Benji
Benji kicked off his hotel slippers, pulled off his shirt, and then cannonballed into the hotel pool. Felix, who’d been floating on his back with his eyes closed, screamed.
“Jerk!” Felix said when he recovered. But his smile gave him away. “When did you get back?”
“An hour ago,” Benji said. “I convinced my mom we should stay at the hotel tonight. It’s already paid for, and I told her you picked up my homework from last week.”
It also helped that Benji had been a perfect kid while the Porters were in Aruba. When his parents had said to eat his vegetables, he’d asked for extra broccoli. When they’d said to turn off the TV, he’d suggested going for a walk. When they’d said time for bed, he’d brushed his teeth and kissed them good night. Not once did he step out of line.
Freebie barked like he was on repeat mode.
“This mutt really wants to doggy-paddle,” Reggie said, doing double duty as dog-sitter and Felix’s personal lifeguard.
“Let him go,” Felix said.
Reggie unclipped the leash. The dog ran, belly-flopped, and swam right to Benji.
“Missed you too, boy.” Benji let Freebie kiss his chin, cheek, forehead, and ear. “Okay, okay. Enough of the smooches.”
“Hey, bosses.” Reggie walked to the edge of the pool. “I’m glad you’re both here. We need to talk. Our one-month arrangement is almost up. This has been the best job I’ve ever had. Much better than the summer I worked at my uncle’s funeral home.”
Benji shuddered, but it wasn’t the thought of dead bodies or the pool temperature that got to him. It was Reggie. They had to fire him.
“That’s good, I guess,” Felix said as he helped Freebie onto solid ground.
“Yeah, it’s been fun. Even if it sometimes feels like I’m majoring in philosophy,” Benji said.
Reggie snapped his fingers and pointed at Benji. “You got the philosophy lessons for free.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“But I think it’s time I move on,” Reggie said. “I need to focus on school and my future.”
“You’re quitting?” Benji asked.
“I’m giving you my notice.” Reggie leaned over and held out his hand to Benji and then to Felix. “You’re good bosses. Good men. After December first, you will still be good people. Don’t forget that.”
Benji nodded. December first? They’d never told Reggie about the challenge, but Reggie was a smart guy. He had to know something was up.
Freebie whined and shook, spraying Reggie with water.
“You want me to dry this dog off?” Reggie asked. “While I still work for you?”
“Yes, please,” Felix said.
When Benji was certain Reggie had moved out of hearing range, he whispered to Felix. “You’re in here doing a back float. Does that mean you’ve spent all the money? December first is only three days away.”
Felix shook his head slowly. “I’ve been trying. But my mom is watching everything I do. I have to bring my laptop into the bathroom so I can buy stuff online.” He sighed. “We still have over one-point-seven million.”
“Good,” Benji said. “That should just be enough.”
“I don’t understand.” Felix stared at him. “You haven’t spent a dime since you’ve been gone.”
“No. My parents cut me off. I didn’t have my phone, my iPad, my computer, my debit card. I didn’t have anything but television.” He wriggled his eyebrows at Felix. “And you can learn a lot from TV. I watched a show about billionaires. There was this Wall Street guy and his supermodel wife. They spent twenty million dollars on their baby’s first birthday party.”
“Really? How?”
“They had these dolls made to look like their daughter, and every guest got one, like a party favor.”
“That sounds creepy.”
“It was.” Benji shivered, thinking back to the glass-eyed dolls. “They also had Ferris wheels, helicopter rides, and a petting zoo with baby tigers and pandas.”
Felix’s eyes grew large. If he’d been a cartoon, dollar signs would have danced in his pupils.
“I have a plan. Let’s go to my suite. We’ll order everything off the room service menu. For old times’ sake.”
Twenty minutes later, they were in Benji’s bedroom, huddled around his computer. His mom was in the living room area, and they couldn’t risk her shutting down their final project.
“Whose birthday bash is this going to be?” Felix asked. “We could say it’s Freebie’s birthday.”
“Or we could hijack someone else’s event,” Benji said.
“Like we hijacked Georgie and Michelle’s wedding.”
“That was an awesome wedding. If everyone hadn’t gotten so worked up about money, it would’ve been the wedding of the decade.” Benji wanted that to be true. It wasn’t that they had ruined the ceremony or the reception. It was the money that had caused the problem.
Felix shrugged. “I’m sorry about basketball—”
“No!” Benji cut him off. “I know you’re good at apologies, but it’s not necessary. We’re business partners. We need to focus on that, and we need to focus on Alma’s drama club fundraiser. That’s how we’re going to spend the rest of the money.”
“But you—”
“No!” Benji did not want to talk about basketball or tryouts or what it felt like to be ignored. That wasn’t important. Not now.
Felix sighed. “When is the fundraiser?”
“Wednesday.” How did Felix not know? Alma had hung cute signs all over school.
“That’s December first,” Felix said. They were both very aware of the date.
“Yep, we’re finishing this project on the day it’s due.” Benji smiled.
“And Alma is okay with this?” Felix asked.
