Lyta takes off down the hall and my mother says； “Salmonella？” She turns to my father。
“Do you suppose they could have salmonella？”
“I don't know； Patsy。 I'm more concerned that our son is a coward。”
“A coward！ Rick； please。 Bryce is no such thing。 He's a wonderful child who's — ”
“Who's afraid of a girl。”
“Dad； I'm not afraid of her； she just bugs me！”
“Why？”
“You know why！ She bugs you； too。 She's over the top about everything！”
……… Page 27………
“Bryce； I asked you to conquer your fear； but all you did was give in to it。 If you were in love
with her； that would be one thing。 Love is something to
be afraid of； but this； this is embarrassing。 So she talks too much； so she's too enthused
about every little thing； so what？ Get in； get your question
answered； and get out。 Stand up to her； for cryin' out loud！”
“Rick …；” my mom was saying； “Rick； calm down。 He did find out what you asked him to — ”
“No； he didn't！”
“What do you mean？”
“He tells me they're all chickens！ Of course they're all chickens！ The question is how many
are hens； and how many are roosters。”
I could almost hear the click in my brain； and man； I felt like a plete doofus。 No wonder
he was disgusted with me。 I was an idiot！ They were
all chickens … du…uh！ Garrett acted like he was some expert on chickens； and he didn't know
diddly…squat！ Why had I listened to hi