第30部分(第2/4 頁)

and　ran　right　into　my　father。　“Stop　him！”　I　cried。

“Calm　down；　Julianna；”　he　said；　and　eased　me　back　inside。　“I　gave　him　permission。”

“Permission！　Permission　to　do　what？”　I　flew　back　to　the　window。　“He's　digging　a　hole。”

“That's　right。　I　told　him　he　could。”

“But　why？”

“I　think　the　boy　has　a　very　good　idea；　that's　why。”

“But—”

“It's　not　going　to　kill　your　grass；　Julianna。　Just　let　him　do　what　he's　e　to　do。”

“But　what　is　it？　What's　he　doing？”

“Watch。　You'll　figure　it　out。”

It　was　torture　seeing　him　dig　up　my　grass。　The　hole　he　was　making　was　enormous！　How

could　my　father　let　him　do　this　to　my　yard？

Bryce　knew　I　was　there；　too；　because　he　looked　at　me　once　and　nodded。　No　smile；　no　wave；

just　a　nod。

He　dragged　over　some　potting　soil；　pierced　the　bag　with　the　spade；　and　shoveled　dirt　into　the

hole。　Then　he　disappeared。　And　when　he　came

back；　he　wrestled　a　big　burlapped　root　ball　across　the　lawn；　the　branches　of　a　plant　rustling

back　and　forth　as　he　moved。

My　dad　joined　me　on　the　couch　and　peeked　out　the　window；　too。

“A　tree？”　I　whispered。　“He's　planting　a　tree？”

“I'd　help　him；　but　he　says　he　has　to　do　this　himself。”

“Is　it　a　…”　The　words　stuck　in　my　throat。

I　didn't　really　need　to　ask；　though；　and　he　knew　he　didn't　need　to　answer。　I　could　tell　from　the

shape　of　the　leaves；　from　the　texture　of　the　trunk。

This　was　a　s