第9部分(第2/8 頁)

Lyta　takes　off　down　the　hall　and　my　mother　says；　“Salmonella？”　She　turns　to　my　father。

“Do　you　suppose　they　could　have　salmonella？”

“I　don't　know；　Patsy。　I'm　more　concerned　that　our　son　is　a　coward。”

“A　coward！　Rick；　please。　Bryce　is　no　such　thing。　He's　a　wonderful　child　who's　—　”

“Who's　afraid　of　a　girl。”

“Dad；　I'm　not　afraid　of　her；　she　just　bugs　me！”

“Why？”

“You　know　why！　She　bugs　you；　too。　She's　over　the　top　about　everything！”

………　Page　27………

“Bryce；　I　asked　you　to　conquer　your　fear；　but　all　you　did　was　give　in　to　it。　If　you　were　in　love

with　her；　that　would　be　one　thing。　Love　is　something　to

be　afraid　of；　but　this；　this　is　embarrassing。　So　she　talks　too　much；　so　she's　too　enthused

about　every　little　thing；　so　what？　Get　in；　get　your　question

answered；　and　get　out。　Stand　up　to　her；　for　cryin'　out　loud！”

“Rick　…；”　my　mom　was　saying；　“Rick；　calm　down。　He　did　find　out　what　you　asked　him　to　—　”

“No；　he　didn't！”

“What　do　you　mean？”

“He　tells　me　they're　all　chickens！　Of　course　they're　all　chickens！　The　question　is　how　many

are　hens；　and　how　many　are　roosters。”

I　could　almost　hear　the　click　in　my　brain；　and　man；　I　felt　like　a　plete　doofus。　No　wonder

he　was　disgusted　with　me。　I　was　an　idiot！　They　were

all　chickens　…　du…uh！　Garrett　acted　like　he　was　some　expert　on　chickens；　and　he　didn't　know

diddly…squat！　Why　had　I　listened　to　hi