ssary　anymore；　I'd　learned　to　deal　with　things

on　my　own。　At　least；　that's　what　I'd　thought。　Until　now。

She　touched　my　arm　and　said；　“Bryce；　tell　me。　What　is　it？”

I　hopped　up　to　sit　on　the　counter；　then　took　a　deep　breath　and　said；　“It's　about　Juli's　eggs。”

“About　her　…　eggs？”

“Yeah。　Remember　that　whole　chicken…hen…salmonella　disaster？”

“That　was　quite　a　while　ago；　but　sure…。”

“Well；　what　you　don't　know　is　that　Juli　didn't　bring　eggs　over　just　that　once。　She's　been

bringing　them　over　every　week…or　about　that；　anyway。”

“She　has？　Why　didn't　I　know　about　this？”

“Well；　I　was　afraid　Dad　would　get　mad　at　me　for　not　telling　her　we　didn't　want　them；　so　I

started　intercepting　them。　I'd　see　her　ing；　get　to　her

before　she　rang　the　bell；　and　then　I'd　toss　them　in　the　trash　before　anyone　knew　she'd　been

here。”

“Oh；　Bryce！”

“Well；　I　kept　thinking　they'd　stop！　How　long　can　a　stupid　chicken　lay　eggs？”

“But　I　take　it　they　have　stopped？”

“Yeah。　As　of　l