First he got to live in Hayward, and second his family knew gangsters, and third his grandpa went to a yard sale and bought a used ATV. “ATV” means all-terrain vehicle. An ATV is like a supersized tricycle only with an engine. It’s fast. Tornado fast. You need gas, a helmet, and parental authority to ride it. All I’d wanted was to ask Grumpa about the loot, but then he brought the ATV out of the shed. After that I couldn’t think of anything except racing that ATV through the ditches. All afternoon Grumpa taught Alex how to drive the ATV. And he taught me how to sit behind Alex and not pester him about driving it, too. “Can we take it on gravel roads?” I asked. “Maybe.” “Do we have to wear helmets?” The helmet trapped sweat in my hair and made my head itch. “It’s so hot.” “Hell’s bells, Minnow. I’m surprised your parents don’t make you wear a helmet in the shower.” Grumpa, Alex, and I left the ATV by the shed and walked to the porch for something to drink.
