第27部分(第4/7 頁)

　the　sweat　and　blood　of　basket　boys；”　Robbie　grumbled。

Mrs。　Simmons　sighed。　“Robbie；　someday　when　your　children　go　to　school　here；　you'll

understand。　For　now；　please　just　vote　for　whoever　you　think

will　earn　a　high　bid。　And　class；”　she　added；　“we're　down　to　nine　minutes。”

………　Page　83………

The　room　fell　quiet。　And　as　I　read　down　the　list　of　over　one　hundred　and　fifty　eighth…grade

boys；　I　realized　that　to　me；　there　had　only　ever　been　one

boy。　To　me；　there　had　only　been　Bryce。

I　didn't　let　myself　get　sentimental。　I　had　liked　him　for　all　the　wrong　reasons；　and　I　certainly

wasn't　going　to　vote　for　him　now。　But　I　didn't　know　who

else　to　vote　for。　I　looked　at　Mrs。　Simmons；　who　was　eagle…eyeing　the　class　between　glances

at　the　clock。　What　if　I　didn't　choose　anybody？　What　if　I

just　turned　it　in　blank？

She'd　give　me　detention；　that's　what。　So　with　two　minutes　left　to　go；　I　put　dots　next　to　the

boys　I　knew　who　weren't　jerks　or　clowns；　but　were　just

nice。　When　I　was　through；　there　were　all　of　ten　names　with　dots；　and　of　those　I　circled　five：

Ryan　Noll；　Vince　Olson；　Adrian　Iglesias；　Ian　Lai；　and　Jon

Trulock。　They　wouldn't　make　basket　boy；　but　then　I　wouldn't　be　bidding；　so　it　didn't　really

matter。　At　the　bell　I　handed　over　my　ballot　and　forgot　all

about　the　auction。

Until　lunchtime　the　next　day；　that　is。　Darla　cut　me　off　on　my　way　to　the　library　and　dragged

me　over　to　her　table　instead。　“Have　you　seen　the　list？”

she　asked。

“What　list？”

“The　list　of　basket　boys！”　She　shoved　a　scrawled　copy　of　twenty　names　in　front　of　me　and

looked　around。　“Your　main　dish　is　on　it！”

Five　from　the　top；　there　it　was—Bryce　Losk