第9部分(第2/7 頁)

—　”

“Who's　afraid　of　a　girl。”

“Dad；　I'm　not　afraid　of　her；　she　just　bugs　me！”

“Why？”

“You　know　why！　She　bugs　you；　too。　She's　over　the　top　about　everything！”

………　Page　27………

“Bryce；　I　asked　you　to　conquer　your　fear；　but　all　you　did　was　give　in　to　it。　If　you　were　in　love

with　her；　that　would　be　one　thing。　Love　is　something　to

be　afraid　of；　but　this；　this　is　embarrassing。　So　she　talks　too　much；　so　she's　too　enthused

about　every　little　thing；　so　what？　Get　in；　get　your　question

answered；　and　get　out。　Stand　up　to　her；　for　cryin'　out　loud！”

“Rick　…；”　my　mom　was　saying；　“Rick；　calm　down。　He　did　find　out　what　you　asked　him　to　—　”

“No；　he　didn't！”

“What　do　you　mean？”

“He　tells　me　they're　all　chickens！　Of　course　they're　all　chickens！　The　question　is　how　many

are　hens；　and　how　many　are　roosters。”

I　could　almost　hear　the　click　in　my　brain；　and　man；　I　felt　like　a　plete　doofus。　No　wonder

he　was　disgusted　with　me。　I　was　an　idiot！　They　were

all　chickens　…　du…uh！　Garrett　acted　like　he　was　some　expert　on　chickens；　and　he　didn't　know

diddly…squat！　Why　had　I　listened　to　him？

But　it　was　too　late。　My　dad　was　convinced　I　was　a　coward；　and　to　get　me　over　it；　he　decided

that　what　I　should　do　was　take　the　carton　of　eggs

back　to　the　Bakers　and　tell　them　we　didn't　eat　eggs；　or　that　we　were　allergic　to　them；　or

something。

Then　my　mom　butts　in　with；　“What　are　you　teaching　him　here；　Rick？　None　of　that　is　true。　If

he　returns　them；　shouldn't　he　tell　them　the　truth？”

“What；　that　you're　afraid　of　salmonella　poisoning？”

“Me？　Aren't　you　a　little　concerned；　too？”

“Patsy；　that's　not　the　point。　The　point　is；　I　will　not