第22部分(第3/8 頁)

　it

college　is　out　of　the　question？”

God；　what　was　with　him？　In　a　flash　I　was　clutching　my　fork　and　knife；　ready　to　duke　it　out　for

a　couple　of　guys　who　pinched　my　cheeks　and　called

me　baby　brother。

I　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　to　relax。　Tried　to　dive　down　to　calmer　water。　This　wasn't　my

fight。

Besides；　Matt　and　Mike　seemed　cool　with　it。　“Oh；　no；”　they　said。　“College　is　a　total

possibility。”　“Yeah；　we　got　accepted　a　couple　of　places；　but

we're　going　to　give　the　music　thing　a　shot　first。”

“Oh；　the　music　thing；”　my　father　says。

………　Page　67………

Matt　and　Mike　look　at　each　other；　then　shrug　and　get　back　to　eating。　But　Lyta　glares　at

him　and　says；　“Your　sarcasm　is　not　appreciated；　Dad。”

“Lyn；　Lyn；”　says　Matt…or…Mike。　“It's　cool。　Everyone's　like　that　about　it。　It's　a　show…me…don't…

tell…me　thing。”

“That's　a　great　idea；”　Lyta　says；　jumping　out　of　her　seat　and　dashing　down　the　hall。

Mom　freezes；　not　sure　what　to　do　about　Lyta；　but　then　Mrs。　Baker　says；　“Dinner　is

absolutely　delicious；　Patsy。”

“Thanks；　Trina。　It's　…　it's　nice　to　have　all　of　you　over。”

There's　about　three　seconds　of　quiet　and　then　Lyta　es　in　and　jabs　at　the　CD　player

buttons　until　the　drawer　slides　back　in。

“Lyn；　no！　Not　a　good　idea；”　says　Matt…or…Mike。　“Yeah；　Lyn。　It's　not　exactly　dinner　music。”

“Tough；”　says　Lyta；　and　cranks　the　volume。

Boom；　whack！　Bo