第4部分(第7/7 页)

“Yes！　That's　absolutely　so！　And　she's　been　stalking　me　since　the　second　grade！”

He　frowned；　then　looked　out　the　window　and　asked；　“They've　lived　there　that　long？”

“I　think　they　were　all　born　there！”

He　frowned　some　more　before　he　looked　back　at　me　and　said；　“A　girl　like　that　doesn't　live

next　door　to　everyone；　you　know。”

“Lucky　them！”

He　studied　me；　long　and　hard。　I　said；　“What？”　but　he　didn't　flinch。　He　just　kept　staring　at　me；

and　I　couldn't　take　it　—　I　had　to　look　away。

Keep　in　mind　that　this　was　the　first　real　conversation　I'd　had　with　my　grandfather。　This　was

the　first　time　he'd　made　the　effort　to　talk　to　me　about

something　besides　passing　the　salt。　And　does　he　want　to　get　to　know　me？　No！　He　wants　to

know　about　Juli！

I