irl　cannot　take　a

hint。　Of　any　kind。　Does　she　zip　on　home　like　a　kid

should　when　they've　been　invited　to　leave？　No。　She　says；　“Oh；　my　mom　knows　where　I　am。

She　said　it　was　fine。”　Then　she　points　across　the　street

and　says；　“We　just　live　right　over　there。”

My　father　looks　to　where　she's　pointing　and　mutters；　“Oh　boy。”　Then　he　looks　at　me　and

winks　as　he　says；　“Bryce；　isn't　it　time　for　you　to　go　inside

and　help　your　mother？”

I　knew　right　off　that　this　was　a　ditch　play。　And　I　didn't　think　about　it　until　later；　but　ditch　wasn't

a　play　I'd　run　with　my　dad　before。　Face　it；　pulling　a

ditch　is　not　something　discussed　with　dads。　It's　like；　against　parental　law　to　tell　your　kid　it's

okay　to　ditch　someone；　no　matter　how　annoying　or

muddy　they　might　be。

But　there　he　was；　putting　the　play　in　motion；　and　man；　he　didn't　have　to　wink　twice。　I　smiled

and　said；　“Sure　thing！”　then　jumped　off　the　liftgate　and

headed　for　my　new　front　door。

I　heard　her　ing　after　me　but　I　couldn't　believe　it。　Maybe　it　just　sounded　like　she　was

chasing　me；　maybe　she　was　really　going　the　other　way。

But　before　I　got　up　the　nerve　to　look；　she　blasted　right　past　me；　grabbing　my　arm　and

yanking　me　along。

This　was　too　much。　I　planted　myself　and　was　about　to　tell　her　to　get　lost　when　the　weirdest

thing　happened。　I　was　making　this　big　windmill　motion

to　break　away　from　her；　but　somehow　on　the　downswing　my　hand　wound　up　tangling　into

hers。　I　couldn't　believe　it。　There　I　was；　holding　the　mud

monkey's　hand！

I　tried　to　shake　her　off；　but　she　just　clamped　on　tight　and　yanked　me　along；　saying；　“C'mon！”

My　mom　came　out　of　the　house　and　immediatel