第11部分(第1/7 頁)

out　pretty　great　because　they　hatched　out　during　the

fair　that　night。　My　whole　family　came；　and　even　though　Matt　and　Mike　only　watched　for　about

two　minutes　before　they　took　off　to　look　at　some　other

demonstration；　my　mom　and　dad　stuck　around　for　the　whole　thing。　Mom　even　picked　Bonnie

up　and　nuzzled　her。

That　night　after　it　was　all　over　and　I　was　packing　up　to　go　home；　Mom　asked；　“So　do　these

go　back　to　Mrs。　Brubeck　now？”

“Do　what　go　back　to　Mrs。　Brubeck？”　I　asked　her。

“The　chicks；　Juli。　You're　not　planning　to　raise　chickens；　are　you？”

To　be　honest；　I　hadn't　thought　beyond　the　hatch。　My　focus　had　been　strictly　on　bringing　them

into　the　world。　But　she　was　right—here　they　were。

Six　fluffy　little　adorable　chicks；　each　of　which　had　a　name　and；　I　could　already　tell；　its　own

unique　personality。

“I…I　don't　know；”　I　stammered。　“I'll　ask　Mrs。　Brubeck。”

I　tracked　down　Mrs。　Brubeck；　but　I　was　praying　that　she　didn't　want　me　to　give　them　back　to

her　friend。　After　all；　I'd　hatched　them。　I'd　named　them。

I'd　saved　them　from　mushy　chick　disease！　These　little　peepers　were　mine！

To　my　relief　and　my　mother's　horror；　Mrs。　Brubeck　said　they　were　indeed　mine。　All　mine。

“Have　fun；”　she　said；　then　zipped　off　to　help　Heidi

dismantle　her　exhibit　on　Bernoulli's　law。

………　Page　33………

Mom　was　quiet　the　whole　way　home；　and　I　could　tell—she　wanted　chickens　like　she　wanted

a　tractor　and　a　goat。　“Please；　Mom？”　I　whispered　as

we　parked　at　the　curb。　“Please？”

She　covered　her　face。　“Where　are　we　going　to　raise　chickens；　Juli？　Where？”

“In　the　backyard？”　I　didn't　know　what　else　to　suggest。

“What　about　Champ？”

“They'll