#63: Claudia's Friend
We finally get a Claudia book with a spelling error right in the title! In fact, Claudia is having so much trouble with vocabulary and spelling that she’s one test away from failing her English class and she’s starting to freak out. Luckily she has the BSC for support!
“We all have strengths and weaknesses and we know it, and we’re all there for each other when we need to be. I guess that’s what friends are for, when you come to think of it.” - Claudia, page 7
Claudia’s not the only one struggling. Shea Rodowsky has just learned he has dyslexia and is having a hard time, so the BSC is going to start tutoring him - and they get the idea to start tutoring Claudia as well. It seems like a perfect plan, but Claudia finds Stacey to be a pretty strict tutor and is kind of miserable.
Mary Anne has the first tutoring session with Shea, and he seems pretty miserable too. He thinks his dyslexia means he’s dumb and can’t do anything right, despite Mary Anne’s protestations that he’s not dumb, he just learns differently and some things will be harder than others.
Meanwhile, the BSC is receiving anonymous typed notes at their meetings; the first one says YOU ARE NICE, the second one says YOU ARE THE BEST, and the third YOU ARE THE GREATEST. Each of the baby-sitters think it’s some dude trying to ask them to the dance at the community center, but even after Mary Anne, Kristy, Stacey, Jessi, and Mal have been asked to the dance, none of the guys take credit for the notes.
Claudia’s tutoring sessions with Stacey continue to go downhill, until Claud explodes on Stace during a meeting. I’m developing an ulcer because their friendship is the best! And I’m also a teacher, so I can empathize with Stacey trying to teach someone who’s not into it and with Claudia who feels dumb because something doesn’t come easily to her. The only success Claudia finds with tutoring is when she and Shea Rodowsky help tutor each other. Claudia helps Shay practice his spelling, and Shay teaches Claudia some of the tricks he’s used to help learn how to spell. Because they feel like equals, it works.
The BSC gets another “secret admirer” note addressed to all of them:
They think it’s a prank from Cokie and Grace, so they start plotting some kind of trap or revenge scenario. They decide to dress in their worst possible outfits and bring gag items like fake vomit for their “date.” But when they arrive at the Rosebud Cafe, whoops - it’s the Rodowsky boys waiting for them, with the Arnold twins and Matt and Haley Braddock. The kids wanted to surprise them for being the best baby-sitters and they treat them to hot fudge sundaes. Shea slips Claudia a special note thanking her for helping him study. I’m only crying a little bit.
And, with these good vibes leading the way, Claudia and Stacey make up (duh, they’re soulmates) and Claudia gets a B- on her English test and she won’t flunk the course (this time)! Plus, all the baby-sitters have a good time at the dance. All’s well that ends well in Stoneybrook.
