Then　she　whispers；

“Give　her　a　little　time；　won't　you？”

I　gave　her　an　hour。　Almost。　Then　I　went　across　the　street。　“Please；　Mrs。　Baker。　I've　got　to

see　her！”

“She's　locked　herself　in　her　room；　dear。　Why　don't　you　try　phoning　tomorrow。”

Tomorrow？　I　couldn't　wait　until　tomorrow！　So　I　went　around　the　side　of　their　house；　climbed

the　fence；　and　knocked　on　her　window。　“Juli！　Juli；

please。　I've　got　to　see　you。”

Her　curtains　didn't　open；　but　the　back　door　did；　and　out　came　Mrs。　Baker　to　shoo　me　away。

When　I　got　home；　my　granddad　was　waiting　at　the　front　door。　“Bryce；　what　is　going　on？

You've　been　running　back　and　forth　to　the　Bakers'；

climbing　over　their　fence…。　You're　acting　like　the　world's　on　fire！”

I　blurted；　“I　can't　believe　this！　I　just　can't　believe　this！　She　won't　talk　to　me！”

………　Page　81………

He　led　me　into　the　front　room；　saying；　“Who　won't　talk　to　you？”

“Juli！”

He　hesitated。　“Is　she　…　mad　at　you？”

“I　don't　know！”

“Does　she　have　reason　to　be　mad　at　you？”

“No！　Yes！　I　mean；　I　don't　know！”

“Well；　what　happened？”

“I　tried　to　kiss　her！　In　front　of　this　whole　room　of　people；　while　I　was　supposed　to　be　having

that　stupid　basket　boy　lunch　with　Shelly　and　Miranda；　I

tried　to　kiss　her！”

Slowly　a　smile　spread　across　his　face。　“You　did？”

“I　was；　like；　possessed。　I　couldn't　stop　myself！　But　she　pulled　away　and…”　I　looked　out　the

window　at　the　Bakers'　house。　“And　now　she　won't　talk

to　me！”

Very　quietly　my　grandfather　said；　“Maybe　she　thinks　this　is　all　a　little　sudden？”

“But　it's　not！”

“It's　not？”

“No；　I　mean　…”　I　turned　to　him。　“It　started　with　that　stupid　newspaper　ar