“But I take it they have stopped？”
“Yeah。 As of last week。 Because Juli caught me chucking a carton in the trash outside。”
“Oh； dear。”
“Exactly。”
“So what did you tell her？”
I looked down and mumbled； “I told her that we were afraid of salmonella poisoning because
their yard was such a mess。 She ran off crying； and
the next thing I know； she's starting to fix up their yard。”
“Oh； Bryce！”
“Exactly。”
She inute； then very softly she said； “Thank you for your honesty；
Bryce。 It does help to explain a lot。” She shook her head
and said； “What that family must think of us；” and got back to cleaning the griddle。 “All the
more reason to have them over for dinner； if you ask me。”
I whispered； “You're sworn to secrecy on this whole egg thing； right？ I mean； Juli told
Granddad； so he knows； but I don't want this to spread to；
you know； Dad。”
She studied me a minute； then said； “Tell me you've learned your lesson； honey。”
“I have； Mom。”
……… Page 54………
“Okay； then。”
I let out a big sigh of relief。 “Thanks。”
“Oh； and Bryce？”
“Yeah？”
“I'm very glad you told me about it。” She kissed me on the cheek； then smiled and said； “Now；
didn't I hear you promise you'd mow the lawn
today？”
“Right；” I said； and headed outside to trim the turf。
That evening my mother announced that the Bakers would be over Friday night at six o'clock；
that the menu included poached salmon； crab
risotto； and fresh steamed vegetables； and that none of us had better weasel out of being
there。 My dad muttered that if we were really going to do
this； it would be a whole lot better to barbecue beca