第4部分(第1/7 页)

over　windows；　weeds　sticking　out　all　over　the　place；

and　a　barnyard's　worth　of　animals　running　wild。　I'm　talking　dogs；　cats；　chickens；　even　snakes。

I　swear　to　God；　her　brothers　have　a　boa　constrictor　in

their　room。　They　dragged　me　in　there　when　I　was　about　ten　and　made　me　watch　it　eat　a　rat。

A　live；　beady…eyed　rat。　They　held　that　rodent　up　by　its

tail　and　gulp；　the　boa　swallowed　it　whole。　That　snake　gave　me　nightmares　for　a　month。

Anyway；　normally　I　wouldn't　care　about　someone's　yard；　but　the　Bakers'　mess　bugged　my

dad　big…time；　and　he　channeled　his　frustration　into　our

yard。　He　said　it　was　our　neighborly　duty　to　show　them　what　a　yard's　supposed　to　look　like。

So　while　Mike　and　Matt　are　busy　plumping　up　their　boa；

I'm　having　to　mow　and　edge　our　yard；　then　sweep　the　walkways　and　gutter；　which　is　going　a

little　overboard；　if　you　ask　me。

And　you'd　think　Juli's　dad—who's　a　big；　strong；　bricklaying　dude　—　would　fix　the　place　up；

but　no。　According　to　my　mom；　he　spends　all　his　free

time　painting。　His　landscapes　don't　seem　like　anything　special　to　me；　but　judging　by　his　price

tags；　he　thinks　quite　a　lot　of　them。　We　see　them　every

year　at　the　Mayfield　County　Fair；　and　my　parents　always　say　the　same　thing：　“The　world

would　have　more　beauty　in　it　if　he'd　fix　up　the　yard　instead。”

Mom　and　Juli's　mom　do　talk　some。　I　think　my　mom　feels　sorry　for　Mrs。　Baker　—　she　says

she　married　a　dreamer；　and　because　of　that；　one　of　the

two　of　them　will　always　be　unhappy。

Whatever。　Maybe　Juli's　aesthetic　sensibilities　have　been　permanently　screwed　up　by　her

father　and　none　of　this　is　her　fault；　but　Juli　has　always

thought　that　that　sycamo