y　got　the　world's　sappiest　look　on　her　face。

“Well；　hello；”　she　says　to　Juli。

“Hi！”

………　Page　4………

I'm　still　trying　to　pull　free；　but　the　girl's　got　me　in　a　death　grip。　My　mom's　grinning；　looking　at

our　hands　and　my　fiery　red　face。　“And　what's　your

name；　honey？”

“Julianna　Baker。　I　live　right　over　there；”　she　says；　pointing　with　her　unoccupied　hand。

“Well；　I　see　you've　met　my　son；”　she　says；　still　grinning　away。

“Uh…huh！”

Finally　I　break　free　and　do　the　only　manly　thing　available　when　you're　seven　years　old　—　I

dive　behind　my　mother。

Mom　puts　her　arm　around　me　and　says；　“Bryce；　honey；　why　don't　you　show　Julianna　around

the　house？”

I　flash　her　help　and　warning　signals　with　every　part　of　my　body；　but　she's　not　receiving。　Then

she　shakes　me　off　and　says；　“Go　on。”

Juli　would've　tramped　right　in　if　my　mother　hadn't　noticed　her　shoes　and　told　her　to　take　them

off。　And　after　those　were　off；　my　mom　told　her　that

her　dirty　socks　had　to　go；　too。　Juli　wasn't　embarrassed。　Not　a　bit。　She　just　peeled　them　off

and　left　them　in　a　crusty　heap　on　our　porch。

I　didn't　exactly　give　her　a　tour。　I　locked　myself　in　the　bathroom　instead。　And　after　about　ten

minutes　of　yelling　back　at　her　that　no；　I　wasn't　ing

out　anytime　soon；　things　got　quiet　out　in　the　hall。　Another　ten　minutes　went　by　before　I　got

the　nerve　to　peek　out　the　door。

No　Juli。

I　snuck　out　and　looked　around；　and　yes！　She　was　gone。

Not　a　very　sophisticated　ditch；　but　hey；　I　was　only　seven。

My　troubles　were　far　from　over；　though。　Every　day　she　came　back；　over　and　over　again。

“Can　Bryce　play？”　I　could　hear　her　asking　from　my　hiding

place