The rest of Part 2

Friday, September 29

Yesterday, during practice, Mr. Donnelly of the Tangerine Times and a photographer showed up. It appeared that Mom had called Mr. Donnelley as she had mentioned on Wednesday. They wanted pictures of Shandra and Maya. And, they wanted to find out their last names.

When Dolly alerted Shandra to the presence of members of the press, Shandra ran as fast as she could into the school building. Betty Bright, their coach, told Mr. Donnelly Maya’s last name, which is Pandhi, but she didn’t tell him Shandra’s.

This morning Paul looks at the sports section of the Tangerine Times. There is no article about the team. There is a picture of Nita. The caption on the picture refers to Nita as Maya Pandhi.

Monday, October 2 Summary Paul and his friends have two classes, science and language arts, that work together. They do a project in science and write about it in language arts. The students split up into groups at the beginning of each project. Paul asks Tino if he and Joey can be in the group he started with Henry D. (The D. in Henry D. stands for Dilkes.) Joey is unhappy. He doesn’t want to be in Tino’s group. Paul tells him that it would be a good way to get in with members of the soccer team. Joey says that he dropped off the team. Joey goes into a rant about how the school is different. Then, the bell rings and Paul leaves without him.

Notes
Paul and Joey have different attitudes toward Tangerine Middle School. Their different attitudes result in different experiences.

Tuesday, October 3

Paul remembers back to Joey’s first day at Tangerine Middle School. Joey hadn’t wanted Theresa to show him around the school like Paul had suggested. Joey called her a guide dog. He said that, if Paul considered Theresa to be good-looking, he had been at the school too long. Paul suggested that Joey needed an attitude adjustment.

Today is the first science project meeting. Theresa is now in the group with Tino, Henry D., Paul and Joey and she takes charge of the group. She hands out an advertisement for a tangerine that her brother, Luis, has developed. It is called the Golden Dawn tangerine. The members of the group will each do a report on a different aspect of the project. Theresa says that she will type everyone’s report for them. When Joey suggests using a computer and Theresa gets embarrassed because she doesn’t have one, Tino jumps in, confronting Joey and calling him Tuna. Joey stands up and announces that he is going to join another group. He then insults Luis and the tangerine he has developed. When the battle of words turns physical, Mrs. Potter, the teacher, takes Tino into the hallway. Then Joey turns on Paul and tells Paul that he is afraid of the other kids. At that time, Mrs. Potter calls Joey out into the hall. After he leaves, Theresa asks Paul if he plans to leave the group,

With a chant from Victor ringing in their ears, the remaining team starts the second half strongly. Tino and Maya both score goals. Then Paul, playing in Victor’s spot, scores. And, Maya scores again. Now that they are leading 7-3, more subs are sent in. The score remains 7-3.

Victor returns from the emergency room at the end of the game. Victor gives Paul a high-five.

Wednesday, October 4

While Paul is doing some research on his father’s computer, which is located near the great room, Mom warns him that there will be a loud meeting later in the great room. Mr. Costello has been receiving complaints, some about termites, some about recent break-ins. Mom asks Paul if he or Joey have heard any talk about kids being involved in the break-ins. Paul has not heard anything.

Mr. Costello is among the guests that arrive. As they exchange words, Paul notices that Mr. Costello looks tired. He has been looking tired since Mike died.

Someone brings up the subject of the Donnelly house. Mr. Costello explains that after the Donnellys received approval for the installation of a lightning rod, Mr. Donnelly installed ten of them on his roof. Mom says that he took advantage of the Homeowners” Association. She adds that the Architectural Committee has sent a letter to him.

Someone else mentions the disappearing koi. No one seems to know what has happened to them. Paul thinks that he has solved the mystery, but says nothing.

The next subject is the muck fire. Mr. Costello tells those gathered that a contractor was hired to dig four wells. Then, they pumped water onto the fire for a month. The fire never went out. Now, there is also a swamp that is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Starting tomorrow a truck will spray the development for mosquitoes every other night.

The discussion turns to the robberies. Guards should have been stationed around the tented homes. It’s the law. Mr. Costello said that all that can be done is for the victims to sue the exterminator. But, all the exterminator has is his pick-up truck.

