迪文小说

第9部分（第1页）

“Right。”

He　sighed；　then　took　that　bite　of　noodles　and　chewed　it　for　the　longest　time。

It　felt　like　I　was　sinking　fast；　but　I　couldnt　figure　out　why。　So　I　tried　to　bail　out　with；　“And　you

guys　can　go　ahead　and　eat　those　eggs；　but　theres　no

way　Im　going　to　touch　them；　so　dont　even　ask。”

My　mothers　looking　back　and　forth　from　my　dad　to　me　while　she　eats　her　salad；　and　I　can

tell　shes　waiting　for　him　to　address　my　adventure　as　a

neighborhood　operative。　But　since　hes　not　saying　anything；　she　clears　her　throat　and　says；

“Whys　that？”

“Because　theres　…　well；　theres　…I　dont　know　how　to　say　this　nicely。”

“Just　say　it；”　my　father　snaps。

“Well；　theres；　you　know；　excrement　everywhere。”

“Oh；　gross！”　my　sister　says；　throwing　down　her　fork。

“You　mean　chicken　droppings？”　my　mother　asks。

“Yeah。　Theres　not　even　a　lawn。　Its　all　dirt　and；　uh；　you　know；　chicken　turds。　The　chickens

walk　in　it　and　peck　through　it　and…”

“Oh；　gross！”　Lyta　wails。

“Well；　its　true！”

Lyta　stands　up　and　says；　“You　expect　me　to　eat　after　this？”　and　stalks　out　of　the　room。

“Lyta！　You　have　to　eat　something；”　my　mother　calls　after　her。

“No；　I　dont！”　she　shouts　back；　then　a　second　later　she　sticks　her　head　back　into　the　dining

room　and　says；　“And　dont　expect　me　to　eat　any　of

those　eggs　either；　Mother。　Does　the　word　salmonella　mean　anything　to　you？”

Lyta　takes　off　down　the　hall　and　my　mother　says；　“Salmonella？”　She　turns　to　my　father。

“Do　you　suppose　they　could　have　salmonella？”

“I　dont　know；　Patsy。　Im　more　concerned　that　our　son　is　a　coward。”

“A　coward！　Rick；　please。　Bryce　is　no　such　thing。　Hes　a　wonderful　child　whos　—　”

“Whos　afraid　of　a　girl。”

“Dad；　Im　not　afraid　of　her；　she　just　bugs　me！”

“Why？”

“You　know　why！　She　bugs　you；　too。　Shes　over　the　top　about　everything！”

………　Page　27………

“Bryce；　I　asked　you　to　conquer　your　fear；　but　all　you　did　was　give　in　to　it。　If　you　were　in　love

with　her；　that　would　be　one　thing。　Love　is　something　to

be　afraid　of；　but　this；　this　is　embarrassing。　So　she　talks　too　much；　so　shes　too　enthused