第8部分(第4/7 页)

and　throws　it　at　the　mess　of　plywood

and　chicken　wire。

At　first　all　we　hear　is　a　bunch　of　feathers　flapping；　but　then　one　of　the　birds　es　fluttering

out。　Not　very　far；　but　enough　so　we　can　see　it's　got

feathers　and　rubbery　red　stuff。

“So？”　I　ask　him。　“Is　that　a　rooster？”

He　shrugs。　“Looks　like　a　chicken　to　me。”

“How　can　you　tell？”

He　shrugs　again。　“Just　does。”

We　watch　it　scratching　at　the　dirt　for　a　minute；　and　then　I　ask；　“What's　a　hen；　anyway？”

“A　hen？”

“Yeah。　You　got　roosters；　you　got　chickens；　and　then　there's　hens。　What's　a　hen？”

“It's　one　of　those；”　he　says；　pointing　into　the　Bakers'　backyard。

“Then　what's　a　chicken？”

He　looks　at　me　like　I'm　crazy。　“What　are　you　talking　about？”

“Chickens！　What's　a　chicken？”

………　Page　25………

He　takes　a　step　back　from　me　and　says；　“Brycie　boy；　you　are　losin'　it。　That's　a　chicken！”　He

stoops　down　to　pick　up　another　rock；　and　he's　just

about　to　let　it　fly　when　the　sliding…glass　door　to　the　back　patio　opens　up　and　Juli　steps

outside。

We　both　duck。　And　as　we're　checking　her　out　through　the　fence；　I　say；　“When　did　she　get

home？”

Garrett　grumbles；　“While　you　were　losing　it　about　chickens。”　Then　he　whispers；　“But　hey；

this'll　work　great。　She's　got　a　basket；　right？　She's

probably　ing　out　to　collect　eggs。”

First　she　had　to　get　all　mushy　with　that　mangy　mutt　of　hers。　She　got　down　and　nuzzled　and

ruffled　and　patted　and　hugged；　telling　him　what　a　good

boy　he　was。　And　when　she　finally　let　him　go　back　to　sleep；　she　had　to　stop　and　coo　at　the

bird　Garrett　had　scared　out；　and　then　she　started　singing。

Singing。　At　the　top　of　her　lungs；　she　goes