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happened?”
    â€œBrooks pulled a Brooks,” May explained, throwing herself into the seat and shaking off some of the rain. “She knew I needed a ride, but she went somewhere.”
    â€œOh. Well, good thing I was home. Let’s go.”
    He turned the key. Nothing happened.
    â€œHuh,” he said, rattling the key in the ignition.
    â€œWhat?”
    Pete flicked the key several times and stomped his foot on the gas. Still nothing.
    â€œIt’s been doing this,” he said, knitting his brows together in concentration. “It usually starts. Eventually.”
    â€œIn how long?”
    â€œTen or fifteen minutes. As long as I keep trying. The longest it ever took was like half an hour. Unless it’s the transmission.”
    â€œThe transmission?”
    â€œWell, I had to have mine taken out last week,” he said, flicking the key in disgust and shifting through the gears a few times. “They put in a dual battery instead. It was cheaper than getting a new engine, you know? But it’s been weird ever since.”
    May faced straight out and counted the uncollected newspapers on the Starks’ front porch. She told herself to be calm as Pete tapped strategically on the dashboard, trying to make the car come back to life.
    â€œJust give me a second,” he said, reaching under his seat. May heard a popping noise. “Be right back.”
    Pete jumped out of the car and disappeared behind the raised hood for a moment. She could hear him banging on something furiously. He came back a moment later, his great mass of hair sending water flying in all directions.
    â€œYeah, it’s the transmission,” he said, wiping his hands on his pants. “I don’t think I should have let them take it out.”
    â€œDoes that mean it isn’t going to start now?”
    â€œProbably.”
    May sank her head into her hands. Her desperate gesture must have touched the car because suddenly the engine purred. May refused to look up until it was actually moving for fear of making it stop again.
    â€œTake out the transmission?”
    May opened her eyes to see Pete grinning down at her. He was alternately glancing between May and the road, obviously pleased with himself.
    â€œTake out the transmission?” he repeated. “Replace it with a battery?”
    Age seventeen, tormenting May with little car pranks. Age seven, tormenting May by sneaking up on her and sticking Cheese Puffs up her nose and then pulling them out and eating them. It was all pretty much the same thing.
    â€œWhat?” May shot back. “That means nothing to me.”
    â€œA dual battery ?”
    â€œCar isn’t my best subject.”
    â€œThe transmission makes the car go vroooom,” he said. “It makes the wheels go round. If anyone offers to take it out of your car for you, say no.”
    â€œI’ll remember that if I ever drive. But that’s probably not going to happen.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI failed my exam this morning,” May said.
    â€œOh,” he said. “Sorry.”
    â€œIt’s fine. I just want to get to work.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œWhat did I do wrong?” she said. “You want the list?”
    â€œBut you never fail things. You’re test girl.”
    â€œWell, now I’m failure girl.” She sighed.
    â€œWho taught you?” he asked. “Your mom?”
    â€œShe tried, but she doesn’t have a lot of time.”
    â€œWhat about Brooks?”
    â€œReliable Brooks? The one who’s taking me to work tonight? The one who goes over speed bumps at eighty miles an hour?”
    He nodded, understanding this. Pete knew a lot of things about them, including some things May would have preferred to keep private. Like the fact that they were broke, for instance, and that going to a driving school was not really an option.
    Soon after May’s father’s death, an unpleasant