Thirteen Reasons Why

299 Pages·2016·1.21 MB·English

by  Asher Jay

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS
W
HY

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS
W
H
Y
A NOVEL BY
J A Y A S H E R
Thirteen Reasons Why
RAZORBILL
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Young Readers Group
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ISBN: 1-4295-6512-8
Copyright 2007 © Jay Asher
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For JoanMarie

“Sir?” she repeats. “How soon do you want it to get
there?”
I rub two fingers, hard, over my left eyebrow. The throb-
bing has become intense. “It doesn’t matter,” I say.
The clerk takes the package. The same shoebox that sat
on my porch less than twenty-four hours ago; rewrapped in
a brown paper bag, sealed with clear packing tape, exactly
as I had received it. But now addressed with a new name.
The next name on Hannah Baker’s list.
“Baker’s dozen,” I mumble. Then I feel disgusted for
even noticing it.
“Excuse me?”
I shake my head. “How much is it?”
2 JAY ASHER
She places the box on a rubber pad, then punches a
sequence on her keypad.
I set my cup of gas-station coffee on the counter and
glance at the screen. I pull a few bills from my wallet, dig
some coins out of my pocket, and place my money on the
counter.
“I don’t think the coffee’s kicked in yet,” she says.
“You’re missing a dollar.”
I hand over the extra dollar, then rub the sleep from my
eyes. The coffee’s lukewarm when I take a sip, making it
harder to gulp down. But I need to wake up somehow.
Or maybe not. Maybe it’s best to get through the day
half-asleep. Maybe that’s the only way to get through today.
“It should arrive at this address tomorrow,” she says.
“Maybe the day after tomorrow.” Then she drops the box
into a cart behind her.
I should have waited till after school. I should have given
Jenny one final day of peace.
Though she doesn’t deserve it.
When she gets home tomorrow, or the next day, she’ll
find a package on her doorstep. Or if her mom or dad or
someone else gets there first, maybe she’ll find it on her bed.
And she’ll be excited. I was excited. A package with no
return address? Did they forget, or was it intentional?
Maybe from a secret admirer?
“Do you want your receipt?” the clerk asks.