Boy Crazy Stacey Chapters 11-15
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Chapter 11
Mary Anne writes to Dawn telling her that Stacey is still being a pain, but she feels bad for Stacey because seeing Scott with someone else. I probably would have felt a little bit of sympathy because seeing your crush with someone else does suck. Stacey doesn’t want to see Scott, so she fakes having a headache and bails out. I don’t see what difference it makes, considering Stacey was no use to Mary Anne when she went to the beach with Mary Anne, considering all she did was run errands for Scott and gawp at him. I guess if she did go to the beach, she’d probably just sulk or something. Mary Anne calls her out on her bullshit. She’s upset that Stacey’s been no help, dragged her to a bunch of stores trying to find a present for Scott, and blamed her for Scott having a girlfriend. Did Stacey even ask if Scott had a girlfriend, by the way? Of course, that girl he was kissing might not have been his girlfriend, just someone he was hooking up with, but did Stacey ever consider Scott might have someone?
Stacey apologizes, but I think she’s just apologizing to get Mary Anne to shut up, not because she’s genuinely sorry. Mary Anne isn’t being swayed by her probably fake apology and Stacey gets upset. For God’s sake, she already apologized- so what more does Mary Anne want? Shut up, Stacey. All you’ve done is make Mary Anne pick up your slack. You don’t get to complain because she’s finally sick of it. I also notice you aren’t making much of an effort. You aren’t promising to try and help out more. You’re just apologizing and continuing to make Mary Anne look after the kids once again. I’d be pretty insulted if I was Mary Anne.
Stacey wonders what Mary Anne is complaining because that guy mother’s helper will be around. What if he doesn’t show up this time? I also think it’s shitty for you to assume that someone you don’t even know is going to do your job for you. The guy has no obligation to help Mary Anne. Stacey says he looks like such a nerd. How can she tell that? I can understand if he dressed in a stereotypical nerd fashion because that’s how nerds dress in this series, but he’s at the beach. Is he wearing swimming trunks with equations or something? Also, I don’t think being a nerd is a bad thing, but Stacey probably thinks it’s the worst thing you can be. Mary Anne says he’s not a nerd. There’s nothing wrong with being a nerd, but Stacey is clearly using it as an insult. Stacey asks who Alex’s clients are and Mary Anne tells her not to change the subject. Stacey asks what subject and Mary Anne tells her that she’s leaving her with all the work. Stacey says she doesn’t know what to say. You could try genuinely apologizing and making an effort to pull your weight, but that’s probably too much to ask.
Mary Anne is like, “Fuck this shit, I’m out,” because getting Stacey to genuinely admit she’s being a jerk is futile. She leaves with the kids. Byron wants to hang out with Stacey. I’m not sure why. Byron asks her if she wants to take a walk. Stacey agrees as long as it’s somewhere quiet. They go to the bay side of Sea City and Byron goes in the water. Stacey exclaims that Byron is in the water and Byron is like, “Oh, yeah.” I would have been like, “And your point is? What the hell is your deal with me going in the water?” Seriously, why does the BSC care so much?”
Byron explains that the waves are too rough and he doesn’t like it if he can’t see the bottom. I would have been like, “Now will you stop bothering me about getting in the water?” Seriously, why can’t the BSC just accept the fact that Byron doesn’t want to go in the water? Do they need an explanation for everything? Stacey convinces Byron to wade out farther because it’s good to be scared, but he might be missing out on something. Why is it so important for him to go into the deep water? Why? What the hell is the explanation for it? He doesn’t want to go in the deep water, so don’t make him. It’s not critical to his survival and he can still have fun without going. I would have been like, “I’m not going in the water, fuck off.” Well, I would say that, but I’m really shy, so I usually just think rude shit in my head.
Also, why can’t he decide he wants to face his fears on his own? It’s not like he’s missing out on a whole lot if he doesn’t want to wade out really far. I was afraid of roller coasters, but I went on one because I wanted to do something that scared me. I’m not sure if I like roller coasters. I was too busy thinking, “Holy shit, this is fast.” It’s not the end of the world if Byron doesn’t wade out into deep water.
Stacey realizes that she and Scott wouldn’t have worked out and Scott probably didn’t like her- he was just being nice. She isn’t mad at him, though. Blah, blah, blah, the triplets are together again, Stacey realizes she missed the kids, and Mary Anne is friendlier. Stacey genuinely apologizes this time.
Chapter 12
Stacey writes to Kristy to tell her that Byron went in the water (sort of). What thrilling news. Stacey says she knows why Byron is afraid and they’ll discuss it at the next meeting. What is there to discuss? Byron didn’t like when he couldn’t see the bottom and the waves being too rough. That sounds reasonable and self explanatory, doesn’t it? Do they need an explanation why Byron might be afraid of rough waves? I’m pretty sure rough waves can drag someone farther out or smash them into rocks. Maybe Byron doesn’t like the sensation of rising and falling with waves. If I couldn’t see the bottom, I’d be paranoid that I’d step on a piece of glass or a sharp object. Why can’t Stacey just write on the postcard saying that Byron was afraid of the waves and when he couldn’t see the bottom? Does this really warrant a discussion?
