第15部分(第2/8 頁)

…

“I　know　how　to　use　a　saw　and　a　hammer—it　could　be；　you　know；　a　project。”

My　mother　quit　looking　at　me　and　stared　at　my　father；　instead。

My　father　sighed　and　said；　“The　yard　is　not　our　responsibility；　Julianna。”

“It's　…　it's　not？”

He　shook　his　head　and　said；　“It's　Mr。　Finnegan's。”

“Who's　Mr。　Finnegan？”

“The　man　who　owns　this　house。”

I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　“What？”

My　father　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　“The　landlord。”

“You　mean　we　don't　own　this　house？”

They　looked　at　each　other；　having　some　private　wordless　conversation　I　couldn't　decipher。

Finally　my　father　said；　“I　didn't　realize　you　didn't　know

that。”

“But　…　but　that　doesn't　make　sense！　Aren't　landlords　supposed　to　e　and　do　things？　Like

fix　the　roof　when　it　leaks　and　clear　the　drains　when

they're　plugged？　You　always　do　that　stuff；　Dad。　Why　do　you　do　it　when　he's　supposed　to？”

“Because；”　he　sighed；　“it's　easier　than　asking　him　for　help。”

“But　if—”

“And；”　my　father　interrupted　me；　“it　keeps　him　from　raising　the　rent。”

“But　…”

My　mother　reached　over　and　took　my　hand。　“Sweetheart；　I'm　sorry　if　this　is　a　shock。　I　guess

we　always　thought　you　knew。”

“But　what　about　the　yard？　Why　keep　up　the　inside　but　not　the　outside？”

My　father　frowned　and　said；　“When　we　signed　the　lease；　he　assured　us　he　would　fix　the

fences；　front　and　back；　and　plant　sod　in　the　fron