第8部分(第2/8 頁)

mething　happen？”

Lyta　stands　up　and　shoves　her　chair　in。　“Like　you　care；”　she　snaps；　and　charges　down　to

her　room。

“Oh；　boy；”　my　dad　says。

Mom　says；　“Excuse　me；”　and　follows　Lyta　down　the　hall。

When　my　mother's　gone；　my　dad　says；　“So；　son；　why　don't　you　just　ask　Juli？”

“Dad！”

“It's　just　a　little　question；　Bryce。　No　harm；　no　foul。”

“But　it'll　get　me　a　half…hour　answer！”

He　studies　me　for　a　minute；　then　says；　“No　boy　should　be　this　afraid　of　a　girl。”

“I'm　not　afraid　of　her…！”

“I　think　you　are。”

“Dad！”

“Seriously；　son。　I　want　you　to　get　us　an　answer。　Conquer　your　fear　and　get　us　an　answer。”

“To　whether　or　not　they　have　a　rooster？”

“That's　right。”　He　gets　up　and　clears　his　cereal　bowl；　saying；　“I've　got　to　get　to　work　and

you've　got　to　get　to　school。　I'll　expect　a　report　tonight。”

Great。　Just　great。　The　day　was　doomed　before　it　had　started。　But　then　at　school　when　I　told

Garrett　about　what　had　happened；　he　just　shrugged

and　said；　“Well；　she　lives　right　across　the　street　from　you；　right？”

“Yeah；　so？”

………　Page　24………

“So　just　go　look　over　the　fence。”

“You　mean　spy？”

“Sure。”

“But　…　how　can　I　tell　if　one　of　them's　a　rooster　or　not？”

“Roosters　are　…I　don't　know…　bigger。　And　they　have　more　feathers。”

“Feathers？　Like　I've　got　to　go　and　count　feathers？”

“No；　stupid！　My　mom　says　that　the　male's　al