Debutante Hill Read Free Page A

her, but somehow, during the first years of high school, they had just seemed to miss each other.
    â€œAs though,” Lynn said later, “every time I came in a door, you walked out one. We were in all the same places, but not at the same time. Just think, we might never have had a chance to know each other at all if it wasn’t for Ernie!”
    It was through Ernie that she had really come to know Paul.
    It was Ernie’s junior year, and he was trying out for the football team. Paul was already a member of the team and rumor had it he was the choice for next year’s captain. But then Paul was the football type, broad-shouldered and stocky, and Ernie was slender in the same way Lynn was.
    Why he wanted to make the team, his parents could not see.
    â€œReally, dear,” Mrs. Chambers had said gently, “it’s not necessary
to go out for something like that, just because a lot of the other boys do. We’re not all meant for the same things.”
    â€œSure,” his father had agreed. “You’re going to be a doctor. That’s something most of those muscle-bound fellows could never dream of doing. You don’t have to prove yourself by playing football, Son; there are plenty of other ways.”
    But Ernie had been stubborn. Lynn thought she knew why. It had something to do with getting a letter sweater to present to Nancy. It was just when his steady dates with Nancy were beginning, and he wanted to give her a sweater, as all the boys did when they went with a girl.
    â€œWhich is silly,” Lynn had declared. “Nancy isn’t the kind of girl to care about something like that. She cares about you, not about some old letter.”
    â€œMind your own business, Sis,” Ernie had said, not unkindly. “This is something I’ve made up my mind to do, and I’m going to do it.”
    And so he practiced. He practiced and practiced—and came home grimy and lame and bruised. Then the day of the tryouts came, and he did not make it He did not say much when he came home that day. He just said, “I didn’t make it,” and went upstairs and shut himself in his room.
    Nancy phoned later, and he would not come to the phone to talk to her, which was unheard of for Ernie. He did not even come out for dinner.
    Then, that evening, Paul arrived.
    Dodie saw him first. Dodie was a year younger than Lynn and always saw everything.
    â€œIt’s the Kingsley boy,” she exclaimed, glancing out the window, “the Big Wheel of the school! My goodness, don’t tell me he’s come a’courting!”

    â€œHe certainly hasn’t if it’s me you’re considering,” Lynn said in equal surprise. “I’ve never even talked to him.”
    She went to the door and let Paul in, liking him right away; liking the easy way he walked and the warm blue eyes and the way one eyebrow went up a little higher than the other when he talked.
    He said, “I came by to see Ernie.”
    â€œErnie—” Lynn hesitated, wondering what to say. “Ernie’s upstairs. He—he’s not feeling awfully well. He tried out for the football team today and he—”
    â€œI know,” Paul broke in. “I was there. That’s what I wanted to talk to him about.” He glanced at the stairs. “Do you think it would be all right if I just went on up?”
    â€œWhy, yes,” Lynn said. “I think that would be fine. It’s the first door on the left.”
    She and Dodie stood in the hallway, watching him mount the stairs and turn down the upstairs hall. They heard him give a sharp rap on a door.
    â€œWhy did you let him go up?” Dodie whispered accusingly. “Ernie’s going to be furious! You know he doesn’t want to see anybody, even Nancy.”
    â€œI know,” Lynn said. “But I have a feeling Paul’s different. I think he’ll want to see Paul.”
    The boys were upstairs for