ind my mother。
Mom puts her arm around me and says； “Bryce； honey； why don't you show Julianna around
the house？”
I flash her help and warning signals with every part of my body； but she's not receiving。 Then
she shakes me off and says； “Go on。”
Juli would've tramped right in if my mother hadn't noticed her shoes and told her to take them
off。 And after those were off； my mom told her that
her dirty socks had to go； too。 Juli wasn't embarrassed。 Not a bit。 She just peeled them off
and left them in a crusty heap on our porch。
I didn't exactly give her a tour。 I locked myself in the bathroom instead。 And after about ten
minutes of yelling back at her that no； I wasn't ing
out anytime soon； things got quiet out in the hall。 Another ten minutes went by before I got
the nerve to peek out the door。
No Juli。
I snuck out and looked around； and yes！ She was gone。
Not a very sophisticated ditch； but hey； I was only seven。
My troubles were far from over； though。 Every day she came back； over and over again。
“Can Bryce play？” I could hear her asking from my hiding
place behind the couch。 “Is he ready yet？” One time she even cut across the yard and looked
through my window。 I spotted her in the nick of time
and dove under my bed； but man； that right there tells you something about Juli Baker。 She's
got no concept of personal space。 No respect f