Beware Dawn Chapters 6-10
Chapter 6
Dawn is babysitting for the Prezziosos, which means we must take time to call Jenny a brat. It hit me that Dawn probably only calls Jenny a brat because Jenny disagrees with her. She’s four. I think little kids display attitudes of brattiness sometimes. But if a child shows any child-like behavior such as arguing or being messy, they’re dubbed impossible brats by the BSC. I think the only kids the BSC are able to handle are the kids in those Hallmark movies who are unrealistically kind, loving, compassionate, and usually end up being too good for this sinful earth.
But let’s look at why Dawn calls Jenny a brat. Jenny is spoiled and used to getting her way. What about Karen? She’s allowed to pull all sorts of unreasonable shit, but does she ever get punished for it? No, she’s hailed as being precious. Now, why was Dawn getting pissy at Jenny this time? Jenny told her how Andrea preferred things and Dawn got mad that she couldn’t show off what a good sister she was. So Dawn is mad at a four-year-old girl caring about her baby sister because Dawn can’t show off her mad babysitting skills? Dawn actually gets mad because Jenny seems to think that she knows what’s best for her own sister and Dawn can’t show off what a good babysitter she was. Dawn, Jenny is Andrea’s sister. She spends time with her. I think she might know a little bit more about her sister than a babysitter.
Dawn tells Jenny to get lost so she can show off what a good sitter she can be. I don’t think you’re getting Jenny’s vote and I don’t think Andrea understands concepts such as sitter-of-the-month. Dawn gives Jenny permission to kiss Andrea goodnight and says it’s nice that she loves her sister so much. You didn’t think so when you were getting all bent out of shape when Jenny was trying to tell you what Andrea likes. Jenny leaves and Dawn is happy that she can finally show off what a good sitter is. To a baby. Who can’t vote in the contest and probably doesn’t even know about the contest. Meanwhile, you were a jerk to her sister, who is old enough to vote in the contest.
The phone rings and Dawn tells Jenny to answer it. When Dawn asks who was on the phone, Jenny says Mr. Nobody. She means that there was nobody on the phone. Dawn thinks Jenny is lying because she’s angry. Or maybe there was nobody on the phone, hence Jenny saying Mr. Nobody. Mr. Nobody isn’t actually a person. She’s four. I bet Karen would have made up some bullshit story about this meaning she was marked for death and Dawn would be afraid to sleep with the lights out or answer the phone.
Dawn ask Jenny if she wants to play Candyland, because she’s trying to kiss ass. Do you want a medal for doing an activity your charges like? Why should I think you’re a good sitter because you’re doing what your charges like as opposed to what you like? I know board games can be tedious (I don’t mind Candyland, but I hate Monopoly and Life) but is it really that great a sacrifice for you to do what your charge likes? I love how Dawn is only doing what Jenny likes so she can get a reward. This is further proof that the BSC does not care about kids.
Jenny is awesome and basically wants Dawn to leave her alone. I don’t blame her. I’d want minimum interaction with the BSC as well. Jenny goes to bed and Dawn decides to write a letter to Jeff. She starts out by saying, “How are you? How’s California? I miss you” which is pretty standard. Dawn decides that the letter is too boring, so she crumples it up. Here’s a nifty idea. Why don’t you just erase what you wrote, cross it out, or turn the paper over? Is there really any need for you to get a fresh piece of paper? I know you aren’t an idea machine, but surely the concept of crossing out or erasing what you wrote has occurred to you at some point? How can you be passionate about the environment when you’re wasting paper like this? Then again, she and her friends waste a bunch of paper rehashing their life stories every book and belong to a club where they have to write down every detail about a sitting job.
