第18部分(第1/7 页)

“But　I　take　it　they　have　stopped？”

“Yeah。　As　of　last　week。　Because　Juli　caught　me　chucking　a　carton　in　the　trash　outside。”

“Oh；　dear。”

“Exactly。”

“So　what　did　you　tell　her？”

I　looked　down　and　mumbled；　“I　told　her　that　we　were　afraid　of　salmonella　poisoning　because

their　yard　was　such　a　mess。　She　ran　off　crying；　and

the　next　thing　I　know；　she's　starting　to　fix　up　their　yard。”

“Oh；　Bryce！”

“Exactly。”

She　inute；　then　very　softly　she　said；　“Thank　you　for　your　honesty；

Bryce。　It　does　help　to　explain　a　lot。”　She　shook　her　head

and　said；　“What　that　family　must　think　of　us；”　and　got　back　to　cleaning　the　griddle。　“All　the

more　reason　to　have　them　over　for　dinner；　if　you　ask　me。”

I　whispered；　“You're　sworn　to　secrecy　on　this　whole　egg　thing；　right？　I　mean；　Juli　told

Granddad；　so　he　knows；　but　I　don't　want　this　to　spread　to；

you　know；　Dad。”

She　studied　me　a　minute；　then　said；　“Tell　me　you've　learned　your　lesson；　honey。”

“I　have；　Mom。”

………　Page　54………

“Okay；　then。”

I　let　out　a　big　sigh　of　relief。　“Thanks。”

“Oh；　and　Bryce？”

“Yeah？”

“I'm　very　glad　you　told　me　about　it。”　She　kissed　me　on　the　cheek；　then　smiled　and　said；　“Now；

didn't　I　hear　you　promise　you'd　mow　the　lawn

today？”

“Right；”　I　said；　and　headed　outside　to　trim　the　turf。

That　evening　my　mother　announced　that　the　Bakers　would　be　over　Friday　night　at　six　o'clock；

that　the　menu　included　poached　salmon；　crab

risotto；　and　fresh　steamed　vegetables；　and　that　none　of　us　had　better　weasel　out　of　being

there。　My　dad　muttered　that　if　we　were　really　going　to　do

this；　it　would　be　a　whole　lot　better　to　barbecue　beca