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Show 119. "Sure, sure," he waved them away. "I'll get a tube." "We're first," JD called to Chic. Then he turned the key and revved up the engine. Stephanie wasn't sure what JD was thinking, but she climbed on, game for anything. Maybe this was his way to show Gayle he didn't care, She hoped he wasn't as mad as he looked. "We'll wait for you at the top," JD called to Chic and Gayle as they drove up the hill and circled around into position. "Hang on, Steph, we're going to scare the shit out of Gayle." "JD!" Stephanie's heart started to pound. "I'll just give her a little thrill on the way down. You know? I owe it to her," his voice was hard. "She's given me lots of thrills." Then the four of them were at the top, lining up the tube with the front of the snowmobile, ten or so feet apart. "Did you come out to see a UFO for yourself?" JD said to Gayle in a nasty voice. She turned her back to him without saying a word. "Yeah," Chic answered for her, "she's gonna lead us at the Callin' In just as soon as we eat. Aren't you, Gayle?" He took her arm, too roughly, Stephanie thought, and pulled her into the tube beside him. The others, straggling up the gully, began to appear at the top. "Someone shove us off!" Chic yelled as they gathered around to watch the race. "Ready," Fred Tomlin called, raising an imaginary gun, "get set . . . go!" Down the hill they went, nearly abreast, but with the tube soon sliding crazily ahead. Stephanie held tight to JD as he veered close to them. Then she noticed Chic had one leg over the side, slowing the tube, letting JD catch up and egging him on. "Cheat!" she heard Gayle scream. Stephanie ducked her head as JD plunged at the tube, turning just in time to avoid hitting it. "JD!" she beat on his back, seeing how narrowly they'd missed a collision. "Hang on!" JD called, this time bumping the tube to one side, caus-ing Gayle to squeal and kick. |