idn't　even　e　close。　He　got　Terry　Norris　for　sixteen　bucks；　and　the　most　anyone　else

got　was　forty。　And　when　it　was　over；　all　the　guys　told

me；　“Dude！　You　are；　like；　the　man…。　Score！”　but　I　didn't　feel　like　the　man。　I　felt　wiped　out。

My　mom　came　up　and　gave　me　a　hug　and　a　kiss　like　I'd　won　a　gold　medal　or　something；

then　whispered；　“My　little　baby；”　and　clickity…clicked　off

in　her　high　heels；　back　to　work。

So　I　was　wiped　out；　embarrassed；　and　then　practically　dragged　to　the　multi…purpose　room　by

Shelly　and　Miranda。

The　Boosters　had　outfitted　the　MPR　with　little　tables　for　two；　all　decorated　in　shades　of　pink

and　blue　and　yellow；　with　balloons　and　streamers

everywhere。　I　felt　like　the　Easter　bunny　with　my　stupid　basket　boy　lunch　clutched　in　both

hands　while　Miranda　held　on　to　one　arm　and　Shelly　latched

on　to　the　other。

They　gave　us　the　biggest　table　and　whisked　in　an　extra　chair；　and　when　everyone　was

seated；　Mrs。　McClure　said；　“Boys　and　girls？　I　don't　think　I

need　to　remind　you　that　you　are　excused　from　class　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　Enjoy　your

lunches；　enjoy　your　friendships…。　Take　your　time；　relax；　and

thanks　again　for　supporting　your　Boosters。　We　wouldn't　be　us　without　you！”

So　there　I　was；　with　the　two　hottest　girls　on　campus；　having　lunch。　I　was　“the　man；”　the　envy

of　every　other　guy　in　school。

Buddy；　I　was　miserable。

I　mean；　these　two　girls　may　be　gorgeous；　but　what　was　ing　out　of　their　mouths　about

Jumbo　Jenny　was　embarrassingly　ugly。　Miranda　works

………　Page　78………

herself　up　to；　“What　was　she　thinking？　Like　you　would　ever　want　to　go　out　with　her；　right；

Bryce？”

Well；　yeah。　That　was　righ