The Truth About Stacey
The Truth About Stacey is such a great book! I’m surprised I never wrote about it on What Claudia Wore. It was a less compulsive era of my life, I guess . . . cannot believe I just randomly chose whatever book I wanted to write about next instead of going in series order??? Who was she???
Anyway, The Truth About Stacey was an object of fascination for me as a kid. The iconic candy-store cover, Stacey’s wild early-series fashion (fingerless gloves!), the sandwich boards, Kristy crying over the Baby-sitters Agency. And so much of it is beautifully honored in the Netflix adaptation.
The competition has higher production value
We open on a slickly-produced commercial for the Baby-sitters Agency, starring not only Lacy Lewis and her trendy sunglasses, but also a wide range of high school colleagues in matching Baby-sitters Agency t-shirts. We caught a glimpse of Lacy in Kristy’s Great Idea, but here she is in all her love-to-hate villain glory, wearing a very, idk, Clueless by way of Iggy Azalea outfit.
The commercial concludes and we pull back into Claudia’s bedroom, where our four heroines are gathered around an iPad. And the LOOKS on everyone’s faces. Fear, shock and pure, white-hot rage and defiance from our fearless leader.
“Need a sitter? I came up with that!”
Kristy flops into her director’s chair, arms crossed. She can’t fathom how this happened. The girls try to convince themselves that it won’t affect them, but Stacey’s not so sure. “I knew we were in trouble right away. But, I’m a pleaser,” she narrates to us, as she assures them they’ll be fine.
Anyway, they have a new client baby to look forward to. I am somewhere between pleased her name is Kim (hey fellow preggo with a preschool boy 👯♀️) and shocked that these babysitters call their clients by their first names. Which is likely totally normal in 2020! But .. she’s Mrs. Newton! My inner eight year old is scandalized by this.
As a preventative measure against the Baby-sitters Agency, Kristy comes up with the idea for Kid Kits. She’s got more enthusiasm about the idea than the rest of the club put together, but it doesn’t slow her down any, as she demonstrates the idea with the help of Claudia’s overflowing bedroom of cool. (lol that Claudia magically has beautifully decorated shoeboxes just lying around, if it was anyone else I would consider this clunky prop introduction but . . . #claudiawould.)
As Kristy talks about the experience of loving your friends’ houses, she either unintentionally or very pointedly brings up that no one has been to Stacey’s house.
Argument for unintentional: she’s in full Great Idea mode and her brain is running hot, totally likely she would get ahead of herself and then realize, no, she doesn’t have a frame of reference for Stacey’s home life.
Argument for intentional: she’s chosen to give Stacey the benefit of the doubt at her mom’s urging, but is it really all that likely that Kristy Thomas has fully accepted the new girl when she doesn’t know absolutely everything about her?
You be the judge. Reflect on the type-A personalities in your own life.
Anyway, Stacey stammers about the bathroom renovation that’s kept her place off limits, feeling guilty about the lie.
One other excellent childhood/cusp of adolescence moment occurs when Kristy says “imagine if Claudia brought all of her awesome stuff every time we came to play -- I mean, hang out.” I talked a lot in my Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls recap about the maturity divide in the club, and this is another wonderful little illustration of that dynamic.
The reason for all those (stylish) jackets
Stacey’s in a dressing room with Mrs. McGill, who looks a LOT like the Mrs. McGill of the book series -- nice casting. For someone as trendy as Stacey, you’d think she’d be a lot happier about being at the mall, until the “problem” is revealed: the cropped top she’s trying on is short enough that her insulin pump sticks out.
This is an interesting update from the books and I love it. It also explains all those great jackets she’s been wearing. I mean, yes, NYC cool, urban sophisticate, loves a blazer and all modern analogs … but also camouflage.
Stacey explains her disease in voiceover while Mrs. McGill frets over making sure her clothes hide the pump -- the crop top is too short, a long sleeved t-shirt is too form-fitting.
“Once people know I have a disease, it’s all they think about,” she tells us. “Just look at my mom.”
We run into Kim Newton, who looks about as tired as I feel, and after Stacey tells her how excited they are to sit for Lucy, she says something about a visit.
“A visit?” This strikes Stacey as weird -- more indicators of that trouble ahead.
