“What about your parents? Did you tell them?”
“Are you kidding? I was too scared to tell them. I thought my mom would take that beautiful horse away. Didn’t want to get in trouble.”
“I know the feeling,” said Benjamin.
“Yeah. I think you destructors have it worse than us healers. At least my gift can only be used for good. That’s why Kennedy tries so hard to find any new destructors before they can hurt anyone. I can’t imagine the fright you got when yours first came out. Speakin’ of fright, I think it’s about time you got back. Should be lights out soon down at the camp. Don’t want them sending a search party out for you.”
Benjamin groaned. He’d like nothing more than to sit in front of the fire and hear more of Wally’s stories. The sturdy cabin felt like home.
+++
Benjamin somehow returned just as the other campers were streaming into the Tomahawk cabin. The only one not smiling was Nathan. He glared at Benjamin when he walked in, once again soaked to the bone.
“Where were you?” hissed Nathan.
Benjamin motioned over to their bunks. He wanted to talk where no one else could hear. The rest of the Tomahawks were probably too engaged in tearing off their water-logged clothing to care, but Benjamin didn’t want to take any chances.
“Where did you go? I got everyone calmed down at the chow hall and then I come back and you’re gone. You had another five minutes and then I was gonna tell Tony that you were gone.”
Benjamin hadn’t thought that Nathan would be so concerned.
“I’m sorry. I just went for a walk.”
“Out in that?!”
“Shhh.”
“Are you crazy? We almost get squashed by a tree and you want to go back out in the rain? What if something had happened?” Nathan was breathing hard as he spoke.
“I already told you I was sorry. What are you my mom now?” Benjamin smiled.
The smile caught Nathan off-guard. He made to blurt out another angry comment and stopped. A laugh burst out of his mouth. Nathan clamped a hand over his mouth.
“You’re right. I was just worried. I know you’re like all powerful…”
“Shhh…”
“Right. Sorry. I mean. Never mind. Let’s get ready for bed. I’m pooped.”
Benjamin was glad his friend had calmed. He never liked people to be upset, especially if it was his fault. The walk to Wally’s probably hadn’t been the smartest decision, but at the time he’d wanted to be with his own kind, someone who knew what he was going through. It was all so confusing.
With all the excitement of the night coursing through his body, Benjamin knew he’d never fall asleep. He changed into dry set of boxer briefs and shorts, joined the others to brush their teeth at the door with a canteen of water, then hopped into his bed. Much to his surprise, he fell asleep before the lights were off.
Chapter 25: Lingering Threats
The next morning, the campers walked outside to see what kind of devastation the storm had left behind. To everyone’s relief the sun climbed into a clear blue sky. There were branches and debris all over camp. Other than a couple lifeguard umbrellas getting blown into the lake, the camp came away relatively unscathed.
Campers weren’t happy about having to help with the cleanup effort. Kids moaned and groaned as they helped counselors and camp staff haul the fallen branches to the large fire pit. They’d use the wreckage for future camp fires once the wood dried out.
After the cleanup, things went back to normal. All were happy to be back in their chosen activities. For Benjamin, the return to reality wasn’t as exciting. He’d just saved a boy’s life and he couldn’t talk to anyone about it. It felt like a volcano trying to bubble its way out of his chest. He had a hard time concentrating on what his instructors said and one time completely missed his Wilderness Discovery teacher asking him a question. Laughter from the other campers snapped him from his daydreaming.
At lunch Emily sat with the Tomahawk boys. Benjamin envied the way she could move so easily between her different groups of friends. Everyone seemed to like Emily and knew her by name. He was happy to claim her as a friend.
After they ate, he strolled with Emily toward their canoeing class. She’s become quieter than usual. The conversation almost sounded forced. Benjamin cringed inwardly. His mind swirled with possibilities. The most important being: Was she going to stop being his friend?
Emily took a deep breath and said, “Benjamin?”
“Yeah?”
“I just wanted…I don’t know how to say this.” She had her eyes locked on the path, avoiding eye contact.
Benjamin’s stomach dropped like a rock in a deep pool. It had happened before. He’d made one friend at an old school and then the boy had told him that he couldn’t be friends anymore. He’d made up some excuse about not having time because of homework or something. Benjamin knew it was a lie. He’d heard the whispers in the halls. The boy was getting teased for being his friend. That’s why he couldn’t be Benjamin’s friend.
Benjamin took a steadying breath. Before the tree incident, he might have looked at things differently. He might have felt like crying. Now he just felt sad.
“It’s okay, Emily. I understand.”
“Huh?”
“I know that you can’t be my friend. It’s…”
“Wait. What?” She stopped walking. “What are you talking about, Benjamin?”
“I just…I know that the other kids are probably making fun of you for hanging out with me, and…you don’t deserve that. It’s okay.” He tried to put the most understanding looking face on that he could. It looked more like he had to pee in his pants.
Emily started laughing. Benjamin didn’t know what to say. First she was going to stop being his friend and now she was laughing at him? It was more than his fragile heart could take. He started walking away, his head hanging.
