THE PHONE RINGS AT AN UNGODLY HOUR. ELIJAH LOOKS AT THE BLUR of his clock as he reaches for the sound. Eleven in the morning on a Saturday. Who can be calling him at eleven in the morning on a Saturday? Cal, his best friend, stirs from somewhere on the floor. Elijah picks up the phone and murmurs a greeting.

“Oh goodness, did I wake you?” Elijah’s mother asks, her voice so much louder than the dream he’d been having.

“No, no,” he says, disguising his own voice to sound awake. “Not at all.”

“Good, because I have some great news for you …”

His mother is talking about Italy and Elijah’s brother Danny and luxury accommodations. He thinks his brother has won a prize on a game show or something. Cal starts hitting his sneaker like it’s a snooze button. He tells her to go back to sleep.

“What did you say?” his mother asks. “Will you go?”

“Does Danny want me to go?”

Elijah doubts highly that Danny wants him to go.

“Of course he does.”

Elijah still doubts that Danny wants him to go.

Cal is awake now, rubbing her eyes. Elijah’s boarding school frowns on having overnight guests, but Elijah doesn’t really care if it frowns.

Elijah covers the receiver and whispers to Cal, “It’s my mom. I think she wants to know if I want to go to Italy with my brother.”

Cal shrugs, then nods.

That’s enough for Elijah.

“Sure, Mom,” he says. “And thanks.”

ELIJAH ALWAYS SAYS THANK YOU, AND OFTENTIMES SAYS PLEASE.

“You’re such a relic,” Cal will taunt him playfully.

“Thank you,” Elijah will reply.

Elijah learned quickly that saying thank you garners a variety of reactions. Some people (like his brother) can’t handle it. Other people (like Cal) are amused. Most people are impressed, whether consciously or not. He’ll be offered the last slice of pizza, or the last hit from the bong.

“You’re a

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