第25部分(第1/7 頁)

though　Shelly　and　Miranda　didn't　seem　to　smell　a　thing；　Garrett　did。

“Dude！”　he　says　to　me　on　Thursday。　“I　can　see　your　game；　man。”

“What　are　you　talking　about？”

“Don't　deny　it；　dude。　You're　working　them　both。”　He　es　up　and　whispers　in　my　ear；

“Basket　boy　or　not；　I'm　in　awe。”

“Shut　up；　man。”

“Seriously！　The　Ear　says　they　were；　like；　clawing　each　other　in　P。E。　today。”

I　had　to　know。　“What　about　…　Jumbo　Jenny？”

He　shrugs。　“Haven't　heard。　But　we'll　find　out　tomorrow；　won't　we；　dude？”

My　mother　dropped　me　off　at　school　on　Friday　with　my　stupid　oversized　picnic　basket；　and

since　all　basket　boys　have　to　dress　up；　I　was　choking

in　a　tie　and　feeling　pletely　dweeblike　in　slacks　and　dress　shoes。

Kids　whistled　and　shouted；　“Oooh；　baby！”　as　I　headed　up　the　walkway；　and　then　Jumbo

Jenny　passed　me；　taking　the　front　steps　three　at　a　time。

“Wow；　Bryce；”　she　said　over　her　shoulder。　“You　look…　delicious。”

Oh；　man！　I　practically　ran　to　the　classroom　where　all　the　basket　boys　were　supposed　to　meet；

and　the　minute　I　walked　in；　I　felt　better。　I　was

surrounded　by　other　dweebs；　who　seemed　genuinely　happy　to　see　me。　“Hey；　Loski”；　“Yo；

dude”；　“Doesn't　this　suck　eggs？”；　“Why　didn't　you　take　the

bus；　man？”

Misery　loves　pany。

Then　Mrs。　McClure；　the　president　of　the　Boosters；　the　lady　who　lassoed　us　all；　hoofs　it

through　the　door。　“Oh；　my！”　she　says。　“You　all　look　so

handsome！”

Not　one　word　about　our　baskets。　Not　one　little　sneak　peek　inside。　No；　for　all　she　cared；　those

puppies　were　empty。

Meat　market？

You　better　believe　it！

“Don't　be　so　nervous；　boys；”　Mrs。　McClure　was　saying。　“You're　going　to　have　a