第13部分(第5/7 页)

his　own　grandson！”

Well；　yeah！　I　thought。　But　then　I　remembered　—　I　owed　my　grandfather。　Owed　him　big…time。

Without　thinking；　I　said；　“Take　it　easy；　Dad。　Juli　just

reminds　him　of　Grandma。”

Everyone　clammed　up　and　stared　at　me。　So　I　looked　at　my　grandfather　and　said；　“Uh　…　isn't

that　right；　Granddad？”

He　nodded　and　rearranged　his　fork　some　more。

“Of　Renée？”　My　father　looked　at　my　mother　and　then　at　Granddad。　“She　can't　possibly！”

My　granddad　closed　his　eyes　and　said；　“It's　her　spirit　that　reminds　me　of　Renée。”

“Her　spirit；”　my　father　says。　Like　he's　talking　to　a　lying　kindergartner。

“Yes；　her　spirit。”　My　grandfather's　quiet　for　a　minute；　then　asks；　“Do　you　know　why　the

Bakers　haven't　fixed　up　the　yard　until　now？”

“Why？　Sure。　They're　trash；　that's　why。　They've　got　a　beat…up　house；　two　beat…up　cars；　and　a

beat…up　yard。”

“They　are　not　trash；　Rick。　They　are　good；　honest；　hardworking　people　—　”

“Who　have　absolutely　no　pride　in　how　they　present　themselves　to　the　rest　of　the　world。

We've　lived　across　the　street　from　those　people　for　over

six　years；　and　there　is　no　excuse　for　the　state　they're　in。”

“No？”　My　grandfather　takes　a　deep　breath　and　seems　to　weigh　things　in　his　mind　for　a　few

seconds。　Then　he　says；　“Tell　me　this；　Rick。　If　you　had

a　brother　or　sister　or　child　who　had　a　severe　mental　or　physical　handicap；　what　would　you

do？”

It　was　like　my　granddad　had　passed　gas　in　church。　My　father's　face　pinched；　his　head　shook；

and　finally　he　said；　“Chet；　what　does　that　have　to　do

with　anything？”

My　grandfather　looks　at　him　for　a　minute；　then　quietly　says；　“Juli's　father　has　a　retarded

brother；　and—”