“I told her I’d supply the pizza and other food. What’s the big deal if we add helicopter rides?” Benji pulled his computer closer. “Once we get everything figured out, I’ll tell her.” He looked forward to an excuse to talk to her.
“This is our last chance. It has to work.” Felix looked less than convinced.
“It will, buddy. And we need to invite Laura Friendly to the fundraiser. Send her a text. I can’t wait to see her face when we win.”
FELIX: You’re invited to the drama club fundraiser
FELIX: Dec 1st—6pm—Stirling Middle School
LAURA FRIENDLY: Wouldn’t miss it
Felix
Felix woke up before his alarm and before Freebie. The boys finally had a plan to win the challenge.
According to their estimates, by the end of the day on Wednesday, Felix and Benji would be broke. They planned to sink every last penny into the drama club fundraiser: custom cupcakes flown in from a bakery in LA, skywriting, prepaid food trucks, a performance by two Broadway stars, flowers from Holland (which was a six-figure expense!), acrobats, real penguins, and a traveling planetarium. And because Stirling Middle probably wouldn’t authorize half of this, they planned to have some of the attractions off school property. But they had a solution for that too: a shuttle service.
They still had dozens of details to figure out, and Benji had to talk to Alma. But Felix was confident it would all come together. It had to.
Felix took a quick shower and put on a pair of tie-dyed leather skater pants that had cost over five grand. He fed and walked Freebie. Then he ate his room service breakfast. By the end of the week, it would be back to off-brand frosted flakes and clothes from Target, and he couldn’t wait. He was tying his Air Flights when there was a knock.
Freebie went into ballistic mode, barking and trying to claw through the heavy door.
“Calm down.” Felix pulled the dog back and opened the door. It was Georgie.
“Hi,” she said.
“You’re back.” He sta
ted the obvious.
Georgie stepped into the hotel room. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she was dressed for work.
“I brought you this.” She handed him a box of maple candy.
“Thanks.” He let go of Freebie’s collar and took the candy. He and Georgie hadn’t seen each other since the wedding. He needed to apologize but didn’t know where to start. He’d hoped to have this conversation after December first.
She took a seat at the table and helped herself to a piece of bacon. “I wanted to talk about the wedding.”
He let out a breath. “I’m so sorry, Georgie.” He collapsed into the chair next to her. “I ruined your wedding. I didn’t mean to. I swear.”
“Stop.” She held up a hand. “I shouldn’t have yelled. You’re just a kid. Sometimes I forget that and expect you to act like an adult. That’s not fair.”
He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t just a kid.
“You bought me a really stupid wedding gift.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “A really stupid and expensive wedding gift. But it was still a gift.”
“And it was still stupid,” he mumbled, and she laughed.
“I heard Apex-7 returned the money.”
“Yeah. Most of it.”
“That’s good.” She paused and stared at him. “Ya know, people say money can change someone, and they don’t usually mean for the better.”
The pancakes in his stomach churned. What is she trying to say?
“But I don’t think that’s happened to you. You’re still a sweet kid, Felix.” She got up, and he worried that she might try to kiss his forehead or something. “And if I’m going to be mad about anything, it’s not the surprise concert.”
“Huh?”
“It’s that you wore my wedding dress.” She playfully slapped him in the back of the head. “There was a soda stain on the sleeve.”
Georgie left, and Felix finished getting ready for school. At seven-thirty, he went to the parking lot.
“Good morning, Reggie.” Felix and Freebie crawled into the back of the Range Rover. When the car door opened again, Felix assumed it was Benji.
“Right after basketball practice, we’ll go—”
“Excuse me, Mr. Rannells. There’s a problem with your account.” The hotel manager leaned into the backseat.
“What do you mean?”
“Your rooms are prepaid through December first, but every morning we charge the previous day’s incidentals, like room service and pet cleaning fees. Today the payment was denied.”
“Oh, sorry.” Felix opened the banking app on his cell phone. The balance showed over one million dollars, but there was also a red banner that told him to contact his financial institution. He dialed Mr. Trulz, but the accountant didn’t answer. And he always answered.
Felix felt his heartbeat in his temples.
“I’ll be right back.” He grabbed Freebie’s leash and ran to the elevator and rode it to the top floor.
Benji opened the door before Felix could knock. He was dressed for school, but he looked sick.
“What’s going on?” Felix asked.
“My dad. His lawyers froze the account. We can’t spend any more money until we see a judge on December sixteenth.”
Felix’s knees buckled, and he crashed butt-first onto the floor. Freebie jumped into his lap, looking for attention.
“You okay?” Benji knelt down next to Felix.
“No.” Felix looked up at Benji. What a stupid question!
“Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.” Benji lifted Felix by the elbow and pressed the elevator button. “Just go to school. I’ll see you there.”
Felix and Freebie went back to the car. The manager still lingered nearby, but Felix ignored him and got into the SUV.
“What’s up, boss?” Reggie asked when they were on the road.
“I don’t think I’m your boss anymore.” Felix stared out the window. “The money is gone.”
“Dang, you spent it all?”
