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ys。

………　Page　67………

Matt　and　Mike　look　at　each　other；　then　shrug　and　get　back　to　eating。　But　Lyta　glares　at

him　and　says；　“Your　sarcasm　is　not　appreciated；　Dad。”

“Lyn；　Lyn；”　says　Matt…or…Mike。　“It's　cool。　Everyone's　like　that　about　it。　It's　a　show…me…don't…

tell…me　thing。”

“That's　a　great　idea；”　Lyta　says；　jumping　out　of　her　seat　and　dashing　down　the　hall。

Mom　freezes；　not　sure　what　to　do　about　Lyta；　but　then　Mrs。　Baker　says；　“Dinner　is

absolutely　delicious；　Patsy。”

“Thanks；　Trina。　It's　…　it's　nice　to　have　all　of　you　over。”

There's　about　three　seconds　of　quiet　and　then　Lyta　es　in　and　jabs　at　the　CD　player

buttons　until　the　drawer　slides　back　in。

“Lyn；　no！　Not　a　good　idea；”　says　Matt…or…Mike。　“Yeah；　Lyn。　It's　not　exactly　dinner　music。”

“Tough；”　says　Lyta；　and　cranks　the　volume。

Boom；　whack！　Boom…boom；　whack！　The　candles　practically　shake　in　their　holders；　then

guitars　rip　through　the　air　and　about　blow　them　out。　Matt

and　Mike　look　up　at　the　speakers；　then　grin　at　each　other　and　call　over　to　my　dad；　“Surround

sound　—　awesome　setup；　Mr。　Loski！”

All　the　adults　were　dying　to　jump　up　and　turn　the　thing　down；　but　Lyta　stood　guard　and

just　glowered　at　them。　And　when　the　song's　over；

Lyta　pulls　out　the　CD；　punches　off　the　player；　and　then　smiles　—　actually　smiles　—　at

Matt　and　Mike　and　says；　“That　is　the　raddest　song。　I　want

to　hear　it　again　and　again　and　again。”

Matt…or…Mike　says　to　my　dad；　“You　probably　don't　like　it；　but　it's　what　we　do。”

“You　boys　wrote　that　song？”

“Uh…huh。”

He　motions　Lyta　to　pass　the　CD　over；　saying；　“Just　the　one　song？”

Matt…or…Mike　laughs　and　says；　“Dude；　we've　got　a　th