第27部分(第3/8 頁)

and　when　we'd　all　pretty

much　plied　with　her　request；　she　picked　a　stack　of

bright　yellow　papers　off　her　desk；　fanned　them　with　an　evil　grin；　and　said；　“It's　time　to　vote　for

basket　boys！”

A　wave　of　relief　swept　across　the　room。　“Basket　boys？　You　mean　it's　not　a　quiz？”

She　ticked　through　the　stack；　counting　ballots　as　she　spoke。　“It　is　like　a　quiz　in　that　I　don't

want　you　conferring　with　one　another。　It's　also　like　a　quiz

in　that　you　have　a　limited　amount　of　time。”　She　slapped　a　set　of　ballots　down　on　the　first　desk

of　row　one；　then　went　on　to　the　second　row。　“I　will

collect　them　from　you　individually　when　the　bell　rings；　and　I　will　inspect　to　see　that　you　have

plied　with　the　following　instructions。”　She　scooted

over　to　row　three。　“Choose　five；　and　only　five；　of　the　boys　on　the　list。　Do　not　put　your　name

on　it；　and　do　not　discuss　your　choices　with　your

neighbors。”　She　was　on　to　row　four　now；　talking　faster　and　faster。　“When　you've　made　your

selections；　simply　turn　your　sheet　over。”　She　slapped　the

remainder　down　on　the　last　desk。　“Do　not；　I　repeat；　do　not　fold　your　ballot！”

Robbie　Castinon　raised　his　hand　and　blurted　out；　“Why　do　guys　have　to　vote。　It's　lame　to

have　guys　vote。”

“Robbie　…；”　Mrs。　Simmons　warned。

“Seriously！　What　are　we　supposed　to　do？　Vote　for　our　friends　or　our　enemies？”

A　lot　of　people　snickered；　and　Mrs。　Simmons　scowled；