Welcome to the free market, it’s terrible here
But life and scheduled jobs must go on, and Stacey’s got one for Charlotte Johannsson. Who is so, so cute. In the books, Stacey and Charlotte have a special bond, and the little actress who plays Char lights up when Stacey enters her room.
We get more background on Stacey’s illness management as she sips some juice to help regulate her blood sugar. After some jewelry making, Stacey and Charlotte head to the park in their creations. The oversized beaded necklaces and bracelets Char make are VERY Claudia-approved. And I love Stacey’s outfit in this scene. It’s so LUXE with the camel-colored wool over black lace, and I always appreciate a highwaisted jean (and hope to be able to wear them again someday).
Stacey is distracted by the beep of her pump, and suddenly Charlotte has a red balloon. The red balloon is so strongly associated with IT that it really kinda is a moment of terror. Where DID you get that balloon, Charlotte?
Turns out, almost as terrifying as an alien clown-thing — it’s another smart marketing moment from the Baby-sitters Agency. Lacy Lewis herself is at the park with a handful of branded helium-filled balloons, and Stacey is irritated enough to confront her about moving in on the BSC’s territory.
This confrontation really highlights the youth of the BSC -- they are sweet and responsible girls, but they are still so young. Lacy is odious but makes good points — she can drive herself, she can stay out late.
“You really should try supporting women,” she chides Stacey. “When one of us succeeds, all of us succeed. Unless I put you out of business.”
Stacey storms off and sends out an SOS to the BSC group chat. (Mary Anne must’ve gotten her phone back, I am relieved for her.)
With Stacey’s call to arms ringing in their ears/text messages, Kristy and Claudia head to the park to hand out flyers. They’re sure they’ve hit the jackpot when they see a yoga class, but Lacy and her high school cronies have gotten to them first. The class is almost hilariously decked out in BSA swag. Is the BSA venture-backed or something? They have more branded merch than most start-ups.
Demoralized from their failed attempt to drum up business, spirits are further deflated as the BSA starts pranking the BSC. They call during business hours to jeer at them through the phone, and set up a fake new client sitting job that ends in Mary Anne literally running away from an elderly man who insists he can change his own Depends.
The Art of General Kristy Thomas’ War
Morale should be lower than ever, but not if you’re Kristy Thomas. If you’re Kristy Thomas, it’s time to double down on the fight. She’s engrossed in The Art Of War when Jamie Newton runs into her room. Kim’s in labor and he’s been sent over to the Thomases while his parents do the whole baby thing.
Kristy is thrilled and takes this as a sign of club redemption (“we’re saved”), but even her own mother is a little skeptical. “Sweetie, why don’t we let Kim deliver her baby before we start harassing her about your work schedule,” she suggests, with a seasoned diplomacy of a mom used to having to temper her child’s over-enthusiastic nature.
Kristy’s not quite ready to give up on establishing first right of infant refusal, so Elizabeth provides a reality check: “Taking care of a newborn baby is a lot of work. My guess is that Kim will want someone with a little more experience right now. Someone a little older.”
Elizabeth then krushes (I’m sorry, I can’t resist) Kristy further with the debut of her engagement ring from Watson. Gotta say, I share Kristy’s leeriness about that ring — heart-shaped? Kristy goes Baby Feminist again, opining that she’s not sure why her mom needs to wear jewelry that signifies her status.
“What’s next, are you going to start walking behind him all the time?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth deadpans. “And, it would make us more comfortable if you would start referring to me as Ofwatson from now on. No more mom. We just want everyone to be clear about where things stand.”
I really do love Elizabeth Thomas.
The first-ever emergency meeting of the Baby-sitters Club is called — right in Kristy’s blue, soccer-postered, denim-curtained bedroom. Standing over her fellow club members, she clumsily explains analogies from The Art of War to a bewildered Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey.
It’s only when she gets a little more plain-spoken that the chemistry between the girls begins to click again.
Kristy: “Okay, so the agency is moving in on our turf. We need a new plan. We can’t lose this club, it’s the best idea I’ve ever had.”
Mary Anne: “It’s practically the only reason my dad lets me leave the house.”
Claudia: “I need the money. I’ve grown accustomed to a certain quality of life. Sable paintbrushes.”
Stacey (to herself)” And I need the club because I can’t lose my friends. Not again.
