第22部分(第6/7 頁)

r　his　face；　leaving　violent　tracks　of　bright　pink　lipstick　smeared

across　his　sunken　cheeks。

？Howare　you；　my　pet？？　Jeanette　chirped　as　she　squeezed　her　son　so　tightly　it　looked　like　he

might　suffer　internal　organ　damage。　？It？s　been　absolutelyages　！？　She　cupped　Dan？s　pained；

mortified　face　and　led　him；　zombielike；　to　the　couch。　Vanessa　had　never　seen　him　get　whisked

around　before　and　with　so　little　plaint。　Rufus　winked　merrily　at　Vanessa　from　beneath　his

white　hat；　and　sauntered　through　the　chipped；　oak…trimmed　doorway　into　the　kitchen。　Vanessa

followed　him；　not　quite　sure　where　to　go。　Rufus　pulled　out　a　clear　Tupperware　container　full　of

weird　brown　goo　that　had　been　shoved　in　the　back　of　the　fridge；　peeling　back　the　lid　and　sniffing

happily。

？Redecorating？？　His　voice　boomed　as　he　opened　the　utensil　drawer　and　rummaged　through

it。　？The　curtains　look　phenomenal！　That　your　golden　touch；　Dan？？　Rufus　yelled　toward　the　living

room。　？This　place　could　usesomething　；　that？s　for　sure。？　He　pulled　out　a　lime　green　spatula　and

began　using　it　as　a　spoon。

？It　could　use　something？like　a　wrecking　ball！？　Jeanette？s　voice　rang　out　from　the　other

room。　？Or　a　can　of　gasoline　and　a　lit　match！？　She　came　striding　into　the　kitchen；　the　blue　folds　of

her　sundress　flying　to　and　fro；　while　Dan　trailed　behind；　carrying　her　bags。　Gliding　up　to　Vanessa；

she　smiled　broadly　and　extended　one　hand　laden　with　turquoise　rings　for　Vanessa　to　shake　。　。　。　or

kiss　。　。　。　or　high…five？　It　was　hard　to　tell；　the　way　she　was　holding　it；　and　finally　Vanessa　just

bumped　fists　with　her　like　they　were　old　homies。

What　up；　dawg？

It　was　so　strange　meeting　Dan？s　mom　after　all