Being Ben

A short sample of my young adult novel.

Chapter One “The End’s Beginning”

     Ben sat, white faced, as his younger brother’s voice bounced around the walls of the room and fell to the floor. He wished that’s where he was, on the floor somewhere beneath the huge dark wood table, invisible, but his brother stood tall. Ben’s stomach churned as he watched. His father slumped further into his chair with each new accusation, and still his brother went on hurling them like rocks.
      Their mother sat on the other side of Ben. He kept his eyes fixed on his brother though. He didn’t want to see her; he could hear her quiet sobs and that was enough. Someone else might not have, as they were almost silent, but Ben knew the sound well. At night she cried the same semi-silent way with her breath held, and then released quickly, a sniff, and then back to holding her breath again as the tears streamed like a faucet.
     Ben couldn’t stand it anymore. When his brother paused, Ben pulled him quickly back down into his seat.
     “Shut up, Dan, not another word,” Ben whispered to his brother as their lawyer’s voice rambled on awkwardly in the background.
     Dan smiled and whispered back “Bite me, Ben.”
     Dan’s misbehaviour always got Ben’s attention, but this was too much. Ben could feel his face contour into the stern, motherly fashion he hated. He felt like he had to do something or they may not get through this hearing at all.
     Rising from the leather chair and pulling Dan up along with him, he said, “Please excuse my brother and me, Sir. I think we may need a little breather. It’s been an awfully long day for us.” He had no sooner gotten the words past his lips than he knew he’d been manipulated. Dan’s stone-cold expression was broken by a half-smile, obviously this was all just injury time in his little game.
     With a quick nod of approval from their mother’s lawyer they walked stiffly to the oak double doors. Dan was joyfully in the lead. Ben looked back at his parents. They sat on opposite sides of the large table, each with their own lawyer. His mother glanced up from the document she was going over, her tears now subsided, and gave him a knowing look and a slight smile before returning to it. His father was running his fingers through his hair and gazing blankly out the window. Shutting the doors securely behind him, Ben turned on his brother.
     “Come on Dan, what were you thinking of, or were you thinking at all? Why don’t you think of someone else for a change, you selfish little brat!”
     “What did I do?” Dan asked, with his telltale half smile.
     “Don’t even start with the act. You could have just kept quiet and you know it!”
     “Hey, the nice lawyer asked if we wanted to give a little input and I’ve been waiting a long time to give ‘a little input’. I saw my chance and took it, that’s all,” Dan reasoned.
     “You didn’t have to attack Dad, especially when Mom asked us right before we went in not to say anything we might regret later. She said it would be best if we were all civil to each other throughout the custody hearing and we ALL agreed to that, Dan.”
     Dan looked straight into Ben’s eyes “Really? Was I there? Oh, wait, of course I was, it was Dad who wasn’t there wasn’t it?”
     Ben felt his stomach tighten again. “I don’t like it that Dad ran off any more than you do, but think of Mom here. Couldn’t you let her get through this with what little dignity she has left intact? And now she has to take on the embarrassment of having a total jerk for a son as well!”
     Dan clasped a hand on Ben’s shoulder, sighed and said, “I’m sorry, and you’re right, I wasn’t thinking about Mom’s feelings. But I was giving Dad what he deserved- embarrassing him like he has Mom and us. And Dad’s stupid lawyer…” Dan paused a moment as he lowered his jaw, sucked his cheeks in until his face looked a bit hollow, and then began again with a high pompous voice ‘Yes Mr. O’Brien, no Mr. O’Brien, I agree Mr. O’Brien,’ what an ass!” Ben sniggered at his brother’s dramatization of the lawyer. Then, with a furrowed brow, Dan added, “Oh, and don’t worry, I’m pretty sure Mom doesn’t think you’re a total jerk!”
     Ben laughed and gave his brother a smack on the back of the head. It had been a long and stressful break-up. Ben had been carrying most of the weight of Dan’s less than desirable behaviour on his shoulders. He hadn’t wanted his mother to have to deal with that too. He had been covering all the bases, both at home and at school, to ensure that Dan stayed in line. Ben knew Dan was caught between being really annoyed and pleased with this. The sudden lucrative amount of attention he had started giving his brother wasn’t quite producing the desired effects. On the contrary, Dan was getting the hang of manipulating his brother and Ben knew it too well. It was all too much for him to even think about dealing with now. As Ben nodded in the direction of the office doors, Dan smiled and followed his brother back in.