This was something I really loved about this book and love about this adaptation -- the contrast between Stacey’s NYC cool and her sincere need for these three other girls, even if one of them wears braids every day and another thinks boys are yucky.
Before she can speak up, a teen angel (in Stacey’s eyes, at least) interrupts in the most hilarious fashion. Enter Sam Thomas in slow motion, holding a guitar, rock licks playing in the background . . . followed by a daydream-ending record scratch and the most romantic opening line of all time: “hey dummy, we got any soda?”
Kristy spars back with her older brother while Stacey swoons . . . until she realizes that it’s not all Sam-induced. Her blood sugar is dropping. A ringing in her ears takes over the scene as she panics and flees, afraid of embarrassing herself in front of her friends and new crush. The club is confused by her abrupt exit, and her excuse (her new, round dog) doesn’t do anything to put them at ease.
A series of unfortunate bummers
Stacey’s slumped over at her kitchen counter, eating an apple, when her mom walks in. (The McGill house is super influencer-y, btw, all grey and white and marble countertop.)
Mrs. McGill starts panicking about Stacey and books an emergency consult for her, despite Stacey’s protests (she goes as far as taking the phone out of her mom’s hands). Mrs. McGill won’t be dissuaded, and it’s a nice peek into what was a more major storyline in the book — the McGills endlessly dragging Stacey to different specialists.
It’s only after Stacey enlists the help of Dr. Johannsson and has some real talk with her parents about how disruptive all this miracle-seeking is that they accept her desire to have some input in her treatment plan. Dr. Johannsson even writes the McGills a letter about the NYC quack they’re bringing her to, and pulls strings to get Stacey an appointment with a local doctor. They didn’t go this direction in the show, and while I like the changes, I really loved the way that plot unfolded in the original story!
That day was a real low point for all of us, she narrates. And, yeah . . . there they are: our esteemed President, Vice President, and Secretary, in their sandwich board signs. Kristy is straight up hitting a cowbell as they walk the sidewalks of Stoneybrook.
Claudia manages an unenthusiastic ‘call the babysitters club!’ but Mary Anne is humiliated into silence. (“This is my nightmare. Kristy is one of those IT clowns bringing night terrors into the daylight.”)
Claudia tries to console Mary Anne, but her words of reassurance are undercut by a car driving by. A girl leans out the window and says “you look stupid.” To throw salt in the wound, a boy’s voice yells “losers!” Even Kristy can’t keep her morale up.
(Also, please note that Sam’s misunderstanding of the club has led them to add ‘a business’ to their sandwich boards. Hilarious.)
The four sitters walk together, and Stacey apologizes that she couldn’t be there for the embarrassing marketing effort. Kristy’s a little salty about it, opaquely reminding Stacey of her previous lie about NYC. They’re debating cancelling their meeting when they come across a panic-inducing sight: Jamie Newton sitting on the curb, rolling his truck into the street.
After ushering Jamie away from the curb, the club bursts into the Newton house to confront Lacy and her, idk, scene boyfriend? Someone young help me out and describe this doofus. He freestyles a terrible verse about trespassing, to which Mary Anne pipes up “that doesn’t rhyme, sir.”
SHE CALLED HIM SIR. I love her.
Stacey calls Kim to clue her in on the incident. And there are consequences — there always are when facing off against a mean girl. Since it’s 2020, the truth about Stacey comes out via viral video: a cafeteria insulin shock episode filmed at Stacey’s NYC school. Helpfully distributed to everyone in Stoneybrook via the Babysitter’s Agency’s mailing list, of course.
The True Confessions of Anastasia Elizabeth
In Claudia’s room, Kristy is watching the video with concern and confusion. “Stacey,” she asks in a hushed voice, “what is this?” On the bed, Claudia is solemn and Mary Anne’s eyes are filled with tears (bless her)
Kristy spins through a number of possible theories, ranging from a nervous breakdown to hard drugs. Finally Stacey blurts out the truth we all know: she has type 1 diabetes, only recently diagnosed, and it was very hard to get under control.
“But why have you been lying to us?” Kristy asks, still not quite getting the secrecy.
“Because I was afraid,” Stacey says, “that if you knew that’s all you’d see me as, a sick girl.”
Mary Anne: “Stacey . . .”