Dawn calls Jeff “dearest little bro.” What sibling does this? I don’t call my little brother that. She asks what’s cool and fresh in sunny Cal. It’s painful listening to someone trying to talk cool. I love how Dawn says sunny Cal. I’d love to see her reaction when it rains. The doorbell rings and no one is there. Dawn gets a little scared. She sees an envelope and picks it up. There’s a letter in it and it was formed by using letters cut out of newspaper. We had to write ransom letters to Santa when I was in elementary school. No idea why. Maybe we were reading a mystery book and my teacher thought it’d be a good tie in. The letter says, “You better watch out, you better not shout! I’m going to get you!” Signed, Mr. X.
Dawn thinks Jenny may have done this. She seriously thinks a four-year old girl managed to get newspaper, paper, scissors and an envelope and cut up the letters neatly enough to make a threatening note? Dawn seriously thinks a four-year-old would have proper grammar? Dawn thinks Jenny would reference a Christmas Carol? Dawn thinks Jenny somehow managed to get the materials she needed and create the letter without making any noise, never mind sneaking downstairs, ringing the doorbell, and remaining undetected? Dawn goes to check on the girls anyway. They’re asleep, so that means Jenny would have had to get into the house without Dawn noticing her.
Also, would a four-year-old really be out for revenge? If so, do you think they’d go through the trouble of cutting up a newspaper and referencing a Christmas song? Wouldn’t Jenny just write a four-year-old insult or draw an unflattering picture?
Dawn doesn’t tell anyone, because the sitter of the month must always be in control. There are some things that are out of your control. For example, you can’t control when a child has an accident or gets hurt. You can’t control when some jerk decides to ring your doorbell at night and leave you a threatening letter. This has nothing to do with your control. I was just thinking about victims of stalkers because of this line. Does this mean that victims of stalkers shouldn’t tell anybody because they would appear to be not in control? Maybe you should learn that some things are beyond your control and it’s okay to seek help and reassurance.
Chapter 7
Dawn is babysitting for Jackie and his brothers. Jackie has an accident. I wonder why the BSC hasn’t told his parents he should be put in a cushioned room for his safety. Dawn tells Jackie to come play Go Fish with her and Shea, because she’s determined to have fun after the Mr. X incident. If that happened to me, having fun with my charges wouldn’t be on my top priority list. I’m imagining Dawn must be really hard to deal with now, because she wants them to have fun so much she’s become desperate. Dawn gives us a recount of Jackie’s adventures. He pulled down a shower rod when he was trying to do a pull up. My brother tried to use a closet to do the same thing. He also tried to make dumbbells by filling empty water jugs with sand and dirt, then taping then to a broom handle. Jackie spilled grape juice. Is that supposed to make me think he’s a disaster? What kid hasn’t spilled something at least once? Jackie also got his hand stuck in a glass jar. I’m not sure how frequent that or ripping your jeans are, but falling off your bike happens. It doesn’t mean a person is a disaster.
The phone rings and nobody answers. Dawn thinks it’s Alan Gray, because this is similar to what happened in the second book. I don’t think Alan left threatening notes. I’m amused at Alan trying to leave a threatening note and not hiding in time, so he’s stuck on the porch with a dumb look when the BSC opens the door. The doorbell rings and there’s no one there. Jackie says they should call the police, but Dawn doesn’t want to. Let’s say that this Mr. X is dangerous. Is Dawn not going to call the police because things will appear out of her control? Dawn gets another note, and it says “I’m watching you.” I’m not sure if this is grounds to go to the police, but I would definitely be asking for help. Dawn tries to catch Alan by calling him at home, but he’s at Stamford, so he’s ruled out as a suspect.
Chapter 8
Jessi says that parents may have rules for a reason. Is a BSC member actually admitting that parents might know something about raising their kids? Granted, Kristy isn’t the one admitting this, but I guess I should be satisfied with baby steps. I can kind of see where Jessi’s coming from, because she is eleven and that is an age where you think your parents are jerks who are trying to control your life.