With that depressing information, the meeting adjourns. As Paul’s attention turns back to the computer, he notices a file title, Erik-Scholarship Offers. Paul opens the file and finds the addresses of colleges along with the names of their head football coaches. There are no recent entries.

When Paul notices Dad closing the front door as the last guest leaves, he quickly exits the file.

Thursday, October 5

When Paul doesn’t see Joey at Tangerine Middle School, he says to himself that Joey is back at Lake Windsor Middle School, where Paul feels that Joey belongs.

Before science class, Paul gives Theresa his research paper. She tells him that Tino will be able to play tomorrow. Luis talked to Dr. Johnson about the situation. Tino didn’t actually hit anyone. Dr. Johnson shortened his suspension. Then, Theresa told Paul to tell Joey to be more respectful toward Luis, not to talk about him like he did. Paul tells her that it looks like he won’t be a student at Tangerine Middle School anymore. Theresa gives Paul a map to their house and invites him to meet Luis after soccer practice.

After soccer practice, the last one without Tino, Paul gets a ride with Henry D. and his brother to Theresa’s place. Paul discovers that Henry D’s brother is Wayne, the fireman. When they get to their destination they see a grove of hundreds of trees. The trees are on higher ground than a nearby pond. Among the citrus trees are tall water sprinklers.

There is a group of buildings on the property. It includes a large house made of cement blocks. Another building is called a Quonset hut. It was surplus after World War II.

Saturday, November 4

Tired of waiting for another meeting to be held at the tangerine nursery, Paul decides to just go to the nursery. When he gets to the Quonset hut, Tino implies that he should have called first. But, Luis reminds Tino that he, Luis, invited Paul to return. Paul helps them lay out hose in the Golden Dawn tangerine nursery. After doing that for three hours, the three of them take a break, sitting on crates in the adult grove and eating tangerines one after the other. Paul, in response to a question from Tino, says that he likes the smell of the orchards. Luis agrees. Their next job is snipping holes in the hose that they just laid out. They put a hole in the nursery. During the next break, Luis says that Paul is done for today. Paul is sunburned. After a suggestion from Luis, Tino takes Paul into the Quonset hut and applies a spray to Paul’s burned skin.

After calling home for a ride, Paul asks Tino about Theresa. Tino says that she is busy helping their father with paperwork for the business. Then Tino suggests that Paul could do the project report on his computer because Theresa is really busy these days. He adds that it is Theresa’s idea.

Tino tells Paul about how Luis injured his knee when he was twelve. He was clipping tangerines at the time. After that, Luis could no longer go and clip tangerines. That is what led to Luis becoming interested in horticulture. Tino added that Luis played soccer, too. He was a goalie.

Because he notices that Tino is in a good mood, Paul tells him that he is the one who told that Tangerine Middle School soccer players were the ones who wrecked the Ax Man exhibit. After asking Paul to turn his back to him, Tino kicks him and tells Paul to tell his Lake Windsor homeboys what happened when Tino found out.

Sunday, November 5

Tonight Dad, Mom and Paul walk over to Mr. Donnelly’s house, the one with the lightning rods. Mr. Donnelly is interested in football. He has noticed Erik’s talent lately. He wants Erik to meet some football guys that he knows. Mom hopes to find out why Mr. Donnelly has not answered any of the letters she has sent to him from the Architectural Committee. Dad hopes that she doesn’t mention it tonight. Erik isn’t with them as they walk because he has been off somewhere with Arthur. When they get to Mr. Donnelly’s place, Arthur’s Land Cruiser is parked in front, but Paul cannot tell if Erik or Arthur are inside the vehicle.

Mom, Dad, and Paul are attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes and hurry into the Donnelly home as soon as Terry Donnelly opens the door. Erik is already in the house, watching football on the big-screen television. The two men who Mr. Donnelly wanted them to meet are also there. Their names are Larry and Frank.

Mom suggests that Arthur should join them. Erik says that Arthur doesn’t want to come in because he smells like bug spray. The idea of getting Arthur to come inside is dropped.

