My Dad is one of the top environmental scientists in the world. For years he has been secretly working on designing a car that runs solely on solar power. From the outside, our house looked like an old shack. But my Dad was very clever. He built an underground garage where he would hide the car he was working on until it was ready for the world to see.

We moved out to the middle of the desert where my Dad wouldn't be disturbed. He was so close to realizing his dream of creating a car that would protect the environment. I think the fact that I had asthma inspired him to build a vehicle that would keep the air clean. He called the car "The Phoenix." He said it was just a prototype which is a fancy way to say it's an early sample

"This car is systematic, hydromatic, ultramafic. Why it could be "The Phoenix!"

And under no circumstances was I to touch the car. I could look at it but wasn't allowed to even sit inside. My Dad began taking the car for short drives around the desert and working on it when he returned. I watched him rip through the desert in The Phoenix and boy could that baby fly!

I really wanted to go for a ride but he wouldn't let me. "It's not ready yet son" he'd say. My patience was wearing thin but I knew how important this was to him. One afternoon he took the car out for his daily test drive but didn't return for almost an hour which really worried me. When he returned he was pale and sweaty. He got out of the car and passed out.

"OUCH!!!!!!"

"What happened? Are you okay?" "While I was out for a ride a poisonous spider crawled into the car and bit my hand. I feel so dizzy and sick." "What can I do?" "You're going to have to take The Phoenix into town and find a doctor. The car practically drives itself. You only have a few hours left before the sun goes down." "But..." "Go now!"

I was desperate to take a ride in The Phoenix but not like this. I sat inside the car and my seatbelt automatically buckled. A voice said "Welcome Ian" as I started up the car. There were no keys as I just had to press a button. "What is your destination Ian?" "Phoenix, Arizona please." "We will be arriving in Phoenix, Arizona in approximately 20 minutes. Hold on." "Hold on? To what?" Whoa!!!

Driving a car was a bit intense at first but it was actually pretty fun. As much as I enjoyed it, I had a job to do and couldn't get distracted. The Phoenix was gently gliding through the desert terrain. Such a smooth drive with no other cars or anything else in the way......look out! The car came to abrupt stop. I was surrounded by a band of coyotes and they did not look happy.

"Thanks for stopping man. Our tour bus like totally broke down in the middle of the desert. We're going to be late for our gig in Phoenix." "I'm on my way to Phoenix. Hop in!" Thanks Daddy-O! Oh, I'm Omar by the way, the lead singer." I continued my drive to Phoenix with a car full of singing coyotes. This was either some type of hallucination or else I've been spending too much time in the sun.

DESERT ROSE

MUSIC CLUB

I dropped the band of coyotes off at the music club and was persuaded to come in to hear them play. "Just one song and then I have to go." "Cool bro!" Soon one song became two and then three. "We'd like to thank a real cool cat who picked us up in the desert. This song is for you Daddy-O!" Oh jeez! My Dad! I had completely lost track of time. I had to find a doctor as soon as possible!