第24部分(第7/8 頁)

u　and　nieen　other　saps　are　known

simply　as　Basket　Boy。

My　mom；　of　course；　was　into　it；　ing　up　with　all　sorts　of　stuff　to　put　in　my　basket　so　I'd　get

the　highest　bid。　I　tried　to　explain　that　I　didn't　want　to

be　in　Mayfield　Junior　High's　Basket　Boy　Hall　of　Fame；　and　that　really；　what　was　in　the　basket

didn't　matter。　It　wasn't　like　girls　were　bidding　on　the

basket。　When　you　got　right　down　to　it；　this　was　a　meat　market。

“You　eat　lunch　on　campus　and　that's　the　end　of　it。　It　is　hardly　a　meat　market；　Bryce。　It's　an

honor！　Besides；　maybe　someone　really　nice　will　bid　on

you　and　you'll　make　a　new　friend！”

Mothers　can　be　in　such　denial。

And　then　Garrett　bends　my　ear　with　the　news　that　Shelly　Stalls　is　breaking　up　with　Mitch

Michaelson；　and　that　she；　Miranda　Humes；　and　Jenny

Atkinson　are　starting　some　bidding　war　over　me。　“Dude！”　he　tells　me。　“The　two　hottest　chicks

on　campus。　And　I　swear　to　god；　man；　Shelly's

dumped　Mitch　because　of　you。　I　heard　it　direct　from　Shagreer；　and　dude；　Shagreer　the　Ear

knows　all。”　He　throws　me　this　nasty　grin　and　says；　“Me；

I'm　rooting　for　Jumbo　Jenny。　It　would　serve　you　right　for　being　such　a　basket　boy。”

I　told　him　to　shut　up；　but　he　was　right。　With　the　way　my　luck　was　running；　I'd　probably　get

stuck　with　Jumbo　Jenny。　I　could　just　see　it　—　six　feet　of

beefy　babe　downing　both　halves　of　my　lunch　and　then　ing　after　me。　Jen