se　voice　it　was。

Juli　Baker's。

I　searched　through　the　crowd　and　found　her；　hand　waving　in　the　air；　that　look　all　over　her

face。

“Sixteen！”　came　the　other　voice。

There　was　a　pause；　but　then　Juli　shoots　back　with　“Eighteen！”

“Eighteen！”　cries　Mrs。　McClure；　who　looks　like　she's　about　to　collapse　from　relief。　She

pauses；　then　says；　“Eighteen　going　once　…　Eighteen

going　twice　…　Sold！　for　eighteen　dollars。”

To　Juli？　She　was　the　last　person　I　expected　to　bid　on　a　lunch。　Anybody's　lunch。

Jon　staggered　back　into　line。　And　I　knew　I　was　supposed　to　step　forward；　but　I　couldn't

budge。　I　felt　like　I'd　been　slugged　in　the　stomach。　Did　Juli

like　Jon？　Is　that　why　she'd　been　so…so…　nice　lately？　Because　she　didn't　care　about　me

anymore？　All　my　life　she'd　been　there；　waiting　to　be

avoided；　and　now　it　was　like　I　didn't　even　exist。

“Step　up；　Bryce。　e　on；　don't　be　shy！”

Mike　Abenido　shoved　me　a　little　and　said；　“Your　turn　for　torture。　Get　up　there！”

It　felt　like　walking　the　plank。　I　just　stood　up　front　sweating　bullets　while　the　Booster　queen

dissected　my　lunch　and　started　running　through　my　list　of

favorites。　Before　she's　even　finished；　though；　Shelly　Stalls　calls　out；　“Ten！”

“What's　that？”　says　Mrs。　McClure。

“I'll　give　you　ten！”

“Oh；”　she　laughs　as　she　puts　down　her　notes。　“Well；　I　guess　I　hear　ten！”

“Twenty！”　calls　Miranda　Humes　from　dead　center。

“Twenty…five！”　It's　Shelly　again。

I'm　looking　around　for　Jumbo　Jenny；　praying　she's　gone　home　sick　or　something；　while

Shelly　and　Miranda　go　up　by　fives。　“Thirty！”

“Thirty…five！”

“Forty！”

………　Page　77………

Then　I　spot　her。　She's　about　twenty　f