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about how anyone else feels. I know that’s hard for you to understand, Donna. You’re such a caring person.”
    Donna began to blush, and she was glad it was dark. Steve really seemed to like her!
    â€œAnyway,” Steve said as he put his arm around Donna’s shoulders, “I wish that Tammy could be as nice as you are.”
    This time Donna knew exactly what to say. She smiled up at Steve, and said quite simply, “Thank you, Steve.”

Two
    D onna was feeling great when she walked into the Jefferson High cafeteria at noon on Monday. She’d finally decided on a subject for the school newspaper contest. The title of her article was “Curses and Superstitions,” and it would be all about Tammy’s red shoes. She’d spent most of the weekend making notes, describing the carnival booth and the beautiful red shoes in their glass display case. She’d even written down exactly what the old woman had said about the ancient curse.
    â€œHi, Donna!”
    Lisa Jensen, one of the first girls Donna had met at Jefferson High, waved at her. Donna waved back and walked quickly to Lisa’s table. “Save me a spot, will you, Lisa? I’m just going to grab a salad and something to drink.”
    Lisa nodded. “Okay. I heard you were with Tammy’s crowd at the school carnival.”
    â€œI was.” Donna shrugged. “But I’m not really part of Tammy’s crowd. And I’d much rather sit with you.”
    Lisa smiled and her whole face lit up. She was sitting alone, eating a sandwich she’d brought from home. Lisa always sat alone so she could study at lunch. She was very serious about her grades and she was hoping to get an academic scholarship to State next year.
    As Donna went through the line of students waiting for their lunches, she thought about Lisa. Lisa was small and pretty, with long dark hair. Her father drove a tow truck for the city and her mother was a file clerk at night. Lisa worked as a waitress to help out her family, and she never had time to attend any school functions.
    Lisa wasn’t part of Tammy’s crowd. At first Donna thought it was because she was always busy. When Lisa wasn’t waiting tables, she was taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. But Donna was wiser now that she’d been at Jefferson High for almost two months. She knew the real reason why Lisa wasn’t accepted. Lisa’s family had no money. There was no way that Tammy and her friends would invite Lisa to one of their parties.
    â€œHey, Donna . . .” Jerry tapped her on the shoulder. “I hear you’re writing an article about Tammy’s red shoes.”
    â€œThat’s right.” Donna began to grin. News certainly traveled fast in the halls of Jefferson High! She’d just signed up to write about the red shoes this morning and Jerry already knew about it.
    â€œSo where are you sitting?” Jerry picked up his tray and waited for Donna to pay the cashier.
    â€œWith Lisa Jensen. She’s over there by the windows.”
    â€œOkay.” Jerry nodded. “Do you think she’d mind if I sit with you? I’ve seen her around, but I don’t know her very well.”
    Donna began to grin. Jerry was very popular and he wanted to sit with them. That ought to raise some eyebrows!
    â€œLisa won’t mind.” Donna picked up her tray and led the way across the crowded cafeteria to Lisa’s table. “Lisa? You know Jerry, don’t you?”
    â€œUh—sure!” Lisa looked so surprised, it was almost comical.
    â€œHey, Lisa.” Jerry sat down directly across from her. “You sure blew the top off the curve on the calculus test! I don’t know if I should talk to you, or not.”
    Lisa began to blush. “I—I’m sorry.”
    â€œWhy?” Jerry grinned at her. “If you’ve got the brains, flaunt ’em, right?”
    â€œI—I guess so.” Lisa