CHAPTER 30

Summary

Leo did not see Susan for the rest of the weekend. When he next saw her, on Monday at school, she was once again Stargirl. At lunchtime she handed out cookies but most of the students did not eat them. Hillari even smashed hers. Dori Dilson applauded the song that Stargirl strummed on her ukulele, but no one else did, not even Leo. He was not happy to see the return of Stargirl.

After school Leo walked with Stargirl and asked if she was done being normal. She said that she was. She was giving up on trying to be popular. He suggested that she could back up on the Stargirl thing just a bit. She knew that the acceptance of the other students was important to him. She told him that she knew that he would not ask her to the upcoming Ocotillo Ball and that was okay. She gave him the same look that she gave to people that she felt sorry for. He did not want that look from her.

Kevin called that night and asked Leo who he was taking to the Ocotillo Ball. Leo said that he did not know. Later that night Leo had a dream of an old man saying How dare you forgive me.

The next day Kevin mentioned that Stargirl was being Stargirl again. Leo wondered what he had said to give the impression that it was okay to say negative things about her.

Leo heard more and more negative gossip about Stargirl. He was not sure whether more was being spoken or whether he was just able to hear the gossip better.

Stargirl put up a sign up sheet for the Ukee Dooks, but only Dori Dilson joined. When they put on a show in the courtyard they were ignored.

By changing to normal for awhile Stargirl had not increased her popularity at all. Leo felt that he should show the others that he was not shunning her, that he appreciated her. But, he didn't.

Notes

Stargirl gave less importance to being popular than Leo did.

CHAPTER 31

Summary

Leo did not go to the Ocotillo Ball. Actually, in a way he did. He went toward it on his bicycle. He went to where he could see it and watched. It was being held at the Mica Country Club.

Stargirl arrived at the ball in a flower covered bicycle sidecar that had a flower covered train trailing behind it.. Dori Dilson, in a white tuxedo and top hat, worked the pedals. Stargirl wore a strapless yellow gown. She wore a fossil identifying her as a member of the Loyal Order of the Stone Bone hanging from a string around her neck. On her wrist was what looked like a small sunflower.

There was someone with beady eyes and small ears, in a flower covered basket on the bicycle, that Stargirl bent over and kissed,

As she walked toward the ball, Stargirl looked at everyone with those big eyes of hers. Some turned away. Others felt a loss after she passed.

On the portable floor on the tennis court Stargirl danced alone and enjoyed the music. Later, no one remembered when, that changed. One guy danced with her. His name was Raymond Studemacher. His was a white tuxedo in a sea of blue tuxedos. Several other guys were on their way to be her next partner when she asked the band leader to play the bunny hop. As soon as the music started, Stargirl led a line of dancers across the floor. Almost miraculously, the students, sans Hillari Kimble and Wayne Parr, were once again under her spell.

As the line snaked over the outdoor dance floor Stargirl improvised. She did various movements each of which rolled down the line of dancers. Finally, the band leader stopped, but not for long because there were complaints all down the line. When the bunny hop restarted, Stargirl led the dancers over to the other tennis courts, then onto a practice putting green. Then they disappeared. The hundred couples were too far away to be seen from the dance floor. The band kept playing, even when Hillari told it to play something else. The dancers were gone a long time. When someone finally spotted them, those who had been waiting for them raced to where they could be seen. As Stargirl led the line along the outside of the tennis court fence, those who had remained behind formed into a line of their own near Stargirl's line on the inside of the fence. At the gate, as the dance ended the two lines mingled.

Hillari was so mad at Stargirl for ruining her evening that she slapped Stargirl. Stargirl kissed her in return. Then Stargirl was gone, taken away in the flower covered bicycle side car by Dori Dilson. No one saw her again.

Notes

Archie's influence showed in the necklace that Stargirl wore.

In this chapter we again see the group of students change. Perhaps, watching Stargirl, they realized how pointless it was to shun her.