EllRay Jakes and the Beanstalk Read Free Page A

about.
    As if I didn’t spend lunch in the library instead of the cafeteria, where all the action is on cold, wet days.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Kevin asks. “Are you avoiding me? Do I stink or something?” he says, sniffing his parka-covered armpits in a jokey way.
    â€œNah. You smell okay, I guess,” I say, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “I’ve been busy today, that’s all.”
    I can’t think of a way to joke back at him.
    â€œBusy with what?” Kevin asks, like he’s really curious. “Dude, it’s Oak Glen. There’s nothing to do here but hang with each other. And Corey had to leave school early for a swim meet.”
    See, that’s the trouble with having Corey as one of your best friends. He has an actual schedule, like a grown-up. So he’s not always around.
    â€œYou’ve been busy with what?” Kevin asks again.
    â€œI dunno,” I say.
    I can’t really tell him the truth, that I’m jealous he rode his skateboard to school with Jared this morning. That would sound so—so
girly
. Like,
“Ooh, I’m so jealous.”
    And I’m not
jealous
-jealous. I mean, sure, Kevin and I have always been friends. And there’s nothing wrong with him making another friend. What do I care? “The more the merrier,” like my mom sometimes says.
    But why did Kevin have to choose
Jared Matthews
if he needed a new friend? Jared and his buddy Stanley are like a two-person team whose mission is to make me look bad—in front of as many people as possible.
    The more the merrier.

    â€œYou should learn to skate,” Kevin tells me, and then he clears his throat, which means he’s getting ready to say something important. I know him, see? “Skating is so cool,” he begins. “Even when it’s raining, like today, you can just pick up your board and take it with you anywhere. Into your mom’s car, or into the mall. Even into the movies, if they let you. Having a skateboard is like being a teenager and being able to
drive
, EllRay.”
    Kevin exaggerates like that sometimes.
    â€œWhen did you get to be such an expert?” I ask, staring hard at the pavement.
    â€œI’m not,” he protests. “I can’t even ollie yet, and I don’t think Jared can, either. But my older cousin skates, and I was at his house a lot during winter break. Remember those days I couldn’t come over? Anyway, he gave me one of his old boards and made me keep practicing on my own. It’s hard,” he admits.
    Kevin likes solving puzzles and stuff. I guess learning to skate is sort of like a puzzle for him.
    â€œYou never said,” I tell him, trying to keep the blame out of my voice.
    â€œBut it wasn’t a
secret
,” Kevin says, looking confused. “There’s a lot of things I don’t say. Like, I brushed my teeth after breakfast,” he tells me, trying for another joke. “I never told you that, either, did I? But I will from now on, if you want me to.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” I say, trying to joke back. “Maybe you did tell me, and I just wasn’t listening. So, you practice all the time with Jared, now?” I slip in this question like it’s nothing. No big deal, just something to say.
    â€œNot
all
the time,” Kevin says. “Just a couple of times. Like when he wanted me to come to the park last weekend. He’s not so bad when he’s on his own.”
    â€œHuh,” I say, trying to think fast how to reply, which always works the opposite for me. The faster I try to think, the SLOWER my brain goes.
    Okay. I’m not the boss of Kevin, I remind myself. He can hang out with whoever he wants. Also, he’s right—Jared’s
not
so bad when he’s on his own. It’s Jared-and-Stanley that becomes the awful mix.
    Maybe I’ll just do whatever it takes to stay friends with Kevin. I can ignore Jared if