第22部分(第4/8 頁)

om…boom；　whack！　The　candles　practically　shake　in　their　holders；　then

guitars　rip　through　the　air　and　about　blow　them　out。　Matt

and　Mike　look　up　at　the　speakers；　then　grin　at　each　other　and　call　over　to　my　dad；　“Surround

sound　—　awesome　setup；　Mr。　Loski！”

All　the　adults　were　dying　to　jump　up　and　turn　the　thing　down；　but　Lyta　stood　guard　and

just　glowered　at　them。　And　when　the　song's　over；

Lyta　pulls　out　the　CD；　punches　off　the　player；　and　then　smiles　—　actually　smiles　—　at

Matt　and　Mike　and　says；　“That　is　the　raddest　song。　I　want

to　hear　it　again　and　again　and　again。”

Matt…or…Mike　says　to　my　dad；　“You　probably　don't　like　it；　but　it's　what　we　do。”

“You　boys　wrote　that　song？”

“Uh…huh。”

He　motions　Lyta　to　pass　the　CD　over；　saying；　“Just　the　one　song？”

Matt…or…Mike　laughs　and　says；　“Dude；　we've　got　a　thousand　songs；　but　there's　only　three　on

the　demo。”

Dad　holds　up　the　CD。　“This　is　the　demo？”

“Yeah。”

He　looks　at　it　a　minute　and　says；　“So　if　you're　Piss　Poor；　how　do　you　afford　to　press　CDs？”

“Dad！”　Lyta　snaps　at　him。

“It's　okay；　Lyn。　Just　a　joke；　right；　Mr。　Loski？”

My　dad　laughs　a　little　and　says；　“Right；”　but　then　adds；　“Although　I　am　a　little　curious。　This　is

obviously　not　a　home…done　demo；　and　I　happen　to

know　studio　time's　cost…prohibitive　for　most　bands…。”

Matt　and　Mike　interrupt　him　with　a　slamming　hard　high　five。　And