se。　I　…I　don't　want　that。　You　don't　have　to　pay　me。”

“Nonsense；　child！　Of　course　I'm　going　to　pay　you。　Here！”　she　said；　and　waved　it　out　for　me　to

take。

“No；　really。　I　…I　don't　want　it。”

She　wedged　it　in　the　pocket　of　my　jeans　and　said；　“What　utter　nonsense。　Now　go！　Go　buy

yourself　a　rooster！”　then　hurried　back　up　her　walkway。

“Mrs。　Stueby…　Mrs。　Stueby？”　I　called　after　her。　“I　don't　want　a　rooster…　！”　but　she　was　gone。

All　the　way　to　school　Mrs。　Stueby's　money　was　burning　a　hole　in　my　pocket　and　another　in

my　brain。　How　much　was　it？

When　I　got　to　school；　I　parked　my　bike；　then　broke　down　and　looked。　Ten；　fifteen；　sixteen；

seventeen；　eighteen。　I　folded　the　bills　together　and　slid

them　back　into　my　pocket。　Was　it　more　than　Shelly　had？

All　through　first　period　I　was　furious　with　myself　for　even　thinking　it。　All　through　second　period

I　kept　my　eyes　off　of　Bryce；　but　oh！　It　was　so　hard！　I'd

never　seen　him　in　a　tie　and　cuff　links　before！

Then　at　break　I　was　at　my　locker　when　Shelly　Stalls　appeared　out　of　nowhere。　She　got　right

next　to　me　and　said；　“I　hear　you're　planning　to　bid　on

him。”

“What？”　I　took　a　step　back。　“Who　told　you　that？　I　am　not！”

“Someone　said　they　saw　you　with　a　whole　wad　of　cash　this　morning。　How　much　do　you

have？”

“It's　…　it's　none　of　your　business。　And　I'm　not　bidding；　okay？　I　…I　don't　even　like　him

anymore。”

She　laughed；　“Oh；　that'll　be　the　day！”

“It's　true。”　I　slammed　my　locker　closed。　“Go　ahead　and　waste　your　money　on　him。　I　don't

care。”

I　left　her　there　with　her　mouth　open；　which　felt　even　better　than　getting　her　in　a　headlock。

That　feeling　carried　me　clear　through　to