第1部分(第3/8 頁)

。　And　even　though　my　dad　had　been　tossing　me　the　same　sort　of

look　all　week；　I　could　tell　—　he　didn't　like　this　girl

either。　“Hey！　Don't　do　that；”　he　warned　her。　“There　are　some　really　valuable　things　in　that

box。”

“Oh。　Well；　how　about　this　one？”　She　scoots　over　to　a　box　labeled　LENOX　and　looks　my　way

again。　“We　should　push　it　together！”

“No；　no；　no！”　my　dad　says；　then　pulls　her　up　by　the　arm。　“Why　don't　you　run　along　home？

Your　mother's　probably　wondering　where　you　are。”

This　was　the　beginning　of　my　soon…to…bee…acute　awareness　that　the　girl　cannot　take　a

hint。　Of　any　kind。　Does　she　zip　on　home　like　a　kid

should　when　they've　been　invited　to　leave？　No。　She　says；　“Oh；　my　mom　knows　where　I　am。

She　said　it　was　fine。”　Then　she　points　across　the　street

and　says；　“We　just　live　right　over　there。”

My　father　looks　to　where　she's　pointing　and　mutters；　“Oh　boy。”　Then　he　looks　at　me　and

winks　as　he　says；　“Bryce；　isn't　it　time　for　you　to　go　inside

and　help　your　mother？”

I　knew　right　off　that　this　was　a　ditch　play。　And　I　didn't　think　about　it　until　later；　but　ditch　wasn't

a　play　I'd　run　with　my　dad　before。　Face　it；　pulling　a

ditch　is　not　something　discussed　with　dads。　It's　like；　against　parental　law　to　tell　your　kid　it's

okay　to　ditch　someone；　no　matter　how　annoying　or

muddy　they　might　be。

But　there　he　was；　putting　the　play　in　motion；　and　man；　he