第7部分 (第2/8页)

for　you。”

I　pulled　off　the　towel；　and　there　was　my　tree。　My　beautiful；　majestic　sycamore　tree。　Through

the　branches　he'd　painted　the　fire　of　sunrise；　and　it

seemed　to　me　I　could　feel　the　wind。　And　way　up　in　the　tree　was　a　tiny　girl　looking　off　into　the

distance；　her　cheeks　flushed　with　wind。　With　joy。　With

magic。

“Don't　cry；　Julianna。　I　want　it　to　help　you；　not　hurt　you。”　I　wiped　the　tears　from　my　cheeks　and

gave　a　mighty　sniff。　“Thank　you；　Daddy；”　I　choked　out。

“Thank　you。”

I　hung　the　painting　across　the　room　from　my　bed。　It's　the　first　thing　I　see　every　morning　and

the　last　thing　I　see　every　night。　And　now　that　I　can　look

at　it　without　crying；　I　see　more　than　the　tree　and　what　being　up　in　its　branches　meant　to　me。

I　see　the　day　that　my　view　of　things　around　me　started　changing。

Brawk…Brawk…Brawk！

Eggs　scare　me。　Chickens；　too。　And　buddy；　you　can　laugh　at　that　all　you　want；　but　I'm　being

dead　serious　here。

It　started　in　the　sixth　grade　with　eggs。

And　a　snake。

And　the　Baker　brothers。

The　Baker　brothers'　names　are　Matt　and　Mike；　but　even　now　I　can't　tell　you　which　one's

which。　You　never　see　one　without　the　other。　And　even

though　they're　not　twins；　they　do　look　and　sound　pretty　much　the　same；　and　they're　both　in

Lyta's　class；　so　maybe　one　of　them　got　held　back。

………　Page　21………

Although　I　can't　exactly　see　a　teacher