ost。　And　even　though　I　was　pretending　to　follow　along　with　what　they　were

saying；　what　I　was　really　doing　was　trying　not　to　stare

at　Juli。

When　my　mom　called　us　for　dinner；　I　did　my　best　to　pull　Juli　aside　and　apologize　to　her；　but

she　gave　me　the　cold　shoulder；　and　who　could　blame

her；　really？

I　sat　down　across　from　her；　feeling　pretty　low。　Why　hadn't　I　said　something　to　Garrett　in　the

library？　I　didn't　have　to　punch　him。　Why　hadn't　I　just　told

him　he　was　out　of　line？

After　Mom　served　everyone　their　food；　Dad　seemed　to　decide　that　he　ought　to　be　the　one

directing　the　conversation。　“So；　Mike　and　Matt；”　he

says；　“you're　seniors　this　year。”

“Amen！”　they　say　together。

“Amen？　As　in　you're　glad　high　school's　over？”

“Absolutely。”

My　father　starts　twirling　his　fork。　“Why's　that？”

Matt　and　Mike　look　at　each　other；　then　back　at　my　dad。　“The　regurgitation　gets　to　you　after　a

while。”

“Isn't　that　funny；”　he　says；　looking　around　the　table。　“High　school　was　probably　the　best　time

of　my　life。”

Matt…or…Mike　says；　“Seriously？　Dude；　it's　totally　lame！”　Mrs。　Baker　shoots　him　a　look；　but　that

doesn't　stop　him。　“Well；　it　is；　Mom。　It's　that　whole

robotron　attitude　of　education。　Confine；　confute；　conform—I've　had　totally　enough　of　that

scene。”

My　dad　eyes　my　mom　with　a　little　I…told…you…so　grin；　then　says　to　Matt　and　Mike；　“So　I　take