第5章

星期二

她们正在招募新的篮球队员，我要去争取这个机会。没错，我是长得娇小，不过我反应敏捷，身体强壮。当其他人跳到半空中时，我可以从她们脚底下穿过抢到球。在秋天午后红黄相间的林边空地上练球真是快乐，大家又叫又笑的。这是我所见过的最快乐的女孩们了，而我是其中最快乐的一个。

我本来打算写封长信跟您谈谈我的功课（李皮太太说过您想知道），不过第七堂课刚结束，再过10分钟我就要换好运动服在空地上集合了。您希望我会入选吧？

您永远的，乔若莎·亚伯特

又及：莎丽·麦克白刚探头进来，她说：“我想家想得快受不了了，你呢？”我笑了一下，回答不会，我还过得去。至少思乡病我是绝不会染上的：我从没问过有没有人会得“思院病”的，您会吗？（晚9点）

Tuesday

They are organizing the Freshman basket-ball team and there's just a chance that I shall get in it. I'm little of course, but terribly quick and wiry and tough.While the others are hopping about in the air, I can dodge under their feet and grab the ball.It's loads of fun practising-out in the athletic field in the afternoon with the trees all red and yellow and the air full of the smell of burning leaves, and everybody laughing and shouting.These are the happiest girls I ever saw-and I am the happiest of all!

I meant to write a long letter and tell you all the things I'm learning(Mrs. Lippett said you wanted to know),but 7th hour has just rung, and in ten minutes I'm due at the athletic field in gymnasium clothes.Don't you hope I'll get in the team?

Yours always,

Jerusha Abbott

PS.(9 o'clock.)

Sallie McBride just poked her head in at my door. This is what she said:"I'm so homesick that I simply can't stand it.Do you feel that way?"I smiled a little and said no;I thought I could pull through.At least homesickness is one disease that I've escaped!I never heard of anybody being asylum-sick, did you?