第9部分(第7/7 頁)

e　could　see　the　silver…

framed　photograph　of　her　family；　taken　in　Greece　when　she　was

twelve。　The　captain　of　the　sailboat　they’d　chartered　had　taken　the

picture。　They　were　all　in　bathing　suits；　and　her　brother；　Erik；　who

was　fourteen　at　the　time；　was　making　a　big　fart　kiss　on　Serena’s

cheek　while　their　parents　looked　on；　laughing。　Serena　had　gotten

her　period　for　the　first　time　on　that　trip。　She’d　been　so

embarrassed；　she　couldn’t　bear　to　tell　her　parents；　but　what　was

she　supposed　to　do；　trapped　on　a　boat？　They　were　anchored　off　the

island　of　Rhodes；　and　while　their　parents　were　snorkeling　and

Serena　and　Erik　were　supposed　to　be　having　windsurfing　lessons；

Erik　had　swum　ashore；　stolen　a　Vespa；　and　bought　her　some　maxi

pads。　He　came　back　with　them　in　a　little　plastic　bag；　tied　on　top　of

his　head；　her　hero。

Serena　had　thrown　her　ruined　underwear　overboard。　They　were

probably　still　there；　stuck　on　a　reef　somewhere。

Now　Erik　was　a　freshman　at　Brown；　and　Serena　never　got　to　see

him。　He　had　been　in　France　with　her　that　summer；　but　they’d　both

spent　the　whole　time　chasing　or　being　chased　by　boys　and　girls；　so

they’d　never　really　had　time　to　talk。

Serena　picked　up