Millionaires for the Month

by Stacy McAnulty

  Felix had devoted the past three days to basketball and not much else. He’d kept up with his homework, but he and Benji had fallen behind in their daily spending. Felix had bought a few thousand dollars’ worth of stuff online. But it was Benji who’d kept them in the game by booking the band Apex-7 for Georgie and Michelle’s wedding. It was the only way Felix was able to sleep the past few nights—knowing they had a million-dollar bill coming up on Sunday.

  Benji sat on the couch with his computer open on his lap, amazingly calm. Felix paced behind him. Benji’s parents certainly weren’t calm, though they pretended to be. Mr. Porter leaned against the doorway, fiddling with his phone but mostly staring at Benji. Mrs. Porter flicked channels on the muted TV.

  Freebie must have sensed the tension. He lay on the floor but didn’t rest his head on his paws as usual. He kept his brown eyes focused on Felix. One of his floppy ears stood up like he was listening intently.

  “It’s nine,” Benji’s dad said.

  “Refresh it—” Felix began.

  “It’s up!” Benji interrupted. “Jacob B. Spencer B. Raul E.” Benji read the first few names and mumbled a few more.

  Then he cursed.

  “Benji!” His mom gave a warning.

  Felix leaned over Benji’s shoulder, needing to see for himself. There were ten names, listed alphabetically by the last initial. His eyes flew through the names. And there it was between Jonas N. and Luke S. With an asterisk next to it.

  Felix R.*

  What does that mean?

  “Benji, you didn’t make it?” Mr. Porter asked, but he had to know the answer.

  “Of course not.” Benji snapped the laptop closed and shoved it into Felix’s chest. “Are you really surprised? I suck! I’m sorry, but I suck, and we’ve all known it. Now it’s official. So let’s stop pretending.”

  “Oh, Benji,” Mrs. Porter said.

  “Did you make the team, Felix?” Mr. Porter asked.

  “I’m not sure.” It was the truth. He opened the laptop again and set it on the dining table. He needed to know what the star meant.

  “He made it,” Benji said. “His name is on the list.”

  “Congratulations,” Mr. Porter said. “I’m happy for you.” Felix thought he sounded sincere.

  “Benji, there’s always next season,” Mrs. Porter said. “Michael Jordan didn’t make his varsity team when he first tried, and look at how that worked out.”

  “He played JV instead, and he didn’t make varsity because he wasn’t tall yet. I’m already the biggest guy.” Benji ran both hands over his head.

  “You gave it your best shot. That’s all anyone can ask of you.” Mr. Porter squeezed Benji’s shoulder. Then he paused as if waiting for Benji to reply.

  “And my best isn’t good enough.” Benji went into his room and slammed the door.

  Felix focused on the web page, reading it from top to bottom. Beneath the practice schedule, there was a definition for the asterisk.

  See me on Thursday.

  Thursday, November 18

  Felix knocked on the open classroom door to get Coach Murphy’s attention. It was twenty minutes before school, and Coach stood alone at the dry-erase board, writing questions with a blue marker.

  “Good morning, Felix. Come in.” Coach capped his marker.

  Felix didn’t know if he should take a seat. He hoped not to be here that long. He hoped for a simple explanation, like You made the team, but your mom forgot to sign the medical form.

  “Good morning.” He decided to stand.

  “I need to ask you a question before I can give you a spot on the team.” Coach crossed his arms and drew a big breath. “Did you have anything to do with the bribe that was sent to my kids’ school?”

  “What?” Felix hadn’t expected this—or, more accurately, didn’t want to think it possible. He looked at the banking app almost hourly. He knew Benji had made some charges to party places, which could have been for anything—for the wedding, for their lunch period, for an actual party. The goal was to spend money, so Felix didn’t question it.

  He didn’t want to question it.

  “Yesterday, three ‘unicorns’ and a small army of princesses showed up at my daughters’ elementary school.” Coach made air quotes around the word unicorns.