“I wish.”
Reggie shot him a look in the rearview mirror.
“Benji’s parents have control of the money. I can’t pay you anymore.” Felix’s voice shook. “But I’d appreciate it if you dropped me off at school first.”
“No problem, Felix, and I can pick you up, too.”
“Thank you. And can you still watch Freebie?”
“Happy to.”
* * *
• • •
Benji did not deliver on his promise to get the money back. Before every class, Felix checked the app to see if the funds were available. He couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Felix asked about it at lunch, and Benji only replied, “Working on it.” (This was hard to believe since he was sitting in the cafeteria picking at a turkey sandwich.) When Felix went to basketball, he missed shots, tripped on his own feet, and caught a pass with his face. He had to sit out five minutes until his nose stopped bleeding.
After practice, he grabbed his backpack and jacket and didn’t bother to change. There was a text from Benji. Finally!
BENJI: I have a plan.
He has a plan? Felix felt lighter reading those words. Maybe his world wasn’t about to fall apart. Felix didn’t bother to call or text. He asked Reggie to drive him straight to the Porters’ house. Benji was shooting hoops in the driveway under a giant spotlight.
Felix and Freebie got out of the SUV.
“What’s going on? Did you talk to your dad?” Felix’s breath created a fog in the cold air.
“He won’t change his mind.” Benji dribbled the ball with two hands. “But I have a plan.”
“What?”
“I know my dad’s password. We’ll log in to his email, and you can write his lawyer a message and tell them to drop the case. Something like: Objection, I’ve changed my mind. Please cease and desist. I don’t want to sue Laura Friendly anymore. Give them the money back.”
Felix stared in disbelief. This was not a plan. This was a crappy idea.
“Benji, that’s stupid!”
“Hey!” Benji stopped dribbling. “Don’t call me stupid.”
“Then don’t suggest stupid ideas.” Freebie pulled on his leash, and Felix snapped it back.
Reggie opened his door and got out of the Range Rover. “Hey! Calm down, guys. Whatever it is, you’ll figure this out.”
“I can’t write an email to a lawyer,” Felix continued. “He’d never believe me. And the lawyer would probably call your dad to double-check. It is stupid.”
“Then what should we do?” Benji stepped closer, and Freebie jumped up to greet him. The dog didn’t realize Benji had screwed up everything and that Freebie would probably be shipped to the animal shelter by the end of the week.
“Tell your dad to release the money!” Felix screamed, and pulled on the leash.
“I can’t tell my dad what to do. Can you tell your dad what to do?”
“Whoa, Benji, calm down,” Reggie said, stepping between them.
The weather was cold enough to snow, but Felix’s face was burning hot, and every muscle in his body shook with anger.
“Stop being a useless idiot for once,” Felix said through a clenched jaw. “And get the money back!”
“Shut up! And don’t call me an idiot!” Benji hurled the ball into the side of the brick house. It sounded like a small explosion.
Felix jumped.
And Freebie darted. His leash snapped from his collar. In a blink, he was across the dark yard and flying toward the main road.
“Freebie!” Felix ran after his dog.
But he was too late. A red truck rounded the corner, and Freebie disappeared beneath it.
Benji
Reggie drove through two yellow lights as they raced to the emergency vet. Benji tried to help navigat
e, keeping his eyes peeled for police cars and other cars in general. He didn’t want to look into the backseat. Freebie lay wrapped in a blanket across Felix’s lap—motionless.
“Is he still breathing?” Benji asked.
“I don’t know,” Felix said.
They pulled up outside the pet ER. Two women in scrubs were waiting with a gurney because Reggie had wisely called ahead.
Benji jumped out of the car before it completely stopped, and yanked open the back door for Felix and Freebie.
“Hurry!” He waved the women closer.
They gently lifted Freebie from the backseat and onto the gurney.
“We got him,” said the woman with a blond ponytail. “You go in through the main entrance.”
“His name is Freebie,” Felix said as his injured dog was rushed away.
Reggie, Benji, and Felix followed the sidewalk to the front of the short brick building.
A woman with a sad smile greeted them at the desk. She fiddled with papers on a clipboard. “Has your dog been here before?”
“No,” Felix said.
“Please fill out this information, all three sheets. We will also need a five-hundred-dollar deposit.” Her voice lowered when she talked about the money.
Felix whipped out his replacement debit card and dropped it on the desk. “Take five thousand. Take it all. I don’t care. Just help Freebie.”
“We’ll do everything we can. Dr. Rhamid is the best.” She picked up the card and turned toward her computer.
“It’s not going to work,” Benji reminded Felix. “The money is not available.”
Felix’s shoulders fell.
“Here.” Reggie pulled out his wallet and fished around for a Visa. “Five hundred, right?”
“We’ll pay you back,” Benji said to Reggie, who nodded.
Once the money was handled, they took seats in the hard plastic chairs that made up the waiting room. A TV in the corner was tuned to Animal Planet.
“What home address should I put? The hotel?” Reggie asked, starting on the paperwork.
Millionaires for the Month Page 17