第21部分(第8/8 頁)

out　over。　We'll　be　right　there；”　like　of　course　I　was　there　to　say

it　was　time　to　eat。　What　else　would　I　be　doing　there？

Something　about　that　made　me　feel；　I　don't　know；　left　out。　I　wasn't　even　a　person　to　those

guys。　I　was　just　baby　brother。

Nothing　new　there；　but　now　it　really　bugged　me。　Like　all　of　a　sudden　I　didn't　fit　in　anywhere。

Not　at　school；　not　at　home　…　and　every　time　I　turned

around；　another　person　I'd　known　forever　felt　like　a　stranger　to　me。　Even　I　felt　like　a　stranger

to　me。

Standing　around　eating　little　round　crackers　smeared　with　whipped　cheese　and　fish　eggs

didn't　do　much　for　my　mood　either。　My　mother　was

acting　like　an　entire　swarm　of　busy　bees。　She　was　everywhere。　In　the　kitchen；　out　of　the

kitchen。　Serving　drinks；　handing　out　napkins。　Explaining　the

food；　but　not　eating　a　thing。

Lyta　didn't　buy　Mom's　explanation　on　the　hors　d'oeuvres　—　she　wound　up　dissecting　hers；

categorizing　the　parts　into　gross；　disgusting；　and

revolting。

………　Page　66………

Hanging　near　her