nutritious。”　She　nodded　toward　the　stage。　“You　gonna

go　up　to　the　table　like　you're　supposed　to？　Or　you　gonna　stick　around　and　see　the　carnage？”

I　almost　didn't　have　a　choice。　Before　Mrs。　McClure　could　say　two　words　about　Bryce　or　his

basket；　Shelly　called；　“Ten！”　Then　from　the　middle　of

the　gym　came　“Twenty！”　It　was　Miranda　Humes；　with　her　hand　way　in　the　air。　They　went

back　and　forth；　back　and　forth；　higher　and　higher；　until　Shelly

called；　“Sixty…two！”

“I　can't　believe　it；”　I　whispered　to　Darla。　“Sixty…two　dollars！　C'mon；　Miranda；　e　on。”

“I　think　she's　out。　Shelly's　got　it。”

“Sixty…two　dollars　going　once！”　cried　Mrs。　McClure；　but　before　she　could　say；　Going　twice！　a

voice　from　the　back　of　the　gym　called；　“A　hundred！”

Everyone　gasped　and　turned　around　to　see　who　had　called　the　bid。　Darla　whispered；　“It's

Jenny。”

“Atkinson？”　I　asked。

Darla　pointed。　“Right　over　there。”

She　was　easy　to　spot；　standing　tall　above　the　others　in　the　number…seven　basketball　jersey

she　almost　always　wore。　“Wow；”　I　whispered；　“I　had

………　Page　88………

no　idea。”

“Maybe　she'll　slam…dunk　him　for　you；”　Darla　said　with　a　grin。

“Who　cares？”　I　giggled。　“She　slam…dunked　Shelly！”

Mrs。　McClure　was　gushing　into　the　microphone　about　the　record…breaking　bid　when　a　big

motion　broke　out　over　by　Miranda。　I　spotted

Shelly's　hair；　and　my　first　thought　was　that