my stomach flipped over and i sat up quickly , too quickly ; i slammed my head on the desk . he seemed unable to be formal , affected , to try too hard to be funny or sarcastic or sophisticated . could you bring her out here to me ? what 's next in the dining room ? '' get past it or youre going to be off the scouts . it was bright silver and caught the light so completely that the red ruby at the center appeared as if it were set within a shining white flame . 