took　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“The

Loskis　have　been　throwing　my　eggs　away　because　they　were　afraid　they'd　have　salmonella

because　our　yard　is　such　a　mess。”

My　father　said；　“Oh；　that's　ridiculous；”　but　my　mother　gasped；　“What？”　Then　she　cried；　“Did

Patsy　say　that？”

I　looked　down。　“No；　Bryce　did。”

“But　it　must've　been　a　family　discussion！　A　boy　doesn't　e　up　with　that　on　his　own　…　！”　My

mother　looked　for　all　the　world　like　a　doe　waiting　to

be　shot　through　the　heart。　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands　and　said；　“I　can't　go　on　like

this！　Robert；　things　have　got　to　change。　They've　just　got

to！”

“Trina；　you　know　I'm　doing　the　best　I　can。　I'm　sorry　about　the　yard；　I'm　sorry　about　the

situation。　This　isn't　the　picture　I　had　for　my　life；　either；　but

sometimes　you　have　to　sacrifice　for　what's　right。”

My　mother　looked　up　from　her　hands　and　said；　“This　is　not　right　for　our　family。　Your　daughter

is　suffering　because　we　won't　fix　up　our　own　yard。”

“It's　not　our　yard。”　“How　can　you　say　that？　Robert；　wake　up！　We　have　lived　here　for　twelve

years。　It's　not　temporary　anymore！　If　we　ever　want　to

have　a　decent　place　with　our　own　yard；　if　we're　going　to　help　the　kids　through　college　or　do

any　of　the　other　things　we've　promised　each　other；　we're

going　to　have　to　move　him　into　government　care。”

………　Page　46………

My　father　let　out　a　deep　sigh　and　whispered；　“We've　discussed　this　so　many　times；　Trina。　In

the　end　you　always　agree　that　keeping　him　at

Greenhaven　is　the　right　thing　to　do。”

I　wanted　to　say；　Wait！　What　are　you　talking　about？　Who　are　you　talking　about？　But　the

conversation　was　flying　so　fast　and　furious　that　I