第21部分(第5/7 頁)

r！”

My　mind　was　racing。　Where　had　she　been？　I　hadn't　seen　her　anywhere　near　me　in　the　library！

And　had　she　heard　it？　Or　had　she　heard　it　from

somebody　else。

I　tried　to　tell　her　it　wasn't　me；　that　it　was　Garrett；　all　Garrett。　But　she　shut　me　down　and　made

tracks　for　the　front　room　to　be　with　her　dad。

So　I'm　standing　there；　wishing　I'd　punched　Garrett　out　in　the　library　so　Juli　wouldn't　stick　me

in　the　same　class　as　someone　who　makes　retard

jokes；　when　my　dad　shows　up　and　claps　me　on　the　shoulder。　“So。　How's　the　party；　son？”

………　Page　65………

Speak　of　the　devil。　I　wanted　to　whack　his　hand　off　my　shoulder。

He　leans　out　so　he　can　see　into　the　front　room　and　says；　“Hey；　the　dad　cleans　up　pretty　good；

doesn't　he？”

I　shrug　away　from　him。　“Mr。　Baker's　name　is　Robert；　Dad。”

“Yeah；　you　know；　I　knew　that。”　He　rubs　his　hands　together　and　says；　“I　guess　I　ought　to　go　in

and　say　hello。　ing？”

“Nah。　Mom　probably　needs　my　help。”

I　didn't　run　off　to　the　kitchen；　though。　I　stood　there　and　watched　Mr。　Baker　shake　my　father's

hand。　And　as　they　stood　there　pumping　and　smiling；

this　weird　feeling　started　ing　over　me　again。　Not　about　Juli　—　about　my　father。　Standing

next　to　Mr。　Baker；　he　looked　small。　Physically　small。

And　pared　to　the　cut　of　Mr。　Baker's　jaw；　my　dad's　face　looked　kind　of　weaselly。

This　is　not　the　way　you　want　to　feel　about　your　father。　When　I　was　little；　I'd　always　thought

that　my　dad　was　right　about　everything　and　that　there

wasn't　a　man　on　earth　he　couldn't　take。　But　standing　there　looking　in；　I　realized　that　Mr。

Baker　could　squash　him　like　a　bug。

Worse；　though；　was　the　way　he　was　acting。　Watching　m