第3部分(第1/7 頁)

beneath　you；　all　inside　you；　and　you're　floating。　Floating　in　midair。　And　the　only　thing　keeping

you　from　drifting　away　is　the　other　person's　eyes。

They're　connected　to　yours　by　some　invisible　physical　force；　and　they　hold　you　fast　while　the

rest　of　the　world　swirls　and　twirls　and　falls　pletely

away。

I　almost　got　my　first　kiss　that　day。　I'm　sure　of　it。　But　then　his　mother　came　out　the　front　door

and　he　was　so　embarrassed　that　his　cheeks　turned

pletely　red；　and　the　next　thing　you　know　he's　hiding　in　the　bathroom。

I　was　waiting　for　him　to　e　out　when　his　sister；　Lyta；　saw　me　in　the　hallway。　She

seemed　big　and　mature　to　me；　and　since　she　wanted　to

know　what　was　going　on；　I　told　her　a　little　bit　about　it。　I　shouldn't　have；　though；　because　she

wiggled　the　bathroom　doorknob　and　started　teasing

Bryce　something　fierce。　“Hey；　baby　brother！”　she　called　through　the　door。　“There's　a　hot

chick　out　here　waiting　for　you！　Whatsa　matter？　Afraid　she's

got　cooties？”

It　was　so　embarrassing！　I　yanked　on　her　arm　and　told　her　to　stop　it；　but　she　wouldn't；　so

finally　I　just　left。

I　found　my　mother　outside　talking　to　Mrs。　Loski。　Mom　had　given　her　the　beautiful　lemon

Bundt　cake　that　was　supposed　to　be　our　dessert　that

night。　The　powdered　sugar　looked　soft　and　white；　and　the　cake　was　still　warm；　sending

sweet　lemon　smells　into　the　air。

My　mouth　was　watering　just　looking　at　it！　But　it　was　in　Mrs。　Loski's　hands；　and　I　knew　there

was　no　getting　it　back。　All　I　could　do　was　try　to　eat　up

the　smells　while　I　listened　to　the　two　of　them　discuss　grocery　stores　and　the　weather　forecast。

After　that　Mom　and　I　went　home。　It　was　very　strange。