第3部分 (第5/8页)

　her　off　of　him　in　two

seconds　flat。　Bryce　ran　away　the　minute　he　was　free；　but　not

Shelly。　Oh；　no…no…no！　She　came　at　me；　scratching　and　pulling　and　twisting　anything　she

could　get　her　hands　on；　telling　me　that　Bryce　was　hers　and

there　was　no　way　she　was　letting　him　go。

How　delicate。

I　was　hoping　for　herds　of　teachers　to　appear　so　they　could　see　the　real　Shelly　Stalls　in　action；

but　it　was　too　late　by　the　time　anyone　arrived　on　the

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scene。　I　had　Fluffy　in　a　headlock　and　her　arm　twisted　back　in　a　hammerlock；　and　no　amount

of　her　squawking　or　scratching　was　going　to　get　me　to

un　lock　her　until　a　teacher　arrived。

In　the　end；　Shelly　went　home　early　with　a　bad　case　of　mussed…up　hair；　while　I　told　my　side　of

things　to　the　principal。　Mrs。　Shultz　is　a　sturdy　lady

who　probably　secretly　appreciates　the　value　of　a　swift　kick　well　placed；　and　although　she　told

me　that　it　would　be　better　if　I　let　other　people　work　out

their　own　dilemmas；　she　definitely　understood　about　Shelly　Stalls　and　her　hair　and　told　me

she　was　glad　I'd　had　the　self…control　to　do　nothing　more

than　restrain　her。

Shelly　was　back　the　next　day　with　a　head　full　of　braids。　And　of　course　she　got　everybody

whispering　about　me；　but　I　just　ignored　them。　The　facts

spoke　for　themselves。　Bryce　didn't　go　anywhere　near　her　for　the　rest　of　the　year。

That's　not　to　say　t