第2部分(第5/7 页)

　but　what　it　left　me

was　home　alone。

My　mother　was　there；　but　she　had　better　things　to　do　than　kick　a　soccer　ball　around。　So　she

said；　anyway。　At　the　time　I　didn't　think　there　was

anything　better　than　kicking　a　soccer　ball　around；　especially　not　the　likes　of　laundry　or　dishes

or　vacuuming；　but　my　mother　didn't　agree。　And　the

danger　of　being　home　alone　with　her　was　that　she'd　recruit　me　to　help　her　wash　or　dust　or

vacuum；　and　she　wouldn't　tolerate　the　dribbling　of　a

soccer　ball　around　the　house　as　I　moved　from　chore　to　chore。

To　play　it　safe；　I　waited　outside　for　weeks；　just　in　case　the　new　neighbors　moved　in　early。

Literally；　it　was　weeks。　I　entertained　myself　by　playing

soccer　with　our　dog；　Champ。　Mostly　he'd　just　block　because　a　dog　can't　exactly　kick　and

score；　but　once　in　a　while　he'd　dribble　with　his　nose。　The

scent　of　a　ball　must　overwhelm　a　dog；　though；　because　Champ　would　eventually　try　to

chomp　it；　then　lose　the　ball　to　me。

When　the　Loskis'　moving　van　finally　arrived；　everyone　in　my　family　was　happy。　“Little

Julianna”　was　finally　going　to　have　a　playmate。

My　mother；　being　the　truly　sensible　adult　that　she　is；　made　me　wait　more　than　an　hour

before　going　over　to　meet　him。　“Give　them　a　chance　to

stretch　their　legs；　Julianna；”　she　said。　“They'll　want　some　time　to　adjust。”　She　wouldn't　even

let　me　watch　from　the　yard。　“I　know　you；　sweetheart。

Somehow　that　ball　will　wind　up　in　their　yard　and　you'll　just　have　to　go　retrieve　it。”

So　I　watched　from　the　window；　and　every　few　minutes　I'd　ask；　“Now？”　and　she'd　say；　“Give

them　a　little　while　longer；　would　you？”

Then　the　phone　rang。　And　the　minute　I　was　sure　s