ocial　studies　our　class　got　library　time　to　do　research　for　our　famous　historical

figure　report。　Darla　and　Juli　were　both　in　that　class；　but

I　managed　to　drag　Garrett　into　a　back　corner　of　the　library　without　either　of　them　noticing。

And　the　minute　we　were　by　ourselves；　I　found　myself

laying　into　Garrett　about　chickens。

He　shakes　his　head　at　me　and　says；　“Dude！　What　are　you　talking　about？”

“Remember　when　we　went　and　looked　over　her　fence？”

“Back　in　the　sixth　grade？”

“Yeah。　Remember　how　you　were　down　on　me　for　wondering　what　a　hen　was？”

He　rolled　his　eyes。　“Not　this　again…。”

“Man；　you　didn't　know　jack…diddly…squat　about　chickens。　I　put　my　life　in　your　hands　and　you

dumped　me　in　a　bucket　of　bull。”

So　I　told　him　about　my　dad　and　the　eggs　and　salmonella　and　how　I'd　been　intercepting　eggs

for　nearly　two　years。

He　just　shrugged　and　said；　“Makes　sense　to　me。”

“Man；　she　caught　me！”

“Who？”

“Juli！”

………　Page　56………

“Whoa；　dude！”

I　told　him　about　what　I'd　said；　and　how　almost　right　after　that　she　was　out　playing　weed

warrior　in　her　front　yard。

“Well；　so？　It's　not　your　fault　her　yard's　a　mess。”

“But　then　I　found　out　that　they　don't　even　own　that　house。　They're　all　poor　because　her　dad's

got　a　retarded　brother　that　they're；　you　know；　paying

for。”　Garrett　gives　me　a　real　chumpy　grin　and　says；　“A　retard？　Well；　that　expla