⢠1
DuncanâDuncâCulpepper was in his driveway washing his dadâs car. His best friend for life, Amos Binder, was helping him. Actually, Amos was holding the water hose over the top of the car while Dunc did all the work. Amos had more important things on his mind. He was rereading an article from the entertainment section of last weekâs newspaper.
âThe rock band Road Kill will be appearing two nights only, at the civic center.â Amos forgot about the hose in his hand and pulled the article closer. âThis is perfect.â
âHey, watch what youâre doing. Youâre drowning me.â Dunc grabbed the hose. âWho cares about a sick rock band with a gross name like that, anyway?â
âMelissa,â Amos said dreamily.
When it came to Melissa Hansen, Amos lost all sense of reason. He was head over heels in love with her, and if Melissa liked something, Amos made a valiant effort to like it too. Except in the case of her favorite food, liver and onions. He just couldnât quite bring himself to put liver to his lips, no matter how hard he tried. He finally gave up and figured that he would fake it until after they were married.
Dunc turned off the water. âThose guys in Road Kill are warped. They dress like they raided a Dumpster, and they canât even write a real song. Their last hit repeated the same line over and over all the way through the whole song. I donât know about you, but I get a little tired of hearing âWhatcha gonna do about itâ after about the twenty-fifth time.â
âCorrection.â Amos lowered the paper.âThey only repeat that line twenty-three times, and then they say âuh-huhâ twice, right before they end the song.â
âWhatever.â Dunc touched up a spot on the windshield. âI donât know what Melissa sees in those guys. The lead singer, Raunchy Roy, looks like a porcupine with his hair sticking up like that.â
âMelissa thinks the band is misunderstood. She thinks their songs have a deeper meaning than just the words.â
Dunc stared at him. âMelissa told you that?â
âNot exactly. I heard it from Tracy Stevens, who heard it from Lori Johnson, who heard it fromââ
âAmos. How do you know it came from Melissa?â
âSimple. Heather Thomas heard it from Rachel Lackey, and she heard it straight from Buffy VanGilder.â Amos folded his arms, satisfied.
Dunc scratched his head. âI know Iâll probably regret asking, but what does all this have to do with Melissa?â
Amos rolled his eyes in unbelief. âEverybody knows that Buffy VanGilder is Melissaâs third-best friend.â
âSo?â
âSo if Buffy likes the band, then it follows that Melissa probably does too.â
âAmos, sometimes your logic astounds me.â
âMe too. Now what are we going to do about my problem?â
âWhat problem?â
âGee, Dunc, for a smart guy, youâre sure making me explain a lot of stuff to you today.â
âSo humor me.â
âItâs like this. Road Kill is going to be in town for two shows. If Melissa really likes these guys and if I can get tickets, wellâthe rest will be history.â
âSo whatâs the problem?â
âI called the ticket office. Tickets are going fast. Theyâll probably be sold out soon.â
Dunc frowned. âI still donât get it. If you want tickets, why donât you go buy some?â
âThatâs just it. I canât. You see, I loaned all my money to my sister.â
âSince when do you loan money to Amy? I thought you said she never pays you back.â
âShe doesnât. But there was this little matter of the flood in my momâs bedroom.â
âWhat did you do this time?â
âIt was mostly Amyâs fault. She was ironing her cheerleading uniform in my momâs room when I heard the
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