uitar　strapped　across　his　shoulder；　playing　some

old　Willie　Nelson　song。

He　was　right　—　it　just　wasn't　him。

But　the　fact　that　it　ever　had　been　made　me　feel　even　more　like　a　stranger　in　a　strange　land。

Then；　when　the　night　was　over　and　the　Bakers　were

piling　out　the　front　door；　something　else　strange　happened。　Juli　touched　my　arm。　And　for　the

first　time　that　night　she　was　looking　at　me。　It　was　that

look；　too；　channeled　directly　and　solely　at　me。　She　says；　“I'm　sorry　I　was　so　angry　when　we

first　came　in。　Everyone　had　a　good　time；　and　I　think　your

mom's　really　nice　for　inviting　us。”

Her　voice　ost　a　whisper。　I　just　stood　there　like　a　moron；　staring　at　her。

“Bryce？”　she　says；　touching　my　arm　again。　“Did　you　hear　me？　I'm　sorry。”

I　managed　a　nod；　but　my　arm　was　tingling；　and　my　heart　was　pounding；　and　I　felt　myself

pulling　toward　her。

Then　she　was　gone。　Out　the　door　and　into　the　night；　part　of　a　chorus　of　happy　good…byes。　I

tried　to　catch　my　breath。　What　was　that？　What　was

wrong　with　me？

My　mother　closed　the　door　and　said；　“There。　Now　what　did　I　tell　you？　That　is　one　delightful

family！　Those　boys　are　nothing　like　I　expected。　Lyta；

why　didn't　you　tell　me　they　were　so…so　charming！”

“They're　drug　dealers　is　what　they　are。”

Everyone　turned　to　my　father　and　dropped　their　jaws。

“What？”　my　mother　said。

“There　is　no　other　way　those　boys　could　afford　to　buy　recording　gear　like　that。”　He　glared　at

Lyta。　“Isn't　that　so？”

Lyta's　eyes　looked　like　they　were　going　to　pop　right　out　of　her　head。

“Rick；　please！”　my　mother　said。　“You　can't　just　make　accusations　like　that！”

“It's　the　only　thing　that　makes　sense