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"Welcome to Provincetown," he said. "I see you've already made friends with some of the girls.

Are you going to their beach party Saturday night?" "I don't know. I . . I'll see."

"I hope to see you there," he said. His face

glittered with a handsome smile as he moved away to

join his friends, who, I saw, included a very pretty

brunette. She glared at me as she threaded her arm

through his and moved him down the hall and away. I

stared after him until Lorraine nudged me. The girls

had been standing nearby, watching.

"Be careful," Lorraine said. "That's Adam

Jackson." "I know. He told me."

"Did he tell you he puts a nick in the bow of his

sailboat for every girl he takes to bed?"

"What?"

"One more nick and that boat might sink,"

Betty added. We continued toward class before I

could catch my breath.

"But maybe she won't mind becoming one of

Adam's nicks," Janet quipped. "Would you, Melody?"

"What?"

Everyone laughed again. I was beginning to

feel as light and helpless as a balloon caught in a

crosswind, blown one way, then another. And I had

been here only a couple of days!

Mr. Malamud, my chemistry teacher, spent

some time with me after class to be sure I was up-todate with the class. It was my last period of the day.

Cary wasn't waiting for me when I finally emerged

from the building.

I gazed around for a few moments and then

hurried along. I assumed he had picked up May from