第1部分(第6/7 页)

t　out　of　the　way　than　it　is　to　get　clobbered　by　some

parental　tidal　wave。

The　funny　thing　is；　Lyta's　still　clueless　when　it　es　to　dealing　with　Mom　and　Dad。　She

goes　straight　into　thrash　mode　and　is　too　busy

drowning　in　the　argument　to　take　a　deep　breath　and　dive　for　calmer　water。

And　she　thinks　I'm　stupid。

………　Page　5………

Anyway；　true　to　form；　Lyta　tried　to　bait　me　with　Juli　those　first　few　days。　She　even　snuck

her　past　Dad　once　and　marched　her　all　around　the

house；　hunting　me　down。　I　wedged　myself　up　on　the　top　shelf　of　my　closet；　and　lucky　for　me；

neither　of　them　looked　up。　A　few　minutes　later　I　heard

Dad　yell　at　Juli　to　get　off　the　antique　furniture；　and　once　again；　she　got　booted。

I　don't　think　I　went　outside　that　whole　first　week。　I　helped　unpack　stuff　and　watched　TV　and

just　kind　of　hung　around　while　my　mom　and　dad

arranged　and　rearranged　the　furniture；　debating　whether　Empire　settees　and　French　Rococo

tables　should　even　be　put　in　the　same　room。

So　believe　me；　I　was　dying　to　go　outside。　But　every　time　I　checked　through　the　window；　I

could　see　Juli　showing　off　in　her　yard。　She'd　be　heading

a　soccer　ball　or　doing　high　kicks　with　it　or　dribbling　it　up　and　down　their　driveway。　And　when

she　wasn't　busy　showing　off；　she'd　just　sit　on　the　curb

with　the　ball　between　her　feet；　staring　at　our　house。

My　mom　didn't　understand　why　it　was　so　awful　that　“that　cute　little　girl”　had　held　my　hand。

She　thought　I　should　make　friends　with　her。　“I　thought

you　liked　soccer；　honey。　Why　don't　you　go　out　there　and　kick　the　ball　around？”

Because　I　didn't　want　to　be　kicked　around；　that's　why。　And　although　I　couldn't　say　it　like