第8部分(第2/7 頁)

　who　have　moved　on。　I　mean；　I　was　wearing　other　people’s　shit。”　Chuck　shuddered；　as　if　reliving　the　experience。　“But　it　turned　out　to　be　what　I　needed。　I　was　a　mess　in　high　school。　I　mean；　you　saw　me。　I　was　a　dick；　and　I’m　sorry　about　that；”　Chuck　said；　opening　his　hands　as　if　to　ask　for　forgiveness。

“Thanks。”　Nate　shrugged。　He　thought　of　a　playdate　at　Chuck’s　when　they　were　four。　While　Chuck’s　nanny　was　watching　a　soap　opera；　Chuck　had　bit　Nate’s　arm；　laughing　the　whole　time。　He’d　always　been　a　dick。

Just　part　of　his　charm。

“I’m　a　changed　man；　Nathaniel；”　Chuck　continued；　crossing　one　ankle　over　his　knee。　He　wore　a　pair　of　worn…out…looking　cowboy　boots。　“That’s　why　I　needed　to　take　a　breather　before　I　headed　back　upstairs。”

“I　understand。”　Nate　nodded。　He　did　understand。　He　needed　a　breather　and　he　hadn’t　even　gone　up　there　yet。　“So　what　else　happened　at　Deep　Springs？”

“So；　I　get　there；　I’m　wearing　some　guy’s　flannel　shirt　and　jeans；　we’re　on　this　alfalfa　farm　in　the　middle　of　the　desert；　and　I　swear　to　God；　I　was　ready　to　call　my　father；　our　lawyers；　everyone；　but　there　was　no　service。　I　was　in　the　middle　of　the　fucking　desert。　Our　first　night；　Sweetie　got　bit　by　a　rattlesnake。　Poor　girl。”

“Did　she　die？”　Nate　asked。

“Yeah；　but　not　because　of　snakes。　She　sort　of　starved　herself　to　death。　She　just　couldn’t　adapt。”　Chuck　shrugged　sadly。

“How　did　you　do　it？”　Nate　asked；　awed。　“I　mean；　how　did　you　make　it　through？”　Chuck　was　nothing　like　the　Mercedes…S…class…driving；　pink…shirt…wearing　douche　Nate　remembered。

“I　mean；　the　first　month　sucked；　but　then　they　changed　my　job　from　farm　team　to　dairy　boy　and　everything　just　changed。　I’d　be　up　at　dawn　with　these　cows；　and　I　realized　that　there’s　more　to　life　than　just