第8部分(第1/7 頁)

said　they　were　delicious。　My　mother；　though；　couldn't　get　past　the　idea　that　she　might　be

cracking　open　a　dead　chick；　and　pretty　soon　discussion

turned　to　the　role　of　the　rooster　—　something　me　and　my　Cheerios　could've　done　without。

Finally　Lyta　said；　“If　they　had　a　rooster；　don't　you　think　we'd　know？　Don't　you　think　the

whole　neighborhood　would　know？”

Hmmm；　we　all　said；　good　point。　But　then　my　mom　pipes　up　with；　“Maybe　they　got　it　de…

yodeled。　You　know　—　like　they　de…bark　dogs？”

“A　de…yodeled　rooster；”　my　dad　says；　like　it's　the　most　ridiculous　thing　he's　ever　heard。　Then

he　looks　at　my　mom　and　realizes　that　he'd　be　way

better　off　going　along　with　her　de…yodeled　idea　than　making　fun　of　her。　“Hmmm；”　he　says；

“I've　never　heard　of　such　a　thing；　but　maybe　so。”

Lyta　shrugs　and　says　to　my　mom；　“So　just　ask　them；　why　don't　you。　Call　up　Mrs。　Baker

and　ask　her。”

“Oh；”　my　mom　says。　“Well；　I'd　hate　to　call　her　eggs　into　question。　It　doesn't　seem　very　polite；

now；　does　it？”

“Just　ask　Matt　or　Mike；”　I　say　to　Lyta。

She　scowls　at　me　and　hisses；　“Shut　up。”

“What？　What'd　I　do　now？”

“Haven't　you　noticed　I　haven't　been　going　down　there；　you　idiot？”

“Lyta！”　my　mom　says。　Like　this　is　the　first　time　she's　heard　my　sister　talk　to　me　or

something。

“Well；　it's　true！　How　can　he　not　have　noticed？”　“I　was　going　to　ask　you　about　that；　honey。　Did

something　happen？”

Lyta　stands　up　and　shoves　her　chair　in。　“Like　you　care；”　she　snaps；　and　charges　down　to

her　room。

“Oh；　boy；”　my　dad　says。

Mom　says；　“Excuse　me；”　and　follows　Lyta　down　the　hall。

When　my　mother's　gone；　my　dad　says；　“So；　son；　why　don't　you　just　ask　Ju