第8部分(第3/8 頁)

ways　brighter。”　Then　he　laughs　and　says；

“Although　in　your　case　I'm　not　so　sure。”

“Thanks。　You　are　giving　me　big…time　help　here；　buddy。　I　really　appreciate　it。”

“Look；　a　rooster's　going　to　be　bigger　and　have　brighter　feathers。　You　know；　those　long　ones

in　the　back？　They're　redder　or　blacker　or　whatever。

And　don't　roosters　have　some　rubbery　red　stuff　growing　off　the　top　of　their　head？　And　some

off　their　neck；　too？　Yeah；　the　rooster's　got　all　sorts　of

rubbery　red　stuff　all　around　its　face。”

“So　you're　saying　I'm　supposed　to　look　over　the　fence　for　big　feathers　and　rubbery　red　stuff。”

“Well；　e　to　think　of　it；　chickens　have　that　rubbery　red　stuff；　too。　Just　not　as　much　of　it。”

I　rolled　my　eyes　at　him　and　was　about　to　say；　Forget　it；　I'll　just　ask　Juli；　but　then　he　says；　“I'll

e　with　you　if　you　want。”

“Seriously？”

“Yeah；　dude。　Seriously。”

And　that；　my　friend；　is　how　I　wound　up　spying　over　the　Bakers'　back　fence　with　Garrett

Anderson　at　three…thirty　that　afternoon。　Not　my　choice　of

covert　operations；　but　a　necessary　one　in　order　to　report　back　to　my　dad　that　night　at　dinner。

We　got　there　fast；　too。　The　bell　rang　and　we　basically　charged　off　campus　because　I　figured

if　we　got　to　the　Bakers'　quick　enough；　we　could　look

and　leave　before　Juli　was　anywhere　near　her　house。　We　didn't　even　drop　off　our　backpacks。

We　went　straight　down　the　alley　and　sta