Later, when Mr. Donnelly sees Paul eying his trophy case, he asks Paul about his sports interests. When he finds out that Paul is on the Tangerine Middle School soccer team, he tells him about his coach, Betty Bright. She was a famous hurdler and could have been even more successful without some bad luck.

When it is time for the family to leave, Mr. Donnelly tells Erik that it was great to meet him. Then, he tells Paul that it was also great to meet him. This surprises the Fishers.

When Erik opens the door of the Land Cruiser, it startles Arthur, who quickly removes something shiny from his dashboard.

Arriving home with Mom and Paul, Dad opens the house by using the garage-door opener in his car, which he first unlocks. About this time, Grandma’s voice can be heard on the message machine.

Wednesday, November 8

Today’s Tangerine Times includes two articles that seem to be inspired by Mr. Donnelly’s conversation with Paul at last Sunday’s gathering at the Donnelly home. One article is about the soccer teams in the county. The other article is about Betty Bright’s history as a hurdler.

Friday, November 10

As the Tangerine Middle School War Eagles soccer team waits to board the bus to go to Lake Windsor Middle School for their last game of the season, Paul notices that all the people who attended their home games are in the parking lot. As the team boards the bus, he sees twenty-five or more cars and trucks lining up behind the bus.

On the trip to Lake Windsor, Henry D. tells Paul about last year’s game. Both teams had a 9-1 record going into the game, which was held at Tangerine. But, last year, Lake Windsor beat Tangerine. Victor adds that Lake Windsor stole the championship last year and must pay this year.

As the bus goes by the housing developments near Paul’s home, the team members make comments and refer to the housing developments as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Paul sees the places that he goes by all the time with different eyes, with the eyes of a Tangerine War Eagle.

There is a big crowd around the Lake Windsor soccer field. The coach parks the bus near the visitor’s corner-kick area like she does at all away games.

As the team runs around the perimeter of the soccer field, Paul notices people that he knows. Mr. Donnelly gives him a thumbs-up sign. The run ends with a turn at midfield that brings the team to the center of the field where Victor, who led them during the run, and Betty Bright lead the team in their war cry.

The game begins. Victor and Gino clash right off. As part of this clash, a large Lake Windsor fullback hits Victor in the face causing him to fall and hit his head. The referee sends the fullback out of the game. As a result of Victor being knocked down, Paul goes in as his substitute, even though Victor is sure that he is ready to resume play. When play resumes, the War Eagles, in a team effort quickly score a goal. Lake Windsor’s Tommy Acoso scores next. In the process of attempting to block him, Shandra’s stomach is hit, causing her to vomit. Because of this, Paul becomes substitute goalie. When Gino attempts a goal, the ball hits Paul in the face, and bounces back to Gino who then makes the goal. Now Lake Windsor is ahead 2-1. His latest encounter with the ball leaves Paul with a bloody nose. He also has more spirit than ever. He manages to stop everything that comes his way. When the half ends, the score is still 2-1.

During halftime, Coach Walski of the Lake Windsor team tells Betty Bright that Paul is not eligible to play. If he plays in the second half, the War Eagles will forfeit the game. Betty has an answer. She tells him that the goalie who had to leave the game earlier is Shandra Thomas. Shandra lives in Tangerine, as does her brother, Antoine Thomas, Lake Windsor’s star. After being hit with this information, Coach Walski decides that they should just play ball. Betty sends Paul back to the goal.

This half Victor is back in the game. That takes some pressure off of Paul. Every time the ball comes his way, Paul is ready for it. The next goal is scored by an unexpected player, Cesar, Tangerine’s smallest substitute, also called Cesar Salad.

The score remains 2-2. Gino and Victor collide and the referee calls a penalty on Victor, who, after the crash, had landed on Gino.

As Gino moves toward the ball to make his penalty shot, Paul thinks that he knows from experience where Gino will aim and moves in that direction. But, Gino surprises him. Realizing too late where Gino had aimed, Paul thinks that a goal was scored, but it wasn’t.. Gino had missed the goal. Because time runs out, the game ends with a tie score, 2-2. Afterward, Gino tells Paul that Paul made him miss the shot..

