第22部分(第5/8 頁)

　while　I'm　getting　uptight

about　my　dad　asking　them　questions　about　money；　of　all

things；　my　mom's　fumbling　all　over　herself；　trying　to　sweep　away　my　dad's　big　pawprints。

“When　Rick　and　I　met；　he　was　playing　in　a　band…。”

Poached　salmon　was　suddenly　swimming　down　the　wrong　hatch。　And　while　I'm　choking；

Lyta's　bugging　out　her　raccoon　eyes；　gasping；　“You？

Played　in　a　band？　What　did　you　play；　clari？”

“No；　honey；”　my　mom　says；　trying　to　hold　it　all　together。　“Your　father　played　guitar。”

“Guitar？”

“Cool！”　Matt…or…Mike　says。　“Rock？　Country？　Jazz？”

“Country；”　my　dad　says。　“Which　is　nothing　to　scoff　at；　boys。”

“Dude！　We　know。　Total　respect；　man。”

“And　when　our　band　looked　into　getting　a　demo　made；　it　was　astronomically　expensive。　That

was　in　a　big　city；　where　there　was　a　little

petition。　Getting　a　demo　made　around　here？　I　didn't　even　know　there　was　a　facility。”

Matt　and　Mike　are　still　grinning。　“There's　not。”

“So　where'd　you　go？　And　how'd　you　afford　it？”　My　mother　whacks　him　under　the　table　again；

so　he　says；　“I'm　just　curious；　Patsy！”

Matt　and　Mike　lean　in。　“We　did　it　ourselves。”

………　Page　68………

“This　right　here？　You　did　this　yourselves？　That's　impossible。”　He's　looking　almost　mad　about

it。　“How'd　you　get　the　gear？”

My　mom　kicks　him　again；　but　Dad　turns　on　her　and　says；　“Stop　it；　would　you？　I'm　just

curious！”

Matt…or…Mi