Flipped Page #8

STEVEN:
No.

High school was the best time of my life.

- Not for us, no.

- Yeah, we've had enough of that scene.

Ah.

So college is probably

out of the question, huh?

No, it's a possibility.

They've actually been accepted...

...at several places already.

- Yes, they have.

Really?

Well, that's good.

But, um,

we're gonna give music a shot first.

- Really?

- Oh, they are very talented.

Oh, their band is really boss.

They did a bunch of demos

and they're really cool.

Thanks, Lyn.

When Steven and I first met,

he was playing in a band.

You played in a band?

He was a wonderful saxophone player.

- Cool. You still play?

- Well, l...

Well, if you want,

you can come jam out with us sometime.

Uh, you...

No, I mean... Heh.

That's not me anymore.

PATSY:
Have you boys ever performed

in front of an audience?

MATT:

A lot of times.

BRYCE:
The more Matt and Mark

talked about their musical exploits...

...the quieter my dad got.

He tried to plaster on a smile

now and then...

...but underneath he seemed really sad.

But my parents didn't like him at first.

Republicans fought like crazy

against the New Deal.

BRYCE:
The rest of the evening

was painless enough.

But through it all,

Juli didn't say a word to me.

Never even looked at me.

Until she was about to leave.

I'm sorry I was so angry

when we first came in.

I think everyone had a good time.

Your mom was really nice to invite us.

See you.

BRYCE:

Her apology made things worse.

- Hey, wait for me.

BRYCE:
I knew I wasn't forgiven.

It was like I wasn't even important enough

to hold a grudge against.

Well, I think they're a delightful family.

Those boys were nothing like I expected.

I thought they were very nice young men.

- Hoodlums.

- What?

How you think they can afford

all that recording gear?

Steven, please.

You can't just make an accusation like that.

Don't be so naive, Patsy.

Do you know how expensive it is

to record a demo?

They're probably stealing hubcaps,

for chrissake.

You are such an a**hole.

What is the matter with you?

Go to hell.

Don't you talk to me like that.

Steven, stop!

STEVEN:

Nobody talks to me like that...

...in my own house!

PATSY:
Stop!

BRYCE:
I'd seen my father angry before,

but this was different.

As I lay in bed that night...

...I thought about how my dad

always looked down on the Bakers.

And how he'd called them trash

and made fun of Mr. Baker's paintings.

And now I realized

he was just mad at himself.

But why?

Juli called me a coward.

Was it possible my dad

was a coward too?

I didn't know.

What difference did it make?

Juli Baker was out of my life.

Or, more accurately...

...I was out of hers.

JULl:
As I was getting dressed

for the Loskis' dinner party...

...I found myself staring at the painting

my father had given me...

...and became furious all over again.

Bryce had never been

a friend to me, ever.

He hadn't taken my side about the tree...

...he'd thrown away my eggs...

...and he made fun of me

at my uncle's expense.

When my mother called

that it was time to go...

TRINA:

Juli, let's go, we're late!

JULl:
I went out with every intention of

telling her that I wasn't going to the Loskis.

Please hold these. I need to check my hair

really quickly one more time.

- Your hair is perfect.

- Really?

JULl:

But she looked so happy...

...and she'd gone to so much trouble

over the pies that I couldn't.

Ooh! Oh, my gosh.

Oh, God, what a disaster.

Okay. Here, hold one, and you hold this.

- I don't wanna hold it.

- I won't have you hold it.

Let's go, boys.

JULl:
But that didn't mean

I had to be nice to Bryce.

And I don't wanna speak to you.

Not now, not ever.

JULl:

It felt good to take charge.

I felt strong, in control.

I told Bryce what I thought...

...and I was determined not to talk to him

for the rest of the evening.

At dinner it struck me that we were sharing

a meal with a group of strangers.

We'd lived across the street

from the Loskis for years...

...but except for Chet,

I didn't know these people at all.

Mr. Loski was clean and smooth

on the outside...

...but it seemed like there was something

rotten buried just beneath the surface.

By the end of the evening,

all I felt was detached, neutral.

No fireworks, no leftover anger...

...no flutters, nothing.

See you.

JULl:

I went to bed that night feeling peaceful.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

I was grateful that I had the family I had.

And it felt good to no longer care

about Bryce Loski.

BRYCE:
The dinner with the Bakers

had taken its toll on me.

Then the annual

school fundraiser arrived...

...and I found myself

with a whole new set of problems.

I was a Basketboy.

To fully appreciate the humiliation

of being a Basketboy...

...you need to know that the chosen few are

auctioned off in front of the student body...

...to the highest-bidding females.

Yes, technically, each of us

comes with a lunch in a basket...

...but let's not kid ourselves.

This was a beefcake parade.

There he is, my idol.

One word, you're a dead man.

No, man, I'm serious.

Listen, you won't believe this.

What?

Two of the hottest chicks

are fighting over you.

- What are you talking about?

- Sherry is breaking up with Mitch.

She and Melanie

are having a bidding war over you.

I don't care.

Are you nuts?

Sherry dumped Mitch because of you.

You're my idol.

BRYCE:
As comforting as it was

to be Garrett's idol...

...it didn't diminish the horror

of being Basketboy number nine.

And my only hope was that a giant tornado

would destroy the school before the event.

It was a long shot.

Welcome, everyone...

...to this year's

Mayfield Boosters Club Auction.

Once again we are pleased to present...

...20 of Mayfield's finest young men...

- Bryce, Bryce, Bryce.

- What are you doing here?

- Juli's in the third row.

- So?

- So she's got a wad of cash.

- Bullshit.

- Bull-true.

I saw her counting it by her locker.

McCLURE:

And now...

...please give a big Mayfield School

welcome...

...to your 1963 Basketboys.

BRYCE:

Juli with cash? What did this mean?

Was it possible

she was gonna bid on me?

First up, we have...

...Raymond Hughes.

Raymond's on the chess team...

...and his hobbies include stamp collecting

and the yo-yo.

Remember, when you bid...

...you'll not only be getting

the handsome Mr. Hughes...

...you'll also be enjoying...

...a lovely chicken-salad sandwich...

...and what looks to be

a tasty bean dip, and...

Oh. Excuse me, onion dip.

And a big slice of cherry pie.

Okay, who will start the bidding at $5?

BRYCE:
Thus began the bidding.

McCLURE:
Anybody?

BRYCE:
Or in Raymond Hughes' case,

the lack of bidding.

Very good, here we go.

- Five.

McCLURE:
Sold.

- Ten dollars.

McCLURE:
Sold.

- Fifteen.

McCLURE:
Sold.

Come on. Do I hear 10?

GIRL 1:
Ten.

GIRL 2:
Ten.

GIRL 3:
Ten.

- Peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich.

GIRL 4:

Fifteen.

Sold for $15.

Number eight is Eddie Trulock.

Eddie is a member of the debate team.

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