第28部分(第1/7 頁)

I　had　to　get　past　Bryce　and　Shelly。　They　deserved

each　other—let　them　have　each　other！

But　in　my　heart　I　knew　that　just　like　the　new　grass；　I　wasn't　strong　enough　yet　to　be　walked

on。　And　until　I　was；　there　was　only　one　solution：　I　had　to

stay　away　from　him。　I　needed　to　rope　him　out　of　my　life。

So　I　closed　my　ears　to　the　news　of　basket　boys　and　steered　clear　of　Bryce　at　school。　And

when　I　did　happen　to　run　into　him；　I　simply　said　hello

like　he　was　someone　I　barely　even　knew。

It　was　working；　too！　I　was　growing　stronger　by　the　day。　Who　cared　about　auctions　and　basket

boys？　I　didn't！

Friday　morning　I　got　up　early；　collected　what　few　eggs　there　were　in　the　coop；　watered　the

front　yard；　which　was　by　now　definitely　green；　ate

breakfast；　and　got　ready　for　school。

But　as　I　was　running　a　brush　through　my　hair；　I　couldn't　help　thinking　about　Shelly　Stalls。　It

was　auction　day。　She'd　probably　been　up　since　five；

making　her　hair　into　some　impossibly　pouffy　do。

So　what？　I　told　myself。　So　what？　But　as　I　was　throwing　on　my　windbreaker；　I　eyed　my　money

tin　and　hesitated。　What　if　…

No！　No…no…no！

I　ran　to　the　garage；　got　my　bike；　and　pushed　out　of　the　driveway。　And　I　was　in　the　street　and

on　my　way　when　Mrs。　Stueby　flew　right　in　my　path。

“Julianna；”　she　called；　waving　her　hand　through　the　air。　“Here；　dear。　Take　this。　I'm　so　sorry

it's　taken　me　this　long　to　get　it　to　you。　I　keep　missing　you

in　the　mornings。”

………　Page　85………

I　didn't　even　know　how　much　she　owed　me。　At　that　moment　I　didn't　care。　All　I　knew　was　the

top　bill　in　her　hand　was　a　ten；　and　it　was　striking　terror

in　my　heart。　“Mrs。　Stueby；　plea