第13部分(第1/8 頁)

got　a　saw　revving　and　wailing　across　the　street；　and

in　between　cuts　I　can　hear　the　whack；　whack；　whack！　whack；　whack；　whack！　of　a　hammer。

I　look　out　the　window　and　there's　Juli；　spitting　out　nails　and

slamming　them　in　place。　No　kidding。　She's　got　nails　lined　up　between　her　lips　like　steel

cigarettes；　and　she's　swinging　that　hammer　full…arc；　way

above　her　head；　driving　nails　into　pickets　like　they're　going　into　butter。

For　a　split　second　there；　I　saw　my　head　as　the　recipient　of　her　hammer；　cracking　open　like

Humpty　Dumpty。　I　shuddered　and　dropped　the　curtain；

ditched　the　homework；　and　headed　for　the　TV。

They　handymanned　all　week。　And　every　night　Granddad　would　e　in　with　rosy　cheeks

and　a　huge　appetite　and　pliment　my　mom　on　what　a

great　cook　she　was。　Then　Saturday　happened。　And　the　last　thing　I　wanted　was　to　spend　the

day　at　home　while　my　grandfather　churned　up　dirt　and

helped　plant　Juli's　yard。　Mom　tried　to　get　me　to　do　our　own　yard；　but　I　would　have　felt

ridiculous　micromowing　our　grass　with　Granddad　and　Juli

making　real　changes　right　across　the　street。

So　I　locked　myself　in　my　room　and　called　Garrett。　He　wasn't　home；　and　everybody　else　I

called　had　stuff　they　had　to　do。　And　hitting　up　Mom　or

Dad　for　a　ride　to　the　movies　or　the　mall　was　hopeless。　They'd　tell　me　I　was　supposed　to　be

doing　the　yard。

What　I　was；　was　stuck。

………　Pa