  Benji hadn’t ridden with Felix to school yesterday morning. He’d said there was something he had to take care of. Something important. Felix didn’t make a big deal out of it. He just enjoyed his chance to ride in the Bugatti.

  “Did you know anything about it?” Coach Murphy asked.

  Felix’s heart sped up, and his legs wobbled. He wasn’t sure how to answer. Coach’s stare made him feel like he was hooked to a lie detector.

  “I…um…” He took a deep breath. Did Coach know Benji had set it up? Or, if Felix mentioned Benji, would he rat out his friend?

  “You’re looking very nervous.” Coach narrowed his eyes. Did he also mean Felix was looking very guilty?

  “I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Felix finally said, and it was the truth.

  “But Benji Porter did.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Coach said nothing. He just waited, standing completely still. But Felix was a pro at staying quiet and motionless.

  Finally, Coach Murphy spoke. “You can’t buy your way onto a basketball team.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I want a hardworking team that I can trust,” the coach continued. “If you swear you were not involved with the scheme, I’d like to offer you a spot.”

  “I swear.”

  Noises filled the hallway as students chatted and headed to homerooms.

  “Welcome to the team, Felix.” Coach uncrossed his arms and offered Felix a handshake. “I’ll see you at practice this afternoon.”

  Relief washed over Felix. This was what he wanted, to be on Stirling Middle School’s seventh-grade team. But he also felt pressure in his chest. Benji hadn’t gotten what he wanted.

  “Coach, can I ask you a question?” Felix stepped closer so the few students trickling into the room wouldn’t hear.

  “Shoot.”

  “Would Benji have made the team if he hadn’t…” Felix didn’t want to say bribe.

  “No. He wouldn’t have made the team. But that’s the least of his problems.”

  Benji

  Benji walked out of the principal’s office. This time, he hadn’t been given five million dollars. He’d been given three days’ detention for violation of the Stirling code of conduct. Though he technically never confessed to any code of conduct violations. He’d only admitted to showing up at the elementary school with unicorns.

  As Benji stepped into the cafeteria for lunch, someone grabbed his shoulder. He turned to see Felix.

  “You tried to bribe the coach?” Felix asked. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “What do you care? You made the team.” Benji slipped around Felix and headed toward the station of pizza and tacos. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore. He didn’t want to be at school—and he had an extra hour for detention coming his way.

  “But I almost didn’t.” Felix followed him.

  “But you did!” Benji shouted. His eyes burned, and he took a deep breath to keep his voice steady. “I never had a shot. And you didn’t even want to be my partner at tryouts, Felix. I had to do something.”

  “That’s not true,” Felix said.

  “Why bother lying now? It’s over.” Benji took a seat at the end of the table and put his head in his hands. “Just leave me alone.”

  He could feel Felix lingering. Benji closed his eyes and tried to wish him away.

  “I’m sorry you didn’t make the team,” Felix said. “But what you did was stupid.” Benji didn’t need to look to k
now that Felix had walked off.

  * * *

  • • •

  After detention, Benji had his mom pick him up and take him home. Not to the hotel. But home. She was not happy about the alleged bribe, but since she had to get back to work, she didn’t make it a big deal, and his dad was traveling. On Friday, his mom let him miss school when he lied about diarrhea. (No one ever wants to admit to having the runs, so it’s the best sickness lie going.)

  Felix didn’t call or text Benji either day. He was probably too busy with basketball and school and spending. Benji didn’t care.

  November 19

  So I didn’t make the basketball team. I’m very disappointed, but I will practice, practice, practice, and I bet I get on the eighth-grade team. When I found out that I didn’t make it, I thought that was the end, but my mom convinced me I could try again.

  I have detention for a few days because of a misunderstanding. I messed up when I tried to do something nice for Coach Murphy. It’s all okay now.

