第10部分(第3/8 頁)

ried　about。”

An　A？　Being　responsible　for　the　death　of　a　baby　chick—that's　what　I　was　worried　about。

Suddenly　there　was　real　appeal　in　building　a　volcano　or

making　my　own　neoprene　or　demonstrating　the　various　scientific　applications　of　gear　ratios。

But　the　ball　was　in　motion；　and　Mrs。　Brubeck　would　have　no　more　discussion　about　it。　She

pulled　The　Beginner's　Guide　to　Raising　Chickens

from　her　bookshelf　and　said；　“Read　the　section　on　artificial　incubation　and　set　yourself　up

tonight。　I'll　get　you　an　egg　tomorrow。”

“But　…”

“Don't　worry　so　much；　Juli；”　she　said。　“We　do　this　every　year；　and　it's　always　one　of　the　best

projects　at　the　fair。”

I　said；　“But…；”　but　she　was　gone。　Off　to　put　an　end　to　some　other　student's　battle　with

indecision。

That　night　I　was　more　worried　than　ever。　I'd　read　the　chapter　on　incubation　at　least　four　times

and　was　still　confused　about　where　to　start。　I　didn't

happen　to　have　an　old　aquarium　lying　around！　We　didn't　happen　to　have　an　incubation

thermometer！　Would　a　deep…fry　model　work？

I　was　supposed　to　control　humidity；　too；　or　horrible　things　would　happen　to　the　chick。　Too　dry

and　the　chick　couldn't　peck　out；　too　wet　and　it　would

die　of　mushy　chick　disease。　Mushy　chick　disease？！

My　mother；　being　the　sensible　person　that　she　is；　told　me　to　tell　Mrs。　Brubeck　that　I　simply

wouldn't　be　hatching　a　chick。　“Have　you　co