Don’t Call Me Ishmael

Ishmael looks around at the crowd one last time, still smiling—but before he can leave the gym, Ignatius barrels into him. Ignatius offers Ishmael an envelope. He doesn’t know what it is; someone at his sister’s school gave it to his sister to pass along to Ishmael. Ignatius runs away, so Ishmael finds a quiet spot and opens the envelope. His heart stops when he sees the name at the bottom.

Kelly Faulkner writes that her friend is having a party for her 15th birthday in February. The friend wants it to be a mixed-gender party, but they don’t know a lot of boys. So Kelly told her about Ishmael and the Razzman and would love it if they could come. She acknowledges that February is a long way away, but she’s going to Hawaii with her family for the holidays and won’t be back until just before the party. She thought Ishmael might like some time to think. Kelly writes her number at the bottom and then writes, “Call me Ishmael!” “Call me” is underlined.