looked lopsided
and naked； and after a few minutes I had to get out of there。 It was like watching someone
dismember a body； and for the first time in ages； I felt like
crying。 Crying。 Over a stupid tree that I hated。
I went home and tried to shake it off； but I kept wondering； Should I have gone up the tree
with her？ Would it have done any good？
I thought about calling Juli to tell her I was sorry they'd cut it down； but I didn't。 It would've
been too； I don't know； weird。
She didn't show at the bus stop the next morning and didn't ride the bus home that afternoon；
either。
Then that night； right before dinner； my grandfather summoned me into the front room。 He
didn't call to me as I was walking by — that would have
bordered on friendliness。 What he did was talk to my mother； who talked to me。 “I don't know
what it's about； honey；” she said。 “Maybe he's just
ready to get to know you a little better。”
Great。 The man's had a year and a half to get acquainted； and he chooses now to get to
know me。 But I couldn't exactly blow him off。
My grandfather's a big man with a meaty nose and greased…back salt…and…pepper hair。 He
lives in house slippers and a sports coat； and I've
never seen a whisker on him。 They grow； but he shaves them off like three times a day。 It's a
real recreational activity for him。
Besides his meaty nose； he's also go