This is the story of the birth of a friendship and a teen punk rock band--The Rash. Friendless and isolated, Sebastian is an orphan who has been raised by his grandmother to save humanity in accordance with the philosophies of R. Buckminster Fuller. Jared is a profane, angry, cigarette-smoking punk rock fan recovering--sort of, from a heart transplant. They meet when Jared and his mother take a tour of the Pendergast's glass geodesic dome, during which Nana collapses and has to be rushed to the hospital.
Jared's mom wants Sebastian to visit her son, whose hostility alienates everyone around him. Sebastian is drawn to the Whitcombs because 1) his grandmother has become increasingly eccentric since her stroke, 2) he is alternately fascinated and repelled by Jared's personal insults and musical/cultural insights, and 3) Jared's sister Meredith is hot. Before meeting the Whitcombs, Sebastian had never tasted grilled cheese sandwiches or listened to anything but classical music. His first exposure to Jared's musical tastes, starting with the Misfits, goes as follows: "There was a brief moment of white noise; then it sounded as if someone were running a chain saw inside my head." Later, "What was that about maggots?" I asked. It was the only word I'd been able to parse."
The dialog between the teens is hugely entertaining. Sebastian speaks in the voice of someone who has only talked to his grandmother for years, so his expressions are at times archaic and stilted (she's in her eighties). Jared, on the other hand, is vulgar and witty--"Okay . . . I know I'm taking a giant * risk here. I'm going have to teach you everything [about being a bassist], and you're obviously going to do it all wrong. But I'm not looking for a Sid Vicious, you know. I just need somebody to do what I say. Not somebody with a real personality."
Despite their difference, Jared and Sebastian need each other. Together they scheme about ways to "borrow" a bass guitar from Jared's church and seek inspiration for their songs (the first one is "Stupid School"). Sebastian's crush on Meredith complicates things--Jared feels betrayed when he realizes what's happening. But the music, an upcoming gig and the challenges of their families and futures keep them going. Great read.
