第13部分 (第7/8页)

My　father　interrupts　him　with　a　laugh。　“Well；　that　explains　a　lot；　doesn't　it！”

“Explains…a　lot？”　my　grandfather　asks。　Quietly。　Calmly。

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“Sure！　It　explains　why　those　people　are　the　way　they　are　…　！”　He　grins　around　the　table　at　us。

“Must　run　in　the　family。”

Everyone　looks　at　him。　Lyta's　jaw　drops；　and　for　once　she's　speechless。　My　mother　says；

“Rick！”　but　all　my　father　can　do　is　laugh　a　nervous

kind　of　laugh　and　say；　“It　was　just　a　joke！　I　mean；　obviously　something's　wrong　with　those

people。　Oh；　excuse　me；　Chet。　I　forgot。　The　girl　reminds

you　of　Renée。”

“Rick！”　my　mother　says　again；　only　this　time　she's　mad。

“Oh；　Patsy；　please。　Your　father's　being　overly　dramatic；　trying　to　make　me　feel　bad　for

criticizing　our　neighbors　because　there's　a　retarded

relative　someplace。　Other　people　have　family　troubles　and　still　manage　to　mow　their　lawn。

They　should　have　a　little　pride　in　ownership；　for　cryin'　out

loud！”

My　grandfather's　cheeks　are　seriously　flushed；　but　his　voice　is　rock…steady　as　he　says；　“They

don't　own　that　house；　Rick。　The　landlord　is

supposed　to　maintain　the　premises；　but　he　doesn't。　And　since　Juli's　father　is　responsible　for

his　brother；　all　their　reserves　go　to　his　care；　and

obviously　it　doesn't　e　cheap。”

Very　quietly　my　mom　asks；　“Don't　they　have　government　facilities　for　that　kind　of　thing？”

“I　don't