i-g-n-o-r-e-d Janine and her when they misbehaved (Janine misbehaved?) and decides to do the same with the Feldman's (just like Kristy decided to ignore Pinky and Buffy.) Because she likes him better than the Feldman's, Claudia begins reading to Jamie (who "preciously" rests his head on her shoulder. *Gag*) and eventually the Feldman's settle down and listen to stories... even ten-year-old Rob can't resist the allure of Where the Wild Things Are. Not that it's a bad book, but like a ten-year-old would really be drawn to it, and not just turn on the TV or something. And that is the story of how Claudia tamed the little Feldman beasts.
And that's all for now... but stay tuned for "Daisy" and Sam's first meeting, Morbida Destiny, and Mr. Watson and more as we read the results of Kristy's tolle Idee!
( Chapters 1-4)
http://bsc-snark.livejournal.com/427642.html#
Kapitel 5
The new BSC members get together on a Saturday to plan their little club. They work hard. No gossiping and giggling for them just yet. They informed all of the families that they already baby-sit for about the club and also write an advertisement in the newspaper. Then "Daisy" (in case one is reading this for the first time, "Daisy" is Stacey's name in the German edition. Why the change, I have absolutely no idea.) has the idea that they should elect club officers. If Kristy had thought of it, then that would be the Most Brilliant Idea Ever. In a later book, she probably would have pouted because she didn't think of the idea first. She's no prize here, but I especially hate later-BSC Kristy. Anyway, so the other girls agree with Daisy's tolle Idee, and that is how Kristy becomes President (Präsidentin), etc. Claudia brings out a bag of Gummi Bears (in both books) to celebrate. However, instead of celebrating, Daisy dramatically runs home. Kristy somewhat amusingly (and not incorrectly) thinks it is because of the Gummi Bears and offers to put them away. However, Daisy claims she forgot something. However, when she casually returns 20 minutes later, she is empty-handed. She tells them she forgot to do something at home, but Kristy is skeptical... Nobody else cares (Mary Anne has the sensitivity of a flea in this book) and they work on their flyer. The German edition has the good old KL5 number (although listed slightly differently as Kl-5, etc. German telephone number formatting is very different from American telephone number formatting), but the Kindle edition has "boringly" changed it to begin with 555. It also removes the girls individual KL5 numbers. This was probably a change for the better. 12-year-olds listing their home phone numbers = not a good idea!
The girls finish their flyer and Kristy goes home, just in time for "Mr." Watson's arrival. David Michael runs to great Mr. Watson. In the American version, he loves him, but in the German version he's feelings for Mr. Watson have been downgraded to "really liking" him. Kristy doesn't like Mr. Watson, however, so she goes up to her room and stays there until Elizabeth calls her down. Kristy's slightly more negative in the German version and wonders why she has to come down and say "Guten Tag," to Mr. Watson when she doesn't like him. Apparently she decides to punish Elizabeth for "forcing" her to speak to Mr. Watson, because she is all whiny and rude when she does come down to see him. Mr. Watson,trying to get on Kristy's good side, even brought Chinese food for them to eat together before he and Elizabeth go out. Since Watson is a (not yet stated) Real Live Millionaire, he apparently often brings food over. He also apparently comes often on the weekends that his kids are there. He's probably just trying to avoid Karen, but still, I have to agree with Kristy that it isn't the nicest thing to do. He could have gone out with Elizabeth on Sunday evening the kids were back home with Lisa.
Kristy tries to get Sam to unite with her in her dislike of Mr. Watson, but Sam and Charlie are instead polite and appreciative. Kristy, the lone brat at the table, rejects the Chinese food and makes a Peanut Butter and Strawberry jam sandwich (or a Peanut Butter and "gooseberry" Marmelade sandwich. A strange change since strawberries seem very plentiful here and strawberry "marmelade" is sold in all stores), which she cutesily bites into the shape of a snowman. Watson tries to make small talk with Kristy, but she basically ignores him until Sam steps in (Sam is far more sensitive than Mary Anne in this book). David Michael also tells Mr. Watson about the new "Soldaaten Joe" (G.I. Joe) that Elizabeth (or somebody) is going to buy for him. Watson admits he doesn't know much about them. he doesn't think Andrew plays with Soldaaten Joe dolls. Kristy rudely interrupts Mr. Watson to tell him that Andrew probably does play with Soldaat Joe action toys (in the later books, if one of the BSC charges tried to call G.I. Joe an action toy instead of a doll, they would be soundly lectured by the BSC) and that Karen probably plays with My Little Pony (Kindle Change from Rainbow Bright), or Barbie (if you're reading this in German), but Watson is never around to see this. Elizabeth finally wakes up from the apparent love trance that she was in (she was supposedly glaring at Kristy before, but she wasn't doing or saying anything), demands that Kristy apologize to Mr. Watson, and sends her to her room. Kristy says she is sorry to Mr. Watson... sorry that he is a terrible father (brat and that kind of talk "never" occurs in books or movies about "divorced kids.") She cowardly waits until she is halfway up the stairs to say this, then runs to her room and slams the door. Elizabeth is probably too busy wiping away Mr. Watson's tears, because she doesn't scold Kristy or even say anything else to her.
