Jessi's Wish Part 9

"I guess," said Charlotte. "Do we look like we've been crying?"

"A little/' I answered. "Why don't you wash your faces first?"

The girls washed their faces and returned to Mr. Katz's room.

That night I talked to my mother. "Mama?" I said. Dinner was over. I was trying to do my homework, but I couldn't keep my mind on it. Mama had come into my room and was sitting on the end of the bed.

"You're thinking about Danielle, aren't you?"

I nodded. "I really want to know what's going on. I need to know. So do Becca and Charlotte. Do you think it would be okay to call Danielle in the hospital? I'd only talk to her for a few minutes."

"I know you would, honey," said Mama. "But I think maybe you shouldn't call. Not yet. How about writing her a letter? Did you write one this afternoon with the kids?"

"No. I just helped the kids. With spelling and stuff."

"Then why don't you write? You're pretty special to Danielle. I'm sure she'd want to hear from you. I also think she'd want to answer you. Let you know what's going on."

I nodded. "Thanks, Mama," I said. "I'll write her this very minute. Then I'll do my homework. I promise I can finish it."

"Okay." Mama smoothed back my hair. She stood up to leave.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "I just got an idea. Could I call the Robertses at home?"

Mama looked thoughtful. "I don't see why not/' she said after a moment.

I ran to my parents' room and dialed Dan-ielle's number.

Greg answered the phone.

"Hi!" I cried. "It's Jessi!" Greg didn't say anything, so I continued, "Um, I heard Dan-ielle is - is back in the hospital."

"Yeah."

"Well . . . what happened?"

"She wasn't feeling well. The doctors wanted to do some tests."

"She's in just for tests?" I repeated. That didn't sound so bad.

"Yeah," said Greg again.

He did not want to talk, that was clear. So I ended the conversation. I was feeling better, though. I returned to my room and wrote a cheerful note to Danielle. I ended by saying: Four days later I came home from school and found a letter addressed to me lying on the kitchen table. The handwriting looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. I turned over the envelope. It was from Danielle! (She was still in the hospital.) I tore open the envelope, and read the letter quickly: was n?*//y Wed/ me CQWr away. X dje in -^ Kbfe c( 0H.

me do J. [r>o^e Vxa news ^nd oad is not ^r tfi (it-He is -#?<#- t="" xtf^r="" aiij="">

ou COIT& -rwe. So i, -la?, ^f""*

*3d .

I folded Danielle's letter and replaced it in the envelope.

Wishes do come true, I told myself. So I wished my wish again.

Please get better, Danielle.

Dear Reader-.

With money donated from senerous, carins people around the world, the Make-a-Wish Foundation srants wishes to kids who have serious illnesses such as cancer and leukemia. In Jessi's Wish, Danielle is a kid with cancer. While doing volunteer work, Jessi meets Danielle and helps make Danielle's wish come true.

Now you are helpins to make wishes come true-just by buying this book. Scholastic and Baby-sitters Club author Ann M. Martin, will donate four cents to the Make-a-Wish Foundation for each Jessi's Wish book sold.

In fact, we've already granted a wish to 10-year-old Joyce P. of New York. Joyce has leukemia. With money donated in advance, she will be soins to Walt Disney World with her parents and 4-year-old sister.

We hope to make more wishes come true. Thank you for your part in our donation.

BSC491.

About the Author.

ANN M. MARTIN did a lot of baby-sitting when she was growing up in Princeton, New Jersey. She is a former editor of books for children, and was graduated from Smith College.

Ms. Martin lives in New York City with her cats, Mouse and Rosie. She likes ice cream and I Love Lucy; and she hates to cook.

Ann Martin's Apple Paperbacks include Yours Turly, Shirley; Ten Kids, No Pets; With You and Without You; b.u.mmer Summer; and all the other books in the Baby-sitters Club series.