第21部分(第4/8 頁)

uttoned　up。

Two　seconds　later　the　doorbell　rang　and　Mom　called；　“Can　you　get　that；　Bryce？”

Luckily；　Granddad　beat　me　to　it。　He　greeted　them　all　like　they　were　long…lost　family　and　even

seemed　to　know　which　one　was　Matt　and　which　one

was　Mike。　One　was　wearing　a　purple　shirt　and　the　other　was　wearing　a　green　one；　so　it

shouldn't　have　been　that　hard　to　remember　which　was

which；　but　they　came　in　and　pinched　my　cheeks　and　said；　“Hey；　baby　brother！　How's　it

goin'？”　and　I　got　so　mad　I　mixed　them　up　again。

My　mother　zoomed　in　from　the　kitchen；　saying；　“e　in；　e　in。　It's　so　nice　you　all　could

make　it。”　She　called；　“Lyn…et…ta！　Rick！　We've　got　pa…

ny！”　but　then　stopped　short　when　she　saw　Juli　and　Mrs。　Baker。　“Well；　what's　this？”　she　asked。

“Homemade　pies？”

Mrs。　Baker　said；　“Blackberry　cheesecake　and　pecan。”

“They　look　wonderful！　Absolutely　wonderful！”　My　mother　was　acting　so　hyper　I　couldn't

believe　it。　She　took　Juli's　pie；　then　whooshed　a　path　to　the

kitchen　with　Mrs。　Baker。

Lyta　appeared　from　around　the　corner；　which　made　Matt　and　Mike　grin　and　say；　“Hey；

Lyn。　Lookin'　good。”

Black　skirt；　black　nails；　black　eyes　—　for　a　nocturnal　rodent；　yeah；　I　suppose　she　was　looking

good。

They　disappeared　down　to　Lyta's　room；　and　when　I　turned　around；　my　granddad　was

taking　Mr。　Baker　into　the　front　room；　which　left　me　in　the

entry　hall　with　Juli。　Al