第17部分(第1/8 頁)

Just　wait　until　I　got　my　hands　on　the　backyard！　Then

maybe　I'd　even　paint　the　house。　I　could　do　it。　I　could。

Chet the　story；　and　when　Mom　brought　us　out　sandwiches　at

lunchtime；　we　sat　on　the　porch　and　ate　without　saying

a　word。　Then　he　broke　the　silence　by　nodding　across　the　street　and　saying；　“I　don't　know

why　he　doesn't　just　e　out　and　say　hello。”

“Who？”　I　asked；　then　looked　across　the　street　to　where　he'd　nodded。　The　curtain　in　Bryce's

room　moved　quickly　back　into　place；　and　I　couldn't

help　asking；　“Bryce？”

“That's　the　third　time　I've　seen　him　watching。”

“Really？”　My　heart　was　fluttering　about　like　a　baby　bird　trying　to　fly。

He　frowned　and　said；　“Let's　finish　up　and　get　that　seed　sown；　shall　we？　You'll　want　the

warmth　of　the　day　to　help　with　the　germination。”

I　was　happy　to　finally　be　planting　the　yard；　but　I　couldn't　help　being　distracted　by　Bryce's

window。　Was　he　watching？　During　the　rest　of　the

afternoon；　I　checked　more　often　than　I'd　like　to　admit。　And　I'm　afraid　Chet　noticed；　too；

because　when　we　were　all　done　and　we'd　congratulated

each　other　on　what　was　sure　to　be　a　fine…looking　yard；　he　said；　“He　may　be　acting　like　a

coward　now；　but　I　do　hold　out　hope　for　the　boy。”

A　coward？　What　on　earth　could　I　say　to　that？　I　just　stood　there　with　the　hose　in　one　hand

and　the　spigot　valve　beneath　the　other。

And　with　that；　Chet　wav