Jessi is babysitting for Becca and Squirt. Becca wants to watch a horror movie with Jessi. Jessi says no because they aren’t allowed to watch scary movies, but Becca manipulates her by bringing up the contest. It’s a scam. It has to be. As you can expect, Becca gets scared. Something scary happens to Jessi next, but she doesn’t tell anyone because she feels she has to prove herself to the BSC because she’s younger, and to Aunt Cecelia because Aunt Cecelia is stealing her thunder. My aunt taking over my babysitting duties would mean I had more free time. I’d take advantage of it. I thought Jessi isn’t going to tell someone for the same reasons the rest of the BSC don’t tell anyone when things go wrong. She doesn’t want to admit she needs help, because this devalues her as a babysitter.
Jessi has an encounter with Mr. X. Becca also confesses to watching the horror movie when she has a nightmare. Jessi is mad that she won’t win sitter of the month. Why won’t she? Maybe Becca won’t vote for her because she’s mad about the movie, but does Becca really hold a lot of sway over her classmates? Would she be able to convince them not to vote for her? The parents aren’t running the voting. Do you think kids dock points off for, “Let me watch a movie I wasn’t supposed to?” Don’t kids like sitters like that, providing they don’t get scared?
Chapter 9
Dawn and Jessi haven’t told anyone about Mr. X because his pranks aren’t malicious. I think someone leaving you notes at your sitting jobs saying he’s going to get you is cause for concern. Wouldn’t that mean he’s been stalking you or has access to information about you if he’s showing up where you’re babysitting?
Mary Anne and Mallory are babysitting the Pikes. Mallory decides to cook spaghetti because it’s one food they all like, but there has to be a big fuss over how it’s served. The triplets want to eat their spaghetti in cereal bowls, but they fight over the color. Vanessa wants another plate because hers has a crack. Nicky wants to eat with chopsticks. Margo is making such a fuss that Mary Anne lets her serve herself. I’d have been like, “For fuck’s sake, you will eat the spaghetti the way I damn well serve it without fuss or I will dump it on your head and you can go hungry.” Mallory does tell the triplets to stop fighting over the cereal bowls and gives them white ones, but she lets Nicky eat with chopsticks. Mary Anne gives Vanessa a new plate, even though it didn’t have a crack and it was just an excuse to rhyme. Well if there’s nothing wrong with your plate, you’re eating out of it.
I don’t see how they can call Jenny a brat. At least she picks the crust off her sandwich instead of waiting with her thumb up her butt for someone else to do it. She also has a more legitimate excuse because she’s four. The Pikes are making their sitters slave after them. I don’t know why they don’t just say, “Eat the spaghetti the way we serve it and shut up.” My brother and I used to sit at a little table to eat and watch televisions. One of the chairs had a mark, and neither one of us wanted to sit in it. Our parents didn’t indulge us and go running off to buy a new chair until the table got too old. They told us to deal with the chair.
Nicky starts singing songs that will make Margo throw up, so Mallory says no singing. Nicky starts singing, “No singing.” I wouldn’t blame Mallory if she dumped a plate of spaghetti on his head. Is it so much to ask for a nice quiet meal once in a while? The doorbell rings, so Mallory is stopped from committing fratricide. Mr. X strikes again. This time he’s threatening the Pikes’ hamster. Mallory doesn’t want Mary Anne to see how scared she is; because that means that she isn’t in control and not sitter of the month material. Things can get out of your control! That doesn’t make you a bad babysitter! You’re a bad babysitter if you let the kids run around like hellbeasts, but someone stalking you and leaving threatening notes isn’t your fault.
Also, there is such a thing as accidents. My brother fell off the monkey bars one time. My mom fell out of a window. That doesn’t make my mother or grandparents bad parents. It means that things happen. Maybe you should learn that it’s okay and even mature to ask for help when the situation is out of your control.
