第4部分(第5/7 页)

　afternoon；　Juli　was　gone　and　so　was　half　the　tree。　The　top

branches；　the　place　my　kite　had　been　stuck；　her

favorite　perch　—　they　were　all　gone。

We　watched　them　work　for　a　little　while；　the　chain　saws　gunning　at　full　throttle；　smoking　as

they　chewed　through　wood。　The　tree　looked　lopsided

and　naked；　and　after　a　few　minutes　I　had　to　get　out　of　there。　It　was　like　watching　someone

dismember　a　body；　and　for　the　first　time　in　ages；　I　felt　like

crying。　Crying。　Over　a　stupid　tree　that　I　hated。

I　went　home　and　tried　to　shake　it　off；　but　I　kept　wondering；　Should　I　have　gone　up　the　tree

with　her？　Would　it　have　done　any　good？

I　thought　about　calling　Juli　to　tell　her　I　was　sorry　they'd　cut　it　down；　but　I　didn't。　It　would've

been　too；　I　don't　know；　weird。

She　didn't　show　at　the　bus　stop　the　next　morning　and　didn't　ride　the　bus　home　that　afternoon；

either。

Then　that　night；　right　before　dinner；　my　grandfather　summoned　me　into　the　front　room。　He

didn't　call　to　me　as　I　was　walking　by　—　that　would　have

bordered　on　friendliness。　What　he　did　was　talk　to　my　mother；　who　talked　to　me。　“I　don't　know

what　it's　about；　honey；”　she　said。　“Maybe　he's　just

ready　to　get　to　know　you　a　little　better。”

Great。　The　man's　had　a　year　and　a　half　to　get　acquainted；　and　he　chooses　now　to　get　to

know　me。　But　I　couldn't　exactly　blow　him　off。

My　grandfather's　a　big　man　with　a　meaty　nose　and　greased…back　salt…and…pepper　hair。　He

lives　in　house　slippers　and　a　sports　coat；　and　I've

never　seen　a　whisker　on　him。　They　grow；　but　he　shaves　them　off　like　three　times　a　day。　It's　a

real　recreational　activity　for　him。

Besides　his　meaty　nose；　he's　also　go