第14部分(第4/8 頁)

stopped；　looked　up　into　the　night；　and　said；　“It　must've　been　a　spectacular　view。”

I　looked　up；　too；　and　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　night　that　you　could　see　the　stars。　“Did　you

ever　see　her　up　there？”　I　asked　him。

“Your　mother　pointed　her　out　to　me　one　time　as　we　drove　by。　It　scared　me　to　see　her　up　so

high；　but　after　I　read　the　article　I　understood　why　she

did　it。”　He　shook　his　head。　“The　tree's　gone；　but　she's　still　got　the　spark　it　gave　her。　Know

what　I　mean？”

Luckily　I　didn't　have　to　answer。　He　just　grinned　and　said；　“Some　of　us　get　dipped　in　flat；　some

in　satin；　some　in　gloss…。”　He　turned　to　me。　“But

………　Page　43………

every　once　in　a　while　you　find　someone　who's　iridescent；　and　when　you　do；　nothing　will　ever

pare。”

As　we　walked　up　to　our　front　porch；　my　grandfather　put　his　arm　around　my　shoulder　and　said；

“It　was　nice　walking　with　you；　Bryce。　I　enjoyed

myself　very　much。”

“Me　too；”　I　told　him；　and　we　went　inside。

Right　away　we　knew　we'd　stepped　into　a　war　zone。　And　even　though　no　one　was　yelling　or

crying；　from　the　look　on　my　parents'　faces　I　could　tell

there'd　been　a　major　meltdown　while　my　granddad　and　I　were　out。

Granddad　whispered　to　me；　“I've　got　another　fence　to　mend；　I'm　afraid；”　and　headed　into　the

dining　room　to　talk　to　my　parents。

I　wanted　nothing　to　do　with　that　vibe。　I　went　straight　to　my　room；　closed　the