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。