第5部分(第2/8 頁)

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management。

No　one　was　listening　to　him　—　no　one　ever　does　when　he　gets　on　one　of　his　if…I…ran…the…

circus　jags　—　but　for　once　Mom　wasn't　even　pretending。

And　for　once　she　wasn't　trying　to　convince　Lyta　that　dinner　was　delicious　either。　She　just

kept　eyeing　me　and　Granddad；　trying　to　pick　up　on　why

we　were　miffed　at　each　other。

Not　that　he　had　anything　to　be　miffed　at　me　about。　What　had　I　done　to　him；　anyway？　Nothing。

Nada。　But　he　was；　I　could　tell。　And　I　pletely

avoided　looking　at　him　until　about　halfway　through　dinner；　when　I　sneaked　a　peek。

He　was　studying　me；　all　right。　And　even　though　it　wasn't　a　mean　stare；　or　a　hard　stare；　it　was；

you　know；　firm。　Steady。　And　it　weirded　me　out。

What　was　his　deal？

I　didn't　look　at　him　again。　Or　at　my　mother。　I　just　went　back　to　eating　and　pretended　to　listen

to　my　dad。　And　the　first　chance　I　got；　I　excused　myself

and　holed　up　in　my　room。

I　was　planning　to　call　my　friend　Garrett　like　I　usually　do　when　I'm　bent　about　something。　I

even　punched　in　his　number；　but　I　don't　know。　I　just　hung

up。And　later　when　my　mom　came　in；　I　faked　like　I　was　sleeping。　I　haven't　done　that　in　years。

The　whole　night　was　weird　like　that。　I　just　wanted　to　be

left　alone。

Juli　wasn't　at　the　bus　stop　the　next　morning。　Or　Friday　morning。　She　was　at　school；　but　you'd

never　know　it　if　you　didn't　actually　look。　She　di