Still laughing, Emily grabbed him by the arm. He shook it off angrily.
“Benjamin, wait.”
“What do you want?”
“You thought I was going to stop being friends with you?” she said quietly.
Benjamin didn’t say anything. He stared at his feet instead.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” said Emily. “But no, I wasn’t going to say that.”
Benjamin’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“I was going to tell you…I mean I…I wanted to say thank you for…for saving my life.”
Benjamin blushed and averted his eyes.
“Well…I didn’t really save your life. Err…the car swerved and missed you.”
“I know, but I wasn’t paying attention and I think the car swerved because you were running toward me.”
They stood quietly, each avoiding the other’s look. Thankfully Emily changed the subject.
“I guess we should be getting to canoeing, huh?”
Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, uh, let’s go before they stick us with that fat canoe.”
Emily giggled. It was a glorious sound to Benjamin and he soaked it up as they once again went on their way.
+++
The campers in the canoeing class had a splash battle that day. They were given small buckets and the instructor let them use their paddles. In order to win, teams had to keep their canoe upright (using the buckets to throw water could be effective, but only if you didn’t tip your canoe in the process) and keep water out of your canoe. Emily told Benjamin that the winner was usually the canoe that didn’t flip.
After close to twenty minutes of paddling, splashing, hollering and laughing, Benjamin and Emily’s canoe was the last one of ten standing, or at least floating upright. Their prize was not having to help clean up the canoes and gear for the rest of the week, and bragging rights, of course.
“That was amazing!” said Emily as they walked away from the lake. They had a thirty minute break until their next classes. “You were awesome steering us around the other
canoes.”
Benjamin blushed for what felt like the millionth time. Do you ever stop blushing around pretty girls when they compliment you?
“You were the one that kept splashing everyone with the bucket. How did you stay up so easily? Everyone else kept falling or tipping.”
Emily shrugged nonchalantly. “Must be the gymnastics my mom made me take when I was little. Hey, wanna go over to the store? I’d kill for a soda right now.”
Benjamin agreed. They chatted happily as they walked.
When they arrived at the camp store, an unfortunate scene greeted Benjamin. The five Mohawk boys they’d chased into the woods were leaning against the wall.
Emily saw Benjamin’s face tighten.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t feel like going in anymore.”
Emily looked up at the store and saw the Mohawk boys.
“Have they been picking on you?”
“No,” said Benjamin, not quite convincingly.
“Look. I know the blond one. He’s the ring leader. His name is Manning. He almost got kicked out last year. You can stay out here if you want, but it would be really nice if you could come in with me.”
Her pleading look won him over. Benjamin assented. The pair walked up to the store. One of the boys noticed Benjamin and nudged Manning. The five Mohawks stopped talking and watched with narrowed eyes. Benjamin did his best to keep his eyes facing forward.
Inside Emily chose an orange soda and a candy bar. Benjamin opted for a pack of gum, a small bottle of grape juice, and a bag of Doritos. They paid by signing their chits and stepped out into the heat. The Mohawks were waiting.
“Hey, Emily,” sneered Manning, tossing his blond hair back.
“Hi, Manning,” said Emily without stopping.
“Why don’t you hang out with us? As long as you don’t bring your little friend.” The other Mohawks laughed.
Emily wheeled around to face the blond bully.
“I heard they kicked you out of riding again. Was it because you smell worse than the goats? You really should take a shower you know.” She smiled innocently and batted her eyes. Manning frowned and the vein on his forehead bulged.
“Never mind. Maybe you should go hang out with your boyfriend and the loser Tomahawks,” said Manning.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Emily and Dragon, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…” the rest of Mohawks sang along.
Emily turned around and took off at a fast walk. Benjamin followed.
“This ain’t over Dragon!” Manning called over the singing of his gang. Benjamin kept walking.
+++
“I hate him,” said Emily once out of sight of the Mohawks.
“How do you know him?”
“He was really nice when we first got to camp last year. Then for some reason he just started being mean. Promise me you’ll never do that, Benjamin.”
“Of course.” Benjamin almost laughed at the thought. Him, a bully? Then Old Kennedy’s words came back to him. As a destructor, could he go bad? He shivered at the thought.
Chapter 26: Back to Normal
The next few days went by in a flash. When Benjamin wasn’t in class, he either spent time with his Tomahawk friends, with Emily, or both. Nothing else happed with the Mohawks. It seemed as though they’d learned their lesson.
Benjamin was as happy as he’d ever been. Sure he missed his parents, but that was more like a minor ache in the pit of his stomach. Kind of like the feeling of forgetting something and not really remembering what you forgot.
Some nights he’d sneak out and spend time with Wally. He always had a hundred questions for the gentle giant. One time Wally even let him pet a family of deer he’d helped the year before. They still came back to say hello and see what treats Wally had for them. They loved apples and bananas.
One night Benjamin asked his friend about when he’d be able to control his gift whenever he wanted.
