第6部分(第6/7 頁)

with　this　tree　in　the　way。

Now　e　on；　girl；　we've　got　work　to　do！”

By　that　time　most　of　the　kids　had　gathered　for　the　bus。　They　weren't　saying　anything　to　me；

just　looking　up　at　me　and　turning　from　time　to　time　to

talk　to　each　other。　Then　Bryce　appeared；　so　I　knew　the　bus　was　about　to　arrive。　I　searched

across　the　rooftops　and　sure　enough；　there　it　was；　less

than　four　blocks　away。

My　heart　was　crazy　with　panic。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do！　I　couldn't　leave　and　let　them　cut

down　the　tree！　I　cried；　“You　can't　cut　it　down！　You　just

can't！”

One　of　the　men　shook　his　head　and　said；　“I　am　this　close　to　calling　the　police。　You　are

trespassing　and　obstructing　progress　on　a　contracted　job。

Now　are　you　going　to　e　down　or　are　we　going　to　cut　you　down？”

The　bus　was　three　blocks　away。　I'd　never　missed　school　for　any　reason　other　than　legitimate

illness；　but　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　I　was　going　to

miss　my　ride。　“You're　going　to　have　to　cut　me　down！”　I　yelled。　Then　I　had　an　idea。　They'd

never　cut　it　down　if　all　of　us　were　in　the　tree。　They'd　have　to

listen！　“Hey；　guys！”　I　called　to　my　classmates。　“Get　up　here　with　me！　They　can't　cut　it　down　if

we're　all　up　here！　Marcia！　Tony！　Bryce！　C'mon；　you

guys；　don't　let　them　do　this！”

They　just　stood　there；　staring　up　at　me。

I　could　see　the　bus；　one　block　away。　“e　on；　you　guys！　You　don't　have　to　e　up　this

high。　Just　a　little　ways。　Please！”

The　bus　blasted　up　and　pulled　to　the　curb　in　front　of　the　trucks；　and　when　the　doors　folded

open；　one　by　one　my　classmates　climbed　on　board。

What　happened　after　that　is　a　bit　of　a　blur。　I　remember　the　neighbors　gathering；　and　the

police