第11部分(第2/8 頁)

ke　she　wanted

a　tractor　and　a　goat。　“Please；　Mom？”　I　whispered　as

we　parked　at　the　curb。　“Please？”

She　covered　her　face。　“Where　are　we　going　to　raise　chickens；　Juli？　Where？”

“In　the　backyard？”　I　didn't　know　what　else　to　suggest。

“What　about　Champ？”

“They'll　get　along；　Mom。　I'll　teach　him。　I　promise。”

My　dad　said　softly；　“They're　pretty　self…sufficient；　Trina。”

But　then　the　boys　piped　up　with；　“Champ'll　piss　'em　to　death；　Mom；”　and　suddenly　they　were

on　a　roll。　“Yeah！　But　you　won't　even　notice　'cause

they're　yellow　already！”　“Whoa！　Yellow　Already—cool　name。”　“That　could　work！　But　wait—

people　might　think　we　mean　our　bellies！”　“Oh；　yeah—

forget　that！”　“Yeah；　just　let　him　kill　the　chicks。”

My　brothers　looked　at　each　other　with　enormous　eyes　and　started　up　all　over　again。　“Kill　the

Chicks！　That's　it！　Get　it？”　“You　mean　like　we're　chick

killers？　Or　like　we　kill　the　chicks？”

Dad　turned　around　and　said；　“Out。　Both　of　you；　get　out。　Go　find　a　name　elsewhere。”

So　they　scrambled　out；　and　the　three　of　us　sat　in　the　car　with　only　the　gentle　peep…peep…

peep　from　my　little　flock　breaking　the　silence。　Finally　my

mother　heaved　a　heavy　sigh　and　said；　“They　don't　cost　much　to　keep；　do　they？”

My　dad　shook　his　head。　“They　eat　bugs；　Trina。　And　a　little　feed。　They're　very　low…

maintenance。”

“Bugs？　Really？　What　sort　of　bugs？”

“Earwigs；　worms