第28部分(第5/7 頁)

her　glasses。　“Sounds　delicious；　and　sounds　like　fun！　Which；”　she　said；　looking　back　at　the

crowd；　“Jeffrey　is！　He　enjoys　skateboarding；　skiing；　and

swimming；　but　ladies；　he　also　enjoys　a　day　in　the　park　and　watching　Humphrey　Bogart

movies。”　She　turned　to　him　and　grinned。　“They　are　a　kick；

aren't　they？”

Poor　Jeff　tried　to　smile；　but　you　could　tell—he　wanted　to　die。

“All　right；　then；”　said　Mrs。　McClure　as　she　whipped　off　her　glasses。　“Do　I　hear　ten？”

Not　only　did　she　hear　ten；　she　heard　twelve；　fifteen；　twenty；　and　twenty…five；　too！　“Going　…

going　…　gone！”　cried　Mrs。　McClure。　“To　the　young　lady

in　the　purple　tunic！”

“Who　is　that？”　I　asked　Darla。

“I　think　her　name's　Tiffany；”　she　said。　“She's　a　seventh　grader。”

“Really？　Wow。　I　would　never　have　bid　last　year！　And　I　…I　don't　remember　bids　going　up　that

high；　either。”

Darla　eyed　me。　“Which　tells　me　that　maybe　you　would　bid　this　year？　How　much　you　got？”

I　looked　at　her　and　almost　dissolved　right　on　the　spot。　“Darla；　I　didn't　bring　money　on　purpose！

My　neighbor　made　me　take　it　on　the　way　to　school

because　she　owed　it　to　me　for　eggs　and—”

“For　eggs？　Oh；　like　Bryce　was　talking　about　in　the　library？”

“Exactly；　and—”　I　looked　at　her　looking　at　me　and　stopped　cold。

“How　can　you　even　think　about　bidding　on　that　boy？”

“I　don't　want　to！　But　I've　liked　him　for　so　long。　Darla；　I've　liked　him　since　I　was　seven。　And

even　though　I　know　he's　a　coward　and　a　sneak　and　I

should　never　speak　to　him　again；　I'm　having　trouble　focusing　on　that。　Especially　since　Shelly

Stalls　is　after　him。　And　now　I've　got　this　money　burning

a　hole　in　my　pocket！”

“Well；　I　can　under