第21部分(第6/7 頁)

y　dad　chum　it　up　with　Juli's　dad—it

was　like　seeing　him　lie。　To　Mr。　Baker；　to　Juli；　to　my

grandfather—to　everybody。　Why　was　he　being　such　a　worm？　Why　couldn't　he　just　act　normal？

You　know；　civil？　Why　did　he　have　to　put　on　such　a

phony　show？　This　went　way　beyond　keeping　the　peace　with　my　mother。　This　was　disgusting。

And　people　said　I　was　the　spitting　image　of　my　father。　How　often　had　I　heard　that　one？　I'd

never　thought　about　it　much；　but　now　it　was　turning　my

stomach。

Mom　jingled　the　dinner　bell　and　called；　“Hors　d'oeuvres　are　ready！”　and　then　saw　me　still

standing　in　the　hallway。　“Bryce；　where'd　your　sister　and

the　boys　go？”

I　shrugged。　“Down　to　her　room；　I　think。”　“Go　tell　them；　would　you？　And　then　e　have　some

hors　d'oeuvres。”

“Sure；”　I　said。　Anything　to　get　rid　of　the　taste　in　my　mouth。

Lyta's　door　was　closed。　And　normally　I　would　have　knocked　and　called；　Mom　wants　you；

or；　Dinner！　or　something；　but　in　that　split　second

before　my　knuckles　hit　wood；　my　hand　became　possessed　by　Evil　Baby　Brother。　I　turned　the

knob　and　walked　right　in。

Does　Lyta　freak　out　or　throw　stuff　at　me　and　scream　for　me　to　get　out？　No。　She　ignores

me。　Matt…and…Mike　give　me　a　nod；　and　Lyta　sees

me；　but　she's　got　her　hands　over　some　headphones　and　her　whole　body's　bobbing　up　and

down　as　she　listens　to　a　portable　CD　player。

Matt…or…Mike　whispers；　“It's　about　over。　We'll　be　right　there；”　like　of　course　I　was　there　to　say

it　was　time　to　eat。　What　else　would　I　be　doing　there？

Something　about　that　made　me　feel；　I　don't　know；　left　out。　I　wasn't　even　a　person　to　those

guys。　I　was　just　baby　brother。

Nothing　new　there；　but　now　it