CHAPTER 1 A FLASH OF LIGHT You can’t be serious Chloe said Parker as he slammed the car door On my birthday I took you to the water park This is the thanks I get You’re eleven I pinched his freckled cheek I’m thirteen I picked something more mature this time Great Just great he said as he kicked a pebble Jazz festivals are boring I sighed Don’t be such a party pooper Mom ignored us as she bopped her head to the rhythm that floated through the air She gave me a thumbs up Now that’s music to my ears Not mine said Parker Stop complaining I said My birthday My choice Mom agreed It’s one afternoon Besides your 7
friends are bound to show up with a football soon Not soon enough he mumbled As much as Mom and I loved jazz Parker despised it Unless there was an electric guitar riff involved he wouldn’t listen to it Mom picked up her chair and picnic basket and led the way toward the Green We dodged parents pushing strollers and clowns twisting balloons into animal shapes as we weaved in and out of the crowds Parker stomped along glaring at everything we passed Why is it so packed Because it’s a beautiful July day said Mom It’s not often that New Jersey gets a day without humidity smack in the middle of summer Who wouldn’t want to come out and enjoy a perfect day filled with music She winked at me Jazz music Parker clenched his jaw But we came here last year too Why does this stupid town always have these boring jazz festivals First of all Bakersfield isn’t a stupid town said 8
Mom Back in the 1930s and 40s jazz acts came here to try out new music in front of a live audience before opening up in New York City Bakersfield is so close to the city that it was the perfect pit stop for them Mom’s right I said In music class we learned that if someone famous went to the Apollo Theater or to the Harlem Opera House you could bet they came here too Parker wasn’t listening He was much more interested in the food trucks selling candy apples and funnel cakes At least the food smells good he said He licked his lips I’m starving I laughed When wasn’t he hungry For such a super skinny fifth grader he sure did stuff his face a lot Mom held up the picnic basket This will put some meat on your bones After we eat our sandwiches you can get some treats Then she motioned toward 9
