第3部分(第7/7 頁)

e；

knew　what　kind　of　tree　it　was　and　passed　that

knowledge　along　to　every　creature　in　her　wake。

So　this　tree；　this　sycamore　tree；　was　up　the　hill　on　a　vacant　lot　on　Collier　Street；　and　it　was

massive。　Massive　and　ugly。　It　was　twisted　and　gnarled

and　bent；　and　I　kept　expecting　the　thing　to　blow　over　in　the　wind。

One　day　last　year　I'd　finally　had　enough　of　her　yakking　about　that　stupid　tree。　I　came　right　out

and　told　her　that　it　was　not　a　magnificent　sycamore；

it　was；　in　reality；　the　ugliest　tree　known　to　man。　And　you　know　what　she　said？　She　said　I　was

visually　challenged。　Visually　challenged！　This　from　the

girl　who　lives　in　a　house　that's　the　scourge　of　the　neighborhood。　They've　got　bushes　growing

over　windows；　weeds　sticking　out　all　over　the　place；

and　a　barnyard's　wort