In her room, Kristy narrates that she actually thinks Mr. Watson is a good father, basically because he is not like her father. She just doesn't want him around their family (or becoming her stepfather.) Bratty, but not unimaginable for a 12-year-old. In the later books, she probably would have set up parenting classes for Watson to attend, or something...
Kapitel 6
Kristy comes home from school and finds the Thomas's copy of The Stoneybrook News which has, for whatever reason, seemingly only been delivered in the afternoon, and is, for whatever reason, under a bush in the garden. Kristy confirms that the BSC's ad is inside. Claudia comes over and she and Kristy bond over the thrill and excitement of seeing their ad in the paper (12-year-olds...) Then they decide to deliver flyers. Mary Anne is available to help, but Daisy's too busy dieting and being secretive.
Two days later, Daisy takes a break from dieting and being secretive so that all four girls can meet in Claudia's room for the very first BSC meeting!!! They all arrive early (better to arrive early because they are excited than to avoid getting The Look from K-Ron). Kristy is so early that she arrives at 4:30 (what a pest.) Claudia, naturally, is there, waiting with the phone in her lap to avoid doing her homework because she is so excited. Kristy rudely grabs Claudia's own personsal phone that she is generously letting the others use, and puts it in her lap. What if she was waiting for some stupid boy to call her or something, Kristy? Or what if she was about to make a call? Then there is a knock at the door. Idiotic Kristy and Claudia think it is a customer (since they're 12-years-old, I'm surprised their flyer didn't include their address, but it didn't, so why would they expect some client to actually show up at Claudia's?) but instead it is Janine. Apparently her best friends the Math Nerd and Her Computer were too busy to hang out with her, because she has nothing better to do than inform Kristy and Claudia that the "BSC Headquarters" sign on Claudia's door has a mistake. Since Claudia is not quite as brain dead as she would become in the later series, Kristy knows that she spelled all of the words on the sign right and had gotten all of the abbreviations right, too. Kristy rudely puts her hands on her hips and demands to know what Janine is talking about. It is Janine's house, Kristy, not yours. I think Mr. Redmont needs to assign her another essay about decorum to write. Janine wonders whether they need an apostrophe after the word Baby-Sitters. You mean she doesn't already know? Since there is no apostrophe after the German name of the BSC (Der Baby-Sitter Club), of course Janine has to wonder about something different. Therefore, she wonders: should their meeting time have been listed at "17:30-18:00" instead of "5:30-6:00." In both versions, there is not really a right or wrong answer, and the whole thing exists to make Janine look like a dork and have Kristy get annoyed by her.
Daisy "saves the day" by arriving, with Mary Anne arriving shortly after (why didn't she arrive with Kristy) they shut the door on Janine so that she can't "bother" them anymore. It is only 5:05, so they basically just sit around looking at each other. Claudia passes out candy. English edition: jawbreakers. German edition: "steinharte Sahnebonbons," which is basically hard candy (i.e. Coffee Cream Candy.) "As usual" Daisy refuses. Then the "soon to be official BSC timepieces" switches to 5:30 and the phone rings at just that time. The girls childishly shriek and scream and Claudia spits out her candy in order to answer the phone. While it is slightly better than her stupid later "whitty" habit of talking with her mouth full, still... gross! Anyway, it's only stupid Elizabeth...but she wants a sitter for David Michael. They all "suppress screams" and then discuss who gets the job while Elizabeth "patiently" waits on the other end of the line (no hanging up and then calling back?). Daisy gets the job (she is excited about it, once she learns that there is a chance she will meet Sam and Charlie. Ugh.) Shortly afterward, Kristy gets a job for "three-year-old twins" Pinky and Buffy McKeever." I hate that stupid plot line. Like Ms. McKeever would not have mentioned over the phone that they are dogs. Elizabeth calls again, on Mr. Watson's behalf to request a baby-sitter for his kids. Ha ha. Was Mr. Watson too scared to call Kristy? Even though the whole purpose of the BSC is to get jobs, Kristy whines and complains and refuses, so Mary Anne gets the job. Poor Claudia doesn't end up with a job, but she and the other BSC members get tied up with some stupid recurring prank call from Sam (asking for Jim Bertonlini and then calling and pretending to be him.)
The girls finish up their meeting and Kristy goes home and tattles on Sam. Kristy and Sam argue (he calls her a rat, and she 80's-ishly responds with, "I know you are, but what am I") and are sent to their rooms. Kristy doesn't care, since Mr. Watson was on his way over. Elizabeth was probably just hoping for some "private time" with him. Later, Kristy gets a call from Claudia. Claudia is all happy because she got her first BSC job: for Jamie Newton. Instead of being a supportive friend, Kristy is all pouty because she usually sits for Jamie, and Claudia apparently should have offered the job to her. She also sulks because Mrs. Newton called after 6:00. The horror! What if she was busy until after 6:00? It's ridiculous how these girls expect parents to stick to their little meeting times.
