For Alex, the fun ended when his brilliant plan went awry and landed him on a neighbor's lawn, crushed lawn gnome under tire, puking his guts out on an officer's shoes. Though if you asked him, it's nothing to get in a tizzy over. Just a lawn gnome. So what if he intended to drive across down and didn't make it to the end of the road? No way does he need to pay for it by spending his time with someone as old, unpleasant, and abusive as Sol Lewis. No way. Too bad Judge Trent and his mother don't agree.

With no choice but to persist, Alex does eventually learn to handle Sol, eventually developing a rapport with him, if an uneasy one. Not until he arrives late one day, an occupies himself with guitar, thus accidentally discovering Sol's love for music, do they really begin to bond. And at this point, Alex has another brilliant idea. But this time it really is good. He's going to hold a concert at the home, with two of his insanely musically talented classmates, who he likes to call the Cha-KINGS.

Soon Alex is in it deep. After school practicing, trying to learn to keep up with two musical gods. Off-days, visiting Sol, trying to make the most of their time together, hard as that may sometimes be. In fact, he's begun thinking of staying on after his time is up. Even after Sol finds out he's not been there of his own accord and they have a falling out on New Year's Eve. Even after Sol shows him up at his own gig.

With the arrival of Valentine's Day, the situation gets more dire. Sol, who has emphysema, has been hospitalized with pneumonia. Alex gets the news as he's about to leave, and has no option but to go pick up his date, explain the situation, and head to the hospital. After enduring the visit, during which Sol does nothing but call her Laurie, Alex sets his date up with Laurie's date at the dance, after arriving, filling her in, and being directed to take her to the hospital right now.

By his return visit, Sol is looking better, but Alex is beginning to be forced to face the hard truth. He won't be around forever.

Back at the home, Sol and Alex continue their lessons, and Alex learns that Sol and the Cha-KING's have scheduled another show for April. Alex isn't entirely interested, but agrees on the condition that Sol will take part.

Though she didn't attend the first time, Alex takes the chance to invite Judge Trent to the concert, and this time she accepts. A fact that is even more surprising than Alex knows.

This was a really, really fun read, and exceptionally quick. You could add it to your pile and it would be gone again before you knew it.