eleven　o'clock；　when　the　entire　student　body

assembled　in　the　gymnasium。　I　was　not　going　to　bid　on

Bryce　Loski。　No　way！

Then　the　basket　boys　came　out　on　the　stage。　Bryce　looked　so　adorable　holding　a　picnic

basket　with　red…and…white…checked　napkins　peeking　out

from　either　side；　and　the　thought　of　Shelly　Stalls　flipping　one　of　those　napkins　into　her　lap

nearly　made　the　bills　in　my　pocket　burst　into　flames。

Darla　came　up　behind　me　and　whispered；　“Rumor　is　you've　got　a　wad　of　cash。　Is　that　true？”

“What？　No！　I　mean；　yes；　but　I　…　I'm　not　bidding。”

“Oooo；　girl；　look　at　you。　You　feelin'　all　right？”

I　wasn't。　I　felt　sick　to　my　stomach　and　shaky　in　the　knees。　“I'm　fine；”　I　told　her。　“Fine。”

She　looked　from　me　to　the　stage　and　back　to　me。　“You　got　nothin'　to　lose　but　your　self…

respect。”

“Stop　it！”　I　whispered　at　her　fiercely。　It　felt　like　I　was　having　a　panic　attack。　I　couldn't　breathe。

I　felt　light…headed　and　wobbly—like　I　wasn't　in　control

of　my　own　body。

Darla　said；　“Maybe　you　should　sit　down。”

“I'm　fine；　Darla；　I'm　fine。”

She　frowned　at　me。　“I　think　I'll　stick　around　to　make　sure。”

The　Booster　Club　president；　Mrs。　McClure；　had　been　fluttering　around　the　basket　boys；　fixing

ties　and　giving　them　last…minute　instructions；　but

now　suddenly　she　was　slamming　her　gavel　on　the　podium；　calling　into　the　microphone；　“If

you'll　all　settle　down；　we're　ready　to　begin。”

I'd　never　seen　six　hundred　kids　quiet　down　so　fast。　I　guess　Mrs。　McClure　hadn't　either；

because　she　smiled　and　said；　“Why；　thank　you。　Thank　you

………　Page　86………

very　much。”　Then　she　said；　“And　wele　to　the　fifty…second　annual　Basket　Boy　Auction！　I