"Martin, Ann M - Baby-sitters Club - Super Special 01 - Baby-sitters on Board!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin Ann M)

"Ow!" cried Kristy. "Claudia, for gosh sakes, do you have to step on me every morning?"
"No," replied Claudia, sounding offended. "I don't. Not if you sleep on the top bunk. Then you can climb up and down the ladder."
"Nice try," said Kristy. "This is our last day on the ship. Tonight we'll be in a hotel. I have a feeling there won't be any bunk beds."
"Good," said Claudia.
"And wake up Dawn, will you? I wouldn't want to contaminate her or anything."
I smiled. This morning, Kristy couldn't bother me. Even the messy room couldn't bother me.
I was pretty sure I was in love.
Love is a tricky thing, so if s hard to tell, but there was no doubt that I felt different that morning. I felt a way I had never felt. It was a pleasant feeling. And since love is supposed
to be both different and pleasant, and I had spent the afternoon before with the boy of my dreams, I assumed that I was in love.
It all made sense Ч in a confusing sort of way.
Even though I knew we were supposed to get up so we could meet Kristy's family for breakfast, I rolled over and dosed my eyes. I wanted to try to remember everything that had happened the day before, on the most wonderful afternoon of my life.
Kristy and Claudia and I had gotten off the ship together. The three of us were going to spend the afternoon Ч at least the beginning of it Ч together, because we all wanted to try snorkeling. We'd heard about the water sports on Treasure Cay, and snorkeling sounded like the most fun. So when the ship docked, we immediately asked directions to the nearest snorkeling class.
When we found the place on the beach we also found a whole bunch of other people from the Ocean Princess. They were wandering around, trying on the masks and breathing tubes, and asking the instructor questions.
But I couldn't have cared less about masks or breathing tubes or questions. That was be-
cause I'd spotted someone from the ship, and he was the only thing I could see, hear, or think about.
It was the Gorgeous Guy. Ever since the first time I'd seen him Ч that time when we'd actually spoken Ч we'd been eyeing each other, watching each other, smiling at each other. But that was it. However, when he saw me on the beach that afternoon, he came right over to me.
Kristy's jaw dropped. (Mine may have, too.)
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," I replied.
(What great conversationalists we were.)
"You here for the class?" he asked.
It was a dumb question, because why else would I be there? But all I said was, "Yup. You too?"
He nodded.
Claudia nudged Kristy then, and it occurred to me that I should introduce them to the boy, but I swear I couldn't even remember their names. (Plus, I didn't know his.) Claudia didn't care, though. She just smiled at me, nodded her head slightly as if to say "Go get 'im" or "Good luck," and walked away with Kristy.
"You know something?" said the boy. "I
don't know if I really want to go snorkeling. This is probably the only time I'll ever be on this island. Why spend it underwater? Thaf s no way to see it."
My heart sank. What was it about me? The boy and I had barely spoken two words and now he didn't even want to be in the same snorkeling class with me.
I had to look away. I couldn't let him see my disappointment.
But the next words out of his mouth were, "Do you really want to go snorkeling? Why don't we take a walk instead?"
I tried to remain calm. "Sure," I said. "That would be nice."
Nice? Nice? Couldn't I come up with a better word than that?
Apparently not. But the boy (what was his name?) didn't seem to notice.
We set off down the beach together. I knew Claudia was watching us and would be happy and not worry.
We walked down the beach for a long way. At first we didn't say much. We pointed out coral and shells and palm trees, and we gawked at the fancy hotels.
Finally I got up the nerve to say, "My name's
Dawn Schafer. What's yours?"
The boy laughed. "I can't believe we haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Parker Harris."
"Parker Harris!" I couldn't help exclaiming. "That's some name. I mean, Parker is."
"Ifs a family name, my mother's maiden name. She didn't have any brothers Ч only sisters Ч so there was no one to carry on the name. Finally she just decided to call me Parker. It's not the same but . . . you know."
I smiled. "I think that's nice."
Parker reached for my hand. "You don't mind, do you?" he asked.
Mind? If we held hands? Was he crazy? That hand was attached to the most Gorgeous Guy ever to walk the sands of Treasure Cay.
We spent that afternoon just wandering around, enjoying being together. I barely remember what we did. Once, I know, we ran into the Pike triplets, Nicky, and David Michael. They tried to show us something, I think, but I couldn't tell you what it was. Parker and I were too busy being with each other.
The last thing Parker said to me as we boarded the ship was, "See you tomorrow, okay? It'll be our last day on the Ocean Princess.
Maybe we could spend it together."
Another day with Parker? It seemed too good to be true. But he promised to meet me on the Sun Deck at 10:30. So after breakfast (during which Kristy strewed crumbs all over the table and purposely gave herself a milk mustache, which she wouldn't wipe off), I got into my bathing suit and went up to the Sun Deck. I was half afraid that Parker wouldn't show up, but he did, promptly at 10:30.
And our day began.
I had thought we were going to lounge around and go swimming, but Parker wanted to do things. With a mischievous grin, he said, "There's a Ping-Pong tournament today. Let's sign up."
"Ping-Pong!" I cried. "Only old people and little kids play that."
"Exactly," said Parker. "We'll give 'em a run for their money."