"Martin, Ann M - Baby-sitters Club Mystery 011 - Claudia and the Mystery at the Museum" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin Ann M)

"What do you mean?" asked Claire. She snuggled up next to Jessi on the couch. "Tell
me."
So, Mal went outside to watch her sister and brothers while Jessi told Claire about the life of a professional entertainer. She told her about the lessons that actors and dancers and singers have to take. "Even when they're stars, they still take lessons," said Jessi. She told her about auditions, and how nerve-wracking they can be. "Sometimes they reject people just because they're too tall or too short or too blonde or not blonde enough," she said. "You have to learn not to take it personally, and it isn't easy."
Then Jessi told Claire about callbacks and agents and meetings and endless rehearsals. She told her about the time she visited Derek Masters on the set of his TV show, and about how boring it can be on a TV or movie set Ч how it can take all day to film one little scene. And she told her about how entertainers have to perform all the time, even if they're sick, or tired, or injured. "ThatТs what they mean when they say, 'the show must go on,' " Jessi explained.
"But Ч but isn't it fun when people clap after you do something good?" Claire asked. "Or when they laugh at a joke you tell? Or cry when you sing a sad song?"
"Sure," said Jessi. "ThatТs why so many people stay in show business even though it's such hard work. For some people, those good things make all the bad things worthwhile."
"I never thought about the bad things," said Claire. "I just thought about having a dressing room with a big star on the door, and lots of fancy dresses, and a big long car to pick me up and drive me everywhere I want to go."
"Not too many people get all that," said Jessi with a grin.
Claire didn't grin back. Instead she said solemnly, "Jessi? I'm not so sure I want to be in show business anymore. I mean, I'd like to be a star, but not if it takes so much hard work."
Jessi nodded. "I can understand that," she said, reaching over to give Claire a little hug.
Suddenly,! Claire broke away from Jessi and sat up straight. "Oh, no!" she cried. She put her hand over her mouth.
"What?" asked Jessi.
"My video!" said Claire. "I don't want that agent to see it. We have to get it back before she watches it!"
"I don't think we can," said Jessi. "ItТs already in the mail."
"Oh no!" Claire wailed. "What am I going to do?"
"Well," said Jessi. "I guess you just have to hope the agent doesn't like your tape." She
knew from experience that in show business rejection happens a lot more than acceptance.
Claire nodded. "But what if she does like it?" she asked miserably.
Jessi smiled. A few minutes ago Claire was dying to be discovered. "If she likes it, and she wants to make you a star, I guess you'll just have to tell her you changed your mind," said Jessi.
"That would be so, so embarrassing," replied Claire. Just the thought of it seemed to make her blush. "But I guess that's what I'll have to do." She stood up. "I don't think I want to talk about this anymore," she said. "Can I go out and play with Margo?"
"Of course," said Jessi. She gave Claire another hug, hoping to see her smile. But Claire hugged her back listlessly and walked slowly outside. Jessi felt awful. But she realized this was probably for the best. After all, it was better for Claire to find out ahead of time how hard show business could be.
Jessi followed Claire outside and watched with Mal as Claire and Margo played hopscotch.
"What happened?" whispered Mal. "Claire looks so sad."
Jessi told her about their conversation.
"That's too bad," said Mal. "But she'll cheer up soon. And I have to say that my whole
family will thank you. Maybe we won't have to watch that video anymore!"
The girls giggled. Just then, they heard a horn honk, and saw Mrs. Arnold leaning out of her car window. She had pulled up in front of the Pikes' house. "Hello, girls," she said.. "The twins and I are off to the museum. They've been after me to take them back there ever since the first time they went. They just loved the Discovery Room. Anyway, we were wondering if anybody would like to come along."
"Me!" cried Claire, looking more cheerful already.
"Me, too," said Margo. "Can we, Mallory?"
"Sure," said Mal. "I bet Vanessa would like to go, too."
"I'll go get her," said Claire. She ran into the house.
Mal and Jessi decided that Mal would stay home with the boys, who were busy with their treehouse, while Jessi went along with the girls.
"Can we all squeeze into your car?" Jessi asked Mrs. Arnold.
"Sure," said Mrs. Arnold, with a grin. "The more, the merrier."
Soon they were on their way. Jessi told me later that she had to smile when she heard Claire leading the other girls in a few rounds
of "'Row, row, row your boat." She was glad Claire still liked to sing, even if she didn't want to do it professionally anymore.
The museum was full that afternoon. Every room was packed with loud, happy kids. "It made the museum seem so alive," said Jessi later.
Jessi and Mrs. Arnold let the girls decide where to go and what activities to do. They followed them from room to room and watched as the girls discovered exhibits they hadn't seen yet.
After awhile, Jessi asked Mrs. Arnold if she could sneak off to check out the Don Newman exhibit, since she had heard so much about it from me. Mrs. Arnold said she'd be glad to watch all the girls for a few minutes, so Jessi found her way to the sculpture gallery.
She loved the show, she told me later. But the most important thing about her visit to the Newman exhibit was what she found out when she started talking to one of the guards there. She told him how much she liked the PLEASE TOUCH signs, and that Don Newman must be a very cool guy. The guard agreed. He was excited because the entire museum staff had been invited to Friday's party. "Not many artists would have thought of inviting the staff, but Newman did," he said.
"What about security, if you'll all be at the party?" Jessi asked.
"Oh, they're not so worried about that anymore," said the guard. "Security has been really tight for a week, and nothing has happened, so they're loosening up a little. Say, you're not planning a robbery, are you?" He grinned at Jessi.
"No way," she said, grinning in return. Then she headed back to the kids' area to find Mrs. Arnold and the girls. By the end of their afternoon at the museum, Claire seemed to be feeling a lot better. In fact, she seemed to have decided on a new career. At least, that was what Jessi thought when Claire asked her seriously, "Do scientists have to audition?"
Chapter 13.
"So anyway, it sounds like security isn't going to be so tight anymore," said Jessi. It was Friday afternoon, and my friends and I were gathered in my room for our BSC meeting. Jessi was telling us what she'd learned at the museum the day before. "The guard I talked to was really nice," she added.
"Most of the people who work at the museum seem nice," mused Kristy.
"Except for Mr. Snipes," I muttered. "He's a big creep. And maybe a thief, too."
"Maybe," said Mal. "But not definitely."
"I know," I said. "I'm planning to keep an eye on him when I'm at the party tonight, but I plan to watch everybody closely. The thief could be any one of the museum's employees. The guards, the maintenance crew, the salespeople in the shop. As far as I'm concerned, everybody's a suspect. I still think the thief is
in