The Pike kids find the note and try to protect Frodo. Poor hamster. It’s a miracle he hasn’t bitten anyone. There’s also a dead mouse on the doorstep when Mary Anne answers it. How much more is Mr. X going to do before you ask for help? Is getting threatening letters at places you’re babysitting grounds for alerting the police? At the very least, it’s grounds for alerting your parents. I keep thinking of those movies where it starts out as threatening notes and escalates into kidnapping. I bet if the girls told their parents and the parents wanted to keep them home they’d whine about not being able to participate in the sitter of the month contest. The same thing probably would have went down in Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls if the sitter contest had happened then.
That night, Dawn hears a noise and goes to Mary Anne’s room. Mary Anne screams that it’s Mr. X. Mary Anne and Dawn both know about him, but they decide not to say anything because of the contest. How does being stalked mean you aren’t a good sitter? Mr. X has nothing to do with your sitting abilities. Suppose Mr. X is a threat and not some jerk goofing on you. Doesn’t that mean the kids are in danger because you aren’t calling the police? I’d also rather be embarrassed that I panicked over a prank instead of being afraid of a person leaving me threatening letters. Seriously, what’s more important, a contest or your safety? Don’t answer that.
Chapter 10
It’s Friday the 13th. It’s a dark and stormy night. Every time I hear that line, I think of the line, “It wasn’t a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but that’s the weather for you,” in Good Omens. The word for fear of Friday the 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia. Kristy is babysitting for the Kormans. Bill shares a superstition about Friday the 13th, and Kristy scolds him for scaring his sister. I know mentioning Karen doing the same shit will be redundant, but I really can’t help myself. We all know Karen would have done the same thing and Kristy wouldn’t have done shit. She’d be scared herself.
They hear Skylar shrieking and get scared before they realize it’s her. The lights go out but they come back on. They play a game. Mrs. Thomas calls. The kids go to bed. Mr. Papadakis comes over to get Hannie’s raincoat. There was a slight scare because he bent over to tie his shoe and Kristy didn’t see him. God, this chapter was boring. I can’t believe Kristy said a lot happened. Nothing happened. I wasn’t paying attention and assumed that Kristy was babysitting for Karen and Karen would make up some bullshit. But no, I got a completely boring chapter.
Dawn is babysitting for the Prezziosos, which means we must take time to call Jenny a brat. It hit me that Dawn probably only calls Jenny a brat because Jenny disagrees with her. She’s four. I think little kids display attitudes of brattiness sometimes. But if a child shows any child-like behavior such as arguing or being messy, they’re dubbed impossible brats by the BSC. I think the only kids the BSC are able to handle are the kids in those Hallmark movies who are unrealistically kind, loving, compassionate, and usually end up being too good for this sinful earth.
But let’s look at why Dawn calls Jenny a brat. Jenny is spoiled and used to getting her way. What about Karen? She’s allowed to pull all sorts of unreasonable shit, but does she ever get punished for it? No, she’s hailed as being precious. Now, why was Dawn getting pissy at Jenny this time? Jenny told her how Andrea preferred things and Dawn got mad that she couldn’t show off what a good sister she was. So Dawn is mad at a four-year-old girl caring about her baby sister because Dawn can’t show off her mad babysitting skills? Dawn actually gets mad because Jenny seems to think that she knows what’s best for her own sister and Dawn can’t show off what a good babysitter she was. Dawn, Jenny is Andrea’s sister. She spends time with her. I think she might know a little bit more about her sister than a babysitter.
Dawn tells Jenny to get lost so she can show off what a good sitter she can be. I don’t think you’re getting Jenny’s vote and I don’t think Andrea understands concepts such as sitter-of-the-month. Dawn gives Jenny permission to kiss Andrea goodnight and says it’s nice that she loves her sister so much. You didn’t think so when you were getting all bent out of shape when Jenny was trying to tell you what Andrea likes. Jenny leaves and Dawn is happy that she can finally show off what a good sitter is. To a baby. Who can’t vote in the contest and probably doesn’t even know about the contest. Meanwhile, you were a jerk to her sister, who is old enough to vote in the contest.
