第28部分(第6/7 頁)

stand　the　bit　about　Shelly　Stalls；　but　if　you　know　that　boy's　just　a　big　piece

of　fluffy　cheesecake　that　you're　gonna　regret　eating；　I

can　help　you　with　your　diet。”　She　put　out　her　hand。　“Give　me　the　money。　I'll　hold　it　for　you。”

“No！”

………　Page　87………

“No？”

“I　mean…I　can　handle　this。　I've　got　to　handle　it。”

She　shook　her　head。　“Oh；　girl。　I'm　hurting　for　you　here。”

I　looked　back　at　the　stage。　The　auction　was　happening　so　fast！　They'd　be　at　Bryce　in　no　time。

As　the　bidding　continued；　the　battle　in　my　head　got

louder　and　fiercer。　What　was　I　going　to　do？

Then　suddenly　the　gym　fell　quiet。　You　could　have　heard　a　pin　drop。　And　standing　next　to　Mrs。

McClure　looking　pletely　mortified　was　Jon

Trulock。　Mrs。　McClure　was　scouring　the　crowd　with　her　eyes；　looking　very　unfortable；　too。

“What　happened？”　I　whispered　to　Darla。

“No　one's　bidding；”　she　whispered　back。

“Do　I　hear　ten？”　called　Mrs。　McClure。　“e　on；　out　there！　This　lunch　is　delicious。

Strawberry　tarts；　roast　beef　and　Muenster　cheese　sandwiches

…”　“Oh；　no！”　I　whispered　to　Darla。　“I　can't　believe　I　did　this　to　him！”

“You？　What　did　you　do？”

“I　voted　for　him！”

“Well；　you　couldn't　have　been　the　only　one…。”

“But　why　isn't　anyone　bidding　on　him？　He's　…　he's　so　nice。”

Darla　nodded。　“Exactly。”

That's　when　I　realized　what　I　had　to　do。　My　hand　shot　into　the　air　and　I　called；　“Ten！”

“Ten？”　warbled　Mrs。　McClure。　“Did　I　hear　ten？”

I　put　my　hand　up　higher　and　said　to　Darla；　“Say　twelve。”

“What？”

“Say　twelve；　I'll　outbid　you。”

“No　way！”

“Darla！　He　can't　go　for　ten；　c'mon！”

“Twelve！”　Darla　called；　but　her　hand　didn't　go　up　very　hig