It is really, really amazing how quickly word spreads in a small town like this. There was another message from the thief, this time on the side of Mr. Greene's garage. It said that if we all tell our secrets in the newspaper, the thief will be caught, and we'll get our stuff back.
So after school, Anthony comes in as the last student leaves my room. I tell him I don't know how he manages that, and he says it's a trade secret. "Secrets! You heard about the thief, didn't you? What am I supposed to do, take out an ad in the paper and tell everyone I'm a virgin? That would be humiliating! I don't want all the kids laughing at me, and that Janice Coulie …. witch! But I want my bear back!" Anthony is so smart, way, way smarter than me. He just smiles and kisses my forehead and says, "I think this is perfect for you, love. If you did tell everyone, it would stop any lingering Banging Ms. Banka jokes. It would show that all the people, like Mrs. Coulie, who kept it going don't know what they're talking about. It would also be a good example for the students."
He's right. Of course he's right. Just like he was right when he told me to ignore all the nasty gossip about us. He's just so smart, and I'm so lucky. We walked over to the Gazette office together, and asked about the column. The man behind the counter didn't know who paid for the space. There was an envelope addressed to the editor shoved under the door this morning, with a large amount of cash in it, and instructions for what to do with it. He gave me a form to fill out. Anthony stood behind me with his arms around my waist while I wrote it down. "My name is Adriana Banka. I was the fat ugly chick with a bad acne problem in high school. Now I'm a 22 year old virgin. I don't have any other secrets to tell. I want my bear back." I don't know what else to say. The newspaper man says I'm the first to come in, and he doesn't look at the paper at all when I give it back to him. Deputy Doyle told me I was the first to have something stolen, so I guess it's fitting that I'm the first to tell my secrets.
After that was over, Anthony walked me home. He came upstairs with me, and told me how proud he was of me. We were standing in my little kitchen, and he kissed me, and said he had to go. It wasn't until he was gone that I wondered what he'd say to get his cell back.
So after school, Anthony comes in as the last student leaves my room. I tell him I don't know how he manages that, and he says it's a trade secret. "Secrets! You heard about the thief, didn't you? What am I supposed to do, take out an ad in the paper and tell everyone I'm a virgin? That would be humiliating! I don't want all the kids laughing at me, and that Janice Coulie …. witch! But I want my bear back!" Anthony is so smart, way, way smarter than me. He just smiles and kisses my forehead and says, "I think this is perfect for you, love. If you did tell everyone, it would stop any lingering Banging Ms. Banka jokes. It would show that all the people, like Mrs. Coulie, who kept it going don't know what they're talking about. It would also be a good example for the students."
He's right. Of course he's right. Just like he was right when he told me to ignore all the nasty gossip about us. He's just so smart, and I'm so lucky. We walked over to the Gazette office together, and asked about the column. The man behind the counter didn't know who paid for the space. There was an envelope addressed to the editor shoved under the door this morning, with a large amount of cash in it, and instructions for what to do with it. He gave me a form to fill out. Anthony stood behind me with his arms around my waist while I wrote it down. "My name is Adriana Banka. I was the fat ugly chick with a bad acne problem in high school. Now I'm a 22 year old virgin. I don't have any other secrets to tell. I want my bear back." I don't know what else to say. The newspaper man says I'm the first to come in, and he doesn't look at the paper at all when I give it back to him. Deputy Doyle told me I was the first to have something stolen, so I guess it's fitting that I'm the first to tell my secrets.
After that was over, Anthony walked me home. He came upstairs with me, and told me how proud he was of me. We were standing in my little kitchen, and he kissed me, and said he had to go. It wasn't until he was gone that I wondered what he'd say to get his cell back.
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