迪文小说

第17部分（第1页）

Just　wait　until　I　got　my　hands　on　the　backyard！　Then

maybe　Id　even　paint　the　house。　I　could　do　it。　I　could。

Chet　　the　story；　and　when　Mom　brought　us　out　sandwiches　at

lunchtime；　we　sat　on　the　porch　and　ate　without　saying

a　word。　Then　he　broke　the　silence　by　nodding　across　the　street　and　saying；　“I　dont　know

why　he　doesnt　just　e　out　and　say　hello。”

“Who？”　I　asked；　then　looked　across　the　street　to　where　hed　nodded。　The　curtain　in　Bryces

room　moved　quickly　back　into　place；　and　I　couldnt

help　asking；　“Bryce？”

“Thats　the　third　time　Ive　seen　him　watching。”

“Really？”　My　heart　was　fluttering　about　like　a　baby　bird　trying　to　fly。

He　frowned　and　said；　“Lets　finish　up　and　get　that　seed　sown；　shall　we？　Youll　want　the

warmth　of　the　day　to　help　with　the　germination。”

I　was　happy　to　finally　be　planting　the　yard；　but　I　couldnt　help　being　distracted　by　Bryces

window。　Was　he　watching？　During　the　rest　of　the

afternoon；　I　checked　more　often　than　Id　like　to　admit。　And　Im　afraid　Chet　noticed；　too；

because　when　we　were　all　done　and　wed　congratulated

each　other　on　what　was　sure　to　be　a　fine…looking　yard；　he　said；　“He　may　be　acting　like　a

coward　now；　but　I　do　hold　out　hope　for　the　boy。”

A　coward？　What　on　earth　could　I　say　to　that？　I　just　stood　there　with　the　hose　in　one　hand

and　the　spigot　valve　beneath　the　other。

And　with　that；　Chet　waved　so　long　and　walked　across　the　street。

………　Page　51………

A　few　minutes　later　I　saw　Bryce　ing　down　the　sidewalk　toward　his　house。　I　did　a　double

take。　All　this　time　Id　thought　he　was　inside　the　house

watching；　and　he　was　really　outside　walking　around？　I　was　embarrassed　all　over　again。

I　turned　my　back　on　him　and　concentrated　on　watering　the　yard。　What　a　fool　I　was！　What　a

plete　idiot！　And　I　had　just　built　up　a　nice　head　of

angry　steam　when　I　heard；　“Its　looking　good；　Juli。　Nice　job。”

It　was　Bryce；　standing　right　there　on　our　driveway。　And　suddenly　I　wasnt　mad　at　me

anymore。　I　was　mad　at　him。　How　could　he　stand　there　like　my

supervisor　and　tell　me；　Nice　job？　He　had　no　business　saying　anything　after　what　hed　done。

I　was　about　to　hose　him　down　when　he　said；　“Im　sorry　for　what　I　did；　Juli。　It　was；　you　know…

wrong。”

I　looked　at　him—into　those　brilliant　blue　eyes。　And　I　tried　to　do　what　Chet　had　said—I　tried　to