第9部分(第3/8 頁)

m？

But　it　was　too　late。　My　dad　was　convinced　I　was　a　coward；　and　to　get　me　over　it；　he　decided

that　what　I　should　do　was　take　the　carton　of　eggs

back　to　the　Bakers　and　tell　them　we　didn't　eat　eggs；　or　that　we　were　allergic　to　them；　or

something。

Then　my　mom　butts　in　with；　“What　are　you　teaching　him　here；　Rick？　None　of　that　is　true。　If

he　returns　them；　shouldn't　he　tell　them　the　truth？”

“What；　that　you're　afraid　of　salmonella　poisoning？”

“Me？　Aren't　you　a　little　concerned；　too？”

“Patsy；　that's　not　the　point。　The　point　is；　I　will　not　have　a　coward　for　a　son！”

“But　teaching　him　to　lie？”

“Fine。　Then　just　throw　them　away。　But　from　now　on　I　expect　you　to　look　that　little　tiger　square

in　the　eye；　you　hear　me？”

“Yes；　sir。”

“Okay；　then。”

I　was　off　the　hook　for　all　of　about　eight　days。　Then　there　she　was　again；　at　seven　in　the

morning；　bouncing　up　and　down　on　our　porch　with　eggs　in

her　hands。　“Hi；　Bryce！　Here　you　go。”

I　tried　to　look　her　square　in　the　eye　and　tell　her；　No　thanks；　but　she　was　so　darned　happy；

and　I　wasn't　really　awake　enough　to　tackle　the　tiger。

She　wound　up　pushing　another　carton　into　my　hands；　and　I　wound　up　ditching　them　in　the

kitchen　trash　before　my　father　sat　down　to　breakfast。

This　went　on　for　two　years。　Two　years！　And　it　got　to　a　point　where　it　was　just　part　of　my

morning　routine。　I'd　be　on　the　lookout　f