Top Wing (11 page)

Dana went right after him. He wasn’t about to let Benton get away. He had to clear things up once and for all.

Lunch break had ended, and the school grounds were almost deserted.

“Benton!” Dana shouted as he closed the gap between them.

Despite Benton’s long legs, he had never been a great distance runner. But he was pumping away now, and it looked like he
might just outrun Dana.

Then, suddenly, he stopped. He bent over, putting his hands on his knees. He started to wheeze heavily. It sounded as though
he was having trouble sucking air into his lungs.

Dana pulled up next to him.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” he said, jabbing a finger in Ben-ton’s direction. “I know what’s going on.”

Benton coughed, then sneered at him. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”

“I know why you’re breathing so hard and coughing. I’ve seen you do it on the soccer field a lot, too,” Dana said.

“So I’ve got a cold. Big deal!” Benton wiped his mouth with the back of his fist.

“Yeah, sure,” said Dana. “That’s what you want everyone to think. Or that you’re still suffering from smoke from the fire.
But that’s a load of bull. Isn’t it?”

Benton started to protest, but the words got caught in his throat. He doubled over again, coughing away.

“That’s a cough from smoke inhalation, all right. But I’ll bet anything it’s not just from the fire,” he said quietly. “It’s
from cigarettes, too, isn’t it, Benton? That’s where you were heading just now,” Dana went on. “You were going to have a quick
smoke before going back to class, weren’t you?”

“So what are you going to do? Turn me in?” Ben-ton demanded. “Go ahead, prove it.”

“Smoking’s your business,” said Dana. “I don’t care if you make yourself sick. But —”

“But what?”

“But you lied about telling me to give my folks a message about the wedding the night of the fire. You didn’t want them to
look in on you — because you didn’t want to take the chance of getting caught smoking, huh?”

“Maybe I just forgot,” mumbled Benton.

“Then why would you lie and say you told me? Because you don’t want anyone to know you smoke up there in your secret hiding
place.”

“All right, what do you want, Dana? True confessions?”

“I want you to tell the truth about what caused the fire!”

Benton was silent.

“My dad had nothing to do with that fire, and you know it. In fact, you know exactly how the fire got started, don’t you?”

Benton sucked in a deep breath of air. He shook his head. “No, I don’t!” he insisted.

“No? Benton, I’ve got proof! You know Andrea McGowan, from across the street? Well, she took a video. I saw you on tape going
into your house a few days after the fire. And I saw you come out with the metal box from the attic. Now why would you go
looking around in that mess for a box only to dump it in the trash can in front of your house!”

“You … you found it?”

Dana didn’t say a word. He just stared at Benton, eyes blazing with grim determination.

“All right! All right! I’m tired of all the sneaking around,” Benton admitted.

“Just tell me what happened,” said Dana softly. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got it figured out, but let me hear your story.”

Benton cleared his throat and began.

“My secret hiding place in the attic, you know? I used to go up there when my folks were away. I’d tell Letitia that I was
going up there to study or read. And sometimes I did. But most of the time, I’d just sit there and smoke.”

“Where’d you get the cigarettes?” Dana asked.

“Oh, those guys who hang out back there.” Ben-ton nodded toward the toolshed. “A couple of them are in my shop class. I saw
them sneak away early for a smoke one day and … well, they dared me to smoke. They said I was afraid to even try. So, I called
their bluff — and I got hooked.”

“You moron,” Dana said.

“Yeah, I know. But I never smoked anywhere else but over there and in the attic. And I always turned on that fan to blow out
the smoke, so no one could smell it. If Letitia got wind of what was going on, you know what a big-mouth she is. She’d tell
my folks and they’d really tear into me.”

“So what happened the night of the fire? You must have been up there lots of times before when your folks were out and mine
checked on your house,” Dana said.

“No, I never dared to take the chance. But then I
heard my father tell yours to go ahead with the rewiring in the attic. I was afraid your dad might find some evidence of my
smoking. So I decided I’d better get rid of all my cigarettes. The night my parents were at the wedding was the perfect opportunity.
So I didn’t tell you to tell your folks that mine were going to be out.”

