波波小说

第4部分（第1页）

over　windows；　weeds　sticking　out　all　over　the　place；

and　a　barnyards　worth　of　animals　running　wild。　Im　talking　dogs；　cats；　chickens；　even　snakes。

I　swear　to　God；　her　brothers　have　a　boa　constrictor　in

their　room。　They　dragged　me　in　there　when　I　was　about　ten　and　made　me　watch　it　eat　a　rat。

A　live；　beady…eyed　rat。　They　held　that　rodent　up　by　its

tail　and　gulp；　the　boa　swallowed　it　whole。　That　snake　gave　me　nightmares　for　a　month。

Anyway；　normally　I　wouldnt　care　about　someones　yard；　but　the　Bakers　mess　bugged　my

dad　big…time；　and　he　channeled　his　frustration　into　our

yard。　He　said　it　was　our　neighborly　duty　to　show　them　what　a　yards　supposed　to　look　like。

So　while　Mike　and　Matt　are　busy　plumping　up　their　boa；

Im　having　to　mow　and　edge　our　yard；　then　sweep　the　walkways　and　gutter；　which　is　going　a

little　overboard；　if　you　ask　me。

And　youd　think　Julis　dad—whos　a　big；　strong；　bricklaying　dude　—　would　fix　the　place　up；

but　no。　According　to　my　mom；　he　spends　all　his　free

time　painting。　His　landscapes　dont　seem　like　anything　special　to　me；　but　judging　by　his　price

tags；　he　thinks　quite　a　lot　of　them。　We　see　them　every

year　at　the　Mayfield　County　Fair；　and　my　parents　always　say　the　same　thing：　“The　world

would　have　more　beauty　in　it　if　hed　fix　up　the　yard　instead。”

Mom　and　Julis　mom　do　talk　some。　I　think　my　mom　feels　sorry　for　Mrs。　Baker　—　she　says

she　married　a　dreamer；　and　because　of　that；　one　of　the

two　of　them　will　always　be　unhappy。

Whatever。　Maybe　Julis　aesthetic　sensibilities　have　been　permanently　screwed　up　by　her

father　and　none　of　this　is　her　fault；　but　Juli　has　always

thought　that　that　sycamore　tree　was　Gods　gift　to　our　little　corner　of　the　universe。

Back　in　the　third　and　fourth　grades　she　used　to　clown　around　with　her　brothers　in　the

branches　or　peel　big　chunks　of　bark　off　so　they　could　slide

down　the　crook　in　its　trunk。　It　seemed　like　they　were　playing　in　it　whenever　my　mom　took　us

somewhere　in　the　car。　Julid　be　swinging　from　the

branches；　ready　to　fall　and　break　every　bone　in　her　body；　while　we　were　waiting　at　the

stoplight；　and　my　mom　would　shake　her　head　and　say；　“Dont

you　ever　climb　that　tree　like　that；　do　you　hear　me；　Bryce？　I　never　want　to　see　you　doing　that！

You　either；　Lyta。　That　is　much　too　dangerous。”

My　sister　would　roll　her　eyes　and　say；　“As　if；”　while　Id　slump　beneath　the　window　and　pray

for　the　light　to　change　before　Juli　squealed　my　name

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