Kerri approaches Paul and compliments him.

Mom wants to know if both teams are champions. Paul explains that Tangerine’s record is better, 9-0-1, compared to Lake Windsor’s, 9-0-2.Then he tells her that he plans to go back on the bus with the team. Mom complains because it means more driving for her. But Paul gets his way.

On the way to the bus, Paul gets his picture taken with Cesar, Maya, and Victor for tomorrow’s Tangerine Times. On the bus, Victor renames Cesar Salad. He is to be called Julius Cesar now. The caravan gets loud. People that they pass stop and look. Paul is happy that he took the memorable ride on the bus.

Something about the scene triggers a suppressed memory for Paul. He remembers Grandmom and Grandpop approaching him in the Fisher garage in Huntsville. They were both noticing that something had happened to his eyes. Mom suggested to Grandmom and Grandpop that they could discuss it later. Paul remembers that, as the rest of the family entered the house, Paul and Erik starred at each other.

Notes
The mention of Arthur smelling like bug spray foreshadows what we will find out while reading Paul’s Sunday, December 3, journal entry.

Tuesday, November 7

Today, in the last home game of the season, Paul scores a goal while playing left wing. As the teams wait for the referee and coaches to confer, a storm blows in, causing a rain delay.

As they wait for the storm to pass, Victor questions the referee. They find out that, if the game cannot continue, there will be no rain-out game. It will be as though the game never happened. Paul’s goal will not count. Twenty minutes later, the referee confirms that today was “no game.”

Coach Bright reminds the team that Friday they play Lake Windsor, the other undefeated team. When Victor mentions Lake Windsor’s tie game against Palmetto yesterday, the coach tells the team to concentrate on their own team.

Tino is at the Quonset hut. He welcomes Henry D, but doesn’t acknowledge Paul. They go to meet Luis. Theresa is with him. As a group, they leave the Quonset hut. Luis leads the way, limping. They go to a grove that contains Cleopatra tangerines. Luis tells those who don’t know that his family sells the tangerines to citrus packers and companies that make juice from the tangerines. They have been doing so for forty-five years.

Next, Luis shows the group another product. They go to what looks like a miniature grove. It is called a nursery. These trees are not expected to bear fruit for Luis’ family to sell. Instead, the trees will be sold to other growers. Luis continues to spout information about the trees giving the group much that they can use in their report.

When Wayne returns to pick up Henry D. and Paul, Paul notices a trailer attached to Wayne’s truck. It holds a sprayer. The reason Wayne will be going to Lake Windsor Downs is to spray for mosquitoes.

When they get to Lake Windsor Downs, Wayne sees the blue tents along one street. He says that is where the citrus trees that were cleared to make room for Lake Windsor Downs were buried after they were burned.

Back home, standing at the breakfast bar window, Paul sees Erik and Arthur practicing in the back yard. Clouds of mosquito spray enter the back yard. Paul remembers their Huntsville back yard. He remembers a scene that, until now, his mind has been blocking out. He remembers Dad and Mom in the yard talking about Paul’s vision. Erik was there. When he heard that Paul couldn’t see him, he terrorized him. That made Paul cry. After Mom took Paul to get glasses, Paul could see. He could even see things that Mom and Dad could not see, things like how phony Erik acted for Mom and Dad.

Thursday, November 2

The Fisher family has been busy these last four weeks. Dad is now the Director of Civil Engineering for Tangerine County. Mom is now the head of the Architectural Committee. She is also involved in the Neighborhood Watch as a block captain. Erik has been busy kicking field goals to help his football team win games. Paul has been playing soccer as part of a great fear-inspiring team, the Tangerine Middle School War Eagles.

