669小说网

第13部分（第5页）

Everyone　looks　at　him。　Lytas　jaw　drops；　and　for　once　shes　speechless。　My　mother　says；

“Rick！”　but　all　my　father　can　do　is　laugh　a　nervous

kind　of　laugh　and　say；　“It　was　just　a　joke！　I　mean；　obviously　somethings　wrong　with　those

people。　Oh；　excuse　me；　Chet。　I　forgot。　The　girl　reminds

you　of　Renée。”

“Rick！”　my　mother　says　again；　only　this　time　shes　mad。

“Oh；　Patsy；　please。　Your　fathers　being　overly　dramatic；　trying　to　make　me　feel　bad　for

criticizing　our　neighbors　because　theres　a　retarded

relative　someplace。　Other　people　have　family　troubles　and　still　manage　to　mow　their　lawn。

They　should　have　a　little　pride　in　ownership；　for　cryin　out

loud！”

My　grandfathers　cheeks　are　seriously　flushed；　but　his　voice　is　rock…steady　as　he　says；　“They

dont　own　that　house；　Rick。　The　landlord　is

supposed　to　maintain　the　premises；　but　he　doesnt。　And　since　Julis　father　is　responsible　for

his　brother；　all　their　reserves　go　to　his　care；　and

obviously　it　doesnt　e　cheap。”

Very　quietly　my　mom　asks；　“Dont　they　have　government　facilities　for　that　kind　of　thing？”

“I　dont　know　the　details；　Patsy。　Maybe　there　are　no　government　facilities　nearby。　Maybe　they

thought　a　private　facility　was　a　better　place　for　him

to　be。”

“Still；”　my　dad　says；　“there　are　government　facilities　available；　and　if　they　dont　want　to　go

that　route；　thats　their　choice。　Its　not　our　fault　their

family　had　some　sort　of　chromosomal　abnormality；　and　I　refuse　to　feel　guilty　for　wanting　—　”

My　grandfather　slams　his　hand　on　the　table　and　half…stands　as　he　says；　“It　had　nothing　to　do

with　chromosomes；　Rick！　It　was　caused　by　a　lack　of

oxygen　at　birth。”　He　brings　his　voice　down；　but　it　makes　his　words　seem　even　more　forceful。

“Julis　uncle　had　the　umbilical　cord　wrapped　around　his

neck。　Twice。　One　minute　he　was　a　perfect　little　baby；　just　like　your　son；　Bryce；　and　the　next

he　was　irreversibly　damaged。”

My　mother　was　suddenly　hysterical。　In　seconds　she　was　bawling　her　eyes　out；　wailing；　and

my　father　was　all　over　her；　trying　to　calm　her　down。　It

was　no　use。　She