“And then pointed the finger at them!” Dana fumed.

“Well, I was afraid someone might have found out that … that I probably caused the fire.”

“That’s what I thought,” said Dana, heaving a deep sigh.

“I only had a few cigarettes left in the attic. But it was hot up there and the noise from the fan was lulling me to sleep.
So I just put the last two cigarettes into the metal box and went downstairs to bed. But I don’t know, maybe I didn’t put
the one I was smoking out all the way. And … and … well, I guess that’s what started the fire.”

“So that’s why you came back for the box. You had to get rid of the evidence.”

“Uh-huh. If someone had found it up there, I could have been in a lot of trouble. But after that,
my mom said that the insurance people suspected it was an electrical fire. So I figured everything was going to be okay.”

“So you started telling everyone it was my father’s fault,” said Dana.

“Well, it could have been,” mumbled Benton.

“Benton, you still can’t face up to it, can you? You can’t keep spreading rumors to try to get the heat off of you. People
just aren’t going to buy it.”

Benton jammed his toe in the dirt over and over. Then he looked up. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Dana — really sorry. I’ve treated
you rotten these past few weeks. I guess I just didn’t figure what a mess it would turn into.”

Dana couldn’t believe it — he felt sorry for Ben-ton. He could tell how painful it was for him to own up to something so awful.

“You have to tell your folks about it, Benton,” he said. “You have to tell them everything.”

Benton looked over at him. “Will you come with me?”

“Sure,” said Dana.

W
hen Mr. and Mrs. Crawford heard Benton’s story, they were stunned.

“Smoking! Don’t you know what that will do to your health?” Mrs. Crawford cried.

Mr. Crawford was silent. Then he said, “Benton, you know how I feel about what you’ve just told us. But let’s put that aside
for a moment. I need you to think back to that night. Tell me, do you remember if you used the attic fan at all?”

“Yes, I … I usually turned it on when I was up there,” Benton mumbled.

Mr. Crawford shook his head. “I knew I should have told everyone to leave that fan alone. The wiring up there was worn out
and faulty. Hayden Bellamy warned us about it.”

“Why didn’t he fix it when he did the rest of the house?” Mrs. Crawford asked.

“Because I told him not to,” said Mr. Crawford. He looked hard at Benton. “I didn’t know it was used regularly. But Hayden
urged me to reconsider. That’s why a few weeks ago I gave him the go-ahead to do the rewiring up there after all. I guess
that’s when you decided you’d better clear out your ‘stash,’ Benton.”

Benton hung his head as Mr. Crawford continued.

“It seems to me we have our answer about the fire’s origins. Benton, is it possible you forgot to turn off the fan that night?”

“I was so sleepy, I don’t really remember. But I know I turned it on when … when I was smoking. I guess I probably did forget
to turn it off.”

“It must have shorted out, and a spark must have landed on those old curtains I’ve been meaning to take down,” said Mrs. Crawford
sadly. “I shouldn’t have put it off for so long.”

“We’re all partly to blame,” sighed Mr. Crawford. “I should have told everyone to keep out of the attic until the rewiring
had been done. The only ones who are obviously innocent are the Bellamys.”

Suddenly everyone turned to look at Dana.

“Son, I hope you know how sorry we are about all of this,” said Mr. Crawford. “Your folks have never been anything but kind
to us from the minute we moved in to the house next to yours. I’d better go and talk with them. They deserve an explanation
— and an apology.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Mrs. Crawford. “But we have to do something about you, Benton.” She pointed a finger at him. “First
of all, we’re going to get you some counseling about smoking. I only hope you haven’t ruined your health completely.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Crawford. “That’s just the beginning. We have a lot to talk about.”

Dana was uncomfortable. “Why don’t I go and tell my folks you’ll be over later?” he suggested.

