第14部分(第6/7 頁)

　of

the　page。　Someone　must've　used　a　killer　telephoto　lens；

………　Page　44………

because　you　can　tell　that　she's　in　the　tree；　but　it's　mostly　from　the　shoulders　up。　She's

looking　off　into　the　distance　and　the　wind　is　blowing　her　hair

back　like　she's　at　the　helm　of　a　ship　or　something；　sailing　into　the　sun。

I'd　spent　so　many　years　avoiding　Juli　Baker　that　I'd　never　really　looked　at　her；　and　now　all　of

a　sudden　I　couldn't　stop。　This　weird　feeling　started

taking　over　the　pit　of　my　stomach；　and　I　didn't　like　it。　Not　one　bit。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　it

scared　the　Sheetrock　out　of　me。

I　buried　the　paper　under　my　pillow　and　tried　to　remind　myself　of　what　a　pain　Juli　Baker　was。

But　my　mind　started　to　wander　again；　and　pretty　soon

I　had　that　stupid　paper　out　from　under　my　pillow。

This　was　insane！　What　was　I　doing？

I　made　myself　shut　out　the　light　and　go　to　bed。　I　was　slipping；　man；　and　it　was　definitely　time

to　get　a　grip。

The　Yard

I'd　never　been　embarrassed　by　where　we　lived　before。　I'd　never　looked　at　our　house；　or　even

our　side　of　the　street；　and　said；　Oh！　I　wish　we　lived　in

the　new　development—those　houses　are　so　much　newer；　so　much　better！　This　is　where　I'd

grown　up。　This　was　my　home。

I　was　aware　of　the　yard；　sure。　My　mother　had　grumbled　about　it　for　years。　But　it　was　a　low

grumbling；　not　worthy　of　deep　concern。　Or　so　I'd

supposed。　But　maybe　I　should　have　wondered。　Why　let　the　outside　go　and　keep　the　inside

so　nice？　It　was　spotless　inside　our　house。　Except　for　the

boys'　room；　that　is。　Mom　gave　up　on　that　after　she　discovered　the　snake。　If　they　were　old

enough　to　adopt　a　snake；　she　told　my　brothers；　the