The phone rings and Dawn tells Jenny to answer it. When Dawn asks who was on the phone, Jenny says Mr. Nobody. She means that there was nobody on the phone. Dawn thinks Jenny is lying because she’s angry. Or maybe there was nobody on the phone, hence Jenny saying Mr. Nobody. Mr. Nobody isn’t actually a person. She’s four. I bet Karen would have made up some bullshit story about this meaning she was marked for death and Dawn would be afraid to sleep with the lights out or answer the phone.
Dawn ask Jenny if she wants to play Candyland, because she’s trying to kiss ass. Do you want a medal for doing an activity your charges like? Why should I think you’re a good sitter because you’re doing what your charges like as opposed to what you like? I know board games can be tedious (I don’t mind Candyland, but I hate Monopoly and Life) but is it really that great a sacrifice for you to do what your charge likes? I love how Dawn is only doing what Jenny likes so she can get a reward. This is further proof that the BSC does not care about kids.
Jenny is awesome and basically wants Dawn to leave her alone. I don’t blame her. I’d want minimum interaction with the BSC as well. Jenny goes to bed and Dawn decides to write a letter to Jeff. She starts out by saying, “How are you? How’s California? I miss you” which is pretty standard. Dawn decides that the letter is too boring, so she crumples it up. Here’s a nifty idea. Why don’t you just erase what you wrote, cross it out, or turn the paper over? Is there really any need for you to get a fresh piece of paper? I know you aren’t an idea machine, but surely the concept of crossing out or erasing what you wrote has occurred to you at some point? How can you be passionate about the environment when you’re wasting paper like this? Then again, she and her friends waste a bunch of paper rehashing their life stories every book and belong to a club where they have to write down every detail about a sitting job.
Dawn calls Jeff “dearest little bro.” What sibling does this? I don’t call my little brother that. She asks what’s cool and fresh in sunny Cal. It’s painful listening to someone trying to talk cool. I love how Dawn says sunny Cal. I’d love to see her reaction when it rains. The doorbell rings and no one is there. Dawn gets a little scared. She sees an envelope and picks it up. There’s a letter in it and it was formed by using letters cut out of newspaper. We had to write ransom letters to Santa when I was in elementary school. No idea why. Maybe we were reading a mystery book and my teacher thought it’d be a good tie in. The letter says, “You better watch out, you better not shout! I’m going to get you!” Signed, Mr. X.
Dawn thinks Jenny may have done this. She seriously thinks a four-year old girl managed to get newspaper, paper, scissors and an envelope and cut up the letters neatly enough to make a threatening note? Dawn seriously thinks a four-year-old would have proper grammar? Dawn thinks Jenny would reference a Christmas Carol? Dawn thinks Jenny somehow managed to get the materials she needed and create the letter without making any noise, never mind sneaking downstairs, ringing the doorbell, and remaining undetected? Dawn goes to check on the girls anyway. They’re asleep, so that means Jenny would have had to get into the house without Dawn noticing her.
Also, would a four-year-old really be out for revenge? If so, do you think they’d go through the trouble of cutting up a newspaper and referencing a Christmas song? Wouldn’t Jenny just write a four-year-old insult or draw an unflattering picture?
Dawn doesn’t tell anyone, because the sitter of the month must always be in control. There are some things that are out of your control. For example, you can’t control when a child has an accident or gets hurt. You can’t control when some jerk decides to ring your doorbell at night and leave you a threatening letter. This has nothing to do with your control. I was just thinking about victims of stalkers because of this line. Does this mean that victims of stalkers shouldn’t tell anybody because they would appear to be not in control? Maybe you should learn that some things are beyond your control and it’s okay to seek help and reassurance.
