迪文小说

第25部分（第1页）

though　Shelly　and　Miranda　didnt　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？”

“Dont　deny　it；　dude。　Youre　working　them　both。”　He　es　up　and　whispers　in　my　ear；

“Basket　boy　or　not；　Im　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。　“Havent　heard。　But　well　find　out　tomorrow；　wont　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”；　“Doesnt　this　suck　eggs？”；　“Why　didnt　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！

“Dont　be　so　nervous；　boys；”　Mrs。　McClure　was　saying。　“Youre　going　to　have　a　wonderful

day！”　She　pulls　out　a　list　of　names　and　starts　ordering

us　into　line。　We　get　numbers；　our　baskets　get　numbers；　we　fill　out　three…by…five　cards　to　her

insane　specifications；　and　by　the　time　shes　got　us　all

organized　and　is　sure　we　know　what　to　do　and　what　not　to　do；　weve　missed　all　of　first　and

most　of　second　period。　“Okay；　gentlemen；”　she　says。

“Leave　your　baskets　where　they　are　and　go　to…　where　are　we　now？　Still　in　second？”　She

looks　at　the　clock。　“Right。　Second。”