but　he　had　a　point。　Twenty　of　the

school's　eighth…grade　boys　would　be　made　to　pack　a

picnic　lunch　for　two　and　be　auctioned　off　to　the　highest　bidder。

“Being　a　basket　boy　is　an　honor—”　Mrs。　Simmons　began；　but　she　was　interrupted　by　Robbie。

“It's　a　joke！”　he　said。　“It's　embarrassing！　Who　wants　to　be　a　basket　boy？”

All　the　guys　around　him　muttered；　“Not　me；”　but　Mrs。　Simmons　cleared　her　throat　and　said；

“You　should　want　to　be　one！　It's　a　tradition　that　has

helped　support　the　school　since　it　was　founded。　There　have　been　generation　after　generation

of　basket　boys　helping　make　this　campus　what　it　is

today。　It's　why　we　have　flower　beds。　It's　why　we　have　shade　trees　and　a　grove　of　apple　trees。

Visit　another　junior　high　sometime　and　you'll　begin　to

realize　what　a　little　oasis　our　campus　really　is。”

“All　this　from　the　sweat　and　blood　of　basket　boys；”　Robbie　grumbled。

Mrs。　Simmons　sighed。　“Robbie；　someday　when　your　children　go　to　school　here；　you'll

understand。　For　now；　please　just　vote　for　whoever　you　think

will　earn　a　high　bid。　And　class；”　she　added；　“we're　down　to　nine　minutes。”

………　Page　83………

The　room　fell　quiet。　And　as　I　read　down　the　list　of　over　one　hundred　and　fifty　eighth…grade

boys；　I　realized　that　to　me；　there　had　only　ever　been　one

boy。　To　me；　there　had　only　been　Bryce。

I　didn't　let　myself　get　sentimental。　I　had　liked　him　for　all　the　wr