第4部分(第2/8 頁)

says

she　married　a　dreamer；　and　because　of　that；　one　of　the

two　of　them　will　always　be　unhappy。

Whatever。　Maybe　Juli's　aesthetic　sensibilities　have　been　permanently　screwed　up　by　her

father　and　none　of　this　is　her　fault；　but　Juli　has　always

thought　that　that　sycamore　tree　was　God's　gift　to　our　little　corner　of　the　universe。

Back　in　the　third　and　fourth　grades　she　used　to　clown　around　with　her　brothers　in　the

branches　or　peel　big　chunks　of　bark　off　so　they　could　slide

down　the　crook　in　its　trunk。　It　seemed　like　they　were　playing　in　it　whenever　my　mom　took　us

somewhere　in　the　car。　Juli'd　be　swinging　from　the

branches；　ready　to　fall　and　break　every　bone　in　her　body；　while　we　were　waiting　at　the

stoplight；　and　my　mom　would　shake　her　head　and　say；　“Don't

you　ever　climb　that　tree　like　that；　do　you　hear　me；　Bryce？　I　never　want　to　see　you　doing　that！

You　either；　Lyta。　That　is　much　too　dangerous。”

My　sister　would　roll　her　eyes　and　say；　“As　if；”　while　I'd　slump　beneath　the　window　and　pray

for　the　light　to　change　before　Juli　squealed　my　name

for　the　world　to　hear。

I　did　try　to　climb　it　once　in　the　fifth　grade。　It　was　the　day　after　Juli　had　rescued　my　kite　from

its　mutant　toy…eating　foliage。　She　climbed　miles　up　to

get　my　kite；　and　when　she　came　down；　she　was　actually　very　cool　about　it。　She　didn't　hold

my　kite　hostage　and　stick　her　lips　out　like　I　w