第24部分(第5/7 頁)

er　or　not。　I　could

even　breed　my　chickens　and　get　a　whole　new　set　of

layers。　But　did　I　really　want　to　go　through　all　of　that　again？

………　Page　74………

Not　really。　I　didn't　want　to　be　the　neighborhood　rancher。　If　my　girls　quit　laying　altogether；　that

would　be　just　fine　with　me。

I　put　away　the　rake　and　shovel；　clucked　a　kiss　on　each　of　the　hens；　and　went　inside。　It　felt

good　to　take　charge　of　my　own　destiny！　I　felt　strong　and

right　and　certain。

Little　did　I　know　how　a　few　days　back　at　school　would　change　all　of　that。

Flipped

After　the　dinner　Juli　was　nice　to　me　at　school。　Which　I　hated。　Mad　was　better　than　nice。

Gaga　was　better　than　…　nice。　It　was　like　I　was　a　stranger　to

her；　and　man；　it　bugged　me。　Bugged　me　big…time。

Then　the　auction　happened；　and　I　found　myself　with　even　bigger　problems。

The　auction　is　this　bogus　way　the　Booster　Club　raises　money　for　the　school。　They　insist　it's

an　honor　to　be　chosen；　but　bull…stinkin'…loney　to　that！

Bottom　line　is；　twenty　guys　get　shanghaied。　They　have　to　e　up　with　fancy　picnic　lunches

and　then　be　humiliated　in　front　of　the　whole　school　while

girls　bid　to　have　lunch　with　them。

Guess　who　made　this　year's　top　twenty。

You'd　think　mothers　would　say；　Hey；　there's　no　way　you're　going　to　auction　my　son　off　to　the

highest　bidder；　but　no。　Instead；　they're　all　flattered

that　their　son's　been　elected　a　basket　boy。

Yes；　my　friend；　that's　what　they　call　you。　Over　the　P。A。　you　hear　stuff　like；　“There　will　be　an

organizational　meeting　of　the　newly　elected　basket

boys　in　the　MPR　at　lunch　today。　All　basket　boys　must　attend。”

Pretty　soon　you've　pletely　lost　your　name。　Yo