第9部分(第1/7 頁)

“Right。”

He　sighed；　then　took　that　bite　of　noodles　and　chewed　it　for　the　longest　time。

It　felt　like　I　was　sinking　fast；　but　I　couldn't　figure　out　why。　So　I　tried　to　bail　out　with；　“And　you

guys　can　go　ahead　and　eat　those　eggs；　but　there's　no

way　I'm　going　to　touch　them；　so　don't　even　ask。”

My　mother's　looking　back　and　forth　from　my　dad　to　me　while　she　eats　her　salad；　and　I　can

tell　she's　waiting　for　him　to　address　my　adventure　as　a

neighborhood　operative。　But　since　he's　not　saying　anything；　she　clears　her　throat　and　says；

“Why's　that？”

“Because　there's　…　well；　there's　…I　don't　know　how　to　say　this　nicely。”

“Just　say　it；”　my　father　snaps。

“Well；　there's；　you　know；　excrement　everywhere。”

“Oh；　gross！”　my　sister　says；　throwing　down　her　fork。

“You　mean　chicken　droppings？”　my　mother　asks。

“Yeah。　There's　not　even　a　lawn。　It's　all　dirt　and；　uh；　you　know；　chicken　turds。　The　chickens

walk　in　it　and　peck　through　it　and…”

“Oh；　gross！”　Lyta　wails。

“Well；　it's　true！”

Lyta　stands　up　and　says；　“You　expect　me　to　eat　after　this？”　and　stalks　out　of　the　room。

“Lyta！　You　have　to　eat　something；”　my　mother　calls　after　her。

“No；　I　don't！”　she　shouts　back；　then　a　second　later　she　sticks　her　head　back　into　the　dining

room　and　says；　“And　don't　expect　me　to　eat　any　of

those　eggs　either；　Mother。　Does　the　word　salmonella　mean　anything　to　you？”

Lyta　takes　off　down　the　hall　and　my　mother　says；　“Salmonella？”　She　turns　to　my　father。

“Do　you　suppose　they　could　have　salmonella？”

“I　don't　know；　Patsy。　I'm　more　concerned　that　our　son　is　a　coward。”

“A　coward！　Rick；　please。　Bryce　is　no　such　thing。　He's　a　wonderful　child　who's