669小说网

第28部分（第4页）

movies。”　She　turned　to　him　and　grinned。　“They　are　a　kick；

arent　they？”

Poor　Jeff　tried　to　smile；　but　you　could　tell—he　wanted　to　die。

“All　right；　then；”　said　Mrs。　McClure　as　she　whipped　off　her　glasses。　“Do　I　hear　ten？”

Not　only　did　she　hear　ten；　she　heard　twelve；　fifteen；　twenty；　and　twenty…five；　too！　“Going　…

going　…　gone！”　cried　Mrs。　McClure。　“To　the　young　lady

in　the　purple　tunic！”

“Who　is　that？”　I　asked　Darla。

“I　think　her　names　Tiffany；”　she　said。　“Shes　a　seventh　grader。”

“Really？　Wow。　I　would　never　have　bid　last　year！　And　I　…I　dont　remember　bids　going　up　that

high；　either。”

Darla　eyed　me。　“Which　tells　me　that　maybe　you　would　bid　this　year？　How　much　you　got？”

I　looked　at　her　and　almost　dissolved　right　on　the　spot。　“Darla；　I　didnt　bring　money　on　purpose！

My　neighbor　made　me　take　it　on　the　way　to　school

because　she　owed　it　to　me　for　eggs　and—”

“For　eggs？　Oh；　like　Bryce　was　talking　about　in　the　library？”

“Exactly；　and—”　I　looked　at　her　looking　at　me　and　stopped　cold。

“How　can　you　even　think　about　bidding　on　that　boy？”

“I　dont　want　to！　But　Ive　liked　him　for　so　long。　Darla；　Ive　liked　him　since　I　was　seven。　And

even　though　I　know　hes　a　coward　and　a　sneak　and　I

should　never　speak　to　him　again；　Im　having　trouble　focusing　on　that。　Especially　since　Shelly

Stalls　is　after　him。　And　now　Ive　got　this　money　burning

a　hole　in　my　pocket！”

“Well；　I　can　understand　the　bit　about　Shelly　Stalls；　but　if　you　know　that　boys　just　a　big　piece

of　fluffy　cheesecake　that　youre　gonna　regret　eating；　I

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

“No！”

………　Page　87………

“No？”

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

She　shook　her　head。　“Oh；　girl。　Im　hurting　for　you　here。”

I　looked　back　at　the　stage。　The　auction　was　happening　so　fast！　Theyd　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