Episode 30: Mallory and the Mystery Diary

The episode for "Mallory and the Mystery Diary" was originally released on September 19, 2016. **You can listen to it here.** This episode is 48:10 long.This week's ghostwriter: none.

*Previous:* Episode 29: Welcome Back, Stacey! | *Next:* Episode 31: Mary Anne and the Great Romance | *Or,* see all episodes.

## Official Episode Description

Listen to two ghostly voices, trapped in amber, echoing out from the murky abyss that is the Baby-Sitters Club Club podcast. This week Mallory finds a diary, talks to a ghost, and teaches a young boy to read. Also this week, Jack and Tanner become U.S. citizens, burn their faces off, and confront Princeton’s own Ann M. Martin about her whereabouts on the evening of June 10, 1958.

## Music Credits

* “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by U.S. Army Band
* “Amazing Grace Jig” by Dave DelaGardelle
* "When Memories Break” by Smokey Viewer
* “Intense Horror Whispering Music” by Mattia Cupelli
* “Break Away” by Foria
* Original Intro by Scott Lamb

## Ann's Epithets

Princeton’s own princess Ann Matthews Martin.

## Book Description

Mallory creates a bond across the decades. Jack says “there are a literal fuckton of scary ghosts” in this book, which Tanner then makes him define.

Tanner completes the description within time and does a good job.

## Segments

###  Burn Of The Week

Tanner: Kristy burns the BSC re: ghosts. “Let’s party. I’m starved.”

Jack’s burn is also a Claudia’s Closet.

###  Claudia's Closet

Kristy’s outfit: a full Roma outfit. A turban, baggy pants, false eyelashes, lipstick as rouge, baggy peasant blouse, a long flowing skirt with gaudy flowers, and tons of jewelry.

In a row on Claud’s bed:

* Mary Anne: a very cool, short printed jumper over a striped shirt. The jumper was white with a small red print, and the shirt was white with narrow wide-spaced stripes. Claudia called the outfit “a fashion risk that worked”.
* Claudia: jeans, plain white blouse, pink sweater, white socks, loafers. “She’d gone back to the 50s for the day.”
* Stacey: short sleeved blue and white jumpsuit with cuffed pants (BORING opines Tanner).
* ”Last but not least was Dawn. Sitting backwards in Claud’s desk chair, resting her arms on the top rung of the back. Her outfit was fairly normal: pants and a baggy sweatshirt. But on her head was a small straw hat. I couldn’t believe it. Talk about fashion risks!”

## Theories

###  Amber Theory

“I feel as if I’m going to be eleven forever.” — Mallory Pike

Mallory reads a snapshot of a moment forever immortalized in 1894: this is the Baby-sitter’s Club of the BSC.

Jack and Tanner are ghosts in the amber— someone out there is reading them.

###  Doll Theory

Tanner reminds us that Claudia has been a doll for some time.

Confluence of the dolls with the witches and ghosts in Kristy’s attic.

###  Witchcraft

Tanner says there are literally zero ghosts in the book, but does note that Dawn may have been taken by the ghosts.

Jack notes the confluence of the three major occult forces: dolls, the witches, and ghosts.

Morbidda Destiny is a "sentinel": there to watch over Karen's magic potential.

Emily Michelle is a force of chaos, bringing a new light and perspective. The town exerts a normative force on her.

## Jack's References

* Jack is an official applicant to be an American citizen as of this episode. Jack’s favorite American stuff includes frankfurters. Jack tries to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and fails.
* Much of this novel is about text and how we relate to/interact with text.
* ”terrible healthcare standards under Grover Cleveland’s America”
* reiteration of the Morbidda Destiny = Snape theory
* Jack references VHS movies and the “v-hold” re: Mary Anne’s outfit.
* ”language is a controlling factor in these novels”
* Shakespeare

## Tanner's References

* Tanner Sings: “Stars” from Les Miserables.
* Tanner feels bad for Trip-Man and encourages a Trip-Man/Mrs. McGill ship. This was originally posited by Jack in the previous episode.
* Tanner compares Dawn’s outfit to Jason Mraz
* *Infinite Jest* by David Foster Wallace

## Notes

* The boys note that “Old Hickory” = Mr. Hickman, Sophia’s grandfather.
* Tanner and Jack note that they are Sophie and Mallory to us, Baby Nation
* Revisiting the Kids Incorporated; Jack notes that this week first revisits that investment and the new revenue stream of tutoring.
* Reading levels in the BSC: crow: scavenger, to robin: spring bird, to hawk: predator
* The 25th date anniversary: who remembers this?
* Tanner brings up the Happy Reading section: “what I did on June 10, 1958.”

## Notable Non-Sitters

Buddy Barrett, Emily Michelle Thomas-Brewer, Mr. Spier, Mrs. Schafer

## References & Links

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog\_television#Horizontal\_hold\_and\_vertical\_hold

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