669小说网

第21部分（第5页）

Mom　jingled　the　dinner　bell　and　called；　“Hors　doeuvres　are　ready！”　and　then　saw　me　still

standing　in　the　hallway。　“Bryce；　whered　your　sister　and

the　boys　go？”

I　shrugged。　“Down　to　her　room；　I　think。”　“Go　tell　them；　would　you？　And　then　e　have　some

hors　doeuvres。”

“Sure；”　I　said。　Anything　to　get　rid　of　the　taste　in　my　mouth。

Lytas　door　was　closed。　And　normally　I　would　have　knocked　and　called；　Mom　wants　you；

or；　Dinner！　or　something；　but　in　that　split　second

before　my　knuckles　hit　wood；　my　hand　became　possessed　by　Evil　Baby　Brother。　I　turned　the

knob　and　walked　right　in。

Does　Lyta　freak　out　or　throw　stuff　at　me　and　scream　for　me　to　get　out？　No。　She　ignores

me。　Matt…and…Mike　give　me　a　nod；　and　Lyta　sees

me；　but　shes　got　her　hands　over　some　headphones　and　her　whole　bodys　bobbing　up　and

down　as　she　listens　to　a　portable　CD　player。

Matt…or…Mike　whispers；　“Its　about　over。　Well　be　right　there；”　like　of　course　I　was　there　to　say

it　was　time　to　eat。　What　else　would　I　be　doing　there？

Something　about　that　made　me　feel；　I　dont　know；　left　out。　I　wasnt　even　a　person　to　those

guys。　I　was　just　baby　brother。

Nothing　new　there；　but　now　it　really　bugged　me。　Like　all　of　a　sudden　I　didnt　fit　in　anywhere。

Not　at　school；　not　at　home　…　and　every　time　I　turned

around；　another　person　Id　known　forever　felt　like　a　stranger　to　me。　Even　I　felt　like　a　stranger

to　me。

Standing　around　eating　little　round　crackers　smeared　with　whipped　cheese　and　fish　eggs

didnt　do　much　for　my　mood　either。　My　mother　was

acting　like　an　entire　swarm　of　busy　bees。　She　was　everywhere。　In　the　kitchen；　out　of　the

kitchen。　Serving　drinks；　handing　out　napkins。　Explaining　the

food；　but　not　eating　a　thing。

Lyta　didnt　buy　Moms　explanation　on　the　hors　doeuvres　—　she　wound　up　dissecting　hers；

categorizing　the　parts　into　gross；　disgusting；　and

revolting。

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Hanging　near　her