     In the short time they had been out in that hallway the entirety of their lives had been altered. Convenience on their parents’ part won out over what the boys actually wanted. To the sheer delight of Dan, and total dismay of Ben, they were told that, due to Mr. O’Brien being too busy to take them during the Summer, he would begin getting them every other weekend after school started back up in the autumn.
     “If I have time I’ll stop by for a visit now and again, until I get things sorted on my end,” Mr O’Brien added looking straight at Ben. “You’ll be my ‘man of the house’ until then, won’t you Ben?” he chuckled.
     After a quick nod of agreement in his father’s direction, Ben’s eyes filled with tears, and his cheeks flushed red. His mother smiled at him and slid an arm around his shoulders. He immediately began trying to pull himself back together. Ben forced himself to focus on his brother, who was now tapping the office window in an attempt to get an inattentive pigeon’s attention. As Ben’s face returned to its normal colour, he realised that this was all probably a good thing. Everyone needed a few months to cool off before they could try and rebuild a relationship with each other again.

     The drive home was quiet. Ben focused on his image reflected in the car window. Staring into deep brown eyes, wishing he could be anyone other than the boy looking back at him, he thought about his dad. For the last couple of years his dad had called him “Gentle Ben” after a book about a tame bear, written way before Ben’s time. Ben was sure he knew why now. It wasn’t some term of endearment as he had thought, it was his dad’s way of saying “Sure you’re built like a bear, but you don’t stand up to anything, you just do as you’re told without question. What good is a bear with no strength?” As fifteen years flew by him like the urban scenery outside the car, Ben’s mind filled with regrets and missed chances that might have made all the difference in whether his dad had stayed. He hadn’t stood up today like Dan had when he was given the chance to share his feelings on the divorce. Whether it was because he was scared, or because he was numb, he didn’t know. All Ben knew was that his life felt like it was being taken away from him and in turn he was being forced to live someone else’s life now. He wanted his life back, his family back, but most of all he wanted the normality back, the same normality that he’d always taken for granted.
     As they pulled into the driveway, Ben noticed Scott Landes, their next door neighbour. The sun reflected off his white blonde hair as he tried to fix the chain on his bike. Scott and Ben had been friends since the O’Briens moved in almost ten years ago. They practically grew up together. Ben remembered the first day of kindergarten when their moms had walked them to school together. From then until now, Scott had always been there for him. They told each other everything. Ben wondered what he would say to Scott if he asked about the hearing. He hoped he wouldn’t ask at all.
     Ben’s mom broke the silence. “Boys, I’m so proud of you. It took a lot to get to this point. Now that we’re here we can try to get back some semblance of normality around the house.” Ben scowled and rolled his eyes as his mother paused for a moment. “Oh, and Kendra will be arriving next week,” she added.
     With that last sentence, Dan let out a loud “whoop” of delight. Then scrambling to get out of the car, he ran straight over to Scott. In contrast, Ben was in no hurry to leave the solitude of the now empty car. With a sigh he opened the door and forced himself to get out. He walked slowly towards them, shoulders slouched and hands in his pockets. Looking up, he was surprised to see Scott totally absorbed in whatever Dan was saying. As he came closer he caught the last bit of their conversation. Dan was sharing the information about Kendra’s annual arrival as if it had been a late breaking news flash. “Good,” thought Ben, “that should distract Scott from asking me anything about today.”
     Kendra O’Brien was their favourite cousin by far. She usually spent a month with them over the Summer holidays. This had been going on for the past seven years and had always been something to look forward to, even now. Ben had always been able to relate to Kendra. She was a tomboy in every sense of the word. No pink or frills for her, thankfully. She was content to be knee-deep in creek water catching crawfish right alongside the boys and Scott. She was exactly one year and a month younger than Ben, and about a year older than Dan, which bridged the gap between their ages making her the peacemaker of sorts. Ben was sure things would get better once Kendra arrived. There was just something about her that made him feel at ease, like he could tell her anything and she wouldn’t tell a soul.

Chapter Two “A Semblance of Normality”

     The week leading up to Kendra’s visit was long and tedious. The boys were finishing up the last few days of school and the humidity/heat was almost unbearable. Ben was anxious to get to school and get the day started, and therefore finished and over with as soon as possible. He and Scott were in the kitchen waiting for Dan. As usual, he wasn’t ready yet and they were getting angrier by the minute in his absence.