Stacey: “That video was the worst day of my life. Even my best friend Laine sent it around. People commented on it. Made sure every private school kid in Manhattan saw it at least once.”
Claudia: “What a bunch of jerks.”
Stacey: “I just assumed you’d all want to laugh at me, too.”
Claudia: “Stacey, we would never.”
Mary Anne: “Never.”
Kristy: “Absolutely not, are you crazy? Or is your blood sugar just dropping.”
Claudia: “Too. soon.”
This is such a great moment for them as a foursome. I remember in the books when Stacey comes out with it, there’s a similar “that’s the thing???” reaction. I think Kristy is like “is that IT? Jeez, we’ll stop offering you candy and stuff.” It’s really lovely.
Because middle school can be hard, even without a semi-viral video haunting you. And the insulin pump makes Stacey’s illness visible, differentiates her from her peers. No wonder she’s been trying to hide it. I have autoimmune issues and you can definitely get a little weird about being seen as a Sick Person.
Her dark secret accepted — not just accepted, but brushed aside like it’s no big deal — they can move on to dealing with the BSA.
In PR they call this crisis communications
The babysitters have gathered their clients together for damage control. Stacey is wearing a pinstripe suit jacket and looks incredibly serious as she explains what was really happening in the video.
The clients aren’t immediately reassured the way her fellow club members were, and I find myself wondering why her parents aren’t stepping in to back her up. Am I a helicopter mom? Idk, I just feel like she’s twelve years old and this is a lot of heat to take from a roomful of adults?
But then Dr. Peggy Johannsson speaks up. She asks Stacey if she knew that Peggy had noticed her insulin pump right away, and points out to the other parents that “if anything, Stacey’s more mature than most kids her age given her health challenges.”
This calms the room, and the parents slowly start to share anecdotes of positive experiences their kids have had with the BSC members. Kristy leaps into the conversation in full sales pitch mode at the mention of kid kits, and Mrs. Rodowsky tells a Jackie story that ends with “you’re not the boss of me, Coach Kristy is.”
Darn right, kid.
Their superior care established, Kristy tries to get her mom to cede to later curfews. (Elizabeth is not exactly willing to commit to that.) Also, as someone still in early parent life, I prefer all of my evening events to end by nine p.m. (you know, in a non-covid world where events are still a thing). So the BSC can be my babysitters of choice anytime. In fact, they should be marketing their curfews as a perk: leave your event early with the absolutely true excuse that you have to relieve the babysitter!
Welcome to Stoneybrook, you’re gonna love it
Stacey reflects on being not just part of the club, but the greater community of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. It may not have a Bloomingdales, but turns out small towns can have their upsides.
Like feeling so accepted that she’s trying something new -- wearing her insulin pump (newly bedazzled) on her waistband. As she adjusts her outfit, her parents pop into her bedroom. Mrs. McGill is nervous at first (“it’s . . . blue”) but Stacey’s confident that she doesn’t need to hide anymore. And her dad backs her up with very dorky jokes about her glamming up his cellphone.
In the only solid McGills’ parenting moment of this episode (is it just me or are they the worst parents of the four girls? Discuss), Mrs. McGill shuts down Stacey’s desire for a Gucci fannypack, letting her know that if she keeps babysitting, “you might have enough to pay for it by the time you’re thirty-five.”
Back in Claudia’s room, the girls are nervously waiting for the phone to ring. But they don’t have to be, as Stacey narrates that they do get their clients back. And we do see the phone ring, and watch the girls light up, gathering around Kristy as she glowingly accepts an invitation to go visit the Newtons and their new baby.
(Though it’s totally unnecessary, I do miss the scene from the book with the presents for Lucy and Jamie, decorating wrapping paper together in Claudia’s room and cooing over the cute gifts and learning that Mimi is teaching Mary Anne how to knit. It’s just one of those very cozy scenes that makes you wish for your own BSC.)
The episode ends with a walk in the rain to the Newton’s, and the ceremonial viewing of the infant. Kim asks Stacey to hold her first, and the rest of the club (and Liz Thomas) gathers around her with all the reverence that a new little person tends to bring up in people.
Surrounded by friends and clients who care for her, holding someone who is even more of a new girl than she is, Stacey welcomes Lucy to Stoneybrook.
To their home.
KISHI STYLE FILES
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Images copyright Netflix Family/Walden Media; collages by me