arage；　surrounded　by　high　school　kids；

watching　a　boa　constrictor　swallow　eggs。　Since　I'd

already　seen　it　down　a　rat　in　the　Baker　brothers'　bedroom；　Pisser　had　lost　at　least　some　of

the　element　of　surprise。　Plus；　I　picked　up　on　the　fact　that

they'd　been　saving　this　little　show　to　freak　me　out；　and　I　really　didn't　want　to　give　them　the

satisfaction。

This　wasn't　easy；　though；　because　watching　a　snake　swallow　an　egg　is　actually　much

creepier　than　you　might　think。　The　boa　opened　its　mouth　to

an　enormous　size；　then　just　took　the　egg　in　and　glub！　We　could　see　it　roll　down　its　throat。

But　that　wasn't　all。　After　the　snake　had　glubbed　down　three　eggs；　Matt…or…Mike　said；　“So；

Brycie　boy；　how's　he　gonna　digest　those？”

I　shrugged　and　tried　not　to　squeak　when　I　answered；　“Stomach　acid？”

He　shook　his　head　and　pretended　to　confide；　“He　needs　a　tree。　Or　a　leg。”　He　grinned　at　me。

“Wanna　volunteer　yours？”

I　backed　away　a　little。　I　could　just　see　that　monster　try　to　swallow　my　leg　whole　as　an　after…

egg　chaser。　“N…no！”

He　laughed　and　pointed　at　the　boa　slithering　across　the　room。　“Aw；　too　bad。　He's　going　the

other　way。　He's　gonna　use　the　piano　instead！”

The　piano！　What　kind　of　snake　was　this？　How　could　my　sister　stand　being　in　the　same　room

as　these　dementos？　I　looked　at　her；　and　even

though　she　was　pretending　to　be　cool　with　the　snake；　I　know　Lyta　—　she　was　totally

creeped　out　by　it。

………　Page　22………

The　snake　wrapped　itself　around　the　piano　leg　about　three　times；　and　then　Matt…or…Mike　put

his　hands　up　and　said；　“Shhh！　Shhh！　Everybody

quiet。　Here　goes！”

The　snake　stopped　moving；　then　flexed。　And　as　it　flexed；　w