Yellow Flag by Robert Lipsyte Read Free Book Online Page A

of his favorites. Dad frowned through dinner, something on his mind. Mom didn’t try to get a conversation going. The silence was so uncomfortable, they were glad when Uncle Kale dropped in for dessert. He was a lot nicer in the house than in the shop.
    â€œBrought your beast back, Kylie. Runs sweet.”
    It took him a moment to remember the Camaro had been in the shop. He’d been driving one of the pickups to school. “Thanks.”
    â€œThat girl’s a wrench, let me tell you. She was working the NASCAR Dodge series before she came here. Gonna let her temp in the shop.” There was no edge inhis voice. Uncle Kale was up to something. He shoveled down Mom’s cobbler. “Top of your game, Lyn.” He stood up. “Gotta go feed the dogs. Susan’s got a meeting tonight.” Aunt Susan ran Hildebrand Construction along with a haircutter franchise. Uncle Kale was at the door when he turned and said casually, “Gonna want you around next weekend, Kylie.”
    Kyle looked around the table. Mom was looking down, and Dad was nodding at him. A group decision, but they let Uncle Kale deliver the message. Made it official business, not a request from Dad.
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œJust in case,” said Uncle Kale.
    Just in case of what? thought Kyle, but he was already thinking ahead to an answer. Billy can’t make it. Changes in the pit crew. Backup driver for Kris. That one stuck in his throat. No way.
    Uncle Kale was out the door and Dad was turning on the Speed Channel. End of discussion.
    Kyle gave homework a run but couldn’t stay with it. No interesting e-mail. He realized that most of his friends were in the band, especially in the quintet. He tried to practice the trumpet, but his mouth stayed dry.
    The bass line of country music slapped against the wall he shared with Kris. It was the music Kris played when he was down. It was also a signal to come on in.He’d pull a bottle of Makers Mark from under the bed.
    Kris was sprawled in the ratty old leather lounger they had salvaged years ago from one of Grandma Karen’s spring cleaning binges. He barely looked up. “What part of knocking’s too hard for you?”
    â€œHitting the door ’stead of you.” An old routine that almost got a smile out of him. “Wassup?”
    â€œSiddown.” Kris waited until Kyle had plopped down on his bed. The room was exactly as he had left it a year ago, trophies and video games everywhere. Kris pointed under the bed and nodded as Kyle found the bottle and pretended to take a big pull. He liked the sharing ritual more than the taste. He held the bottle out to Kris, who shook his head. “My head’s loose.”
    â€œWhat the doctors say?”
    â€œThey don’t know diddley. I’m taking pills.” He thumbed the remote to lower the volume, and whispered. “Kyle, I’m seeing double.”
    â€œYou tell anybody?”
    â€œYou kidding?”
    â€œYou gonna race?”
    â€œWait and see.”
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œDad could replace me last minute. Don’t give me that look—you haven’t been in the garage last two days. Sponsors all over the place, fabricators on overtime,painters, even a gay tailor from Hollywood making the fire suit. You imagine if I said I was seeing double? Family Brands can still back out.”
    â€œBe better than seeing double in a race.”
    Kris’s laugh had a nasty edge. “No problem. Instead of thirty cars, you drive against sixty.”

ELEVEN
    At practice on Wednesday Mr. G was floating out of his plaid pants. “You are not…going…to believe this.”
    Todd whispered, “He got laid.”
    Jesse farted and Nicole honked.
    â€œWe have been invited to perform with the Brooklyn next fall.” He whooped. Jesse and Del bumped fists. Nicole and Todd hugged. Kyle just sat there, imagining the quintet shrinking into a quartet.
    â€œThis is