Free Skateboard Renegade by Matt Christopher Page A

the beach and the boardwalk. Zach
     had no idea how his uncle got by, since according to Zach's mom, he never had a job.
    Still, Zach really liked Skeeter. Normally he would have been happy to talk to him. But right now Zach was in a pretty foul
     mood. He knew the reason Skeeter wanted to talk with him was that Zach's mom had asked him to.
    “I gotta go do something right now,” Zach said.
    “Okay, this'll only take a minute, dude,” Skeeter said quickly, not letting Zach off the hook. “Look,I've got lots of space out here, and not a lot of company, so I was wondering if you'd maybe want to come out and visit me
     over Columbus Day weekend. We could spend some time hanging out, and I could show you the scene out here. It's pretty incredible.”
    “Sounds okay,” Zach said. “But I don't know if I —”
    “There's a big skateboarding exhibition gonna happen on the boardwalk,” Skeeter said, tempting him. “Professionals from all
     over the country.”
    “For real?” Zach gasped, forgetting his reluctance.
    “I know some of these dudes from the old days,” Skeeter said. “I could introduce you. You might even pick up a pointer or
     two, assuming you're not already a super hotshot yourself.”
    Zach laughed. “Okay. I guess I could make it.”
    “Excellent!” Skeeter said, in his Valley-guy surfer-dude voice. “And bring your board, dude. It's gonna be a party on wheels!”

11
    O n the Thursday before Columbus Day weekend, Zach finally paid Zoey back the last of the money he owed her. He even had a few
     dollars left over.
    Feeling confident that his parents would give him some money to spend in California, he decided to celebrate by spending his
     few extra dollars on a sundae at the Ice Cream Parlor, down by Foley Square.
    He rode his skateboard over there, sat down on one of the old-fashioned swivel stools by the bar, and ordered the house special
     sundae—chocolate ice cream with fudge and strawberry sauce, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.
    He was just digging into it when who should come into the place but Brian Jeffers. “Hey, Halper! Long time, no see!” He came
     over to Zach and put a handon his shoulder. “Que pasa, man? What you been up to? Still playing with your little sister?”
    “I've been grounded, okay?” Zach shot back. “I had to give Zoey lessons till I paid back the money I took from her.”
    “Oh, yeah? I notice you're out and about.”
    “I paid it off today.”
    “Cool! So now you're free to come boarding again?”
    “That's right.”
    “Too bad Moorehead Park's all torn up. There's no place else in this stupid town to board. The A&P lot really stinks.”
    “Actually, you should check out my driveway. I've got it all set up,” Zach told him.
    “Yeah, right. Your driveway.”
    “No, listen, it's really working. It's long and pretty wide, and I put out cones and a ramp, too.”
    “A ramp? Where'd you buy a ramp?”
    “I didn't buy one. I made it.”
    “Yeah, right, you made a ramp.”
    “I did, with my friend Benny and his dad.”
    “Benny? You've got a friend named Benny?”
    “Yeah. Benny Santangelo. What's wrong with that?”
    “Benny Santangelo. Sounds like a gangster.”
    Zach laughed in spite of himself. “He's pretty cool.”
    “Pretty cool for a nerd, you mean.”
    “I'd like to see you make a ramp as good as the one he made,” Zach challenged.
    “It's pretty good, huh?”
    “I'm telling you, you've gotta try it. The cones are phat, too.”
    “Okay, we'll come down,” Brian said. He ordered two scoops to go, then said, “Guess what?”
    “What?”
    “I'm getting my tattoo tomorrow.” Brian flashed him a conspiratorial grin. “Right here.” He pointed to his left bicep. “It's
     gonna be a skateboard, flying through the air, with the word
ragin'
written on it.”
    “Ragin', huh? Cool,” Zach said, staring at his sundae to avoid Brian's gaze.
    “You gonna get one, too?” he asked Zach. “All the other guys are doing