The weather is still stormy. Lots of rain and wind.
Benny Mason has been at school almost a week already, but he’s doing nothing. He’s like me, I guess, doesn’t like fighting, except his problem is that he doesn’t even say anything. He needs to talk back at them and hold his ground.
In English, Sammy and Rebar whisper taunts across the aisle, trying to outdo each other in nastiness. Benny turns his back on them, pretending he can’t hear, but I can see out of the corner of my eye that it upsets him.
The other thing that happened is that me and Benny Mason became partners yesterday in English. I didn’t want it to happen but I had no choice. Mr. Korda said for everyone to choose a partner for an assignment on The Tempest. The idea was to draw the assignment out of Mr. Korda’s job jar.
Kids paired up quickly. The kid I wanted to be with was Danny Whelan, because of his Irish name and because he seems to be pretty smart, but a girl named Birgit Neilsen got to him first.
Me and Benny were the only ones left without partners. Seeing that I sit right in front of him and we were the only ones left, I turned my chair around so we could face each other.
“I’m Charley.”
“Benny.”
Seeing him close up, looking right into his brown eyes, I really got to see what a good-looking kid he is: perfect features, perfect skin — no zits or pimples — fine brown hair, no gunk in it, white even teeth. He’s got the makings of a movie star. Best of all though is his smile. I called it sweet, a word I don’t normally use, but it’s the only word I can think of that fits.
I suddenly realized I was staring so I said, “I’ll go get our project if you like.” I got up and grabbed the last folded square of paper out of the job jar.
As I unfolded the paper I said to Benny, “You missed the first week of school. You sick or something?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“You new in the neighborhood?”
He didn’t answer.
“I’m Irish. Sorry. We never stop with the questions. It’s none of my business.”
He smiled. “That’s okay. I can tell by your accent you’re Irish. My mother’s dad was Irish. Died about four years ago.”
“That’s too bad.” I thought of Ma. “I’ve been here almost six months,” I said. “I’m trying to speak like a Canadian so I’ll fit in better, but it’s hard. I keep forgetting. My sister, Annie, she’s eight, but she’s picking it up real well.”
Benny nodded. “Fitting in is...”
I waited. Beside us, Sammy and Rebar were arguing loudly over their assignment.
“...hard,” Benny finished.
I nodded. “I know what you mean.”
“So what have we got?”
I handed him the paper. “We’ve got to do a character analysis of Prospero, then present it and lead a class discussion.”
Benny smiled.
••••
The next morning, as I’m hanging rain gear in my locker, Sammy and Rebar start needling me, asking how I like working with a fairy and stuff like that. They do it quietly so none of the other kids can hear.
I tell them to grow up. Then I notice the word “faggot” painted on Benny’s locker.
I shrug. Benny will just have to deal with it. None of my business.
Benny Mason arrives and sees the writing on the door. He says nothing as he opens his locker. Sammy and Rebar immediately start slagging Benny, right there in the hallway, quietly, so no one else hears except a jerk named Tony Marusyk, who just laughs, slams his locker door shut with a loud clatter and takes off for his homeroom.
I watch an expression of misery ruin Benny Mason’s face as Sammy and Rebar start in on him, talking in little-girl voices.
Rebar: “Say, that’s a cute umbrella you got there, Bennykins.”
Sammy: “It’s lovely. Such pretty colors.”
Rebar: “Pink and blue. They’re my favorite, Sammy. I’d just love a pink and blue umbrella.”
Sammy: “Really, Rebar? I thought your favorite colors were lemon and aqua.”
Rebar: “Oh, look, Sammy! Rubber overshoes!”
Sammy: “Very smart, I must say.”
They laugh and start prancing about like ballet dancers, waving limp-wristed hands in the air, enjoying themselves.
I wait for Benny to do something, but he just stands there, fumbling about in his locker.
Yell at them, Benny! I’m thinking. Or walk away! Anything! Don’t just stand there! Get mad!
But he doesn’t do any of these things. Instead, he blushes a deep red from eyebrows to neck. Then his eyes start to grow damp.
The tears in Benny’s eyes turn my sympathy to disgust.
You don’t let the enemy see you cry. Everyone knows that. I feel sorry for him but it’s his own fault if he won’t stand up to them. Benny has got to learn to take care of himself the same as everyone else.
As I said, it’s no business of mine. It’s hard enough for a feller to take care of himself without poking his nose into another feller’s business.
A bunch of kids come, opening lockers on the other side of the hallway, so Sammy and Rebar rattle their lockers shut and take off, sneering and waving limp wrists at Benny.
These two hyenas scare me, I’ve got to admit. They’re so mindless and mean.
The rain is still lashing down as I get to Annie’s school — did I mention that the elementary school is just across from the high school on the other side of the playing fields? Anyway, Aunt Maeve is there to pick us up in her Honda and take us back to her place.
Annie and Aunt Maeve chatter away like a pair of crows, which is a good sign. Annie has been so down. It looks like she’s perking up at last.
Anyway, I leave them to it. I don’t have to say a thing.