第15部分(第2/7 页)

　Mr。　Finnegan's。”

“Who's　Mr。　Finnegan？”

“The　man　who　owns　this　house。”

I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　“What？”

My　father　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　“The　landlord。”

“You　mean　we　don't　own　this　house？”

They　looked　at　each　other；　having　some　private　wordless　conversation　I　couldn't　decipher。

Finally　my　father　said；　“I　didn't　realize　you　didn't　know

that。”

“But　…　but　that　doesn't　make　sense！　Aren't　landlords　supposed　to　e　and　do　things？　Like

fix　the　roof　when　it　leaks　and　clear　the　drains　when

they're　plugged？　You　always　do　that　stuff；　Dad。　Why　do　you　do　it　when　he's　supposed　to？”

“Because；”　he　sighed；　“it's　easier　than　asking　him　for　help。”

“But　if—”

“And；”　my　father　interrupted　me；　“it　keeps　him　from　raising　the　rent。”

“But　…”

My　mother　reached　over　and　took　my　hand。　“Sweetheart；　I'm　sorry　if　this　is　a　shock。　I　guess

we　always　thought　you　knew。”

“But　what　about　the　yard？　Why　keep　up　the　inside　but　not　the　outside？”

My　father　frowned　and　said；　“When　we　signed　the　lease；　he　assured　us　he　would　fix　the

fences；　front　and　back；　and　plant　sod　in　the　front　yard。

Obviously　that　never　happened。”　He　shook　his　head。　“It's　a　major　undertaking；　and　fencing　is

not　cheap。　I　can't　see　putting　that　sort　of　investment

into　a　property　that's　not　ours。　Plus；　it's　the　principle　of　the　thing。”

“But　we　live　here；”　I　whispered；　“and　it　looks　so　bad。”

My　father　studied　me。　“Julianna；　what　happened？”

“Nothing；　Daddy；”　I　said；　but　he　knew　I　was　lying。

“Sweetheart；”　he　whispered；　“tell　me。”

I　knew　what　he'd　say　if　I　told　him；　and　yet　I　couldn't　not　tell　him。　Not　with　the　way　he　was

looking　at　me。　So　I