ushes。　Period。　End　of　story。　And　if　she　still　wanted　to　be　mad　at　me　after

that；　then　fine。　That　was　her　problem。

My　problem　was；　I　never　got　the　chance。　I　came　trekking　down　from　the　bus　stop　to　find　my

grandfather　doing　my　good　deed。

Now；　jump　back。　This　was　not　something　I　could　immediately　absorb。　My　grandfather　did　not

do　yard　work。　At　least；　he'd　never　offered　to　help

me　out。　My　grandfather　lived　in　house　slippers　—　where'd　he　get　those　work　boots？　And

those　jeans　and　that　flannel　shirt　—　what　was　up　with

those？

I　crouched　behind　a　neighbor's　hedge　and　watched　them　for　ten　or　fifteen　minutes；　and　man；

the　longer　I　watched；　the　madder　I　got。　My

grandfather　had　already　said　more　to　her　in　this　little　slice　of　time　than　he'd　said　to　me　the

whole　year　and　a　half　he'd　been　living　with　us。　What　was

his　deal　with　Juli　Baker？

I　took　the　back　way　home；　which　involved　climbing　two　fences　and　kicking　off　the　neighbor's

stupid　little　terrier；　but　it　was　worth　it；　considering　I

avoided　the　garden　party　across　the　street。

Again　I　got　no　homework　done。　The　more　I　watched　them；　the　madder　I　got。　I　was　still　a

cluck…faced　jerk；　while　Juli　was　laughing　it　up　with　my

grandfather。　Had　I　ever　seen　him　smile？　Really　smile？　I　don't　think　so！　But　now　he　was　knee…

high　in　tles；　laughing。

At　dinner　that　night　he'd　showered　and　changed　back　into　his　regular　clothes　and　house

slippers；　but　he　didn't　look　the　same。　It　was　like

someone　had　plugged　him　in　and　turned　on　the　light。

“Good　evening；”　he　said　as　he　sat　down　with　the　rest　of　us。　“Oh；　Patsy；　that　looks　delicious！”

“Well；　Dad；”　my　mom　said　with　a　laugh；　“your　excur