第21部分(第2/7 頁)

could　keep　that；　too。　I　was　never；　ever　going　to　talk　to　him

again！

I　stormed　back　to　the　section　of　books　on　Susan　B。　Anthony；　found　two　that　would　work；　and

then　went　back　to　my　table。　But　as　I　was　collecting

my　things　to　check　out　of　the　library；　I　remembered。　The　next　day　we　were　going　to　the

Loskis'　house　for　dinner。

I　zipped　up　my　backpack　and　threw　it　on　my　shoulder。　Surely　after　what　had　happened；　I　had

the　right　to　vote　against　going！

Didn't　I？

The　Serious　Willies

Realizing　that　my　father　had　the　same　sense　of　humor　as　Garrett　gave　me　the　serious　willies。

I　had　the　hardest　time　just　looking　at　my　dad；　let　alone

speaking　to　him。　But　at　about　five　o'clock　Friday　afternoon　I　agreed　with　him　about　one　thing

—　we　should've　barbecued。　A　barbecue　is　more；　you

know；　low…key。　Instead；　my　mom　was　flying　around　the　kitchen；　slicing　and　dicing　and

barking　orders　at　Dad　and　me　like　the　president　was　ing

to　dinner。

We　swept　the　floor；　put　an　extra　leaf　in　the　table；　brought　in　five　more　chairs；　and　set　the

table。　We　set　it　all　wrong；　of　course；　but　all　my　mother

had　to　do　was　shuffle　things　around　to　make　it　right。　It　looked　the　same　to　me；　but　what　do　I

know？

She　put　out　candlesticks　and　said；　“Rick；　can　you　load　the　dishes　and　run　them？　I'd　like　a

chance　to　get　cleaned　up。　After　that　you　can　change。

And　Bryce？　What　are　you　wearing？”

“Mom；　it's　the　Bakers。　Are　you　trying　to　make　them　feel　totally　worthless？”

“Trina　and　I　agreed　on　a　dress…up；　so　—　”

“But　why？”

My　dad　put　a　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　said；　“So　fortable；　son。”

Women。　I　looked　at　her　and　said；　“Does　that　mean　I　have