A Match Made in High School Read Online Free PDF Page B

psychic messages?
    I caved. I dropped down and pretended to tie my checkered Chuck Taylor sneakers. I didn’t know what to do. What a wimp. And as a reward for my cowardice, when I stood up, my gaze fell on someone much less savory. Toady Todd. (I was trying out new nicknames for him. So far I’d rejected Todd the Clod, Hard-head Harding, and “TH” pronounced in the form of a raspberry. He wasn’t smart enough to get that one.) Todd turned to his buddy and whispered something. At least, it looked like he was whispering. All bent over and shadylike. And then I watched with dread as he looked and pointed at me, and then started laughing. His buddy laughed too, and I felt all my blood drain into my feet. Todd was up to something.
    He saw me watching him, shook his head, and smiled his sinister grin. I tried not to look scared, but what could I do? I couldn’t say anything to him; he was way across the auditorium. I did the only thing I could think of. Gave him the finger.
    Well, that just pleased Todd to no end. I’d egged him on. I’d accomplished the social equivalent of poking a bear with a sharp stick.
    “Is everyone ready?” Principal Miller said, adjusting her glasses. “Everyone? Okay, let’s begin. When I call your name, please come up onstage, meet your partner behind the arch, hold hands, and pass through the arch and down the risers in front of the stage. Then you may continue up the center 36 Kristin Walker
    aisle and exit to class. Does everyone understand? Yes? Fine.”
    She waved to someone in the back of the auditorium. “Please bring in the underclassmen. Ah . . . and women.”
    Suddenly, the double doors flew open and a wave of students poured into the auditorium. Judging from the expressions on the seniors’ faces, it was safe to assume that none of us had dreamed we’d have an audience for this. But there they were. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors—witnesses to the execution. Sophia Sheridan nudged me. “What are they here for?”
    “I dunno,” I said. “Maybe Principal Miller wants to scare them into switching schools so next year the faculty can retire to Buenos Aires.”
    She snorted. “I doubt it. I mean, who’d want to retire in Mexico?”
    I blame the educational system; I do. It wasn’t poor Sophia’s fault that she’d never been taught the geography of North and South America. Or maybe she had, but the information had somehow gotten lost between the teacher’s lips and her hair spray–fumed brain. Either way, I decided to let it go. She clearly had missed the point, anyhow. Principal Miller flapped her hands above the podium.
    “Take your seats, please. Take your seats.” When the room settled, she cleared her throat, tossed her head back, and gave a crooked smile. “We are gathered here today to join—”
    She stopped. Blinked a few times. Forced the smile wider.
    “To join these young men and these young women in—”
    She swallowed. Breathed. “Matrimony.” Inhaled. Exhaled.

CHAPTER 5
37
    “A marriage is not something to be entered into lightly. It is a commitment made between two people. A commitment that is—” She tossed her head back and snorted. “Well, it’s supposed to endure.” Her voice wavered. She stopped again and dabbed at her eyes. Then she grabbed the podium.
    “You should stick with it through adversity. Not just run off at the first temptation like a kid who’s just discovered candy. Sure, candy is sweet. But candy offers no sustenance. Meanwhile, the solid, nourishing potato that you married lies rotting in the cupboard. Make the choice before you make the commitment, ladies and gentlemen! Don’t choose a potato if what you really want is candy. Do you understand?”
    It was pretty clear that none of us did. Even though she studied our stony faces for an answer. A tear dribbled down her cheek. She swiped it away.
    “So. Marriage. Yes. Marriage is a commitment between two people . . . a commitment that . . . that . . . Oh, you know the