第4部分(第7/8 頁)

t　big　meaty　hands。　I　suppose　you'd　notice　his　hands

regardless；　but　what　makes　you　realize　just　how　beefy

they　are　is　his　wedding　ring。　That　thing's　never　going　to　e　off；　and　even　though　my

mother　says　that's　how　it　should　be；　I　think　he　ought　to　get　it

cut　off。　Another　few　pounds　and　that　ring's　going　to　amputate　his　finger。

When　I　went　in　to　see　him；　those　big　hands　of　his　were　woven　together；　resting　on　the

newspaper　in　his　lap。　I　said；　“Granddad？　You　wanted　to

see　me？”

“Have　a　seat；　son。”

Son？　Half　the　time　he　didn't　seem　to　know　who　I　was；　and　now　suddenly　I　was　“son”？　I　sat　in

the　chair　opposite　him　and　waited。

“Tell　me　about　your　friend　Juli　Baker。”

“Juli？　She's　not　exactly　my　friend　…　！”

“Why　is　that？”　he　asked。　Calmly。　Like　he　had　prior　knowledge。

I　started　to　justify　it；　then　stopped　myself　and　asked；　“Why　do　you　want　to　know？”

He　opened　the　paper　and　pressed　down　the　crease；　and　that's　when　I　realized　that　Juli

Baker　had　made　the　front　page　of　the　Mayfield　Times。

There　was　a　huge　picture　of　her　in　the　tree；　surrounded　by　a　fire　brigade　and　policemen；　and

then　some　smaller　photos　I　couldn't　make　out　very

well。　“Can　I　see　that？”

He　folded　it　up　but　didn't　hand　it　over。　“Why　isn't　she　your　friend；　Bryce？”

“Because　she's　…”　I　shook　my　head　and　said；　“You'd　have　to　know　Juli。”

“I'd　like　to。”

“What？　Why？”