迪文小说

第5部分（第1页）

something　besides　passing　the　salt。　And　does　he　want　to　get　to　know　me？　No！　He　wants　to

know　about　Juli！

I　couldnt　just　stand　up　and　leave；　even　though　thats　what　I　felt　like　doing。　Somehow　I　knew

if　I　left　like　that；　hed　quit　talking　to　me　at　all。　Even

about　salt。　So　I　sat　there　feeling　sort　of　tortured。　Was　he　mad　at　me？　How　could　he　be　mad

at　me？　I　hadnt　done　anything　wrong！

When　I　looked　up；　he　was　sitting　there　holding　out　the　newspaper　to　me。　“Read　this；”　he　said。

“Without　prejudice。”

I　took　it；　and　when　he　went　back　to　looking　out　the　window；　I　knew　—　Id　been　dismissed。

By　the　time　I　got　down　to　my　room；　I　was　mad。　I　slammed　my　bedroom　door　and　flopped

down　on　the　bed；　and　after　fuming　about　my　sorry

excuse　for　a　grandfather　for　a　while；　I　shoved　the　newspaper　in　the　bottom　drawer　of　my

desk。　Like　I　needed　to　know　any　more　about　Juli　Baker。

At　dinner　my　mother　asked　me　why　I　was　so　sulky；　and　she　kept　looking　from　me　to　my

grandfather。　Granddad　didnt　seem　to　need　any　salt；

which　was　a　good　thing　because　I　might　have　thrown　the　shaker　at　him。

My　sister　and　dad　were　all　business　as　usual；　though。　Lyta　ate　about　two　raisins　out　of

her　carrot　salad；　then　peeled　the　skin　and　meat　off　her

chicken　wing　and　nibbled　gristle　off　the　bone；　while　my　father　filled　up　airspace　talking　about

office　politics　and　the　need　for　a　shakedown　in　upper

management。

No　one　was　listening　to　him　—　no　one　ever　does　when　he　gets　on　one　of　his　if…I…ran…the…

circus　jags　—　but　for　once　Mom　wasnt　even　pretending。

And　for　once　she　wasnt　trying　to　convince　Lyta　that　dinner　was　delicious　either。　She　just

kept　eyeing　me　and　Granddad；　trying　to　pick　up　on　why

we　were　miffed　at　each　other。

Not　that　he　had　anything　to　be　miffed　at　me　about。　What　had　I　done　to　him；　anyway？　Nothing。

Nada。　But　he　was；　I　could　tell。　And　I　pletely

avoided　looking　at　him　until　about　halfway　through　dinner；　when　I　sneaked　a　peek。

He　was　studying　me；　all　right。　And　even　though　it　wasnt　a　mean　stare；　or　a　hard　stare；　it　was；

you　know；　firm。　Steady。　And　it　weirded　me　out。

What　was　his　deal？

I　didnt　look　at　him　again。　Or　at　my　mother。　I　just　went　back　to　eating　and　pretended　to　listen

to　my　dad。　And　the　first　chance　I　got；　I　excused　myself

and　holed　up　in　my　room。

I　was　planning　to　call　my　friend　Garrett　like　I　usually　do　when　Im　bent　about　something。　I

even　punched　in　his　number；　but　I　dont　know。　I　just　hung

up。And　later　when　my　mom　came　in；　I　faked　like　I　was　sleeping。　I　havent　done　that　in　years。

The　whole　night　was　weird　like　that。　I　just　wanted　to　be

left　alone。