  School is fine too. I forgot to finish a project on Greek culture. I’ll make up the work. No problem.

  Over and out,

  Benji

  Saturday, November 20

  That morning, Felix finally called.

  “Hey, where are you?”

  “Home.”

  “We need to spend some money,” Felix reminded him. “We’re falling behind.”

  The only money Benji had spent in the last twenty-four hours was on in-app purchases. He didn’t need anything else.

  “I’m not feeling up to it.” Benji opened the fridge and just stared at the food. “I have diarrhea.”

  “Come on, Benji. I need your help.”

  “No, you don’t.” Benji yanked out the milk and dropped a yogurt on the newly refinished floors. “We can each spend money on our own. We have our own lives. Don’t we? Nowhere in the rules does it say we have to do this together.”

  Benji cleaned up the mess and waited for a reply. Something like But we’re partners. Or It’s fun to do this together. Or I’m sorry I ignored you at tryouts, and everyone thinks I’m the nice guy, but I can be a jerk, too.

  But Felix didn’t say anything. And when Benji’s phone buzzed with an incoming text message, he hung up with a quick goodbye.

  ALMA: Hi. It’s Alma.

  His stomach flipped, he felt dizzy, and he started to sweat. She had the same effect on him as the Dare Devil Dive ride at Six Flags. He didn’t reply immediately, not because he was playing it cool. Quite the opposite. His hands were shaking, and he didn’t want to mess this up. Ultimately, he decided to follow her lead.

  BENJI: Hi

  She did reply instantly, which was good because his heart couldn’t take the wait.

  ALMA: Do you want to get ice cream?

  ALMA: I have a BOGO coupon.

  His instinct was to offer to pay. He could buy her all the ice cream in the store. He could fly her to Italy and get fancy gelato. He could buy a cow, and they could make their own ice cream. (How long does it take to make ice cream?) He knew she wouldn’t appreciate any of those offers.

  And her offer was already perfect.

  BENJI: Sure

  ALMA: 1pm at Sprinkles???

  BENJI: OK

  He ran upstairs and took a shower. After he got dressed, he checked his phone, worried Alma might cancel or text JK. But she hadn’t said anything. Felix had sent at least twenty messages. Most begging him to waste the day spending a million dollars. It was all a business transaction. Nothing more.

  Alma had warned him that all the money might make it hard to tell who his real friends were. He’d never imagined she could be talking about Felix.

  At five minutes to one, Benji stood outside Sprinkles. His mom had dropped him off early—no chance he was going to be late. The place was empty. Not many people were getting ice cream in the middle of November.

  Alma arrived with her sister. Ava went into a beauty supply store in another part of the shopping center, leaving Benji and Alma alone. Like a date. Or maybe like friends. It didn’t matter.

  Alma wore a long black winter coat and a fuzzy purple hat. Benji had never seen anyone so cute. He wanted to tell her but chickened out.

  “Hey. Let’s get some ice cream,” she said, waving her coupon.

  He pulled open the door and followed her to the counter. It was one of those places that custom-creates the ice cream, mixing the base with candy or nuts or fruit. (Fruit in ice cream. What a waste!) Alma got vanilla with bananas, cherries, and chocolate flakes. (It’s okay when she does it.) Benji ordered caramel with Cap’n Crunch mixed in.

  “Will you yell at me if I try to pay?” he asked when they got to the register.

  “Yes.” Alma flashed him a smile as she gave the cashier her coupon and a ten-dollar bill.

  They took a seat at a metal table at the back of the shop. Benji stirred his ice cream and took a small bite. Alma sang to herself as she took a few mouthfuls.

  “How are you?” she asked.

  “Great.” He smiled.

  “Really? You weren’t at school yesterday, and on Thursday, I saw you and Felix fighting at lunch.”

  “Geez, are you stalking me?” He was kind of flattered that she’d noticed he was absent. “I’m kidding.”

  She raised her eyebrows and pulled her lips to one side.

