5. Samuel #2
We both turned to Gordy, waiting for him to chime in with his plans. He gulped, his gaze darting to Benji like he was hoping he’d answer for him instead, before his eyes dropped to Benji’s neck, widening almost theatrically.
“Ben!” He yelled, his head snapping back. “Where is your necklace?”
Benji’s hand shot to his neck and ran up the tanned patch of skin where a pale line marked where the necklace had been. His mouth fell open.
“Fuck. Oh my God. Fuck .” He spun in a circle, checking the floor, then patted his jeans pockets. “Fuck. That was the necklace that my mom gave me for my eighteenth birthday.”
“Do you think you lost it?“ Gordy asked, his voice rising.
“If I lost it, it could’ve only been in the orchard. I know I still had it at lunch.” Benji ran both his hands through his hair. “Fuck.“
“You know we’re talking about at least three miles of trees where it could be, right?” Gordy said.
“What the hell am I going to do now?”
“Feel free to go back out there and look for it,” Gordy offered. “But I can’t help you. I’ve got... You know, that thing with Grace tonight.”
“Right. Shit. I have to find it,” Benji’s eyes locked on me. “But that also means I’ll miss Ted Denzi with my mom. Fuck . This is the last evening we have before her new treatment starts.”
A heavy knot tightened in my chest. He didn’t deserve this. Before I could even think it through, the words tumbled out of my mouth. “I can try to push my meeting back a bit and help you if you want.”
“Are you sure?” Benji blinked.
“Yeah, I think it’ll be fine.”
I pulled out my phone. It was 4:30. I could easily text Mr. Penton and ask if we could meet a little later. If Benji and I were looking together, we might find it before Ted Denzi was on.
“That would be amazing . My Mom would be devastated if she knew I lost it and didn’t try to get it back.”
“Don’t worry. We will find it. Let me just...” I held up my phone.
He nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah. You staying at all is more than I can ask for. You’re a lifesaver.”
I wasn’t exactly thrilled to head back out in the sun, but this was worth it. The essay could wait an hour. Benji’s necklace couldn’t.
Only the sound of the slow wind brushing the tops of the orange trees accompanied Benji and me as we walked down the row he’d worked in earlier today. Five minutes had already passed without either of us saying a word, our eyes scanning the dirt for any glimmer of the silver necklace.
A bird cawed overhead, slowing as if it wanted to join our steady search. But after a minute, it decided it had better things to do and flew off.
I peeked at Benji. His arms were crossed, his head dipped toward his chest, his eyes not moving at all—vacant, as if his brain was somewhere else entirely.
Maybe he was thinking about how to tell his mom what happened.
Or maybe he was weighing whether to keep searching or go home, just so he wouldn’t miss the time he wanted to spend with her.
If it were me, I’d want someone to say something. So I cleared my throat.
“I’m sure we’ll find it.”
Our eyes met for a moment, and when I offered him an encouraging smile, it almost seemed as if Benji was weirdly affected by it.
“I mean, it has to be close around here somewhere, right?” I added, forcing my gaze back to the ground, scanning the path methodically so I wouldn't miss anything.
“What if we don’t?” Benji drew in a sharp breath. His voice trembled, almost as if he were angry at himself for letting this happen. “I can’t be home late. Not today. I’m late already. But I can’t tell her that I lost the necklace either.”
“We shouldn’t give up hope.”
Benji clenched a fist and hammered it against his thigh three times, like he was trying to pound the frustration out of himself.
My chest twisted. He didn’t deserve this.
He was misunderstood by many people, forcing him to maintain this rough facade to protect himself, when in reality, he was just a guy who loved his mom and tried his best every day.
If I could do anything to make it better—even just by searching harder—I would.
He had helped me so much these last few days, even when he didn't have to.
We walked on in silence. The further we went, the more Benji’s eyes became unfocused.
“Fuck,” he barked, stopping short and refusing to meet my gaze, “This is useless.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You know it is. I have to go. I can’t miss the time with my mom. And you’ve got to be somewhere, too.”
It was true. But there was another option. “What if,” I said, “you head home to your mom, and I keep looking?”
Benji’s head snapped up. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I offered.”
I could always reschedule Mr. Penton for tomorrow.
Sure, the sooner I send the essay out, the better.
But... this wasn’t my last and only shot at college.
And one more day wouldn’t change my chances anyway.
Meanwhile, Benji didn’t know how many more evenings of happiness and peace he’d get with his mom.
“Are you sure?” Benji asked.
“I am. It’s okay. I see how important this is to you. And it’s the least I can do to repay you for—well, for everything.” I still hadn’t even told him that, thanks to him, I was able to write an entire essay. But now was hardly the time to do it.
Benji stepped closer and rested a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks, man. I won’t forget this.”
His palm against my shirt was warm, grounding, and making me feel strangely stronger. Like, I would find it. Like, there was no other way this was going to end.
“Go,” I said softly. “Tell your mom hi from me, okay?”
“I will.” Benji smiled, let go of my shoulder, and turned around. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to give you the necklace back then.”
“I’m sure you will.”
We parted ways—Benji back home, and I back to the search. I’d give it another fifteen minutes before calling Mr. Penton. Hopefully, by then, I’d have the necklace in hand. If not... well, then it’s going to be another long evening. But it was the least I could do.