第12部分 (第5/8页)

hind　a　neighbor's　hedge　and　watched　them　for　ten　or　fifteen　minutes；　and　man；

the　longer　I　watched；　the　madder　I　got。　My

grandfather　had　already　said　more　to　her　in　this　little　slice　of　time　than　he'd　said　to　me　the

whole　year　and　a　half　he'd　been　living　with　us。　What　was

his　deal　with　Juli　Baker？

I　took　the　back　way　home；　which　involved　climbing　two　fences　and　kicking　off　the　neighbor's

stupid　little　terrier；　but　it　was　worth　it；　considering　I

avoided　the　garden　party　across　the　street。

Again　I　got　no　homework　done。　The　more　I　watched　them；　the　madder　I　got。　I　was　still　a

cluck…faced　jerk；　while　Juli　was　laughing　it　up　with　my

grandfather。　Had　I　ever　seen　him　smile？　Really　smile？　I　don't　think　so！　But　now　he　was　knee…

high　in　tles；　laughing。

At　dinner　that　night　he'd　showered　and　changed　back　into　his　regular　clothes　and　house

slippers；　but　he　didn't　look　the　same。　It　was　like

someone　had　plugged　him　in　and　turned　on　the　light。

“Good　evening；”　he　said　as　he　sat　down　with　the　rest　of　us。　“Oh；　Patsy；　that　looks　delicious！”

“Well；　Dad；”　my　mom　said　with　a　laugh；　“your　excursion　across　the　street　seems　to　have

done　you　a　world　of　good。”

“Yeah；”　my　father　said。　“Patsy　tells　me　you've　been　over　there　all　afternoon。　If　you　were　in

the　mood　for　home　improvement　projects；　why　didn't

you　just　say　so？”

My　father　was　just　joking　around；　but　I