     “He does this every year, Ben. You’d think he’d’ve grown out of it by now! You know he wouldn’t be pulling this if your mom wasn’t at work already.” Scott complained.
     Ben nodded in agreement, then yelled at the top of his voice, “Dan, get down here, now!”
     Dan’s footsteps dragged their way along the hallway, down the stairs, and finally through the living room to the kitchen door. He slowly poked his head into the kitchen, his body following in exaggerated fatigue until he finally propped himself exhaustedly against the doorframe. “Did you call me?” he asked breathlessly.
     “Come on Dan, we’re leaving,” Ben said, cueing Scott to follow him to the front door.
     “Okay, have a good day at school kids,” Dan smiled and waved from the kitchen door.
     “MOVE!” Ben bellowed. “We’re going to be late!”
     “No. I’m not going today. I’m sick.” Dan informed them with finality.
     Ben and Scott laughed. “Right, you are. What’s it this time? Tuberculosis? Asperger Syndrome again? Inflammation of the spleen? Or is it something more sinister, like lunchtime detention? Dan, I don’t care if you‘re dying, you are going to school!” Ben told him.
     Scott punctuated this point with a threat, “Dan, seriously, get your bag and come on or I’m gonna permanently disfigure you!” which seemed to motivate Dan’s miraculous recovery.

     On the walk to school, they ran into Peter. Dan, who wasn’t as taken with him as everyone else seemed to be, walked off down a side street yelling “Later...,” in his wake.
     Peter moved into the neighbourhood just before December and became good friends with Ben and Scott by Christmas break. As the dynamics of their friendship grew, Ben and Scott gladly allowed Peter the role of fearless leader. Though he and Scott would always be best friends, Ben hadn’t really met anyone like Peter before. He reckoned Peter and Scott had to be exact opposites, from Scott’s wintry blue eyes, and deathly pale skin, to Peter’s cola brown hair and dark eyes matching his complexion. Ben thought their personalities were vastly different as well. Scott was usually very reserved, a borderline antisocial at times, while Peter was just Peter, and there was no other way to describe him.
     As always, Peter was now in the midst of showing off for some girls who were walking behind them. He had taken to scaling a brick garden wall. With the aid of a tree limb, he reached the top and was walking carefully along it about six feet above the ground. With a quick glance to make sure the girls were watching, he pretended to sway and leaned slightly to the left. The two girls gasped. Peter righted himself, shot a wink at Ben and Scott, and jumped off the wall. Landing on his feet, knees buckling dangerously, he pulled himself out of the fall with a spectacular roll and rose quickly to his feet again. Ben and Scott snorted with laughter. The girls squealed and then broke into applause. Jet Li had nothing on Peter Fox as far as they were concerned.
     “So, Pete,” said the red haired girl, “Do you have any plans for the Summer yet?”
     “I always have a plan, Melissa,” came Peter’s reply.
     “Oh, I’m sure of that,” she said sarcastically.
     “What she’s trying to find out,” the second girl interrupted, “is if you guys will be hanging out at the pool?”
     “Beth!” shouted Melissa, giving her friend an elbow to the ribs and turning extremely pink faced.
     “So, you think I’m a hottie, do you Melissa? Can’t wait to get a look at me in my swimming trunks?” Peter said winking at her. The boys burst out laughing as if on cue.
     “No!” Melissa said through cheeks on fire. “And I think you’re a jerk Peter Fox!” she added, simultaneously smacking him with her folder.
     “Ah... a love pat” he said backing away.
     “The next ‘pat’ will carry my unmistakable hatred with it!” she called as she chased him up the long stairway leading to the front steps of the school.
     Beth walked on with Ben and Scott. After their laughter had finally died down, Beth asked, “What will you guys be up to over the Summer?”
     “If Pete does have a plan, I’m sure we’ll be up to no good,” admitted Ben. “Oh, and my cousin will be visiting for a month or so.”
     “We’re going to be at the pool a lot this year. Melissa’s mom bought us passes,” she said casually looking at the ground. The boys smirked at each other not daring to say a word. “So if you guys want to come and hang out with us sometime...” Beth added, but apparently didn’t have enough courage finish.
     Feeling the awkward tension this last comment had left, Ben tried to rescue her. “Sure,” he said a little louder than he had intended. “I mean, I’m sure we’ll be there some,” he tried to recover. This whole girl thing was somewhat unfamiliar territory to him. He didn’t want to come off sounding too eager to spend time with them.
