第4部分(第4/8 頁)

o　get　me　to　e　up　there　with　her；　too。　“Bryce；　e　on！　You　won't　believe　the

colors！　It's　absolutely　magnificent！　Bryce；　you've　got　to

e　up　here！”

Yeah；　I　could　just　hear　it：　“Bryce　and　Juli　sitting　in　a　tree…”　Was　I　ever　going　to　leave　the

second　grade　behind？

One　morning　I　was　specifically　not　looking　up　when　out　of　nowhere　she　swings　down　from　a

branch　and　practically　knocks　me　over。　Heart　attack！

I　dropped　my　backpack　and　wrenched　my　neck；　and　that　did　it。　I　refused　to　wait　under　that

tree　with　that　maniac　monkey　on　the　loose

anymore。　I　started　leaving　the　house　at　the　very　last　minute。　I　made　up　my　own　waiting　spot；

and　when　I'd　see　the　bus　pull　up；　I'd　truck　up　the　hill　and

get　on　board。

No　Juli；　no　problem。

And　that；　my　friend；　took　care　of　the　rest　of　seventh　grade　and　almost　all　of　eighth；　too；　until

one　day　a　few　months　ago。　That's　when　I　heard　a

motion　up　the　hill　and　could　see　some　big　trucks　parked　up　on　Collier　Street　where　the

bus　pulls　in。　There　were　some　men　shouting　stuff　up　at

Juli；　who　was；　of　course；　five　stories　up　in　the　tree。

All　the　other　kids　started　to　gather　under　the　tree；　too；　and　I　could　hear　them　telling　her　she

had　to　e　down。　She　was　fine　—　that　was　obvious

to　anyone　with　a　pair　of　ears　—　but　I　couldn't　figure　out　what　they　were　all　arguing　about。

I　trucked　up　the　hill；　and　as　I　got　closer　and　saw　what