ould　blame

her；　really？

I　sat　down　across　from　her；　feeling　pretty　low。　Why　hadn't　I　said　something　to　Garrett　in　the

library？　I　didn't　have　to　punch　him。　Why　hadn't　I　just　told

him　he　was　out　of　line？

After　Mom　served　everyone　their　food；　Dad　seemed　to　decide　that　he　ought　to　be　the　one

directing　the　conversation。　“So；　Mike　and　Matt；”　he

says；　“you're　seniors　this　year。”

“Amen！”　they　say　together。

“Amen？　As　in　you're　glad　high　school's　over？”

“Absolutely。”

My　father　starts　twirling　his　fork。　“Why's　that？”

Matt　and　Mike　look　at　each　other；　then　back　at　my　dad。　“The　regurgitation　gets　to　you　after　a

while。”

“Isn't　that　funny；”　he　says；　looking　around　the　table。　“High　school　was　probably　the　best　time

of　my　life。”

Matt…or…Mike　says；　“Seriously？　Dude；　it's　totally　lame！”　Mrs。　Baker　shoots　him　a　look；　but　that

doesn't　stop　him。　“Well；　it　is；　Mom。　It's　that　whole

robotron　attitude　of　education。　Confine；　confute；　conform—I've　had　totally　enough　of　that

scene。”

My　dad　eyes　my　mom　with　a　little　I…told…you…so　grin；　then　says　to　Matt　and　Mike；　“So　I　take　it

college　is　out　of　the　question？”

God；　what　was　with　him？　In　a　flash　I　was　clutching　my　fork　and　knife；　ready　to　duke　it　out　for

a　couple　of　guys　who　pinched　my　cheeks　and　called

me　baby　brother。

I　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　to　relax。　Tried　to　dive　down　to　calmer　water。　This　wasn't　my

fight。

Besides；　Matt　and　Mike　seemed　cool　with　it。　“Oh；　no；”　they　said。　“College　is　a　total

possibility。”　“Yeah；　we　got　accepted　a　couple　of　places；　but

we're　going　to　give　the　music　thing　a　shot　first。”

“Oh；　the　music　thing；”　my　father　sa