     As they parted ways, Beth smiled up at Ben, causing her to trip up the last step. She then walked hurriedly through the front door without another glance at the boys. Scott lost it at this point and began to laugh uncontrollably, which made Ben laugh. Peter had doubled back and assembled by the doors with his friends.
     “What’d I miss?” he asked starting to laugh too.
     “Beth was flirting so hard with Ben she about took a nose-dive off the top step,” Scott blurted through the laughter. “Talk about your crash and burn moments!”
     “Brutal!” Ben interjected. “Scott, I’d’ve liked to see you do it without screwing it all up!”
     “Come on, it was funny. Furthermore,” Scott said with a sly smile, “you’re not my type, Ben.”
     Ben knew he was fighting a losing battle. If he said anything else, Scott would just say he was defending Beth because he liked her. Ben kept quiet in defeat. Peter, on the other hand, was not known for keeping quiet. Obviously unable to stop himself, he chimed in with, “No, Ben’s not your type, but his cousin is an entirely different matter!”
     “Right...” was all Scott could manage before Peter came in for another round.
     “I’d keep close tabs on Kendra if I were you, Ben. Scott gets that glazed look in his eye every time he tells me about her.”
     “Don’t I always look like that?” Scott said leaning closer to Peter, with wide eyes for examination, causing all three boys to begin laughing again.

     School was very exciting. Last days are usually like that. Everyone was overdue for their fair share of rest and relaxation. This thought seemed to extend to the high school teachers as well. Ben got the impression they had accepted defeat, surrendering control of their own classrooms. At lunchtime, several teachers were in a huddle near the cafeteria’s far corner. Apparently they were trying to avoid all student interaction by using the power-in-numbers tactic. Even Dan got through the day without a note home to their mother. This, Ben decided, was clearly due to an avoidance of paperwork on the teachers’ parts.
     Ben and Scott had been telling Peter about Kendra and their Summers together all week, but when they met up after school they began re-telling last Summer’s antics all over again during on the walk home. The anticipation of seeing Kendra began to grow for the two brothers. The closer they got to their house, the quicker they walked. Scott looked excited too. Peter didn’t say much one way or the other about it. This concerned Ben because it was quite uncharacteristic of his friend.
     Finally Peter said to him, “So, this Kendra, when exactly is she getting here, Ben?”
     “She should be there when we get home.” Ben said.
     “Oh, that soon?” Peter questioned.
     When they got to their street, Dan took off at a run. Ben and Scott hastened their pace as well, but Peter fell behind, looking almost sulkily towards the O’Briens’ house. Catching this, Ben slowed down.
     “What’s wrong?” He asked.
     “Nothing,” Peter said flatly.
     Undaunted, Ben went on with the interrogation. “Come on Pete. We tell each other everything. What’s up?”
     “It’s just that...” Peter started.
     “What?” asked Ben impatiently.
     “Well, nothing will be the same with your cousin here, that’s all,” Peter said.
     “It’ll be better,” Ben reassured him.
     Peter smiled, but it looked forced. “I guess I’m about to find out.”
     They were now at the O’Briens’ gate. Kendra was on the porch giving Scott a quick hug. As soon as she saw Ben she tore down the front steps to give him one too, her amber hair trailing behind her like a wind caught banner. She would have tackled him had he not been twice her size, though he did have to take a step back as they collided. Kendra was apparently just as excited as the boys were. Releasing Ben, she looked over at Peter. He was standing there awkwardly. Kendra extended her hand to him.
     “I’m Kendra, you must be Peter. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said.
     “Yeah, I am,” Peter said. “So what’ve you heard?”
     “Well, I heard how they met you, that you’re clever and entertaining, you have no brothers or sisters, Dan seems to annoy you as much as he does Ben, and that you’re great at football,” said Kendra all in one breath.
     “Yeah, I guess,” said Peter. He looked surprised she really had heard a lot about him.
     Kendra turned toward Ben as a devious smile slid across her face. She glanced at Scott. He smiled broadly back at her and the two of them began to giggle.
     “What?” Ben demanded, though he had the feeling he probably didn’t want to know.
     “I was just wondering when I’d get to meet your girlfriend?” she said.
     “Never, because I don’t have one!” Ben said crossly.
     “Oh sure you do. Let’s see, what was her name again? Let me think…” Kendra rolled her eyes skyward and nibbled one side of her bottom lip. Then in a dramatic outburst she squealed, “Oh, I remember... Beth!”
     Scott, Kendra, and Peter began to snicker. Dan looked around in bewilderment, as this was obviously an inside joke.
