‘You’re not in trouble, my love,’ Kelly said, but Ben wasn’t taken in by her tender tone. He looked to his uncle for a signal. Carl was leafing through his chapbook. Daniel was sitting with his arms folded, offering Ben an encouraging nod.

‘Wait, what happened?’

‘It can’t keep going on,’ Daniel said.

‘The jig’s up, mon ami.’ Carl’s voice came from the dark side of his chapbook. ‘Sorry, I guess.’

From behind his back Ben heard his father laugh, but not humorously.

‘I guess you should be happy that everyone else knew about it before me,’ Gordon said, bringing a camp chair and unfolding it next to Daniel.

‘Just like when you edited the News …’ Kelly said.

‘You read it here last.’ Gordon shot her a wink and gestured for her to sit in the camp chair.

Ben loosened a little to see this exchange between his mum and dad. They seemed friendly—not to him, exactly, but chilled with each other. That was new.

‘I don’t know what I’m meant to say,’ Ben said to his father.

‘What’s the only hope you have of not making things worse?’ Gordon asked.

‘Tell the truth, I guess.’

‘There you go.’ Gordon’s relaxed air had fallen away and his face was dark. He went and fetched another camp chair for himself. It didn’t match the one he’d given Kelly.

Now Ben felt bad again. He desperately wanted Carl or Daniel to tell him what to say.

‘Carn,’ Daniel said. ‘Spill it.’

More than his parents’ urgings, more than Uncle Carl’s surrender, more even than the incriminating bottle of Vyvanse on the card table, it was Daniel’s encouragement that told Ben he had to speak the truth.

‘Wait, what’ll happen to me? If you get off, aren’t I in the shit?’

Daniel shrugged. ‘Nothing goes beyond these four walls. That was part of the deal.’

‘What deal?’

‘Just tell them, and I’ll play in the final.’ Daniel gave him another smile. ‘You’re a brave guy, Ben. You’ve come out in front of the whole school. You can do this.’

‘You’re happy that everyone thinks you’re a drug dealer?’ Ben said.

‘I am a drug dealer. I just reckon they should know that I’m not your uncle’s drug dealer.’

‘And if I tell them, you’ll play in the final.’

Daniel nodded.

‘And nothing more will happen to me.’

‘Glad you’re thinking logically.’

‘But why? Why are you wanting all this out?’

From behind his chapbook, Carl said, ‘Think of the knight on the horse charging at the windmills, mon ami. He needs his short fat friend.’ Carl lowered his book so Ben could see his face. ‘Daniel and I came to a decision. Turns out the short fat friend is you.’

‘Ben,’ Gordon said. Ben looked at his stricken father. ‘Everyone’s spilt their guts. Your turn.’