第13部分(第4/7 页)

t。

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I　guess　I　was　staring；　because　Juli　says；　“Look；　I　didn't　say　it；　he　did。　I　just　thought　it　was　nice；

that's　all。”

“Yeah；　whatever。　Well；　good　luck　with　the　grass。　I'm　sure　it'll　e　up　great。”　Then　I　totally

surprised　myself　by　saying；　“Knowing　you；　you'll　get　'em

all　to　hatch。”　I　didn't　say　it　mean　or　anything；　I　really　meant　it。　I　laughed；　and　then　she

laughed；　and　that's　how　I　left　her—sprinkling　her　soon…to…be

sod；　smiling。

I　hadn't　been　in　such　a　good　mood　in　weeks。　The　eggs　were　finally　behind　me。　I　was

absolved。　Relieved。　Happy。

It　took　me　a　few　minutes　at　the　dinner　table　to　realize　that　I　was　the　only　one　who　was。

Lyta　had　on　her　usual　pout；　so　that　wasn't　it。　But　my

father's　idea　of　saying　hello　was　to　lay　into　me　about　the　lawn。

“No　sweat；”　I　told　him。　“I'll　do　it　tomorrow。”

All　that　got　me　was　a　scowl。

Then　Mom　says　to　my　granddad；　“You　tired　tonight；　Dad？”

I　hadn't　even　noticed　him　sitting　there　like　a　stone。

“Yeah；”　my　father　tosses　down　the　table　at　him。　“That　girl　working　you　too　hard？”

My　grandfather　straightens　his　fork　on　his　napkin　and　says；　“‘That　girl’　is　named　Juli；　and　no；

she　isn't　‘working　me　too　hard；’　as　you　so　callously

put　it。”

“Callous？　Me？”　My　dad　laughs　and　says；　“Developed　quite　a　soft　spot　for　that　girl；　haven't

you？”

Even　Lyta　let　her　pout　go　for　a　minute。　These　were　fighting　words　and　everyone　knew　it。

Mom　nudged　Dad　with　her　foot；　but　that　only　made

things　worse。　“No；　Patsy！　I　want　to　know　why　your　father　has　the　energy　and　inclination　to

befriend　a　plete　stranger　when　he's　never　done　so

much　as　toss　a　baseball　around　with