第2部分(第6/7 页)

he　was　good　and　preoccupied；　I　tugged　on

her　sleeve　and　asked；　“Now？”

She　nodded　and　whispered；　“Okay；　but　take　it　easy！　I'll　be　over　there　in　a　minute。”

I　was　too　excited　not　to　charge　across　the　street；　but　I　did　try　very　hard　to　be　civilized　once　I

got　to　the　moving　van。　I　stood　outside　looking　in　for　a

record…breaking　length　of　time；　which　was　hard　because　there　he　was！　About　halfway　back！

My　new　sure…to…be　best　friend；　Bryce　Loski。

Bryce　wasn't　really　doing　much　of　anything。　He　was　more　hanging　back；　watching　his　father

move　boxes　onto　the　lift…gate。　I　remember　feeling

sorry　for　Mr。　Loski　because　he　looked　worn　out；　moving　boxes　all　by　himself。　I　also

remember　that　he　and　Bryce　were　wearing　matching　turquoise

polo　shirts；　which　I　thought　was　really　cute。　Really　nice。

………　Page　8………

When　I　couldn't　stand　it　any　longer；　I　called；　“Hi！”　into　the　van；　which　made　Bryce　jump；　and

then　quick　as　a　cricket；　he　started　pushing　a　box　like

he'd　been　working　all　along。

I　could　tell　from　the　way　Bryce　was　acting　so　guilty　that　he　was　supposed　to　be　moving

boxes；　but　he　was　sick　of　it。　He'd　probably　been　moving

things　for　days！　It　was　easy　to　see　that　he　needed　a　rest。　He　needed　some　juice！　Something。

It　was　also　easy　to　see　that　Mr。　Loski　wasn't　about　to　let　him　quit。　He　was　going　to　keep　on

moving　boxes　around　until　he　collapsed；　and　by　then

Bryce　might　be　dead。　Dead　before　he'd　had　the　chance　to　move　in！

The　tragedy　of　it　catapulted　me　into　the　moving　van。　I　had　to　help！　I　had　to　save　him！

When　I　got　to　his　side　to　help　him　shove　a　box　forward；　the　poor　boy　was　so　exhausted　that

he　just　moved　aside　and　let　me　tak