Kristy sulks and pouts the rest of the night. Only the thought of her sitting job with the "McKeever twins" cheers her up. If she only knew....
Kapitel 7
Kristy has her stupid job at the McKeever's. "Spoiler:" they are not twins, they're St. Bernard's. "Wacky" misunderstandings occur until that revelation (i.e. Kristy is shocked at the thought of two three-year-olds being shut away in a laundry room.) As pointed out by other snarkers, Kristy, the alleged dog lover, is uncharacteristically all nervous around Pinky and Buffy and doesn't really do that good of a job watching them. Ms. McKeever's niece (Ms. McKeever is "away for several days." Doing time?) instructs Kristy to play with the dogs and keep them outside. Kristy has them outside for about five minutes (they "comically" run to a neighbor's yard and for some disrupt the laundry that is hanging out to dry) before she hauls them back in. She gives the dogs toys to play with, but basically has them amuse themselves while she watches TV. Wasn't watching TV on the job one of the things that demonstrated that the Baby-Sitters Agency Baby-Sitters were evil sitters (and dirty Businesswomen.) Why is it okay for Kristy? Although nothing really that bad happens in her dog-sitting job, Kristy dramatically vows never to dog-sit again and bossily determines that none of the BSC members should other. She also decides they should start a club notebook to write about their jobs. So we have Mrs. McKeever to blame for that....
Kapitel 8
The first BSC notebook page was written by none other than that literary genius (I mean "pro") Claudia Kishi. She writes about sitting for Jamie and his three "cusins:" the Feldman brats. Her spelling is considerably better in this book than in the later. Fun fact: her spelling is perfect in the German edition. I wonder if the translator read the notebook entry, thought something along the lines of, "whoops, they spelled a few words wrong. Those American editors..." and--thinking she was being polite--corrected the errors. Anyway, so narrator Kristy kind of gloats over the fact that she didn't end up with the sitting job, as the Feldman kids were wild, and wonders why Mrs. Newton didn't mention that they would be there. She...blames it on Mrs. Newton's pregnancy. Just don't, Kristy...
Anyway, so Claudia shows up at the Newton's and meets the problematic Feldman children. Rosie, the youngest Feldman, and Jamie apparently don't like each other. Doesn't that make Jamie part of the problem? I wonder what kid Ann knew in real life that she based Jamie on, because he tends to be treated as though he is almost as perfect as the Perkins girls. I'm surprised Claudia didn't say that Rosie was "vicktimizeng" Jamie, or something. The next oldest Feldman, Brenda, is whining and crying because she is just getting over Chicken Pox, which...should the Feldman's have even brought her over then? I assume she wasn't contageous anymore, but it doesn't seem like a nice thing to do. It also doesn't make her a bad kid, either. Lots of kids--and adults--get crabby when they are sick. If it was Gabbie Perkins, Claudia would have held a candlelight vigil, or something. Since she is not: Claudia basically dismisses her as a brat. She also finds the oldest Feldman, Rob, a brat because he doesn't like girls...including girl baby-sitters (and, being 10, he probably doesn't like having a girl who is practically the same age as him telling him what to do.)
Once the adults leave (the Newtons amusingly appear to not say a word to Claudia), Rob tries causing trouble by suggesting that he and Jamie "get away from the girls" (the "stupid girls," according to the German version.) Claudia doesn't allow it, since he won't tell her where he is going, so Rob decides to retaliate. He enlists the help of his sisters in some sort of...mean baby-sitter contingency plan that they must have. He's all, "are we going to let her be mean?," and his sisters are all, "no, let's do it," and they all start running around screaming and jumping up and down on furniture (which I hate. There is some commercial here with a bratty little girl jumping up and down on her new bed while her parents smile "gently" at her. I can't even watch it.) First of all: is Rob Feldman two-years-old? He's much too old for that sort of behavior. Second of all, did the Feldman kids seriously gather together one day and decide things like "okay, so if we don't like the baby-sitter, you will run around screaming Rosie, you will jump up and down on the couch Brenda," etc.
Claudia and Jamie just stand there open-mouthed, which only encourages the Feldman brats. Then Claudia remembers how her parents i-g-n-o-r-e-d Janine and her when they misbehaved (Janine misbehaved?) and decides to do the same with the Feldman's (just like Kristy decided to ignore Pinky and Buffy.) Because she likes him better than the Feldman's, Claudia begins reading to Jamie (who "preciously" rests his head on her shoulder. *Gag*) and eventually the Feldman's settle down and listen to stories... even ten-year-old Rob can't resist the allure of Where the Wild Things Are. Not that it's a bad book, but like a ten-year-old would really be drawn to it, and not just turn on the TV or something. And that is the story of how Claudia tamed the little Feldman beasts.
And that's all for now... but stay tuned for "Daisy" and Sam's first meeting, Morbida Destiny, and Mr. Watson and more as we read the results of Kristy's tolle Idee!
( Chapters 1-4)
http://bsc-snark.livejournal.com/427642.html#