“But I take it they have stopped?”
“Yeah。 As of last week。 Because Juli caught me chucking a carton in the trash outside。”
“Oh; dear。”
“Exactly。”
“So what did you tell her?”
I looked down and mumbled; “I told her that we were afraid of salmonella poisoning because
their yard was such a mess。 She ran off crying; and
the next thing I know; shes starting to fix up their yard。”
“Oh; Bryce!”
“Exactly。”
She inute; then very softly she said; “Thank you for your honesty;
Bryce。 It does help to explain a lot。” She shook her head
and said; “What that family must think of us;” and got back to cleaning the griddle。 “All the
more reason to have them over for dinner; if you ask me。”
I whispered; “Youre sworn to secrecy on this whole egg thing; right? I mean; Juli told
Granddad; so he knows; but I dont want this to spread to;
you know; Dad。”
She studied me a minute; then said; “Tell me youve learned your lesson; honey。”
“I have; Mom。”
……… Page 54………
“Okay; then。”
I let out a big sigh of relief。 “Thanks。”
“Oh; and Bryce?”
“Yeah?”
“Im very glad you told me about it。” She kissed me on the cheek; then smiled and said; “Now;
didnt I hear you promise youd mow the lawn
today?”
“Right;” I said; and headed outside to trim the turf。
That evening my mother announced that the Bakers would be over Friday night at six oclock;
that the menu included poached salmon; crab
risotto; and fresh steamed vegetables; and that none of us had better weasel out of being
there。 My dad muttered that if we were really going to do
this; it would be a whole lot better to barbecue because at least that way hed have
something to do; but my mom positively smoked him with her
eyes and he dropped it。
So。 They were ing。 And it made seeing Juli at school even more unfortable than