Stacey tells Claudia she’s met a cute guy named Toby. She’s in LUV again. If I were Mary Anne I’d be like, “If you even think about pulling the same shit you did with Scott, I swear I will drown you and then act as though it were an accident and everyone will buy it because I’m Mary Anne.” Monday and Tuesday Stacey goes to the beach and avoids Scott. He doesn’t even notice her absence. I feel like singing an angsty song with overdramatic gestures, but I don’t know any songs. Mary Anne tells Stacey that some of the kids are getting bored of the beach, so maybe they should split them up into groups and take one group into town. Mary Anne gets the town group because of her sunburn problem, so Stacey has to go to the beach.
While they’re at the beach, Claire is a brat and calls a kid a name because he won’t play with her. He won’t play with you because you’re a brat, Claire. He’s not even obligated to play with you. Stacey actually disciplines Claire and tells her to apologize, but she doesn’t sound like she means the apology. Claire’s going to grow up to be a mega brat. She and Karen are totally going to be on a TV show about bratty teens and Jenny is going to be watching it and laughing. I’m quite sure that if Karen had insulted someone because they wouldn’t play with her, the BSC would be like, “That Karen is so determined.” If Jenny had insulted someone because they wouldn’t play with her, they’d probably say, “No wonder. No one like Jenny.”
It turns out the kid Claire was teasing was a client of Alex’s. He introduces his cousin Toby to Stacey. Toby is cute. Stacey has learned her lesson about pursuing older guys (at least until Wes) from Scott, and checks to see if it would be legal for Toby to date her. He’s fourteen. It’s all good. Toby is wearing an amazing shirt-it has cactuses and cowboy hats all over it. I’m reminded of the shirt Stacey wore earlier in this book- the pink one with the green and yellow birds. Maybe this is just personal taste (and my ignorance of what was fashionable at the time) but these shirts don’t sound like the height of sophistication to me. They sound tacky. They sound like shirts you get because they’re so tacky they’re hilarious. It would be hilarious if Stacey wore something thinking it was the height of sophistication and someone else was like, “That’s the tackiest thing ever.” Blah, blah, blah, Stacey and Toby talk. Stacey’s in love again. Thankfully I only have three more chapters, so I won’t be treated to a lot of mushy love stuff.
Chapter 13
It’s the last day at Sea City. Stacey and Mary Anne get the night off. Stacey wants to go on a double date. Mary Anne doesn’t want to ask Alex out because girls aren’t supposed to ask guys out, but Stacey tells her that’s really old fashioned. I really don’t care who asks who out. I personally would prefer to be asked out because I suck at reading romantic signals so I just need someone to straight up say, “I like you. Want to go out?” I also think I might be a teeny bit old fashioned. But that’s just me personally.
Alex agrees and he and Toby are going to go on a double date with Mary Anne and Stacey. The date goes nicely, Toby gives Stacey a shell to remember him by. He also kisses her. It was her first kiss. I have to say-I’m a little surprised. With Stacey’s talk about her being more experienced with guys than Mary Anne, I would have thought she’d have been kissed by now. I guess it never occurred to me to wonder when she had her first kiss. Stacey says she’ll never forget Toby. I bet neither will some snarkers. A few years from now I might have forgotten stuff I learned at school, but I might be able to remember that Stacey went on a date with a boy named Toby in the eighth BSC book. Then I’d hate myself for knowing it when I can’t remember useful shit.
Chapter 14
It’s time to get ready to leave. I’m surprised the Pikes actually divide up chores instead of making Mallory do all the work. They go to say goodbye to Toby and Alex, and for some reason Stacey wants to go and see Scott. She realizes that Scott only liked her around to run errands for him. Maybe it’s just me, but if I knew someone only liked me as an errand girl, I wouldn’t put much of an effort to see him if I didn’t have to. I wouldn’t seek him out. If he approached me I’d say something polite and then leave, but that’s it.
Chapter 15
Stacey arrives home and talks to her parents about what happened. Well, she leaves out Toby and Scott. She goes to call Mary Anne and Mary Anne says she’s always been sort of scared of boys. So am I. I can talk to them as friends and acquaintances, but forget any romantic interaction. Mary Anne also apologizes for giving Stacey a hard time about not helping out. Yeah, Mary Anne, how dare you be angry with Stacey for sticking you with all the work while you ran errands for Scott? What is it with Ann and having the wronged party apologize? The only way that works is if it’s a sarcastic apology. Observe.
This book.
Mary Anne: I’m sorry I got upset that you left me to watch eight kids by myself while you mooned over Scott. I shouldn’t have expected you to help because you were in LUV.
Claudia and the New Girl
Claudia: I’m sorry I made a new friend and pursued an interest. I should have known that I don’t need new friends because I have you guys and I’m not allowed to have any of my own interests.
Mary Anne’s Makeover
I’m sorry I cut my hair without getting you permission first and I’m sorry I spent time with my father. And if the others fail to pick up on the sarcasm in these apologies, there’s always a good old fashioned, “Go fuck yourself.”
Stacey actually says she wasn’t being fair to Mary Anne, which is true and a refreshing amount of awareness. Stacey asks for forgiveness and so does Mary Anne. Mary Anne has nothing to apologize for. Why should she feel bad about being annoyed Stacey was slacking off? I guess Mary Anne is the type to feel bad about snapping at someone, even if it was warranted. Stacey hangs up the phone and goes to calls Claudia. They talk all about their vacations. The books ends with Stacey telling Claudia that she had her first kiss, which makes Claudia want all the details. When I had my first kiss, I texted my best friend right away so we could squeal over it. This last section was really boring. I think I might snark Stacey’s Lie next.