there；　Bryce；”　and　winked　at　me　as　he　sat

down　and　put　his　napkin　in　his　lap。

“Lyn…et…ta！”　my　mother　sang　out。　“Break…fast！”

My　sister　appeared　in　a　triple…X　miniskirt　and　platform　shoes；　with　eyes　that　were　definitely　of

the　raccoon　variety。　My　mother　gasped；　but　then

took　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“Good　morning；　honey。　You're…　you're　…I　thought　you　were

going　to　church　this　morning　with　your　friends。”

“I　am。”　Lyta　scowled　and　sat　down。

Mom　brought　pancakes；　fried　eggs；　and　hash　browns　to　the　table。　My　father　just　sat　there

stiff　as　a　board　for　a　minute；　but　finally　he　shook　out　his

napkin　and　tucked　it　into　his　collar。

“Well；”　my　mother　said　as　she　sat　down；　“I　have　e　up　with　a　solution　to　our　situation。”

“Here　it　es　…；”　my　father　muttered；　but　my　mother　gave　him　a　glare　that　shut　him　down

cold。

“The　solution　is　…；”　my　mom　said　as　she　served　herself　some　pancakes；　“…　we're　going　to

invite　the　Bakers　over　for　dinner。”

My　father　blurts　out；　“What？”；　Lyta　asks；　“All　of　them？”；　I　put　in；　“Are　you　serious？”；　but

my　grandfather　heaps　on　another　fried　egg　and　says；

“That；　Patsy；　is　a　marvelous　idea。”

“Thanks；　Dad；”　she　says　with　a　smile；　then　tells　Lyta　and　me；　“Of　course　I'm　serious；　and

yes；　if　Juli　and　the　boys　want　to　e；　they'll　be

invited。”

My　sister　starts　cracking　up。　“Do　you　know　what　you're　saying？”

Mom　smooths　the