；

closed　the　door　behind　him；　and　then　sat　on　my　bed。　He

………　Page　38………

did　this　all　without　making　a　sound。　No　squeaking；　no　clanking；　no　scraping；　no　breathing　…I

swear；　the　guy　moved　through　my　room　like　a　ghost。

And　of　course　I'm　banging　my　knee　and　dropping　my　pencil　and　deteriorating　into　a　pathetic

pool　of　Jell…O。　But　I　tried　my　best　to　sound　cool　as　I

said；　“Hello；　Granddad。　e　to　check　out　the　digs？”

He　pinched　his　lips　together　and　looked　at　nothing　but　me。

I　cracked。　“Look；　Granddad；　I　know　I　messed　up。　I　should've　just　told　her；　but　I　couldn't。　And　I

kept　thinking　they'd　stop。　I　mean；　how　long　can　a

chicken　lay　eggs？　Those　things　hatched　in　the　fifth　grade！　That　was　like；　three　years　ago！

Don't　they　eventually　run　out？　And　what　was　I　supposed　to

do？　Tell　her　Mom　was　afraid　of　salmonella　poisoning？　And　Dad　wanted　me　to　tell　her　we

were　allergic—c'mon；　who's　going　to　buy　that？　So　I　just

kept；　you　know；　throwing　them　out。　I　didn't　know　she　could've　sold　them。　I　thought　they　were

just　extras。”

He　was　nodding；　but　very　slowly。

I　sighed　and　said；　“Thank　you　for　not　saying　anything　about　it　at　dinner。　I　owe　you。”

He　pulled　my　curtain　aside　and　looked　across　the　street。　“One's　character　is　set　at　an　early

age；　son。　The　choices　you　make　now　will　affect　you

for　the　rest　of　your　life。”　He　inute；　then　dropped　the　curtain　and　said；　“I　hate

to　see　you　swim　out　so　far　you　can't　swim　back。”

“Yes；　sir。”

He　frowned　and　said；　“Don't　yes…sir　me；　Bryce。”　Then　he　stood　and　added；　“Just　think　about

what　I've　said；　and　the　next　time　you're　faced　with　a

choice；　do　the　right　thing。　It　hurts　everyone　less　i