第8部分(第3/7 頁)

nce　for　big　feathers　and　rubbery　red　stuff。”

“Well；　e　to　think　of　it；　chickens　have　that　rubbery　red　stuff；　too。　Just　not　as　much　of　it。”

I　rolled　my　eyes　at　him　and　was　about　to　say；　Forget　it；　I'll　just　ask　Juli；　but　then　he　says；　“I'll

e　with　you　if　you　want。”

“Seriously？”

“Yeah；　dude。　Seriously。”

And　that；　my　friend；　is　how　I　wound　up　spying　over　the　Bakers'　back　fence　with　Garrett

Anderson　at　three…thirty　that　afternoon。　Not　my　choice　of

covert　operations；　but　a　necessary　one　in　order　to　report　back　to　my　dad　that　night　at　dinner。

We　got　there　fast；　too。　The　bell　rang　and　we　basically　charged　off　campus　because　I　figured

if　we　got　to　the　Bakers'　quick　enough；　we　could　look

and　leave　before　Juli　was　anywhere　near　her　house。　We　didn't　even　drop　off　our　backpacks。

We　went　straight　down　the　alley　and　started　spying。

It's　not　really　necessary　to　look　over　the　Bakers'　fence。　You　can　see　almost　as　well　looking

through　it。　But　Garrett　kept　sticking　his　head　up；　so　I

figured　I　should　too；　although　in　the　back　of　my　mind　I　was　aware　that　Garrett　didn't　have　to

live　in　this　neighborhood　—　I　did。

The　backyard　was　a　mess。　Big　surprise。　The　bushes　were　out　of　control；　there　was　some

kind　of　hodgepodge　wood…and…wire　coop　off　to　one

side；　and　the　yard　wasn't　grass；　it　was　highly　fertilized　dirt。

Garrett　was　the　first　to　notice　their　dog；　sacked　out　on　the　patio　between　two　sorry…looking

folding　chairs。　He　points　at　him　and　says；　“You　think

he's　going　to　give　us　trouble？”

“We're　not　going　to　be　here　long　enough　to　get　in　trouble！　Where　are　those　stupid　chickens？”

“Probably　in　the　coop；”　he　says；　then　picks　up　a　rock