t　yard。

Obviously　that　never　happened。”　He　shook　his　head。　“It's　a　major　undertaking；　and　fencing　is

not　cheap。　I　can't　see　putting　that　sort　of　investment

into　a　property　that's　not　ours。　Plus；　it's　the　principle　of　the　thing。”

“But　we　live　here；”　I　whispered；　“and　it　looks　so　bad。”

My　father　studied　me。　“Julianna；　what　happened？”

“Nothing；　Daddy；”　I　said；　but　he　knew　I　was　lying。

“Sweetheart；”　he　whispered；　“tell　me。”

I　knew　what　he'd　say　if　I　told　him；　and　yet　I　couldn't　not　tell　him。　Not　with　the　way　he　was

looking　at　me。　So　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“The

Loskis　have　been　throwing　my　eggs　away　because　they　were　afraid　they'd　have　salmonella

because　our　yard　is　such　a　mess。”

My　father　said；　“Oh；　that's　ridiculous；”　but　my　mother　gasped；　“What？”　Then　she　cried；　“Did

Patsy　say　that？”

I　looked　down。　“No；　Bryce　did。”

“But　it　must've　been　a　family　discussion！　A　boy　doesn't　e　up　with　that　on　his　own　…　！”　My

mother　looked　for　all　the　world　like　a　doe　waiting　to

be　shot　through　the　heart。　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands　and　said；　“I　can't　go　on　like

this！　Robert；　things　have　got　to　change。　They've　just　got

to！”

“Trina；　you　know　I'm　doing　the　best　I　can。　I'm　sorry　about　the　yard；　I'm　sorry　about　the

situation。　This　isn't　the　picture　I　had　for　my　life；　either；　but

sometimes　you　have　to　sacrifice　for　what's　right。”

M