Page 55 of Pride High 3: Yellow

Silvia stopped the tape. His dad looked disappointed before walking over to join them.

“Have you got a minute, son?” Joe asked. “Come on upstairs with me.”

“Sure.” Anthony followed him up to the main floor. “Is the music too loud?”

“Not at all,” his father replied. “I wanna give you your birthday present. But not in front of all your friends, in case you don’t like it.”

That was odd. He didn’t have a clue what it could be, but when his dad led him to the front door, his anticipation built. Every teenager wanted a car for their sixteenth birthday. He had never expected it though. His family didn’t have that much money, and neither of his brothers had gotten a car.

“Right out here,” Joe said, his expression anything but certain.

Anthony braced himself for a rust bucket. Which he would be totally fine with.

“See anything you like?” Joe asked.

Anthony glanced around and spotted, parked along the street, a rectangular black car with silver side panels. He knew it was his, because a big bow—also black—was on the hood.

“Is that for me?” Anthony asked in disbelief.

Joe’s furrowed brow finally eased as a tentative smile appeared. “That was the idea.”

“Really?” Anthony rushed over to get a closer look. The car was boxy and all sharp edges. There wasn’t a single curve, but he didn’t mind, because it was also respectable in appearance, like a slim-cut suit. He’d never wanted a sports car or anything showy. In fact, had he been walking a used car lot, this one would have been a contender.

“What is it?” he asked.

“A car,” his father teased before sucking in and tilting his head to consider it. “You’re looking at a nineteen-eighty-two Dodge 400 Coupe. So yeah, it’s already over ten years old, but this was a premier car when it first came out. The condition is great and so was the price. I used to know a fella who had one. He said it was very reliable. I know it’s nothing fancy nowadays but—”

“I love it!” Anthony said. “Where are the keys?”

His dad grinned and pulled them out of a pocket. “Happy birthday, son.”

“Thanks!” Anthony accepted the keys and spun around to consider the car again. “It’s really mine? I don’t have to share it with anyone?”

“Only if one of ours breaks down,” Joe said. “Otherwise… Yeah. It’s all yours.”

Anthony ran around the front and climbed inside. He wished the interior was black rather than tan, but he didn’t care that much. Both the front and back seats were long benches, which had all sorts of potential for him and Cameron to explore together. He put a pin in that train of thought when his father climbed in beside him. Anthony noted the wood paneling on the dashboard with amusement and was intrigued by the old-fashioned stereo.

“Looks like it has a…” He hesitated. “A tape player of some kind?”

“Even better,” his father said, reaching into the back seat for a cardboard box. “I’ve got all the music you’ll need right here.” He tilted the box, revealing cartridges, each the size of a small paperback.

“Oh my god,” Anthony said with a snort. “Are those 8-tracks?” He remembered playing with them as a child and marveling that it was possible to switch to another song with the push of a button. Not thestartof the song, like with CD players, but usually somewhere in the middle.

“Go ahead!” Joe said, smiling like a madman. “Pick one.”

Anthony gingerly selected one at random. “The Doobie Brothers?” he read aloud.

“That’s right,” Joe said proudly. “If you want to get your boyfriend in the mood, just put that baby on. Actually, go ahead and start ‘er up. Let’s go for a quick drive.”

“Okay,” Anthony said, feeling a thrill as he turned the ignition for the first time. His own car! Rarely had he felt so cool.

The effect was dampened somewhat when his father slotted in the 8-track cartridge and a jaunty little tune began playing over scratchy speakers.

“What a fool belieeeeeves!” his father sang, hitting the high notes surprisingly well.

Anthony noticed that the windows weren’t powered, which meant the neighbors continued to be serenaded as they drove around the block.

“This is so cool,” Anthony said when parking in front of the house. “Can I take it out later with my friends?”