Free Desert Passage by P. S. Carillo Page A

right shoulder and agreed to the generous offer.

  Chapter 21  
    T he boys wheeled the scooter and their belongings to the campsite and met the other boys. The soccer ball was being kicked around on a grassy area nearby and Turner was getting the food out of several ice chests. Miguel saw the boys playing soccer and wanted to join in. His legs were stiff from sitting on the small seat all day and he wanted to run around and stretch out. He approached the game in progress and when the ball rolled in his direction, he kicked it up with the end of his shoe and balanced it on his knee before kicking it up and forward to the other players.
    â€œHey, he’s good. You’re with us,” Chris said, running toward Miguel to take the pass. “You play on a team?”
    â€œYeah, next year I’ll play varsity.” Miguel spoke with reservation in his voice. After the last fight at school, the principal had wanted to expel Miguel and his dad had threatened that he would never let him play soccer again if he didn’t “straighten up.”
    Not being able to play soccer was Miguel’s biggest fear. He had started to play when he was four years old and was the most outstanding player on every team he played on. He was taller than most boys his age and his muscles were more developed than his teammates’ but that did not affect his speed on the field. The other kids back home used to call him “Tank” because when he had control of the ball no one could stop him. The school coach had been impressed with Miguel and for the last two years had encouraged him to train harder and focus on his natural athletic ability. Deep in his heart, Miguel wanted to play soccer forever. Even if he never played professionally, he knew that playing soccer was hisspecial gift and that he would only be happy if he could play. Now at fourteen, his future was at risk due to his bad grades and his recent bad behavior.
    The boys played for a long time until the inevitable darkness stopped them. Turner had cooked chili dogs over the campfire and was passing around bags of potato chips and plates full of spicy food when the boys returned from the game. Ramón was stretched out by the fire, eating his second chili dog when Miguel saw him.
    â€œThese are awesome,” Ramón said with his mouth full. “Who won?”
    â€œMiguel beat us all,” Chris said, laughing. “I’ve never seen anyone like him, and I play in tournaments all the time!”
    Ramón knew that his cousin was a great soccer player. He admired his ability and frequently attended his soccer games, especially the championship tournaments. Ramón nodded at Chris’s observation and motioned for Miguel to sit nearby.
    â€œTurner says you guys are driving to New Mexico on your own. Is that true?” asked another boy.
    â€œSanta Fe, actually,” Miguel said proudly, feeling the admiration from the group after his dominance on the newly created soccer field. “My mom and dad left two days ago, and we’re meeting them there.” Miguel didn’t mention that they had been left behind and that his father had no idea that they were on the road by themselves.
    The boys were in awe. For the rest of the night, Miguel or Ramón could have told them the most fantastic stories and their newfound friends would have believed every word. But Miguel and Ramón were honest about themselves and soon the conversation drifted to what their school was like and the different activities they were involved in. Turner asked about the classes they were taking and if they likedschool. Ramón tried to act like everything was okay but soon he felt like he had to get everything off his chest.
    â€œMiguel and I almost got kicked out of school last month,” he blurted out while Turner passed around chocolate chip cookies from a box.
    â€œWhat happened?” Turner asked. “It must have been serious for the school to