669小说网

第29部分（第4页）

“My；”　she　said　after　a　moment。　“Dont　you　sound　like　a　teenager。”

“Im　sorry；”　I　whimpered；　because　I　knew　I　was　hurting　her　feelings。　I　sat　up　and　said；　“Mom；

all　those　years　I　liked　him？　I　never　really　knew　him。　All

I　knew　was　that　he　had　the　most　beautiful　eyes　Id　ever　seen　and　that　his　smile　melted　my

heart　like　the　sun　melts　butter。　But　now　I　know　that　inside

hes　a　coward　and　a　sneak；　so　Ive　got　to　get　over　what　hes　like　on　the　outside！”

My　mother　leaned　back　and　crossed　her　arms。　“Well；”　she　said。　“Isnt　this　something。”

“What　do　you　mean？”

She　chewed　the　side　of　one　cheek；　then　moved　over　to　chew　the　other。　At　last　she　said；　“I

shouldnt　really　discuss　it。”

“Why　not？”

“Because　…I　just　shouldnt。　Besides；　I　can　tell　there　are　things　you　dont　feel　fortable

discussing　with　me…。”

We　stared　at　each　other　a　moment；　neither　of　us　saying　a　word。　Finally　I　looked　down　and

whispered；　“When　Chet　and　I　were　fixing　up　the　yard；　I

told　him　how　we　didnt　own　the　house　and　about　Uncle　David。　He　must　have　told　the　rest　of

the　family；　because　the　day　before　the　Loskis　dinner

………　Page　90………

party　I　overheard　Bryce　and　his　friend　making　cracks　about　Uncle　David　at　school。　I　was

furious；　but　I　didnt　want　you　to　know　because　youd　think

they　were　only　inviting　us　over　because　they　felt　sorry　for　us。”　I　looked　at　her　and　said；　“You

just　seemed　so　happy　about　being　invited　for　dinner。”

Then　I　realized　something。　“And　you　know；　youve　seemed　happier　ever　since。”

She　held　my　hand　and　smiled。　“I　have　a　lot　to　be　happy　about。”　Then　she　sighed　and　said；

“And　I　already　knew　they　knew　about　Uncle　David。　It

was　fine　that　you　talked　about　him。　Hes　not　a　secret　or　anything。”

I　sat　up　a　little。　“Wait　…　how　did　you　know？”

“Patsy　told　me。”

I　blinked　at　her。　“She　did？　Before　the　dinner？”

“No；　no。　After。”　She　hesitated；　then　said；　“Patsys　been　over　several　times　this　week。

Shes　…　shes　going　through　a　very　rough　time。”

“How　e？”

Mom　let　out　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“I　think　youre　mature　enough　to　keep　this　inside　these

four　walls；　and　Im　only　telling　you　because　…

because　I　think　its　relevant。”

I　held　my　breath　and　waited。

“Patsy　and　Rick　have　been　having　ferocious　fights　lately。”