第8部分(第2/7 頁)

li？”

“Dad！”

“It's　just　a　little　question；　Bryce。　No　harm；　no　foul。”

“But　it'll　get　me　a　half…hour　answer！”

He　studies　me　for　a　minute；　then　says；　“No　boy　should　be　this　afraid　of　a　girl。”

“I'm　not　afraid　of　her…！”

“I　think　you　are。”

“Dad！”

“Seriously；　son。　I　want　you　to　get　us　an　answer。　Conquer　your　fear　and　get　us　an　answer。”

“To　whether　or　not　they　have　a　rooster？”

“That's　right。”　He　gets　up　and　clears　his　cereal　bowl；　saying；　“I've　got　to　get　to　work　and

you've　got　to　get　to　school。　I'll　expect　a　report　tonight。”

Great。　Just　great。　The　day　was　doomed　before　it　had　started。　But　then　at　school　when　I　told

Garrett　about　what　had　happened；　he　just　shrugged

and　said；　“Well；　she　lives　right　across　the　street　from　you；　right？”

“Yeah；　so？”

………　Page　24………

“So　just　go　look　over　the　fence。”

“You　mean　spy？”

“Sure。”

“But　…　how　can　I　tell　if　one　of　them's　a　rooster　or　not？”

“Roosters　are　…I　don't　know…　bigger。　And　they　have　more　feathers。”

“Feathers？　Like　I've　got　to　go　and　count　feathers？”

“No；　stupid！　My　mom　says　that　the　male's　always　brighter。”　Then　he　laughs　and　says；

“Although　in　your　case　I'm　not　so　sure。”

“Thanks。　You　are　giving　me　big…time　help　here；　buddy。　I　really　appreciate　it。”

“Look；　a　rooster's　going　to　be　bigger　and　have　brighter　feathers。　You　know；　those　long　ones

in　the　back？　They're　redder　or　blacker　or　whatever。

And　don't　roosters　have　some　rubbery　red　stuff　growing　off　the　top　of　their　head？　And　some

off　their　neck；　too？　Yeah；　the　rooster's　got　all　sorts　of

rubbery　red　stuff　all　around　its　face。”

“So　you're　saying　I'm　supposed　to　look　over　the　fe