669小说网

第27部分（第3页）

picnic　lunch　for　two　and　be　auctioned　off　to　the　highest　bidder。

“Being　a　basket　boy　is　an　honor—”　Mrs。　Simmons　began；　but　she　was　interrupted　by　Robbie。

“Its　a　joke！”　he　said。　“Its　embarrassing！　Who　wants　to　be　a　basket　boy？”

All　the　guys　around　him　muttered；　“Not　me；”　but　Mrs。　Simmons　cleared　her　throat　and　said；

“You　should　want　to　be　one！　Its　a　tradition　that　has

helped　support　the　school　since　it　was　founded。　There　have　been　generation　after　generation

of　basket　boys　helping　make　this　campus　what　it　is

today。　Its　why　we　have　flower　beds。　Its　why　we　have　shade　trees　and　a　grove　of　apple　trees。

Visit　another　junior　high　sometime　and　youll　begin　to

realize　what　a　little　oasis　our　campus　really　is。”

“All　this　from　the　sweat　and　blood　of　basket　boys；”　Robbie　grumbled。

Mrs。　Simmons　sighed。　“Robbie；　someday　when　your　children　go　to　school　here；　youll

understand。　For　now；　please　just　vote　for　whoever　you　think

will　earn　a　high　bid。　And　class；”　she　added；　“were　down　to　nine　minutes。”

………　Page　83………

The　room　fell　quiet。　And　as　I　read　down　the　list　of　over　one　hundred　and　fifty　eighth…grade

boys；　I　realized　that　to　me；　there　had　only　ever　been　one

boy。　To　me；　there　had　only　been　Bryce。

I　didnt　let　myself　get　sentimental。　I　had　liked　him　for　all　the　wrong　reasons；　and　I　certainly

wasnt　going　to　vote　for　him　now。　But　I　didnt　know　who

else　to　vote　for。　I　looked　at　Mrs。　Simmons；　who　was　eagle…eyeing　the　class　between　glances

at　the　clock。　What　if　I　didnt　choose　anybody？　What　if　I

just　turned　it　in　blank？

Shed　give　me　detention；　thats　what。　So　with　two　minutes　left　to　go；　I　put　dots　next　to　the

boys　I　knew　who　werent　jerks　or　clowns；　but　were　just

nice。　When　I　was　through；　there　were　all　of　ten　names　with　dots；　and　of　those　I　circled　five：

Ryan　Noll；　Vince　Olson；　Adrian　Iglesias；　Ian　Lai；　and　Jon

Trulock。　They　wouldnt　make　basket　boy；　but　then　I　wouldnt　be　bidding；　so　it　didnt　really

matter。　At　the　bell　I　handed　over　my　ballot　and　forgot　all

about　the　auction。

Until　lunchtime　the　next　day；　that　is。　Darla　cut　me　off　on　my　way　to　the　library　and　dragged

me　over　to　her　table　instead。　“Have　you　seen　the　list？”

she　asked。

“What　list？”