BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“And my mementos,” Striker said angrily. “The program from the first Bruce Springsteen concert I ever went to. Tossed in the trash.”

“They were in a box in the attic gathering dust,” Jillian said sweetly. “Harriet, you told me yourself you never looked at them.”

“But we knew they were there!”

“I planned to go through that stuff eventually and use it for inspiration to write songs,” Striker said, running his hands through his hair. He threw his head back in despair. “Faded photographs,” he yelled, “tickets torn in half, remember that song? People collect those things!”

“We didn’t throw out any photographs,” Jillian said, in an effort to console him.

“I’m making a point!”

“Sorry,” Jillian said. “Let’s have the sale and I promise you’ll feel better.”

“Where is the trash?” Striker asked. “Harriet said you took it with you.”

“I learned from experience that’s it’s always better to get rid of the stuff people agree to part with as soon as possible. There have been times when I’ve helped people clean out their clutter, then come back for a second day of hard work, and what do I find? Their junk is back! They fished through the garbage in the middle of the night. But you know what?”

“What?”

“I convince them to throw everything out again,” Jillian said with a knowing smile, “and they end up being so grateful. I promise you will, too. Striker, you don’t need a dusty box of mementos to inspire you. You’re a brilliant musician.”

Striker shrugged and looked down.

“It’s true.” She made a fist and pumped the air. “Let’s move on and have a great sale!”

Grudgingly, Harriet and Striker helped Jillian display their things on the lawn. But people didn’t flock to the sale. One young mother came by and started to browse through the items baking in the sun. Her five-year-old kept tugging at her arm. “It’s too hot, Mommy. I want to go swimming.”

“Okay! We’ll leave.”

A couple came and bought a dresser and an old desk. Another woman bought a few pieces of jewelry.

“Well, that’s a relief,” Harriet said. “This hasn’t been a total waste.”

“Oh yes it has,” Striker said, staring at Jillian. “It’s been more than a waste.”

52

Dizzy drove and drove, his thoughts frenzied. It was bad enough having his friends mock him when that stupid movie came out, but Monique had always been on his side.

“I love you, Dizz,” she’d say. “Don’t pay attention to any of those people who are making fun of you. They’re just jealous.” Now for Monique to suggest he had a thing for Cleo was outrageous! If Monique knew how he really felt about Cleo, she’d be scared.