第6部分(第5/7 頁)

nd　the　hymnals　were　beautiful。　In　three　years

the　Pratt　Institute　of　Art　and　Design　would　be　knocking　her　door

down。　Still；　Jenny　felt　sick　with　embarrassment　every　time　they

used　the　hymnals；　which　was　why　she　couldn’t　sing　out　loud。　To

sing　aloud　seemed　like　an　act　of　bravado；　as　if　she　were　saying；

“Look　at　me；　I’m　singing　along　to　the　hymnals　I　made！　Aren’t　I

cool？”

Jenny　preferred　to　be　invisible。　She　was　a　curly…haired；　tiny　little

freshman；　so　invisible　wasn’t　a　hard　thing　to　be。　Actually；　it　would

have　been　easier　if　her　boobs　weren’t　so　incredibly　huge。　At

fourteen；　she　was　a　34D。

Can　you　imagine？

“Hark　the　heavenly　host　proclaims；　Christ　i…is　born　in　Beth…le…hem！”

Jenny　was　standing　at　the　end　of　a　row　of　folding　chairs；　next　to　the

big　auditorium　windows　overlooking　Ninety…third　Street。　Suddenly　a

movement　out　on　the　street　caught　her　eye。　Blond　hair　flying。

Burberry　plaid　coat。　Scuffed　brown　suede　boots。　New　maroon

uniform—odd　choice；　but　she　made　it　work。　It　looked　like　。　。　。　it

couldn’t　be　。　。　。　could　it　possibly　。　。　。　No！　。　。　。　Was　it？

Yes；　it　was。

A　moment　later　Serena　van　der　Woodsen　pushed　open　the　heavy

wooden　door　of　the　auditorium　and　stood　in　front　of　it；　looking　for

her　class。　She　was　out　of　breath　and　her　hair　was　windblown。　Her

cheeks　were　rosy　and　her　eyes　were　bright　from　running　the　twelve

blocks　up　Fifth　Avenue　to　school。　She　looked　even　more　perfect　than

Jenny　had　remembered。

“Oh。　My。　God；”　Rain　whispered　to　Kati　in　the　back　of　the　room。　“Did

she　like；　pick　up　her　clothes　at　a　homeless　shelter　on　the　way

here？”

“She　didn’t　even　brush　her　hai