At the end of the week, the Anchors played their final game, with the Otters. By then, Mr. Bellamy had recovered so much,
he was able to join Mrs. Bellamy and Christy in the stands.

Dana could sense a big difference as soon as he ran out on the field. No one turned away from him. No one gave him angry looks.
Some of the guys
seemed a little ashamed about the way they’d acted and mumbled a few words of apology.

Because Benton was in counseling for his problem, he was allowed to suit up for the game. But Coach Kingsley was so disappointed
in him that he kept him on the bench.

The Otters took the kick. For the first few minutes, they controlled the ball. One of their forwards broke away and had the
ball just outside the goal area. He booted one a few yards to Jazz’s left side.

The Anchors’ goalie blocked it with his knee. It rebounded over to Tucker, who dribbled it into the clear. Then he booted
it across the center line into Otters territory.

Dana and Steve were closest to that side of the field. They went right after the ball. But an Otter halfback got there first.

He tried to position himself for a pass back to his teammates. Dana wasn’t about to let that happen. He placed himself in
the way and trapped the pass with his shins. He then flicked it over to Steve, who was a few yards away.

The two forwards passed the ball back and forth,
trying to find an opening. Two Otter tacklers were on top of them the whole time.

Finally Dana caught sight of Abe, all by himself a little off to one side. Quickly he passed the ball to Abe, who stopped
it with the inside of his left foot.

Instantly the Otter tacklers shifted to him.

Meanwhile, Dana had broken away and run down toward the goal. He caught his breath, as usual, not expecting to see any action
for a moment. But Abe shot the ball back to him right way. Dana was so surprised, he almost missed it.

He recovered fast. Trapping the ball with the inside of his right foot, he pushed it forward a few inches, then booted it
toward the goal.

The Otters’ goalie dived after it. He was a yard away as the ball sailed by him.

Goal!

Dana jumped up with joy. Before he could even lift a fist into the air, he was surrounded by a crush of Anchors.

Even Abe hit him with a high five. Abe had been the lone holdout when word had reached the team about Benton’s false stories.
Now he was grinning from ear to ear.

“Great shot, Dana,” he said. As the crowd around the team’s top wing broke up, Abe went on. “Listen, I’ve been meaning to
tell you … I was kind of sorry I didn’t get elected captain,” he said. “And when I saw that Steve was palling around with
you and defending you, that really bugged me. But I can see the guys made a good choice. He’s a heckuva good captain, setting
everyone else up and everything.”

“Yeah, but I have you to thank for that assist,” said Dana.

“As long as the Anchors keep scoring!” said Abe, racing across the field.

A few minutes later, Mac Reese, who was playing Benton’s position, collided with an Otter fullback and landed badly. It looked
like he had sprained his ankle. Coach Kingsley hesitated a moment, then signaled Benton to go in at his old position at right
half.

The Otters managed to score a goal with only a few minutes left in the half. Their defense pushed hard and got the ball away
from the Anchors, turning it over to their hungry offense. After two unsuccessful attempts at goals, they made a move for
a third try. But Pete Morris got in their way. He
booted the ball all the way down the field in the other direction.

Benton was all by himself when he caught the ball with his chest. He dribbled it forward with an Otters tackler right on his
back. He quickly passed the ball in a direction he hadn’t tried in a long time — to Dana.

This time Dana was ready. But he wasn’t about to hog the ball. He glanced around and saw someone in the clear, with a better
shot at a goal. He quickly booted the ball over to Steve, who sent it zooming into the net.

Score! Anchors 2, Otters 1.

Dana clapped Steve on the back. He stretched out his palm for a high five, but someone beat the Anchors captain to it. Benton
was all smiles as he slapped five on Dana.

During the half, while Dana was getting a drink of water, he heard his name called from the stands. He looked up and saw Andrea,
sitting a few rows behind his parents and Christy. In her right hand was her video camera.

“I’m taping the game!” she shouted.

“It’s about time!” Dana shouted back at her, grinning.