completely wrong about his âmomentâ before. During that summer a billion years ago, heâd gone into the House electrified by hope and a kidâs sense of destiny that were soon shattered (with assistance from Spinney), because heâd been so sure it was his great life-changing moment. Now the memory just always made him wince.
You donât really believe that things can change like that, do you, Benjamin? Or hey, maybe it was your moment, and you didnât live up to it? said Papawâs voice in his head. You need to just accept that youâre going to Bedford Falls Community College. You know the difference between a dream and a bucket of bullshit? The bucket.
Thatâs not true , Benji said back.
Then why did he feel pressure in his solar plexus, why hadnât he told anyone that he still hadnât applied for the Magic Lantern apprenticeship even though the deadline was coming up? Chicago was a magic city, it was where David Copperfield got his start, and Copperfield and other famed magicians came to the Magic Lantern all the time. Benji always assumed that sometime in the future, like when he became an adult, heâd be worthy of being part of that amazing place. But he was running out of future. He was terrified that he wasnât good enough, that if they said no, his hopes of âmomentsâ would vanish, and heâd wind up staying in Bedford Falls forever.
Itâll work out , Benji told himself.
The quarry was now deserted, the roaring bonfire reduced to a diminutive crimson pyramid, logs popping with final, feeble light. He headed back toward CRâs truck to announce that heâd âfoundâ the keys.
CR wasnât at the truck, though. Benji looked around andspotted Zeeko and Ellie about thirty feet away. They sat on the hood of Ellieâs ancient Subaru station wagon, aka the Rust-Rocket, which was held together with duct tape and prayer. Ellie was drawing Zeeko in her sketchbook. Heâd taken off his thick glasses (they were on top of Ellieâs head) and was posing in an awkward-family-photo pose: toothy smile, eyes closed, chin propped on fist.
Benji heard someone muttering down on the lakeshore. It was CR, who was struggling to open a long, thin duffel bag.
âHey, CR, guess what I found?â Benji said, walking to him.
CR shrugged, unzipped the oblong duffel bag, and pulled out a hunting rifle.
âDo you know what he told me?â CR fumed, then caught on to Benjiâs nervous expression and said, âRelax, itâs just twenty-two caliber. Buck season starts this week, hellooo?
âAfter the game, you know what my dad says?â CR went on, pivoting toward the lake, flicking the lens cap off the rifleâs scope. âDick looks me right in the eye, goes, âVery smart move with that showboating at the coin toss, Chrissy. Say there were college recruiters there tonightâdo you truly believe that it would improve your scholarship prospects? Jesus. If brains were TNT, you couldnât blow your nose.ââ
BANG âCR fired. Ellie and Zeeko yelled in surprise as the bullet flew across the lake, slamming into the sheered face of the granite wall on the far edge of the quarry.
Benji stepped forward. âHeyyy, maybe not so much shooting guns while drunk?â
CR said, âYeah,â but fired off two more thunderclapping shots. âWe should prank the Newporte guys back, man. Thatâs the tradition, pranking each other. I know itâs against the rules now and we could get suspended and blah blah.â
âIf you get suspended, youâre not eligible for scholarships.â
âOnly if we get caught, Banjo. I just want to do it. The quarterback is supposed to do it. Itâs what I always thought Iâd do. And my dad makes me feel like garbage because Iâm going after the only future I ever wanted.â
CR dropped the rifle to the ground. Shoulders sunken, eyes