Bennie Esposito is the son of a carnival owner. Bennie is also a very good basketball player. When Bennie's father decides that he needs to stay in one place so he can go to school, Bennie moves in with his aunt in Pierre. Bennie's presence in Pierre causes Andrew a great deal of heartache. Andrew is upset that Bennie seems to have a crush on Andrew's own crush, AnnaLise. Then when Bennie takes Andrew's spot on the basketball team and takes them to victory, Andrew decides he hates Bennie. However, Andrew eventually grows up enough to realize that Bennie is not a bad guy. Andrew even befriends Bennie by the end of the novel.
