I remember reading those series books as a child.
And skipping the second chapter of the Babysitter's Club installments.
It always was about her family,
Numbers of brothers and sisters
And that she had two birthday parties because her
Parents were divorced.

Each story had a different cover for the same,
Predictable pages.
I would be so visibly proud when I read the last paragraph,
Fanning through the pages and hearing their applause.

I remember reading one years later,
stuffed in a basement box.
Finishing it within the hour and hearing no such validation.
I chuckled as I revisited old passages,
Imagining the author cutting and pasting words
and altering the names to fit the simplistic plot line.

I remember my adolescent literature class.
My teacher stating that
Series books are meant to be read until their pattern is identified.
Then readers move on to book B.

It is easy to read the expected,
But I beg you to help me put the worn-out pages down.
And move on.