Chapter 18 Summary

Tom continues telling about the fall of 1961. He is the quarterback on the Colleton High School football team. Before the game, Luke takes a stand for Benji as a team member not to be left out in the cold. Savannah is there resplendent in her cheerleading uniform, and the tiger, Caesar, is in his cage as the school mascot. Henry gets ten dollars a game to bring Caesar to the contests. The opposing team, North Charleston, humiliated them the year before, and the Colleton High School tigers are anxious to make amends.

On the field, the North Charleston team taunts Benji and calls him a "nigger." Luke's pep talk before the game works its magic on the Colleton team. Tom recalls being a better quarterback with Benji there, and they soundly defeat their opponents. Luke gets Caesar to roar, and the people of...