第11部分 (第8/8页)

e…。”

“I　know；”　I　said；　and　looked　down。

We　stood　there　for　a　record…breaking　amount　of　time　saying　nothing。　Finally　he　said；　“So　are

you　going　to　start　riding　the　bus　again？”

I　looked　up　at　him　and　shrugged。　“I　don't　know。　I　haven't　been　up　there　since　…　you　know。”

“It　doesn't　look　so　bad　anymore。　It's　all　cleared。　They'll　probably　start　on　the　foundation

soon。”

It　sounded　perfectly　awful　to　me。

“Well；”　he　said；　“I've　got　to　get　ready　for　school。　See　you　there。”　Then　he　smiled　and　closed

the　door。

For　some　reason　I　just　stood　there。　I　felt　odd。　Out　of　sorts。　Disconnected　from　everything

around　me。　Was　I　ever　going　to　go　back　up　to　Collier

Street？　I　had　to　eventually；　or　so　my　mother　said。　Was　I　just　making　it　harder？

Suddenly　the　door　flew　open　and　Bryce　came　hurrying　out　with　an　overfull　kitchen　trash　can

in　his　hands。　“Juli！”　he　said。　“What　are　you　still　doing

here？”

He　startled　me；　too。　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　still　doing　there。　And