Chapter 7
Dawn is babysitting for Jackie and his brothers. Jackie has an accident. I wonder why the BSC hasn’t told his parents he should be put in a cushioned room for his safety. Dawn tells Jackie to come play Go Fish with her and Shea, because she’s determined to have fun after the Mr. X incident. If that happened to me, having fun with my charges wouldn’t be on my top priority list. I’m imagining Dawn must be really hard to deal with now, because she wants them to have fun so much she’s become desperate. Dawn gives us a recount of Jackie’s adventures. He pulled down a shower rod when he was trying to do a pull up. My brother tried to use a closet to do the same thing. He also tried to make dumbbells by filling empty water jugs with sand and dirt, then taping then to a broom handle. Jackie spilled grape juice. Is that supposed to make me think he’s a disaster? What kid hasn’t spilled something at least once? Jackie also got his hand stuck in a glass jar. I’m not sure how frequent that or ripping your jeans are, but falling off your bike happens. It doesn’t mean a person is a disaster.
The phone rings and nobody answers. Dawn thinks it’s Alan Gray, because this is similar to what happened in the second book. I don’t think Alan left threatening notes. I’m amused at Alan trying to leave a threatening note and not hiding in time, so he’s stuck on the porch with a dumb look when the BSC opens the door. The doorbell rings and there’s no one there. Jackie says they should call the police, but Dawn doesn’t want to. Let’s say that this Mr. X is dangerous. Is Dawn not going to call the police because things will appear out of her control? Dawn gets another note, and it says “I’m watching you.” I’m not sure if this is grounds to go to the police, but I would definitely be asking for help. Dawn tries to catch Alan by calling him at home, but he’s at Stamford, so he’s ruled out as a suspect.
Chapter 8
Jessi says that parents may have rules for a reason. Is a BSC member actually admitting that parents might know something about raising their kids? Granted, Kristy isn’t the one admitting this, but I guess I should be satisfied with baby steps. I can kind of see where Jessi’s coming from, because she is eleven and that is an age where you think your parents are jerks who are trying to control your life.
Jessi is babysitting for Becca and Squirt. Becca wants to watch a horror movie with Jessi. Jessi says no because they aren’t allowed to watch scary movies, but Becca manipulates her by bringing up the contest. It’s a scam. It has to be. As you can expect, Becca gets scared. Something scary happens to Jessi next, but she doesn’t tell anyone because she feels she has to prove herself to the BSC because she’s younger, and to Aunt Cecelia because Aunt Cecelia is stealing her thunder. My aunt taking over my babysitting duties would mean I had more free time. I’d take advantage of it. I thought Jessi isn’t going to tell someone for the same reasons the rest of the BSC don’t tell anyone when things go wrong. She doesn’t want to admit she needs help, because this devalues her as a babysitter.
Jessi has an encounter with Mr. X. Becca also confesses to watching the horror movie when she has a nightmare. Jessi is mad that she won’t win sitter of the month. Why won’t she? Maybe Becca won’t vote for her because she’s mad about the movie, but does Becca really hold a lot of sway over her classmates? Would she be able to convince them not to vote for her? The parents aren’t running the voting. Do you think kids dock points off for, “Let me watch a movie I wasn’t supposed to?” Don’t kids like sitters like that, providing they don’t get scared?
Chapter 9
Dawn and Jessi haven’t told anyone about Mr. X because his pranks aren’t malicious. I think someone leaving you notes at your sitting jobs saying he’s going to get you is cause for concern. Wouldn’t that mean he’s been stalking you or has access to information about you if he’s showing up where you’re babysitting?
Mary Anne and Mallory are babysitting the Pikes. Mallory decides to cook spaghetti because it’s one food they all like, but there has to be a big fuss over how it’s served. The triplets want to eat their spaghetti in cereal bowls, but they fight over the color. Vanessa wants another plate because hers has a crack. Nicky wants to eat with chopsticks. Margo is making such a fuss that Mary Anne lets her serve herself. I’d have been like, “For fuck’s sake, you will eat the spaghetti the way I damn well serve it without fuss or I will dump it on your head and you can go hungry.” Mallory does tell the triplets to stop fighting over the cereal bowls and gives them white ones, but she lets Nicky eat with chopsticks. Mary Anne gives Vanessa a new plate, even though it didn’t have a crack and it was just an excuse to rhyme. Well if there’s nothing wrong with your plate, you’re eating out of it.