     “Oh, this is great! You two haven’t even seen each other all year and you’re at it already!” Ben said in an exasperated voice. “Paybacks, Scott, … you can count on it,” he added. Ben didn’t dare mention Scott liking Kendra, though. He thought Peter had hit the nail on the head with that one, whether Pete really believed it or not.
     Kendra was like a breath of fresh air to Ben. She was laughing and having fun as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Her wild and crazy attitude was contagious. It took Ben’s mind off the divorce. It even looked like Peter was loosening up about Kendra being around.

Chapter 3 “Temperatures Rising”

     In early summer the days passed slowly. This day was no exception. Ben, Scott, and Peter were sitting on the O’Brien’s front porch. The sweltering heat was at its finest. Giving in to it, they planned to retreat to the pool. Scott and Peter headed home to get their stuff.
     Kendra and Dan were playing a video game in the living room when they came back in. Ben had been changing in his room when he heard them. Stealthily, he came halfway down the stairs twisting a beach towel into a makeshift whip. He took aim at Peter hitting him in the back of the head.
     “Oh, it’s on now!” Peter yelled threateningly, while grabbing the end of Ben’s towel and pulling. Soon they were engaged in a tug of war. With a hard yank from Peter, Ben was pulled off balance and fell over the banister onto the couch below. Taking full advantage of Ben being partially immobilized, Peter snapped him in the stomach with his own towel. He then quickly moved out of Ben’s reach. Ben jumped up, turning on Scott who had been laughing at them. The three of them exchanged several blows with their towels before calling a truce.
     Dan emerged from a nearby beanbag chair where he had been sitting. “You’re going to the pool and aren’t even going to ask us if we want to go? You aren’t only dumb, you’re rude too!”
     Taken aback, Scott, Ben, and Peter smiled menacingly at each other and advanced on the unarmed Dan. Just then the phone rang.
     “This isn’t over Danny, boy,” Ben shouted as he ran to answer it. “Hello?”
     “Hey, Buddy, how are you?” came his dad’s voice.
     “Oh,” Ben said trying to decide how he was going to answer, “We’re all good, Ken’s here and we’re…,” but Ben was interrupted.
     “Yeah, I heard! Good, good. Hey, why I’m calling was ‘cause your Mom thought it would be good for me to come up and see you boys before I get caught up in all that work this Summer,” his dad said casually.
     Ben wasn’t totally sure how he felt about this, but thought it would be nice to see his dad at home again, not in some office somewhere. “Great, Dad.”
     “Well, not great, actually,” his father said. “I’ve double booked myself again, you know me, and I can’t really get out of it this time, so I was calling to let her know.”
     “You know Mom’s working. Don’t you have the number anymore? I can give it to you so you can tell her yourself, if you want.” Ben thought maybe if his parents kept talking to each other it might help. After all, he’d never heard them argue once, so being married to each other couldn’t have been as bad as they were making it out to be.
     His dad seemed to be ready for this. “I can’t call her. I don’t have the time. Anyway, you’re the man of the house these days, so I’m sure you can let her know for me, right? You take care of that Mom of yours and keep Dan in line. I’m counting on you, son. Oh, the colleague I’m meeting is here. I have to go.” With that his dad hung up the phone.
     Ben stood there for a moment listening to the dial tone. He turned the phone off and then on again and clicked the speed dial for his mother’s office and held his breath while he waited for her to answer.
     “Hello, this is Mary O’Brien,” she stated professionally.
     “Hi, Mom.”
     “Ben, what a surprise! I tell you, with the day I’ve had, it’s good to hear a friendly voice. Is anything wrong?”
     “Oh no, not really, I just…. Well dad, uh…” Ben stumbled over his words. His mom seemed to get the idea though.
     “What’s wrong pet, has he phoned? If he’s not coming that’s okay. I was just wondering how I was going to get dinner made with all this work I’m having to bring home with me anyway,” she said.
     “Well, that’s good then,” Ben said feebly.
     “It will all work out for the best, Ben, no matter what happens. Your dad loves you and Dan and I know he must feel really bad that he’s not able to come tonight.” She paused a moment, and then quickly changed the subject. “So what are you guys doing today? Are Scott and Peter over?”
     “Yeah, we’re going to the pool. So I guess I should let you go.”
     His mother sighed. “Okay then, you be careful and don’t roughhouse in the water, someone might get hurt. The beach towels are in the top of the closet, they’re not with the other towels.”
