They all laughed like it was so funny. My eyes were bugging out of my head. What kind of terrible thing was happening in their family?

“He broke them all in one accident, so it doesn’t totally count. I’m Jiro, by the way.”

“Dude, you can’t take him on Snuff. Everyone eats it on that trail. So steep you’re sucking wind the whole way up and full of logs and skinnies on the way down,” said the one called Greg.

“Fine. We’ll go to the gorge, then.”

Before anyone could say anything, an older man came out of the house. He was yawning and wearing boxer shorts. I looked away. I wasn’t used to people’s parents wandering around in underpants. I also wasn’t used to people talking about all their broken bones.

“Guys, you know I worked until three. I’m soloing Golden Boy this afternoon at two o’clock when the winds should be less spicy. I’ve got my chute, but I don’t want to have to use it. I need some more shut-eye. So how about you keep it down out here?”

I didn’t understand anything he said, but it all sounded super cool.

“Sorry, Pops,” said all three of the brothers at the same time. But they didn’t seem afraid of him, and he didn’t seem angry or anything.

Then he noticed me.

“Hello,” he said.

“Hi. I’m Rodney.” I said that because it didn’t seem like Ben was going to introduce me. My mom would have a kitten if I didn’t introduce my friends properly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Rodney. You going riding with Ben?”

Ben nodded.

“That’s great. You guys have fun, eh.”

Then he went back inside. No questions about where we were going, when we’d be back, whether we had sunscreen on, how often we’d text, whether we’d packed a nutritious lunch or even any water. Ben lived like a wild animal, compared to me. It was really impressive as well as aspirational, which I think is what it’s called when you want something. These guys seemed like they probably followed all the Rules for Living a Lucky Life just naturally.

I put on the helmet Ben handed me. It had the cool face mask part, so I felt like a horror villain, which was awesome, even if it was sort of stinky inside the helmet and probably not too hygienic. I wanted to take a picture of myself to send you, but Ben didn’t seem much like a selfie guy and taking one would make me look uncool, so I didn’t do it. If I go again, I’ll take one when Ben isn’t looking.