I don’t see how they can call Jenny a brat. At least she picks the crust off her sandwich instead of waiting with her thumb up her butt for someone else to do it. She also has a more legitimate excuse because she’s four. The Pikes are making their sitters slave after them. I don’t know why they don’t just say, “Eat the spaghetti the way we serve it and shut up.” My brother and I used to sit at a little table to eat and watch televisions. One of the chairs had a mark, and neither one of us wanted to sit in it. Our parents didn’t indulge us and go running off to buy a new chair until the table got too old. They told us to deal with the chair.
Nicky starts singing songs that will make Margo throw up, so Mallory says no singing. Nicky starts singing, “No singing.” I wouldn’t blame Mallory if she dumped a plate of spaghetti on his head. Is it so much to ask for a nice quiet meal once in a while? The doorbell rings, so Mallory is stopped from committing fratricide. Mr. X strikes again. This time he’s threatening the Pikes’ hamster. Mallory doesn’t want Mary Anne to see how scared she is; because that means that she isn’t in control and not sitter of the month material. Things can get out of your control! That doesn’t make you a bad babysitter! You’re a bad babysitter if you let the kids run around like hellbeasts, but someone stalking you and leaving threatening notes isn’t your fault.
Also, there is such a thing as accidents. My brother fell off the monkey bars one time. My mom fell out of a window. That doesn’t make my mother or grandparents bad parents. It means that things happen. Maybe you should learn that it’s okay and even mature to ask for help when the situation is out of your control.
The Pike kids find the note and try to protect Frodo. Poor hamster. It’s a miracle he hasn’t bitten anyone. There’s also a dead mouse on the doorstep when Mary Anne answers it. How much more is Mr. X going to do before you ask for help? Is getting threatening letters at places you’re babysitting grounds for alerting the police? At the very least, it’s grounds for alerting your parents. I keep thinking of those movies where it starts out as threatening notes and escalates into kidnapping. I bet if the girls told their parents and the parents wanted to keep them home they’d whine about not being able to participate in the sitter of the month contest. The same thing probably would have went down in Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls if the sitter contest had happened then.
That night, Dawn hears a noise and goes to Mary Anne’s room. Mary Anne screams that it’s Mr. X. Mary Anne and Dawn both know about him, but they decide not to say anything because of the contest. How does being stalked mean you aren’t a good sitter? Mr. X has nothing to do with your sitting abilities. Suppose Mr. X is a threat and not some jerk goofing on you. Doesn’t that mean the kids are in danger because you aren’t calling the police? I’d also rather be embarrassed that I panicked over a prank instead of being afraid of a person leaving me threatening letters. Seriously, what’s more important, a contest or your safety? Don’t answer that.
Chapter 10
It’s Friday the 13th. It’s a dark and stormy night. Every time I hear that line, I think of the line, “It wasn’t a dark and stormy night. It should have been, but that’s the weather for you,” in Good Omens. The word for fear of Friday the 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia. Kristy is babysitting for the Kormans. Bill shares a superstition about Friday the 13th, and Kristy scolds him for scaring his sister. I know mentioning Karen doing the same shit will be redundant, but I really can’t help myself. We all know Karen would have done the same thing and Kristy wouldn’t have done shit. She’d be scared herself.
They hear Skylar shrieking and get scared before they realize it’s her. The lights go out but they come back on. They play a game. Mrs. Thomas calls. The kids go to bed. Mr. Papadakis comes over to get Hannie’s raincoat. There was a slight scare because he bent over to tie his shoe and Kristy didn’t see him. God, this chapter was boring. I can’t believe Kristy said a lot happened. Nothing happened. I wasn’t paying attention and assumed that Kristy was babysitting for Karen and Karen would make up some bullshit. But no, I got a completely boring chapter.