第27部分(第3/7 頁)

on　to　the　second　row。　“I　will

collect　them　from　you　individually　when　the　bell　rings；　and　I　will　inspect　to　see　that　you　have

plied　with　the　following　instructions。”　She　scooted

over　to　row　three。　“Choose　five；　and　only　five；　of　the　boys　on　the　list。　Do　not　put　your　name

on　it；　and　do　not　discuss　your　choices　with　your

neighbors。”　She　was　on　to　row　four　now；　talking　faster　and　faster。　“When　you've　made　your

selections；　simply　turn　your　sheet　over。”　She　slapped　the

remainder　down　on　the　last　desk。　“Do　not；　I　repeat；　do　not　fold　your　ballot！”

Robbie　Castinon　raised　his　hand　and　blurted　out；　“Why　do　guys　have　to　vote。　It's　lame　to

have　guys　vote。”

“Robbie　…；”　Mrs。　Simmons　warned。

“Seriously！　What　are　we　supposed　to　do？　Vote　for　our　friends　or　our　enemies？”

A　lot　of　people　snickered；　and　Mrs。　Simmons　scowled；　but　he　had　a　point。　Twenty　of　the

school's　eighth…grade　boys　would　be　made　to　pack　a

picnic　lunch　for　two　and　be　auctioned　off　to　the　highest　bidder。

“Being　a　basket　boy　is　an　honor—”　Mrs。　Simmons　began；　but　she　was　interrupted　by　Robbie。

“It's　a　joke！”　he　said。　“It's　embarrassing！　Who　wants　to　be　a　basket　boy？”

All　the　guys　around　him　muttered；　“Not　me；”　but　Mrs。　Simmons　cleared　her　throat　and　said；

“You　should　want　to　be　one！　It's　a　tradition　that　has

helped　support　the　school　since　it　was　founded。　There　have　been　generation　after　generation

of　basket　boys　helping　make　this　campus　what　it　is

today。　It's　why　we　have　flower　beds。　It's　why　we　have　shade　trees　and　a　grove　of　apple　trees。

Visit　another　junior　high　sometime　and　you'll　begin　to

realize　what　a　little　oasis　our　campus　really　is。”

“All　this　from