第12部分(第6/8 頁)

　don't　think　my　grandfather　took　it　that　way。　He　helped

himself　to　a　cheese…stuffed　potato　and　said；　“Pass

the　salt；　won't　you；　Bryce？”

So　there　was　this　definite　tension　between　my　father　and　my　grandfather；　but　I　think　if　Dad

had　dropped　the　subject　right　then；　the　vibe　would've

vanished。

Dad　didn't　drop　it；　though。　Instead；　he　said；　“So　why's　the　girl　the　one　who's　finally　doing

something　about　their　place？”

My　grandfather　salted　his　potato　very　carefully；　then　looked　across　the　table　at　me。　Ah…oh；　I

thought。　Ah…　oh。　In　a　flash　I　knew　those　stupid　eggs

were　not　behind　me。　Two　years　of　sneaking　them　in　the　trash；　two　years　of　avoiding

discussion　of　Juli　and　her　eggs　and　her　chickens　and　her　earlymorning

visits；　and　for　what？　Granddad　knew；　I　could　see　it　in　his　eyes。　In　a　matter　of　seconds　he'd

crack　open　the　truth；　and　I'd　be　as　good　as

fried。

Enter　a　miracle。　My　grandfather　petrified　me　for　a　minute　with　his　eyes　but　then　turned　to　my

father　and　said；　“She　wants　to；　is　all。”

A　raging　river　of　sweat　ran　down　my　temples；　and　as　my　father　said；　“Well；　it's　about　time

someone　did；”　my　grandfather　looked　back　at　me　and　I

knew—he　was　not　going　to　let　me　forget　this。　We'd　just　had　another　conversation；　only　this

time　I　was　definitely　not　dismissed。

After　the　dishes　were　cleared；　I　retreated　to　my　room；　but　my　grandfather　came　right　in