第8部分(第8/8 頁)

　over　there　and　found　out

for　ourselves。”

Lyta　came　back　from　rinsing　the　Romano　sauce　off　her　seven　and　a　half　noodles；　then

reached　for　the　salt　and　scowled　at　me；　saying；　“You're

the　chicken。”

“Lyta！”　my　mother　said。　“Be　nice。”

Lyta　stopped　shaking　the　salt。　“Mother；　he　spied。　You　get　it？　He　went　over　there　and

looked　over　the　fence。　Are　you　saying　you're　okay　with

that？”

My　mom　turned　to　me。　“Bryce？　Is　that　true？”

Everyone　was　staring　at　me　now；　and　I　felt　like　I　had　to　save　face。　“What's　the　big　deal？　You

told　me　to　find　out　about　her　chickens；　and　I　found

out　about　her　chickens！”

“Brawk…brawk…brawk！”　my　sister　whispered。

My　father　still　wasn't　eating。　“And　what　you　found　out；”　he　said；　like　he　was　measuring　every

word；　“was　that　they're　all…　chickens。”

“Right。”

He　sighed；　then　took　that　bite　of　noodles　and　chewed　it　for　the　longest　time。

It　felt　like　I　was　sinking