Erik and Arthur head for the gate. Before he leaves, Erik gives Paul a look that surprises him, a look of something like sorrow

Saturday, November 4

Tired of waiting for another meeting to be held at the tangerine nursery, Paul decides to just go to the nursery. When he gets to the Quonset hut, Tino implies that he should have called first. But, Luis reminds Tino that he, Luis, invited Paul to return. Paul helps them lay out hose in the Golden Dawn tangerine nursery. After doing that for three hours, the three of them take a break, sitting on crates in the adult grove and eating tangerines one after the other. Paul, in response to a question from Tino, says that he likes the smell of the orchards. Luis agrees. Their next job is snipping holes in the hose that they just laid out. They put a hole in the nursery. During the next break, Luis says that Paul is done for today. Paul is sunburned. After a suggestion from Luis, Tino takes Paul into the Quonset hut and applies a spray to Paul’s burned skin.

After calling home for a ride, Paul asks Tino about Theresa. Tino says that she is busy helping their father with paperwork for the business. Then Tino suggests that Paul could do the project report on his computer because Theresa is really busy these days. He adds that it is Theresa’s idea.

Tino tells Paul about how Luis injured his knee when he was twelve. He was clipping tangerines at the time. After that, Luis could no longer go and clip tangerines. That is what led to Luis becoming interested in horticulture. Tino added that Luis played soccer, too. He was a goalie.

Because he notices that Tino is in a good mood, Paul tells him that he is the one who told that Tangerine Middle School soccer players were the ones who wrecked the Ax Man exhibit. After asking Paul to turn his back to him, Tino kicks him and tells Paul to tell his Lake Windsor homeboys what happened when Tino found out.

Sunday, November 5

Tonight Dad, Mom and Paul walk over to Mr. Donnelly’s house, the one with the lightning rods. Mr. Donnelly is interested in football. He has noticed Erik’s talent lately. He wants Erik to meet some football guys that he knows. Mom hopes to find out why Mr. Donnelly has not answered any of the letters she has sent to him from the Architectural Committee. Dad hopes that she doesn’t mention it tonight. Erik isn’t with them as they walk because he has been off somewhere with Arthur. When they get to Mr. Donnelly’s place, Arthur’s Land Cruiser is parked in front, but Paul cannot tell if Erik or Arthur are inside the vehicle.

Mom, Dad, and Paul are attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes and hurry into the Donnelly home as soon as Terry Donnelly opens the door. Erik is already in the house, watching football on the big-screen television. The two men who Mr. Donnelly wanted them to meet are also there. Their names are Larry and Frank.

Mom suggests that Arthur should join them. Erik says that Arthur doesn’t want to come in because he smells like bug spray. The idea of getting Arthur to come inside is dropped.

Later, when Mr. Donnelly sees Paul eying his trophy case, he asks Paul about his sports interests. When he finds out that Paul is on the Tangerine Middle School soccer team, he tells him about his coach, Betty Bright. She was a famous hurdler and could have been even more successful without some bad luck.

When it is time for the family to leave, Mr. Donnelly tells Erik that it was great to meet him. Then, he tells Paul that it was also great to meet him. This surprises the Fishers.

When Erik opens the door of the Land Cruiser, it startles Arthur, who quickly removes something shiny from his dashboard.

Arriving home with Mom and Paul, Dad opens the house by using the garage-door opener in his car, which he first unlocks. About this time, Grandma’s voice can be heard on the message machine.

Something about the scene triggers a suppressed memory for Paul. He remembers Grandmom and Grandpop approaching him in the Fisher garage in Huntsville. They were both noticing that something had happened to his eyes. Mom suggested to Grandmom and Grandpop that they could discuss it later. Paul remembers that, as the rest of the family entered the house, Paul and Erik starred at each other.

Notes
The mention of Arthur smelling like bug spray foreshadows what we will find out while reading Paul’s Sunday, 

December 3, journal entry.

Tuesday, November 7

Today, in the last home game of the season, Paul scores a goal while playing left wing. As the teams wait for the referee and coaches to confer, a storm blows in, causing a rain delay.

As they wait for the storm to pass, Victor questions the referee. They find out that, if the game cannot continue, there will be no rain-out game. It will be as though the game never happened. Paul’s goal will not count. Twenty minutes later, the referee confirms that today was “no game.”

Coach Bright reminds the team that Friday they play Lake Windsor, the other undefeated team. When Victor mentions Lake Windsor’s tie game against Palmetto yesterday, the coach tells the team to concentrate on their own team.

