There's some bad news in the Pike family: Mallory's dad has just lost his job. And since money is going to be tight until Mr. Pike finds a new job, all eight of the Pike kids decide to help out.
Nicky gets a paper route, Vanessa tries selling her poetry, and Mallory takes a baby-sitting jobs in Kristy's ritzy neighborhood. But being around the Delaneys only makes Mallory feel poor. They have a cat that cost $400 and tennis courts in their backyard!
Poor Mallory — she needs the Baby-sitters now more than ever!
Plot Summary
In the last book or so we learned that Mallory's dad might lose his job - but no one was really worried except Mr. and Mrs. Pike. Then one day Mallory comes home to find that her mother has a headache. She goes upstairs and finds that the company in Stamford that her father works for is firing about half of the people - and Mr. Pike thinks that he will be next. Well he is right and a pink slip is given to him. So the Pikes start saving and earning money. Mallory gets a baby-sitting job for the Delaneys (a.k.a "the Snobs"), the triplets have a yard service, Nicky gets a paper route, Vanessa - get this- styles hair and Margo and Claire sell lemonade. Mallory and her brothers and sisters are making money, but losing friends. Kids start teasing them and spreading rumors about why Mr. Pike lost his job. They learn who their true friends are. Meanwhile the Delaney kids are having the same problem - in reverse. They have just got a new pool and kids from all over the neighborhood want to come and play. Mallory helps them out though. They tell their friends that there is a new rule that when a baby-sitter is in charge no one can use the pool. Then they invite their friends over.
Trivia
Mallory's dad is a lawyer and so is Mary Anne's.
Gallery
Poor Mallory advertised in Scholastic Arrow, November 1990.