第21部分(第3/8 頁)

ther

had　to　do　was　shuffle　things　around　to　make　it　right。　It　looked　the　same　to　me；　but　what　do　I

know？

She　put　out　candlesticks　and　said；　“Rick；　can　you　load　the　dishes　and　run　them？　I'd　like　a

chance　to　get　cleaned　up。　After　that　you　can　change。

And　Bryce？　What　are　you　wearing？”

“Mom；　it's　the　Bakers。　Are　you　trying　to　make　them　feel　totally　worthless？”

“Trina　and　I　agreed　on　a　dress…up；　so　—　”

“But　why？”

My　dad　put　a　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　said；　“So　fortable；　son。”

Women。　I　looked　at　her　and　said；　“Does　that　mean　I　have　to　wear　a　tie？”

“No；　but　some　sort　of　button…down　instead　of　a　T…shirt　would　be　nice。”

I　went　down　to　my　room　and　ripped　through　my　closet　looking　for　something　with　buttons。

There　were　lots　of　buttons；　all　right。　Lots　of　geeky

………　Page　64………

buttons。　I　thought　about　boycotting　my　mother's　dress…code　requirements；　but　instead　I

started　putting　on　shirts。

Twenty　minutes　later　I　still　wasn't　dressed。　And　I　was　extremely　ticked　off　about　it　because

what　did　it　matter？　Why　did　I　care　what　I　looked　like　at

this　stupid　dinner？　I　was　acting　like　a　girl。

Then　through　a　gap　in　my　curtains　I　saw　them　ing。　Out　their　front　door；　down　their

walkway；　across　the　street。　It　was　like　a　weird　dream。　They

seemed　to　be　floating　toward　our　house。　All　five　of　them。

I　pulled　a　shirt　off　my　bed；　punched　my　arms　in；　and　b