第13部分(第4/8 頁)

　grandparents

anymore。”

“Oh；”　I　said；　not　knowing　what　to　say。

“I　do　feel　sorry　for　him；　though。　He　sure　misses　your　grandmother。”　Then　she　laughs　and

shakes　her　head；　saying；　“Can　you　believe　it？　He　says　I

remind　him　of　her。”

“What？”　“Yeah；”　she　laughs　again。　“That's　what　I　said。　But　he　meant　it　in　a　nice　way。”

I　looked　at　Juli　and　tried　to　picture　my　grandmother　as　an　eighth　grader。　It　was　hopeless。　I

mean；　Juli's　got　long；　fluffy　brown　hair　and　a　nose　full　of

freckles；　where　my　grandmother　had　always　been　some　variety　of　blond。　And　my

grandmother　had　used　powder。　Puffy　white　powder。　She'd　put　it

on　her　face　and　in　her　hair；　in　her　slippers　and　on　her　chest…。　That　woman　powdered

everything。

I　could　not　see　Juli　coated　in　powder。　Okay；　maybe　gun　powder；　but　the　white　perfumy　stuff？

Forget　it。

………　Page　40………

I　guess　I　was　staring；　because　Juli　says；　“Look；　I　didn't　say　it；　he　did。　I　just　thought　it　was　nice；

that's　all。”

“Yeah；　whatever。　Well；　good　luck　with　the　grass。　I'm　sure　it'll　e　up　great。”　Then　I　totally

surprised　myself　by　saying；　“Knowing　you；　you'll　get　'em

all　to　hatch。”　I　didn't　say　it　mean　or　anything；　I　really　meant　it。　I　laughed；　and　then　she

laughed；　and　that's　how　I　left　her—sprinkling　her　soon…to…be

sod；　smiling。

I　hadn't　been　in　such　a　good　mood　in　weeks。　The　eggs　were　finally　behind　me。　I　was