第28部分(第2/8 頁)

n　me　this　long　to　get　it　to　you。　I　keep　missing　you

in　the　mornings。”

………　Page　85………

I　didn't　even　know　how　much　she　owed　me。　At　that　moment　I　didn't　care。　All　I　knew　was　the

top　bill　in　her　hand　was　a　ten；　and　it　was　striking　terror

in　my　heart。　“Mrs。　Stueby；　please。　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