  “Felix and I aren’t fighting. I did something stupid, but I don’t know why he’s upset. It didn’t affect him.” Not really. “And he’s not perfect either.” Benji forced down a spoonful. “It’s complicated.”

  “Because of the money?” She handed him a napkin. He wiped his face from chin to forehead, worried he was covered in ice cream.

  “I didn’t make the basketball team.” He looked at the wall behind her as he spoke.

  “That stinks.” She touched his arm lightly, and when he looked at her hand, she pulled it away.

  “I don’t even like basketball much.” He stirred his ice cream again and again. It resembled a chunky, disgusting milk shake at this point.

  “Then why did you try out?” she asked, her voice not sounding sympathetic anymore.

  “Look at me. I’m huge. I’m supposed to play basketball. And both my parents played. It’s important.”

  “Doesn’t sound important to you.”

  “I just want to be good at something.”

  “You know what you should do?” Alma tapped the table, excited. “You should audition for the spring musical. We’re doing Shrek.”

  “You can’t be serious.” He snorted. “I don’t do theater.”

  “Why not? You’re practically guaranteed a spot. Hardly any boys audition. Maybe you’ll even be Shrek.”

  “Do you think I’m an ogre?” He looked her in the eyes, and the hair on his arms stood up.

  “With the right makeup, you could pass for an ogre.”

  “Wait. You get to wear makeup in the musical? Then I’m totally in,” he said jokingly. “When are auditions?”

  “Soon. In December.” She smiled. “I bet you’ll look good in green.”

  He wished he was painted green right now because he could feel his face go totally red.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Alma finished her ice cream as they talked about the drama club fundraiser. Benji promised to volunteer and supply pizza. Then they discussed movies and books—well, books that had been made into movies. They didn’t talk about basketball or money or Felix. A little-kid birthday party came into the shop—raising the noise level tenfold—and Benji and Alma still sat and talked.

  Ava walked in just after two-thirty carrying a yellow bag and told Alma it was time to go.

  Benji gathered their empty bowls and threw them out. It was the least he co
uld do.

  Alma pulled on her fuzzy hat and zipped up her coat. “This was fun. We should hang out more.”

  “Absolutely. What are you doing tomorrow?” Benji asked, half joking.

  “Nothing,” Alma said, and Benji’s heart leaped. Was she half joking too? Was she suggesting a second date? Wait, was this a first date? What made something a date? He didn’t move because he didn’t know how to reply. His brain was overloaded with questions and no answers.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He shook his head and forced his brain to focus. “I have to go to a wedding tomorrow. Felix’s sister is getting married, and we’ve got an epic surprise planned.” He didn’t want to see Felix and didn’t really care about the wedding, but he was looking forward to the Apex-7 concert he’d arranged.

  “Do you want to come?” he asked.

  “Sure.” And with that answer, the Apex-7 concert dropped to second place of things he was looking forward to tomorrow.

  Felix

  Felix wore a dark suit and his Nike Flights and stood next to his mom and sister, smiling until his cheeks hurt and his bottom lip felt like it might split open.

  “One more,” said the photographer. Felix knew the one-more promise was a lie because he’d heard it repeated three times already.

  After what seemed like a few million pictures, the wedding finally began. Michelle and her father went down the aisle first. When Georgie grabbed Felix’s elbow, her arm shook. He hadn’t been nervous, but seeing his sister jittery made his stomach flip, and all he had to do was walk her to the front.

  “You look beautiful,” he whispered as they stepped onto the white carpet.

  “I might throw up,” she replied, which made him feel queasy.

  The seats were full. Felix scanned the crowd as they slowly walked to the front. He saw Laura Friendly. That was a shock. He’d sent an invitation but never expected her to show up. Then he spotted Mr. and Mrs. Porter, Reggie, Alma, and the back of Benji’s head. How long was Benji going to ignore him? Did he really think they didn’t need to work together?