n　the　long　run。”

With　that；　poof；　he　was　gone。

The　next　day　I　went　to　shoot　some　hoops　at　Garrett's　after　school；　and　when　his　mom

dropped　me　off　later　that　afternoon；　my　granddad　didn't

even　notice。　He　was　too　busy　being　Joe　Carpenter　in　Juli's　front　yard。

I　tried　to　do　my　homework　at　the　breakfast　bar；　but　my　mom　came　home　from　work　and

started　being　all　chatty；　and　then　Lyta　appeared　and

the　two　of　them　started　fighting　about　whether　Lyta's　makeup　made　her　look　like　a

wounded　raccoon。

Lyta。　I　swear　she'll　never　learn。

I　packed　up　my　stuff　and　escaped　to　my　room；　which；　of　course；　was　a　total　waste。　They've

got　a　saw　revving　and　wailing　across　the　street；　and

in　between　cuts　I　can　hear　the　whack