已阅读5页,还剩30页未读, 继续免费阅读
版权说明:本文档由用户提供并上传,收益归属内容提供方,若内容存在侵权,请进行举报或认领
文档简介
KATEPETERSONCONNORJENNYSOMEPEOPLEBELIEVEYOURLIFEFLASHESBEFOREYOUREYESTHEMOMENTYOUDIEIGUESSTHATSWHATSBEENHAPPENINGTOMEITSTHESTUFFYOUNEVERTHOUGHTWASIMPORTANTTHATENDSUPCOMINGBACKINTHEENDLIKEHOWDIPNDOTSICECREAMFELTROLLINGAROUNDANDMELTINGSLOWLYONMYTONGUETHEFIRSTTIMEIEVERTASTEDITATTHEBEACHWITHMYCOUSINBRETTORTHEWAYICOULDNTSTOPSMILINGTHATAFTERNOONINSIXTHGRADEWHENIGOTMYBRACESOFFMOSTLYBECAUSEOFHOWSLIMYMYTEETHFELTAGAINSTMYLIPSORHOWMYGRAMSHOUSEALWAYSSMELLEDLIKEOLDCIGARS,NOTBECAUSEOFMYGRAM,BUTBECAUSEOFMYGRANDDADHISCARSTILLREEKSOFCHEAPCIGARSTOTHISDAYINEVERSTARTEDSMOKING,EVENWHENMOSTOFMYFRIENDSWEREDOINGITTHEREWEREALWAYSALOTOFADSONTVSHOWINGPICTURESOFBLACKDECAYINGLUNGSANDPEOPLEWITHOXYGENTANKSFOLLOWINGTHEIREVERYMOVESURETHEYWERECONVINCING,BUTNOTHINGSEEMEDTOSTICKINMYMINDASMUCHASONECONVERSATIONWITHMYGRAMSHEALWAYSTALKEDTOMEASIFIWEREHERBESTFRIEND,EVENIFIWASONLYELEVENANDSHEWASSIXTYFIVEALLSHEHADTODOWASTELLMENEVERTOSTARTSMOKING,BECAUSEITWASSUCHAHARDHABITTOBREAKIFITWASHARDFORMYGRAMTODOSOMETHING,ITMUSTBEALMOSTIMPOSSIBLEIMSUREIFSHEDGIVENMEANYMOREADVICEIWOULDHAVESTUCKTOITLIKEGLUEMAYBESHEDIDANDIJUSTCOULDNTHOLDONTOITALLIHOPEILLGETTOASKHERIHOPETHATSWHATHEAVENREALLYMEANSIWASNEVERMADATJENNYIWOULDBELYINGIFISAIDIWASYOUCANTCONTROLTHETHOUGHTSINYOURHEADSOMETIMESANDYOUCANTCONTROLWHOYOULOVEITSASTRANGEFEELING,LOVINGSOMEONEITCANBESOSADSOMETIMESEVENSADDERTHANDEATH,ITHINKLOVEISSOMETHINGWELLNEVERREALLYUNDERSTANDWECANOPENOUREYESTODEATH,ANDFEELTHATITSREALWECANWATCHITHAPPENRIGHTINFRONTOFUS,ANDWECANACCEPTIT,EVENTHOUGHITISNTALWAYSEASYBUTLOVEISNTLIKETHATLOVEMAKESUSWEAKANDDESPERATELOVEKILLSPARTSOFUSWENEVEREVENKNEWWEHADIGUESSISTILLLOVEJENNY,BECAUSEICANTREMEMBERADAYTHATIEVERREALLYSTOPPEDBUTIDOREMEMBERTHEDAYSHETOLDMESHEDIDNTLOVEMEANYMORETHEDAYSHETOLDMETHATSHELOVEDSOMEONEELSEIREMEMBERHOWGREENTHEGRASSWASUNDERHERBLACKCHUCKTAYLORSTHEONESWITHLITTLEDESIGNSANDSONGLYRICSSCRIBBLEDONTHESIDESIREMEMBERHOWSMOOTHMYPENFELTAGAINSTTHEWHITERIMOFHERSHOETHATDAYIWROTECONNORJENNYEVENTHOUGHAFTERWARDSIFELTALITTLECHILDISHITWASALLICOULDTHINKOFWHENSHEWASASKINGMETOWRITESOMETHINGIADDEDATINYSTARBECAUSEIALWAYSSAWHERDRAWINGTHEMONHERPAPERSINSCHOOLTHESTARGOTALITTLESMUSHEDBECAUSETHATSWHENTHEBUSHITAPOTHOLEINTHEROADIALWAYSGAVEHERTHEWINDOWSEATBECAUSESHESAIDTHEWORLDWENTBYSOFASTSOMETIMES,ANDIFYOUWERENTWATCHING,YOUMIGHTMISSSOMETHINGAMAZINGIDIDNTMINDMISSINGITIFIGOTTOWATCHHERIWATCHEDHEREYESMOVINGBACKANDFORTHTRYINGTOFOCUSONONETHINGBUTNOTABLETOCATCHUPHERFOREHEADPRESSEDAGAINSTTHEGLASS,BEINGJARREDAROUNDBYTHEBUSSERRATICDRIVERSOMETIMESIWRAPPEDMYARMBEHINDHERHEADANDCRADLEDITINMYHANDIWATCHEDTHEMUSCLESINHERCHEEKSPULLHERLIPSUPINTOASMILEWHENSHESAWSOMETHINGOUTTHEREINTHATFASTMOVINGWORLDTHATSHELIKEDSOMETIMESIWOULDLOOKATTHEOTHERGIRLSINOURCLASSANDWONDERHOWSHECOULDBESOMUCHMOREBEAUTIFULTHANTHEYWEREWHENTHEYTRIEDSOMUCHHARDERSHEWORETHESAMEBLACKCHOKEREVERYDAYITWASSOMETHINGSHEFOUNDINTHEBACKOFHERMOMSCLOSETSHETWISTEDITTHREETIMESTOMAKEITFITTHEWAYSHELIKEDSOMETIMESTHETWISTEDPARTWOULDSLIDEAROUNDTOTHEFRONTTHOSEWEREMYFAVORITETIMESIWOULDSLIDEITBACKAROUNDBEHINDHERHAIR,THATHAIRTHATSMELLEDEXACTLYLIKEAHARDCANDY,THESTRAWBERRIESANDCREAMKINDTHATMYMATHTEACHERALWAYSATEANDSHEWOULDMAKEAWISHSOMETIMESSHESAIDHERWISHESOUTLOUD,EVENTHOUGHTHATMEANTTHEYWEREWASTEDIDONTBLAMEJENNYSHEJUSTFELLINLOVEWITHSOMEONEELSEBUTJUSTBECAUSEIDONTBLAMEHERDOESNTMEANIDIDNTFEELITIREMEMBERHOWONTHEDAYSHETOLDMEISAWHEREYESFLOATDOWNTOHERWATCHTHREETIMESEACHMOVEMENTOFHEROCEANBLUEEYESWASLIKEASPLINTERBEINGPLACEDINTOMYHEARTIDIDNTUNDERSTANDWHYTHINGSHADTOBELIKETHISTHEREWEREALOTOFTHINGSINMYLIFETHATIDIDNTUNDERSTAND,ANDPEOPLEALWAYSJUSTSAIDTHATLIFEISNTFAIRYOUHAVETOTAKETHEGOODWITHTHEBADTHINGSHAPPENFORAREASON,ALLOFTHOSECLICHELINESADULTSUSETOTRYTOCHEERKIDSUPWHENTHEYLOSEFOOTBALLGAMESORWHENTHEIRDOGSGETHITBYCARSIDIDNTWANTJENNYTOHAVETOUSEANYOFTHOSELINESONME,SOIJUSTSAIDTHATILOVEDHERANDTHATIWOULDBEALLRIGHTITOLDHERTHATIWASNTANGRYWITHHER,BUTSOMEHOWITHINKSHEWANTEDMETOBESHEHADALWAYSTOLDMETHATINEVERSHOWEDENOUGHEMOTION,THATINEVERGOTMADIDIDNTFEELMAD,JUSTSORTOFDEFLATEDLIKEWHENYOULETTHEAIROUTOFABALLOONREALLYSLOWLYUSUALLYITGOESINCIRCLESIFYOULETITFLYAROUNDONITSOWNTHATSSORTOFWHATMYHEADWASDOING,SLOWLYCIRCLINGDOWNINLITTLEWAVESISTAREDATHERDARKBROWNHAIRBLOWINGACROSSHERCHEEKSSHEWASCRADLINGHERHISTORYBOOKANDABLUENOTEBOOKINHERLEFTARMTHESUNWASSOINTENSETHATDAYTHATITWASREFLECTINGLIGHTFROMHERNOTEBOOKUPONTOHERFACEANDGIVINGHERSKINABLUETINTIWANTEDTOTOUCHHERFACE,TOKISSTHECOLORBACKINTOHERBLUELIPSBUTIKNEWBYTHEWAYSHELOOKEDATMEANDTHENDOWNATHERSHOESTHATIWOULDNEVERGETTOKISSTHOSELIPSAGAINSHESURPRISEDMEBYWALKINGOVERSLOWLY,STARINGATTHEGRASSTHEWHOLEWAY,ANDTHENHUGGINGMEITFELTLIKETHEKINDOFHUGIGOTFROMMYAUNTBEFORESHELEFTFORHERNEWJOBINMILWAUKEEIKNEWIWASGOINGTOSEEHERONTHEHOLIDAYS,BUTITFELTLIKEAGOODBYEFOREVERTHEWAYSHEHELDONTOMESOTIGHTANDBURIEDHERFACEINTOMYNECKJENNYCLOSEDHEREYESINTOMYGREENSWEATSHIRTANDIFELTSOSAFEBUTIKNEWSHEWASJUSTSAYINGGOODBYESHELETGOANDBACKEDUP,CAREFULNOTTOLOOKMEINTHEEYESHEKNEWIFSHEDIDIWOULDSEEHEREYESFILLINGWITHTEARSSHESAIDSHEWASSORRYANDTHATSHEDIDNTWANTTOHURTMEIDIDNTWANTTOHURTHEREITHER,BUTALLICOULDTHINKTOSAYWAS,THENDONTBUTSHETURNEDANDWALKEDAWAYASEACHFOOTHITTHEGROUNDITWASLIKEATINYICEPICKWASCHIPPINGAWAYATMEFROMTHEBOTTOMUPWITHEVERYCHIPIFELTMYSELFSHRINKINGLOWERANDLOWERINTOTHEGROUNDTHETREESANDHOUSESAROUNDMEGOTTALLERANDTALLERANDIFELTSMALLANDINSIGNIFICANTISTAYEDSTANDINGINTHESAMESPOTUNTILHERBODYBECAMEASHAPEINTHEDISTANCEWHENIFINALLYDIDTRYTOMOVEMYFEETTHEYFELTLIKETHEYWEREBOLTEDINTOTHEGROUND,LIKEIWASBURIEDFROMTHEKNEESDOWNIWASSUDDENLYSIXAGAIN,ANDONTHESOFTWETSANDOFTHEBEACHFORTHEFIRSTTIMETHEWATERRUSHEDOVERMYTOESANDISTAREDDOWNATTHETINYCOLORFULSHELLSALLAROUNDMYFEETANDWATCHEDTHEMDISAPPEARTHELONGERISTOODSTARINGANDLETTINGTHEWATERRUSHOVERMYWHITELEGS,THELESSOFTHEMBECAMEVISIBLE,THEMOREANCHOREDINTOTHEGROUNDIBECAMEISTARTEDTOGETSWALLOWEDUPINTHEOCEANFLOORIWIGGLEDMYLEGSAROUNDANDSTARTEDTOMAKECRACKSINTHESANDTHEWATERROSEAROUNDMEANDTHEMOREIWIGGLEDMYTOESUNDERTHESANDTHEMOREITGLUEDMETOTHESPOTIGUESSMYMOMNOTICEDMYSTRUGGLINGANDBEFOREIKNEWITMYFEETWERESUCTIONEDOUTOFTHESANDANDIWASCARRIEDBACKUNDEROURBRIGHTYELLOWUMBRELLATHEYELLOWSTARTEDTOTURNAFIERYORANGETHATBURNEDMYEYESWHENIRAISEDMYHANDTOCOVERMYFACEISAWIWASNTSIXAFTERALLIWASSTILLSTANDINGALONEINTHEPARKISTAREDDOWNATMYFEETANDWIGGLEDMYTOESINMYSHOESBEFOREIATTEMPTEDTOMOVETHEMTHESUNWASSLOWLYSETTINGBEHINDTHEROWSOFHOUSESINTHEDISTANCEANDSOMEHOWIMADEITBACKTOMINEBEFOREITDISAPPEAREDGOINGBACKTOSCHOOLWASHARDBECAUSEISTILLFELTSOSMALLBUTMYHEARTWASJUSTASBIGASITALWAYSWASANDIGUESSTHATSWHYJENNYSTAYEDTHERETHROUGHALLTHESHRINKINGANDTHECHOPPINGISTILLTHOUGHTABOUTHERALLTHETIMEIHEARDONCETHATLOVEMEANSTHATYOUTHINKABOUTAPERSONASSOONYOUREYESOPENINTHEMORNING,ANDASSOONASTHEYCLOSEATNIGHTITHOUGHTABOUTJENNYLIKETHATITHOUGHTABOUTHEREVENWHENMYEYESWERESHUTINMYDREAMSWEWEREJUSTLIKEWEUSEDTOBEWEWERESITTINGINTHELUNCHROOMTALKINGABOUTANGELSSHEWASAMAZINGLIKETHATMOSTGIRLSINTHELUNCHROOMTALKEDABOUTMAKEUPORPROMOROTHERGIRLSBUTJENNYWANTEDTOKNOWIFIBELIEVEDINANGELSIGUESSINEVERREALLYTHOUGHTABOUTITMUCHWELLIFYOUHADTOTHINKABOUTITNOW,WHATWOULDYOUTHINKSHEALWAYSLOOKEDATMELIKESHEREALLYCAREDASIFALLOFTHEOTHERKIDSINTHECAFETERIAWERENTEVENTHEREITWASJUSTLIKEWEWEREALONEINSOMEPEACEFULPLACELIKEUNDERAWILLOWTREEORSOMETHING,JUSTTALKINGABOUTHEAVENSHEONLYLOOKEDAWAYFORAFEWSECONDSTOGUIDEHERFINGERSINPEELINGTHEORANGETHATSHEROLLEDBETWEENHERHANDSWELL,IGUESSIFIHAVETOSAY,THENISAYNOIDONTTHINKTHERESTHESEFLUFFYWHITECLOUDSTHATPEOPLELIVEINUPTHEREAFTERTHEYDIEANDIDONTTHINKTHERESLIKEANGELSYAKNOWYEAH,IDONTTHINKTHERESTHATSTUFFEITHERBUTITSJUSTHARDTOKNOWWHATTOBELIEVEINIDONTTHINKWEHAVETOBELIEVEINANYTHINGREALLYITHINKPEOPLEJUSTGETSADANDTHEYSTARTTOMAKETHINGSUPTOHELPTHEMOUTOFTHESADNESSANDIDONTTHINKTHATSFAIRJENNYPUTDOWNHERORANGEANDIWATCHEDTHESKINABOVEHEREYESSTARTTOWRINKLEWENEVERREALLYARGUEDMUCH,BUTILIKEDTHEWAYTHATWHENHERHAIRFELLOUTFROMBEHINDHEREAR,SHEDIDNTBOTHERTOFIXITBECAUSESHEWASTOOFOCUSEDONWHATTOSAYNEXTWHATISFAIRTHOUGHSHOULDPEOPLEBESADALLTHETIMEJUSTBECAUSEITSWHATSREALISNTITALRIGHTTOPRETENDSOMETIMESIFITMAKESPEOPLEHAPPYNOTIFITMEANSTHATEVERYONEINTHEWORLDISFAKETHATTHEWORLDISFAKESHEPUTTHEPIECEOFHAIRBACKBEHINDHEREARANDTHEPALEWHITESKINABOVEHEREYESWASSMOOTHAGAINICOULDALWAYSTELLWHENTHEREWASSOMETHINGIMPORTANTONHERMINDSOMETHINGMOREIMPORTANTTHANWINNINGONEOFOURLITTLEARGUMENTSIGUESSIMJUSTCONFUSEDTHATSALLHAVEYOUEVERBEENTOAVIEWINGJENNYANDHERFAMILYUSEDTOGOTOCHURCHALMOSTEVERYSUNDAYNOWSHEWENTWITHTHEMONHOLIDAYSANDSTUFFLIKETHAT,BUTSHETOLDTHEMONCETHATSHEDIDNTBELIEVEINGOD,SOTHEYDIDNTMAKEHERGOWITHTHEMANYMORETHEYNEVERTOLDJENNYSGRANDPARENTSTHOUGHBECAUSEIGUESSTHEYTHOUGHTMAYBEITWASJUSTAPHASESHEWASGOINGTHROUGH,ONEOFTHOSETEENAGEREBELLIONSORTOFTHINGSJENNYSGRANDMOTHERWASONEOFTHOSEREALLYRELIGIOUSOLDLADIESTHATHADAHUGEOILPAINTINGOFJESUSINHERDININGROOMTHATSAMEPAINTINGWASPLACEDABOVETHEOPENCASKETATHERMEMORIALSERVICETHENIGHTBEFOREOURCONVERSATIONINTHECAFETERIASHELOOKEDSODIFFERENTLIKESHEHADBEENBEATENUPREALBADANDTHENSOMEONEDUMPEDABUCKETOFFLOUROVERHERFACETOCOVERTHEBRUISESIKEPTEXPECTINGHERTOSITUP,ORMOVEHERHANDORSOMETHINGITWASREALLYCREEPY,ANDREALLYSADIMSORRYIWASGOINGTOGOBUTITHOUGHTITWASAFAMILYTHINGANDITMIGHTNOTBERIGHTITSOKYOUPROBABLYWOULDHAVEFELTWEIRDTHEREEVERYONEJUSTWALKEDBYANDCRIEDANDLOOKEDATHERBODYITWASALLDRESSEDUPINHERCLOTHESANDJEWELRY,BUTITDIDNTLOOKANYTHINGLIKEHERTHEWHOLETHINGFELTSOSTRANGEITWASLIKEATRIBUTETOHERLIFE,WITHPICTURESANDMUSICANDFLOWERS,EVERYONEWHOEVERLOVEDHERWASTHEREWEEVENSERVEDFOODAFTERBUTSHEWASNTTHERETOSEEITBYTHEENDIFELTLIKESCREAMINGATEVERYONETHATSHEWASGONE,ANDTOJUSTGOHOMEBECAUSETHEREWASNOTHINGELSETOSEEIDIDNTKNOWWHATTOSAYTOHER,BUTSHELOOKEDSOALONEEVENTHOUGHSHEWASSITTINGRIGHTBESIDEMEIMSORRYIGUESSIDONTKNOWWHATELSETOSAYIKNOWIDONTHAVEANYANSWERSIDONTTHINKANYBODYHASTHEANSWERSATLEASTNOONEIKNOWBUTIDONTNEEDANANSWERWHENIHAVEYOUSHETOOKMYWHOLEARMINTOHERLAPANDHELDITONTOIT,PUTTINGHERHANDINMINESHERESTEDHERHEADONMYSHOULDERANDIFELTHERBREATHONMYNECKITMADEEVENTHENOISYCAFETERIATHEMOSTPEACEFULPLACEINTHEWORLDAFTERTHESEDREAMSIWAKEUPFEELINGSOALONE,SOSMALLITSHARDTOGETOUTOFMYBEDSOMETIMES,HARDTOREACHMYSHOESFOODSEEMSTOOBIGTOFITINTOMYSTOMACHNOWNOTHINGTASTESTHESAMEONMYTONGUEITSEEMSLIKEONLYAFEWTHOUGHTSCANFITINMYBRAINATONCEANDSCHOOLWORKISHARDERTHANITEVERWASIVEALWAYSBEENGOODATHISTORY,BUTNOWTHEBOARDSEEMSSOFARAWAYMYPENCILFEELSLIKEITWEIGHSATHOUSANDPOUNDS,ANDMYEYELIDSWEIGHEVENMOREJENNYISINMYHISTORYCLASSBUTITRYNOTTOLOOKATHERIMUSTNOTBETRYINGHARDENOUGHBECAUSESHEMOVEDHERSEATACROSSTHEROOMAFTEROUREYESMETANDMYPENCILDROPPEDLIKEABRICKTOTHEFLOORITRIEDNOTTONOTICEWHENIHEARDHERLAUGHINGATTHETEACHERSCORNYJOKEEVENTHOUGHHERLAUGHTERSENTCHILLSUPMYSPINEWALKINGINTHEHALLSALONEISTOUGHTOOWHENYOURESOSMALLBECAUSENOONENOTICESYOUORTHEYSTAREWITHBIGBULGINGEYESANDPOINTWITHLONGCROOKEDFINGERSSOMETIMESIWONDERHOWMANYOFTHEMWEREEVERLEFTSTANDINGALONEINAPARK,ORBYAFRONTDOOR,ORINACARIWONDERHOWMANYOFTHEMCANTTIETHEIRSHOESINTHEMORNINGEITHER,ORHOLDTHESPOONSTEADYOVERTHEIRCEREALTHEYALLHAVETHEIRMAKEUPONSOTIGHT,ANDTHEIRHAIRFOLDEDANDIRONEDSOPERFECTLYITSORTOFREMINDSMEOFACOMMERCIALISAWONTVFORBATHTUBSTHERESTHISCOMPANYTHATWILLCOMETOYOURHOUSEANDCUSTOMFITABATHTUBANDTILESANDSTUFFOVERTHEONEYOUALREADYHAVE,INSTEADOFFIXINGITUPANDBUILDINGANEWONETHEYJUSTSLIDEITOVERTHEBROKENCHIPPEDONEANDITLOOKSBRANDNEWITSWHITEANDSHININGANDTHEREISALADYSITTINGINITSURROUNDEDBYHUNDREDSOFPERFECTLITTLEBUBBLES,HOLDINGAGLASSOFCHAMPAGNEALLICOULDTHINKABOUTWASHOWMUCHTHEOLDBATHTUBMUSTBEMOLDINGANDCRACKINGUNDERTHEREIDONTKNOWMUCHABOUTBATHTUBSSOMAYBEITSALLRIGHT,BUTTHETHOUGHTOFSOMETHINGROTTINGAWAYJUSTINCHESUNDERMEWHILEIMTRYINGTOCLEANUPJUSTWASNTNICEATALLSOIGUESSTHATSHOWIFEELWHENILOOKATALLTHEKIDSINSCHOOLWHOWEARTHEEXPENSIVECLOTHESANDTHEPOUNDSOFMAKEUPTHEREMUSTBESOMETHINGROTTENANDCHIPPINGAWAYINSIDEOFTHEMTOOYAKNOW,CONNOR,ITSKIDSLIKEYOUTHATTHEYREGONNASEARCHHOPEYOUDONTDOCRACKLAUGHTERFOLLOWEDTODDHARMONDOWNTHECROWDEDHALLWAYASTHECLASSROOMSFILLEDBACKUPWITHSTUDENTSITWASNTTHEFIRSTTIMEOURSCHOOLHADABOMBSCAREBUTTHISTIMEALLTHEROTTENCHIPPEDAWAYKIDSWEREMADBECAUSEITWASONTHEDAYOFAPEPRALLYANDITWOULDHAVETOBEPOSTPONEDTHEYDIDNTKNOWWHOCALLEDITIN,SOALOTOFKIDSWERECHECKEDOUTTHEUSUALSUSPECTSWERECALLEDTOTHEOFFICEANDTHEYHADBROUGHTINTHEDRUGSNIFFINGDOGSFORALOCKERCHECKTHEREWASARUMORTHATONEOFTHEDOGSCRAPPEDINFRONTOFSOMEONESLOCKERTHEREWEREALWAYSRUMORSATOURSCHOOLFORSOMEREASONEVERSINCETHEDAYJENNYWALKEDAWAYFROMMEINTHEPARK,IHADBECOMEAUSUALSUSPECTISAWPEOPLEWHISPERINGINTHEHALLSAROUNDMEIFELTLIKEWHEREVERIWENTIWASHEARINGLITTLEVOICESATFIRSTITHOUGHTTHEYWEREINMYHEAD,BUTIKNEWIFIWASGOINGTOHAVEVOICESINMYHEADTHEYWOULDNTSOUNDLIKEAGROUPOFTEENAGEGIRLSANDTHEYDEFINITELYWOULDNTSOUNDLIKEMYPRINCIPALWHENIHEARDHIMCALLMYNAMEOVERTHELOUDSPEAKERIREALIZEDITWASPROBABLYTHEFIRSTTIMEIHADEVERHEARDITCALLEDOUTLIKETHATATLEASTINHIGHSCHOOLINELEMENTARYSCHOOLTHEYUSEDTOCALLOUTBIRTHDAYSANDFORYOUTOCOMETOTHEOFFICEIFYOURMOMWASTHERETOGETYOUBUTTHISFELTDIFFERENTIWALKEDDOWNTHEEMPTYHALLANDKIDSINCLASSROOMSTURNEDTHEIRHEADSASIPASSEDIHATEDHOWLOUDMYFEETSOUNDEDONTHETILEFLOORANDSURPRISINGLYWANTEDTOGETTOTHEOFFICEASFASTASICOULDMYPRINCIPALWASTHEFOOTBALLCOACHINTHESEVENTIES,ANDHEHADATHICKRUSSIANACCENTHETOLDMYCLASSHOWHEESCAPEDFROMRUSSIAWHENHEWASABOYANDHADTOTRAVELAREALLYLONGWAYTHROUGHAWHOLELOTOFSNOWITHOUGHTITWASINTERESTINGBUTIDIDNTPAYMUCHATTENTIONTOHISSTORY,IGUESSBECAUSEHECAMETOTALKTOOURHISTORYCLASS,ANDIPAIDMOREATTENTIONTOTHETHINBLACKLINETHATJENNYSCHOKERMADEAROUNDHERNECKTHANHOWPRINCIPALRUSSOBROKETHROUGHENEMYLINESANDMADEITTOAMERICAHESEEMEDLIKEADOWNTOBUSINESSKINDOFMAN,ANDHEDIDNTWASTEANYTIMEWITHSMALLTALKWHENIWALKEDINTOHISOFFICECONNOR,HAVEYOUBEENUNDERANYKINDOFSTRESSLATELYHISOFFICEWASALOTMORECLUTTEREDTHANIWOULDHAVETHOUGHTITKINDOFMADEMEFEELATEASEKNOWINGEVENTHEPRINCIPALOFMYSCHOOLWASDISORGANIZEDHESEEMEDLIKEHEWASTRYINGTOBEEXTRANICETOMEHEPULLEDUPTHEBIGGREENCHAIRWITHTHEDARKWOODENLEGSFROMTHECORNERFORMEINSTEADOFTHEREGULARPLASTICBLUEONESTHEOTHERKIDSSATINHEASKEDMEIFIWANTEDANYTHINGTODRINK,SAIDHEMIGHTHAVESOMECOKEITMADEMETHINKOFWHATTHEKIDINMYCLASSSAIDABOUTMEDOINGCRACKMAYBEMYPRINCIPALTHOUGHTIMONDRUGSANDTHATSWHYHESBEINGSONICETOMEMAYBEHETHOUGHTICALLEDINTHEBOMBSCAREANDHESJUSTSTALLINGUNTILTHECOPSGETHERETOPULLTHISNICECUSHIONEDCHAIROUTFROMUNDERMEANDSHOVEMYFACEINTHECARPETISTARTEDTOGETCONCERNEDIGUESSMYFACESHOWEDIT,SOMYPRINCIPALSTARTEDTOSPEAKDONTWORRYSON,IKNOWYOUWERENTRESPONSIBLEFORWHATHAPPENEDTODAYIDIDNTWANTTOLOOKTOOCONFUSED,BECAUSEMAYBEHEWASJUSTTRYINGTOTRICKACONFESSIONOUTOFMELIKETHEYDOONTHOSECOPSHOWSBUTIWASCONFUSEDIKNEWIDIDNTDOANYTHINGWRONGSOWHYWASIHEREIFIGUREDITWASENOUGHWITHTHEMINDGAMESANDIASKEDHIMWHATWASGOINGONWELL,FRANKLY,WEREALLWORRIEDABOUTYOU,SONYOUVEBEENACTINGSTRANGETHESELASTFEWWEEKSYOURTEACHERSREPORTTHATYOUREFAILINGEVERYCLASS,EVENGYMSOALLIWANTTOKNOWISWHATICANDOTOHELPYOUREGOINGTOBEASENIORNEXTYEARANDYOUCANTAFFORDTOFAILLIKETHISIFYOUWANTTOGOTOCOLLEGEIWATCHEDHISMOUTHASHESPOKEANDITURNEDITUPSIDEDOWNINMYHEADIWASNTINHISCLUTTEREDOFFICEANYMOREIWASONTHEPORCHOFJENNYSFAMILYSVACATIONHOUSEINVIRGINIASHEWASSITTINGBEHINDMEANDHOLDINGMYHEADINHERHANDSASILOOKEDUPATHERIREMEMBERHOWHARDSHESTARTEDLAUGHINGANDIREMEMBERHOWTHESUNREFLECTEDOFFHERLIPSSHECOULDHARDLYSTOPLONGENOUGHTOTELLMEWHYSHEWASLAUGHINGSHECALLEDITMRCHINNEGANAFUNNYSORTOFTRICKSHEDIDTOPEOPLESFACESSHESAIDSHEPICTUREDTWOEYESANDANOSEONMYCHINWHENMYHEADWASUPSIDEDOWNSONOWEVERYTIMEISPOKEITWASLIKEIHADALITTLEPUPPETONMYFACEIHEARDHERLAUGHTERECHOINGTHROUGHOUTTHEROOMUNTILADEEPERVOICEPULLEDMEBACKCONNORICOULDNTHELPBUTSMILEWHENIREALIZEDWHEREIWASAGAINANDWATCHEDMYPRINCIPALSMOUSTACHE,WHICHWASNOWHISBEARD,BOUNCINGUPANDDOWNASHESAIDMYNAMECONNOR,THISISWHATIMTALKINGABOUTTHEREISNOTHINGFUNNYABOUTYOUPOSSIBLYNOTBEINGABLETOGRADUATEISPUNHIMRIGHTSIDEUPAGAINANDLETHISWORDSSLIPINTOMYBRAINISATTHEREQUIETLYFORAMINUTESOTHESMILECOULDSLIDEOFFMYFACEINEVERTHOUGHTMUCHABOUTHOWMYGRADESWEREIKNEWIWASNTDOINGASWELLASIUSEDTOBE,BUTIJUSTDIDNTTHINKITWASTHATBADIMSORRYIGUESSIJUSTDIDNTREALIZEILLDOBETTERNOWTHANKYOUFORWANTINGTOHELPIPUSHEDBACKTHEARMSOFTHECHAIRANDNOTICEDTHATTHEYWERELIONHEADSIWONDEREDIFHAVINGLIONSONTHEARMSOFYOURCHAIRSGAVEYOUMOREPOWERMAYBETHATSWHYHEGAVEMETHISCHAIRINSTEADOFTHEBLUEPLASTICONEHETHOUGHTACHAIRWOULDHELPHEGAVEMEAGREENPASSBACKTOMYCLASSROOMANDINOTICEDTHATHESIGNEDMEOUTFOR120,BUTITWASONLY110ISTARTEDTOMOTIONTOWARDSTHECLOCKBUTHEMADETHISSORTOFSQUINTYFACETHATMADEMEREALIZEHEWANTEDTOFEELLIKETHISWASHISFAVORTOMETHETIMEKIDSGETTOSPENDALONEINTHEHALLSISSACRED,ESPECIALLYWITHWRITTENAPPROVALFROMTHEPRINCIPALSOIDIDNTSAYANOTHERWORDONTHEWAYOUTIPASSEDRICKYONEILHEWASTHEKIDWHOPUTTACKSONMYFOURTHGRADETEACHERSCHAIR,ANDTOOKLIGHTBULBSFROMTHEJANITORSCLOSETANDSMASHEDTHEMALLOVERTHEPARKINGLOTONEMORNINGINSEVENTHGRADETHETEACHERNOTICEDTHETACKSBEFORESHESATDOWN,ANDTHEJANITORPUTUPCONESINTHEMORNINGANDSWEPTUPTHEGLASSBEFOREANYCARSCAME,BUTRICKYSTILLGOTINTROUBLEANDEVERYTIMEHEGOTINTROUBLEHISREPUTATIONGREWANDPUTHIMHIGHERANDHIGHERONTHELISTOFUSUALSUSPECTSBYTHENITHINKHEMUSTHAVEBEENNUMBERONETHEPRINCIPALCALLEDHISNAMEOUTASIGRABBEDTHEDOORHANDLEANDILOOKEDBACKJUSTINTIMETOSEEHIMSITDOWNINTHECOLDBLUEPLASTICCHAIRIWASNTSUREWHATTODOWITHMYNEWFOUNDFREEDOMIHADABOUTFIFTEENMINUTESTOKILLBEFOREIHADTOGOBACKTOCLASSIFIGUREDTHEBATHROOMWASWHEREEVERYONEALWAYSWENT,ANDITWASBETTERTHANWANDERINGTHEHALLSALONESOYOUDOIT,DAVISCOURSEHEDIDNTDOITWEALLKNOWWHOITWASSOWHYYOUGONNAEVENASKHIM,JAMESWELL,WHYELSEWOULDTHEYWANNATALKTO慽MHEWENTINFIRSTTOOEVENBEFORERICKYHEMUSTADONESUMTHINTHISSEEMEDTOHAPPENTOMEALOTPEOPLETALKINGABOUTMEASIFIWASINANOTHERROOMWHENIWASSTANDINGRIGHTINFRONTOFTHEMBUTIDIDNTMINDTHISTIMEBECAUSEALLIWASTHINKINGABOUTWASHOWJAMESMCDOUGALKNEWWHOIWASIGUESSITFELTKINDOFSTUPIDTOCAREWHATAGUYLIKEHIMTHOUGHTABOUTMEBUTITMADEMEFEELALITTLEBITTALLERTHANIDBEENFEELINGLATELYITKINDOFMADETHEROOMSEEMMORELIFELIKEAROUNDMYBODYIDIDNTFEELSOLOSTINITSUGLYBROWNTILESANDHARSHFLUORESCENTLIGHTSIDIDNTDOANYTHINGREALLYIMJUSTFAILINGWELL,SHITARENTWEALLITHOUGHTYOUWERESMARTWERENTYOUINTHATGTBACKINTHEDAYYEAH,IWASIDONTKNOWWHATHAPPENEDGTSTANDSFORGIFTEDANDTALENTEDITWASAPROGRAMWEHADINOURSCHOOLANDSOMEOTHERSCHOOLSAROUNDIGUESSITWASFORSMARTKIDSYOUHADTOGETCERTAINGRADESANDTESTSCORESTOBEABLETOBEINITATFIRSTIDIDNTLIKETHEIDEAITHOUGHTITWASCORNYANDIDIDNTWANTTOBEHANGINGAROUNDALLTHOSESMARTKIDSALLTHETIMEBUTWHENIFOUNDOUTJENNYWOULDBEONEOFTHOSEKIDSIBROUGHTTHEPAPERSHOMEANDMYMOMCOULDNTSIGNTHEMFASTENOUGHONCEWEMADEAHUGE
温馨提示
- 1. 本站所有资源如无特殊说明,都需要本地电脑安装OFFICE2007和PDF阅读器。图纸软件为CAD,CAXA,PROE,UG,SolidWorks等.压缩文件请下载最新的WinRAR软件解压。
- 2. 本站的文档不包含任何第三方提供的附件图纸等,如果需要附件,请联系上传者。文件的所有权益归上传用户所有。
- 3. 本站RAR压缩包中若带图纸,网页内容里面会有图纸预览,若没有图纸预览就没有图纸。
- 4. 未经权益所有人同意不得将文件中的内容挪作商业或盈利用途。
- 5. 人人文库网仅提供信息存储空间,仅对用户上传内容的表现方式做保护处理,对用户上传分享的文档内容本身不做任何修改或编辑,并不能对任何下载内容负责。
- 6. 下载文件中如有侵权或不适当内容,请与我们联系,我们立即纠正。
- 7. 本站不保证下载资源的准确性、安全性和完整性, 同时也不承担用户因使用这些下载资源对自己和他人造成任何形式的伤害或损失。
最新文档
- 2026兴业银行兰州分行校园招聘备考题库完整答案详解
- 2026中原银行校园招聘备考题库附答案详解(轻巧夺冠)
- 2025浙江宁波贵驷街道招聘编外工作人员5人备考题库及一套答案详解
- 2023年鸡西市直属机关遴选公务员笔试真题汇编附答案解析
- 2023辽宁辽阳灯塔市网格员中招聘社区工作者10人备考题库及答案解析(夺冠)
- 2025年河北秦皇岛市体育局公开招聘事业单位工作人员2名备考题库含答案解析(夺冠)
- 2026水利部黄河水利委员会事业单位招聘高校毕业生265人考试历年真题汇编含答案解析(夺冠)
- 2025年安徽省农业科学院水稻研究所栽培生理生态研究团队编外科技人员招聘1名备考题库带答案解析
- 2023年株洲市直属机关遴选公务员考试真题汇编附答案解析
- 2025北方民族大学附属中学东校区(银川市第十四中学)招聘考试参考题库附答案解析
- 高中英语词汇表(3500词)
- 艺术概论第五章 实用艺术
- GB/T 28732-2012固体生物质燃料全硫测定方法
- GA/T 974.74-2015消防信息代码第74部分:消防装备器材分类与代码
- 俄歇电子能谱课件
- 消防专项规划说明书
- 六年级上册心理健康教育课件-不盲目攀比 全国通用(共18张PPT)
- 施工用电系统移交确认单
- 公园改造安全文明施工方案
- 正方形性质和判定
- 《觉醒年代》朗诵稿
评论
0/150
提交评论