第12部分(第1/7 页)

in　his　hands。　“Juli！”　he　said。　“What　are　you　still　doing

here？”

He　startled　me；　too。　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　still　doing　there。　And　I　was　so　flustered　that　I

would　probably　just　have　run　home　if　he　hadn't　started

struggling　with　the　trash；　trying　to　shove　the　contents　down。

I　reached　over　and　said；　“Do　you　need　some　help？”　because　it　looked　like　he　was　about　to

spill　the　trash。　Then　I　saw　the　corner　of　an　egg　carton。

This　wasn't　just　any　egg　carton　either。　It　was　my　egg　carton。　The　one　I'd　just　brought　him。

And　through　the　little　blue　cardboard　arcs　I　could　see

eggs。

I　looked　from　him　to　the　eggs　and　said；　“What　happened？　Did　you　drop　them？”

“Yeah；”　he　said　quickly。　“Yeah；　and　I'm　really　sorry　about　that。”

He　tried　to　stop　me；　but　I　took　the　carton　from　the　trash；　saying；　“All　of　them？”　I　opened　the

carton　and　gasped。　Six　whole；　perfect　eggs。　“Why'd

you　throw　them　away？”

He　pushed　past　me　and　went　around　the　house　to　the　trash　bin；　and　I　followed　him；　waiting

for　an　answer。

He　shook　the　garbage　out；　then　turned　to　face　me。　“Does　the　word　salmonella　mean

anything　to　you？”

“Salmonella？　But　…”

“My　mom　doesn't　think　it's　worth　the　risk。”

I　followed　him　back　to　the　porch。　“Are　you　saying　she　won't　eat　them　because—”

“Because　she's　afraid　of　being　poisoned。”

………　Page　36………

“Poisoned！　Why？”

“Because　your　backyard　is；　like；　covered　in　turds！　I　mean；　look　at　your　place；　Juli！”　He

pointed　at　our　house　and　said；　“Just　look　at　it。　It's　a

plete　dive！”

“It　is　not！”　I　cried；　but　the　truth　was　sitting　right　across　the　street；　impossible　to　deny。　My

throat　suddenly　choked　closed　and