     Just then Dan flew through like a bolt of lightening and snapped Ben with a towel. Scott was a few steps behind with his towel twisted, ready to strike. Dan took off around the corner, weaving through furniture in a daring escape attempt.
     “Yeah, Mom, we’ve already found the towels,” he said rubbing the stinging red place on his back where Dan’s towel had made contact. “Well, I gotta go. Scott needs my help with something.”
     “Okay bye, dear, I love you,” she said tenderly.
     “Yeah, me too, bye.”
     With that he jammed the phone back into its cradle and took off in hot pursuit, chasing Dan through the dining room. Peter joined them, followed by Kendra. Dan slid and slipped, sock-footed, through the kitchen to the sliding glass doors, flinging them open. He had one foot in the back yard before realizing it was too late. His plan had been foiled by Scott who had sprinted around the side of the house and was waiting for him there. Dan stood frozen. Ben and Peter seized his arms dragging him back inside.
     The three older boys briefly discussed the situation and soon agreed upon the punishment for an insult of this nature. Scott hurried to the sink, turned the tap water to cold, and was preparing to spray Dan down with the sink hose. Kendra was right behind him protesting, to no avail. Surveying the scene, she gave up her failed attempt at negotiations and threw herself in front of Dan. With one hand she grabbed behind her, holding securely to the front of Dan’s shirt and with the other she held her nose. As she scrunched her eyes closed. Scott started to laugh.
     “Drown her!” Peter yelled, but Scott hesitated.
     “Aw, come on, look how pitiful she looks standin’ there,” he said.
     “Take her out, Scott!” echoed Ben, squeezing Dan’s arm more tightly as he tried to squirm free.
     “Move, Kendra. This doesn’t involve you,” Scott warned.
     “No.” Kendra said flatly as she opened one cautious eye.
     “Tell her to move Dan... take it like a man,” Ben growled into his brother’s ear.
     “Move, Ken! I don’t need your help,” Dan told her. “I can handle this myself.”
     “Oh yeah? You’re doing great so far!” Kendra shot back at him. “And as for you three, this is hardly a fair fight. He’s outnumbered!”
     “He should’ve thought of that before he insulted us,” Ben said, with one eyebrow raised.
     “I have a few insults for you myself,” Kendra said cattily.
     “Kendra we’re just playin’ around, lighten up,” Scott said obviously annoyed.
     “You’re all big, dumb bullies who don’t have enough brains between the three of you to...”
     But that was all Kendra got out before Scott pulled the sink hose trigger. He had completely drenched her. The boys, Dan included, were doubled over with laughter. Scott was trying to apologize, but couldn’t get a coherent word out because he was laughing so hard. Kendra, however, was not laughing. She stood there stunned and dripping in the middle of the kitchen.
     Ben winked at her. “Go get your suit and come on, Ken. Or have you had enough water for one day?”
     “You’re not going anywhere, Missy, until you’ve cleaned up this mess!” Dan added in his best “mother’s” voice while throwing her a kitchen towel.
     Ben smacked his brother on the back of the head and walked out of the kitchen with his arm around Dan’s shoulder telling him to grab his trunks if he was coming. Peter congratulated Scott and handed him a mop out of the broom closet, before following Ben and Dan out of the room.
     Without his friends, Ben knew he would’ve been a mess after that phone call, especially the one to his mom. As he sat on the porch with Peter he forced himself to put it out of his head. Thinking about it wouldn’t do him any good. It was over and done with and repeating the scenario of events and what he could have, or should have said or done was of no use to him now. Slowly coming back to reality, Ben realised he had left Scott to suffer Kendra’s wrath alone. He quickly darted back to the kitchen to save him.
     “Are we going, or not?” Ben yelled as he walked into the kitchen. Kendra, still dripping wet, was bear hugging Scott from behind, immobilising the top of his arms, while Scott struggled to mop up the last of the water. The back of Scott’s t-shirt and trunks were drenched as Kendra’s long hair streamed an endless supply of water down over both of them. Scott grimaced at Ben for half a second, and then went back to smiling. He propped the mop in the corner and waddled out of the kitchen still trapped under Kendra’s dead weight. Once in the living room Kendra released him and ran upstairs to grab her things.
     Scott turned to Ben and said, “Girls…,” then rolled his eyes and pushed the front door open. Ben thought it was funny, Scott including Kendra in the general population of “Girls”. To him his cousin was just as much a boy as Dan was, except she brushed her teeth more often.