第28部分(第4/8 頁)

ed　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

know　that　your　teachers　have　gone　over　the　procedures

with　you　in　homeroom；　but　I've　been　asked　to　remind　you　of　a　few　things：　This　is　a　civilized

proceeding。　No　whistling；　catcalls；　or　other　degrading

behavior　will　be　tolerated。　If　you　wish　to　place　a　bid；　you　must　raise　your　hand　high。　Bidding

without　raising　your　hand　is　prohibited；　and　should　you

decide　to　be　a　funny　guy；　you　will　be　caught　and　detained　or　suspended。　Are　we　all　clear　on

that？　Good。”　She　looked　from　one　side　of　the　gym　to

the　other。　“Teachers；　I　see　that　you　are　in　pos