EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star! Read Free Page A

noodles.
    â€œYou’re telling me,” I mutter.
    â€œWell,” Mom says, “I’ll pass the suggestion along to your father when he gets home, EllRay.”
    â€œHow about asking him when he calls tonight?” I suggest—because that way, my dad will have a chance to get used to the idea.
    Maybe he won’t say no right away, at least.
    â€œIf I get the chance,” Mom promises. “But don’t get your hopes up. And finish your delicious salad.”

4
    KIND OF CRAZY
    â€œHi, Dad?” I say later that night when my mom hands me the phone. Alfie has already gone to bed, or she’d be hogging the whole conversation.
    â€œHello, son,” my father says. His voice does not sound very far away, which makes me feel nervous because of what I am about to suggest.
    â€œHow’s the conference going?” I say, wanting to be polite before asking for an ATV when it’s not even Christmas or my birthday—and when I can’t even drive yet.

    â€œIt’s going fine,” Dad tells me. “I’m presenting my paper tomorrow morning.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want to bother you,” I say, still being super polite. “I just thought maybe we should buy an ATV when you get home. With flames.”
    I think saying “we” was a good idea, and so was saying the whole thing really fast.
    â€œFlames?” my dad says, as if he has just now started paying attention to what I am saying. “What’s this about flames?”
    â€œ Pretend flames,” I say quickly, before he calls the fire department long distance.

    â€œThey’re decals, really. On the sides of our new ATV.”
    â€œWhat new ATV?” Dad asks, sounding confused.
    â€œThe one you should buy when you get home,” I tell him patiently. “For driving in the desert when we’re collecting rocks.”
    â€œWhy?” my dad asks, shuffling some papers. I can hear him do it!
    â€œYou’re not even paying attention,” I complain.
    â€œYes I am,” my dad says. “You want me to buy a new ATV when we already have a perfectly good Jeep. A classic. It’s practically vintage, son.”
    â€œThat just means old,” I tell him. “And our Jeep doesn’t have any flames on it. It’s rusty, too.”
    â€œWe can spray-paint some flames on,” Dad says, laughing. “Just you and I, EllRay.”
    â€œ Really ?” I say, because this sounds like a very un-Dad activity.
    â€œSure,” my dad says. “Why not? If we’re careful, and wear masks while we’re spraying.”
    Being careful and wearing a mask is not the way I would spray-paint flames on a Jeep, if I had a choice, but it’s better than nothing. “And not Alfie?” I ask.
    â€œNot a chance, if you can keep it under your hat,” Dad says. This means I should keep my mouth shut and not go blabbing anything about spray paint to my little sister. “This is going to be fun, EllRay,” my dad says, like I need telling. “We’ll go shopping for the paint when I get home, and you can choose the colors. How does that sound?”
    â€œGood,” I say, suddenly feeling like I don’t even know my own father. We’ve hardly ever done anything like this before, that’s why. Something alone, and kind of crazy, just to make me happy. “Thanks,” I mumble into the phone.
    â€œYou’re welcome, son,” Dad says.
    â€œâ€™Night,” I tell him.
    â€œGood night, EllRay. And sleep tight,” my dad says.
    So, that’s good, I think, hanging up the phone.
    But I still don’t have anything big to brag about.

5
    MY CRYSTAL-CLEAR IDEA
    On Monday night before bed, as my mom is giving Alfie her usual three-towel bath, I wander into Dad’s home office to look around—because I kind of miss him.
    Also, I usually don’t get to go in there unless I’m in trouble.
    Even though almost