“We all develop differently. It’s pretty similar to being an athlete or an artist. The more they practice the better they get. The same goes for us. I’ve known one or two healers that couldn’t do more than fix bumps and bruises. They just didn’t have the drive to do more. I didn’t understand how they could be happy with that, but they were.”
“So what about me?”
“Let me guess. The only times it’s worked for you are when you’ve been in trouble or there was an emergency, right?”
“How did you know?”
“That’s how it starts with all of us. First and foremost, our gifts are emotional. We don’t wave silly wands or say strange words to cast spells. More than anything, our gifts seem to come from within us. Does that make sense?”
Benjamin’s face scrunched as he tried to understand.
“I think so.”
“Look, I wouldn’t worry about it much. I know it’s probably really cool for you when it happens, but until you’re older you don’t need to be perfect with it. For now I’d say learn to control your emotions. I’ve heard that most destructors go bad when they go through puberty, or worse, when they go to high school.”
“Why’s that?”
“You haven’t been there yet so you haven’t felt it. Pretty soon your emotions will be all over the place, like a bee stuck in a jar. Sometimes you don’t know which way is up or down. Throw in girls and dealing with other kids going through the same thing…it’s a wonder any of us make it out of our teenage years!”
Benjamin only understood parts of what Wally was saying. He got that his gift worked when some powerful emotion coursed through his body. That would explain the fight with Nathan, the car with Emily, and the tree in the woods.
“How long do I have to wait?” Benjamin asked.
Wally shrugged.
“Like I said, we’re all different. Mine developed pretty fast on the farm since I had so many animals to take care of. Now you…it might be hard to go around saving people from falling trees all the time.” Wally winked at Benjamin.
Benjamin wished there was some way he could jumpstart the process. He wanted to control his gift. It frightened him to think of what might happen if he really hurt someone because he couldn’t manage it.
Chapter 27: The Announcement
Camp was just over halfway done. All the campers had their routines down and no one seemed to be getting lost anymore, except for the one kid in the Cherokee tribe, but they said he was never good at listening.
At breakfast that particular morning, Mr. Hendrix announced that a special guest would be giving a lecture after dinner. There was a collective groan from the campers. The hours after their final daily meal were typically reserved for free time. Campers didn’t want to miss free time.
“Now hold on, campers,” Mr. Hendrix calmed from the table he was standing on. “I think you might like this guest.” Chatter drowned out the room. He called for silence again. “Would you like to know who our special guest is?”
A not-so-excited “Yes, Mr. Hendrix,” rose from the room. More than a few campers rolled their eyes.
“Drum roll please,” said Mr. Hendrix. Campers pounded lightly on their tables. “Our special guest is…Jacee Trevane!”
Almost all the girls in the room squealed in delight. Jacee Trevane! He was only the most popular singer and multi-millionaire in the country, and possibly the world. He’d graced every pre-teen and teen magazine multiple times. His latest song, ‘I’ll Sing You the Night,’ was smashing all kinds of records on the Billboard charts.
Even the boys in the room talked excitedly to their friends. Jacee Trevane wasn’t only a platinum recording artist and producer who sold out huge stadiums around the world, he was also a really great athlete, actor and outdoorsman. He’d turned down scholarships to play football and basketball to sing. Benjamin’s dad had even said Trevane was one of the top prospects in the last ten years in both sports.
He also snowboarded with Olympians and surfed with professionals. The year before, Tr
evane scaled Mt. Everest at the young age of 20.
Trevane also did volunteer work all over the globe. There weren’t many honest people that could deny Jacee Trevane’s worth to the world.
“There’s one more surprise!” Mr. Hendrix shouted over the din. The campers diverted their attention back to the director. “Some of you may know that Mr. Trevane gives a lot of money and spends a lot of time with kids your age. For some reason we were lucky enough to be picked by his newest charity. There may be people filming…”
Girls squealed again.
“…and Mr. Trevane will be selecting one lucky camper to go on a half day hike with him and his crew.”
All sense in the room was lost. One of them would be picked to spend almost a whole day with Jacee Trevane! It was a once in a lifetime…no, once in twenty lifetimes’ chance.
Mr. Hendrix had to pull out his megaphone and press the siren button. Campers clamped hands over their ears as Mr. Hendrix smiled. The wailing stopped.
“So, everyone’s name has been put into a bucket and Mr. Trevane will personally select one slip and announce the winner after he talks to you tonight.”
There was no quieting the crowd this time. Two girls fainted. Four boys danced on their table. The noise was almost as deafening as Mr. Hendrix’s siren. Waving to his counselors, he motioned for them to escort their tribes out.
Chapter 28: Jacee Trevane
Counselors struggled to maintain order the entire day. The only thing anyone was talking about was Jacee Trevane. Some of the boys had even ditched class to practice some of Trevane’s hit songs in the off chance that they might be able to audition for him. Jacee Trevane wasn’t only a superstar, he also made stars.
Even Benjamin got caught up in the excitement. He’d never seen a celebrity before. Benjamin was curious to see what Jacee Trevane would be like.
Benjamin Dragon - Awakening (The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon) Page 9