d Granddad； trying to pick up on why
we were miffed at each other。
Not that he had anything to be miffed at me about。 What had I done to him； anyway？ Nothing。
Nada。 But he was； I could tell。 And I pletely
avoided looking at him until about halfway through dinner； when I sneaked a peek。
He was studying me； all right。 And even though it wasn't a mean stare； or a hard stare； it was；
you know； firm。 Steady。 And it weirded me out。
What was his deal？
I didn't look at him again。 Or at my mother。 I just went back to eating and pretended to listen
to my dad。 And the first chance I got； I excused myself
and holed up in my room。
I was planning to call my friend Garrett like I usually do when I'm bent about something。 I
even punched in his number； but I don't know。 I just hung
up。And later when my mom came in； I faked like I was sleeping。 I haven't done that in years。
The whole night was weird like that。 I just wanted to be
left alone。
Juli wasn't at the bus stop the next morning。 Or Friday morning。 She was at school； but you'd
never know it if you didn't actually look。 She didn't whip
……… Page 15………
her hand through the air trying to get the teacher to call on her or charge through the halls
getting to class。 She didn't make unsolicited ments for
the teacher's edification or challenge the kids who took cuts in the milk line。 She just sat。
Quiet。
I told myself I should be glad about it — it was like she wasn't even there； and isn't that what
I'd always wanted？ But still； I felt bad。 About her tree；
about how she hurried off to eat by herself in the library at lunch； about how her eyes were
red around th