第11部分(第6/7 页)

gs。

………　Page　35………

Mrs。　Stueby　was　the　one　who　got　me　back　on　schedule。　She　called　to　say　she'd　read　about

the　tree　in　the　paper　and　was　sorry　about　everything

that　had　happened；　but　it　had　been　some　time　now　and　she　missed　her　eggs　and　was

worried　that　my　hens　might　quit　laying。　“Distress　can　push　a

bird　straight　into　a　molting；　and　we　wouldn't　want　that！　Feathers　everywhere　and　not　an　egg

in　sight。　I'm　quite　allergic　to　the　feathers　myself　or　I'd

probably　have　a　flock　of　my　own；　but　never　you　mind。　You　just　bring　'em　over　when　you're　up

to　it。　All's　I　wanted　was　to　check　in　and　let　you　know

how　sorry　I　was　about　the　tree。　And　your　dog；　too。　Your　mother　mentioned　he　passed　away。”

So　I　got　back　to　work。　I　cleared　away　the　eggs　I'd　neglected　and　got　back　into　my　routine　of

collecting　and　cleaning。　And　one　morning　when　I　had

enough；　I　made　the　rounds。　First　Mrs。　Stueby；　then　Mrs。　Helms；　and　finally　the　Loskis。　And

as　I　stood　at　the　Loskis'　threshold；　it　occurred　to　me　that　I

hadn't　seen　Bryce　in　the　longest　time。　Sure；　we'd　both　been　at　school；　but　I'd　been　so

preoccupied　with　other　things　that　I　hadn't　really　seen　him。

My　heart　started　beating　faster；　and　when　the　door　whooshed　open　and　his　blue　eyes　looked

right　at　me；　it　took　everything　I　had　just　to　say；

“Here。”

He　took　the　half…carton　and　said；　“You　know；　you　don't　have　to　give　us　these…。”

“I　know；”　I　said；　and　looked　down。

We　stood　there　for　a　record…breaking　amount　of　time　saying　nothing。　Finally　he　said；　“So　are

you　going　to　start　riding　the　bus　again？”

I　looked　up　at　him　and　shrugged。　“I　don't　know。　I　haven't　been　up　there　since　…　you　know。”