第10部分(第7/8 頁)

r　to　cover　twice。　For　my　project　I

drew　diagrams　of　the　various　stages　of　an　embryo's

development；　I　made　a　giant　chicken　poster；　I　graphed　the　daily　fluctuations　in　temperature

and　humidity；　and　I　made　a　line　chart　documenting　the

weight　loss　of　each　egg。　On　the　outside　eggs　were　boring；　but　I　knew　what　was　happening

on　the　inside！

Then　two　days　before　the　science　fair　I　was　candling　Bonnie　when　I　noticed　something。　I

called　my　dad　into　my　room　and　said；　“Look；　Dad！　Look

at　this！　Is　that　the　heart　beating？”

He　studied　it　for　a　moment；　then　smiled　and　said；　“Let　me　get　your　mother。”

So　the　three　of　us　crowded　around　and　watched　Bonnie's　heart　beat；　and　even　my　mother

had　to　admit　that　it　was　absolutely　amazing。

Clyde　was　the　first　to　pip。　And　of　course　he　did　it　right　before　I　had　to　leave　for　school。　His

little　beak　cracked　through；　and　while　I　held　my　breath

and　waited；　he　rested。　And　rested。　Finally　his　beak　poked　through　again；　but　almost　right

away；　he　rested　again。　How　could　I　go　to　school　and　just

leave　him　this　way？　What　if　he　needed　my　help？　Surely　this　was　a　valid　reason　to　stay　home；

at　least　for　a　little　while！

My　father　tried　to　assure　me　that　hatching　out　could　take　all　day　and　that　there'd　be　plenty　of

action　left　after　school；　but　I'd　have　none　of　that。　Oh；

no…no…no！　I　wanted　to　see　Abby　and　Bonnie　and　Clyde　and　Dexter　and