The other kids at school seemed a little more distant after that, polite but not really friendly.
"He was just trying to protect me," Judy tried to explain to everyone.
But the other kids talked.
"Don't you think he's scary?"
"Well, he is a monster, after all."
"He has too much strength. You'd always have to be careful with him around."
"That stitch is a little gruesome."
"I don't know about you girls, but that pallid green skin is enough to give me the creeps."
****
It was the last game of the season and the Elmville Eagles were battling the Georgetown Giants for a chance to go to the state championship. Boris was distracted because he didn't see Judy at her usual spot in the stands, and he had been kicking badly.
During the third quarter, while Boris stood on the sidelines still searching vainly for Judy, he heard someone call his name. It was Chip McPherson.
"Hey, Boris," said Chip as he approached, "I bet you're wondering why Judy didn't show up for your big game."
Boris just glowered at him.
"Well, I'll tell ya why," continued Chip. "It's because she don't love you anymore. Yeah, that's right. She told me herself. She realized she could never have any normal life with you, so... she called it quitsville."
"You... lie," said Boris.
"Well, you can believe it or don't, but that's what she told me."
Boris frowned.
"Oh yeah," said Chip as he walked away, "she said she only went out with you 'cause she felt sorry for ya. Why else would she go out with someone so ugly?"
Boris wanted to cry. Now he couldn't concentrate at all on the game, and he kicked even more poorly.
The game was tied at 24 with only seconds remaining. The whole stadium was in a frenzy, but Boris didn't care at all. He felt like he was in the middle of a bad dream.
Finally, with time left for only one more play, the Eagles called out Boris to kick a field goal that, if successful, would send them to the state championship. He walked out numbly to the field.
He botched the kick. A Georgetown player picked up the football and ran it all the way back for a touchdown, so that Elmville lost 30 to 24.
Boris heard their boos as he trudged back to the locker room. He felt like everybody hated him. In the locker room, his teammates expressed their disappointment. "Way to go, Boris." "What a blockhead!"
****
After the game, Boris made straight for Judy's house. It had started raining, and by the time Boris showed up at Judy's bedroom window he was shivering and soaked. He saw Judy lying in her bed asleep. Even though he was very upset, he didn't want to disturb her rest, and he was afraid that she didn't want to see him anyway. So he stood there and watched her for a moment, sadly admiring her beauty, then returned home forlorn.
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