Wednesday, November 8

Today’s Tangerine Times includes two articles that seem to be inspired by Mr. Donnelly’s conversation with Paul at last Sunday’s gathering at the Donnelly home. One article is about the soccer teams in the county. The other article is about Betty Bright’s history as a hurdler.

Friday, November 10

As the Tangerine Middle School War Eagles soccer team waits to board the bus to go to Lake Windsor Middle School for their last game of the season, Paul notices that all the people who attended their home games are in the parking lot. As the team boards the bus, he sees twenty-five or more cars and trucks lining up behind the bus.

On the trip to Lake Windsor, Henry D. tells Paul about last year’s game. Both teams had a 9-1 record going into the game, which was held at Tangerine. But, last year, Lake Windsor beat Tangerine. Victor adds that Lake Windsor stole the championship last year and must pay this year.

As the bus goes by the housing developments near Paul’s home, the team members make comments and refer to the housing developments as Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Paul sees the places that he goes by all the time with different eyes, with the eyes of a Tangerine War Eagle.

There is a big crowd around the Lake Windsor soccer field. The coach parks the bus near the visitor’s corner-kick area like she does at all away games.

As the team runs around the perimeter of the soccer field, Paul notices people that he knows. Mr. Donnelly gives him a thumbs-up sign. The run ends with a turn at midfield that brings the team to the center of the field where Victor, who led them during the run, and Betty Bright lead the team in their war cry.

The game begins. Victor and Gino clash right off. As part of this clash, a large Lake Windsor fullback hits Victor in the face causing him to fall and hit his head. The referee sends the fullback out of the game. As a result of Victor being knocked down, Paul goes in as his substitute, even though Victor is sure that he is ready to resume play. When play resumes, the War Eagles, in a team effort quickly score a goal. Lake Windsor’s Tommy Acoso scores next. In the process of attempting to block him, Shandra’s stomach is hit, causing her to vomit. Because of this, Paul becomes substitute goalie. When Gino attempts a goal, the ball hits Paul in the face, and bounces back to Gino who then makes the goal. Now Lake Windsor is ahead 2-1. His latest encounter with the ball leaves Paul with a bloody nose. He also has more spirit than ever. He manages to stop everything that comes his way. When the half ends, the score is still 2-1.

During halftime, Coach Walski of the Lake Windsor team tells Betty Bright that Paul is not eligible to play. If he plays in the second half, the War Eagles will forfeit the game. Betty has an answer. She tells him that the goalie who had to leave the game earlier is Shandra Thomas. Shandra lives in Tangerine, as does her brother, Antoine Thomas, Lake Windsor’s star. After being hit with this information, Coach Walski decides that they should just play ball. Betty sends Paul back to the goal.

This half Victor is back in the game. That takes some pressure off of Paul. Every time the ball comes his way, Paul is ready for it. The next goal is scored by an unexpected player, Cesar, Tangerine’s smallest substitute, also called Cesar Salad.

The score remains 2-2. Gino and Victor collide and the referee calls a penalty on Victor, who, after the crash, had landed on Gino.

As Gino moves toward the ball to make his penalty shot, Paul thinks that he knows from experience where Gino will aim and moves in that direction. But, Gino surprises him. Realizing too late where Gino had aimed, Paul thinks that a goal was scored, but it wasn’t.. Gino had missed the goal. Because time runs out, the game ends with a tie score, 2-2. Afterward, Gino tells Paul that Paul made him miss the shot..

Kerri approaches Paul and compliments him.

Mom wants to know if both teams are champions. Paul explains that Tangerine’s record is better, 9-0-1, compared to Lake Windsor’s, 9-0-2.Then he tells her that he plans to go back on the bus with the team. Mom complains because it means more driving for her. But Paul gets his way.

On the way to the bus, Paul gets his picture taken with Cesar, Maya, and Victor for tomorrow’s Tangerine Times. On the bus, Victor renames Cesar Salad. He is to be called Julius Cesar now. The caravan gets loud. People that they pass stop and look. Paul is happy that he took the memorable ride on the bus.