Cherry Coke Girl

Jim Huffman

Trigger Warning(s) - Minor name calling, drunk behavior

Benjamin ran all the way home, through the heavy rains. The rain had been so sudden, that most people got soaked before they could even get their umbrellas out. Everyone around him had opened their umbrellas, put on their raincoats as quickly as they could.They all seemed to stare at Ben, the college boy running in a trench coat and khakis, in the rain no-less. Benjamin couldn't care less, for all he wanted to do was scream into his pillow- the day had been good but then pivoted so quickly. 

When he got back to his apartment, he noticed that Ms. Huffman's door was ajar. Benjamin never described himself as a curious fellow, but ever since Ms. Huffman left to stay with her granddaughter the thought stayed in the back of his mind. 

Benjamin slowly took his soaking trench coat off, delicately putting it on the ground. He crept into the apartment, taking his phone flashlight out. 

"Mr. Huffman? Are you alright? Where are you?" Ben yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. He heard shuffling and soft slurring before Mr. Jim Huffman came from around the corner. 

Ben would describe Mr. Jim Huffman as a tall, gruff-looking man. His beard was always nicely trimmed, but today his beard was messy and gross. Jim's face was dripping with sweat, and Benjamin could smell the beer in his breath.

"Who are you?" Jim's words slurred together, and his eyes drooped. 

"I'm Benjamin Hooper, I live across from you. I saw that your door was open, so I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Ben informed. Jim moved forward, causing Ben to take a step back.

"You scared of me boy? You sCaReD?" Jim's voice cracked as he fell over.

 "Mr. Huffman!" Ben cried, rushing to his aid. 

"Where's Debra? Where is she? She took my medications, that useless bitch, she took my medications!" Jim yelled, screamed, kicked, and rolled around. Benjamin scrambled for his phone, calling 911. 

"Hello? Yes, this is Benjamin Hooper, I'm calling from.," Ben hung up the phone once they said an officer and ambulance was on his way. 

"Jim? An officer and ambulance is on their way, would you please lay down on the couch for me? I'll get you some water," Ben desperately tried to sit Jim down, but it would always result in Jim falling or screaming. 

"Call my granddaughter! Call my granddaughter! She'll have my fucking medications! That stupid-ass Debra took them!" Jim started to cry. Benjamin huffed in annoyance- why did he let his curiosity get the best of him? 

~~

Soon enough, the authorities arrived and took Jim away. The officer had been interrogating Benjamin for the past half hour. 

"Would you please repeat the whole story again?" The officer asked, writing in his little notebook. Ben nodded.

"Well, earlier today I had walked outside of my apartment- Mrs. Huffman, Debra, had been standing outside of her own with all of these bags on the ground- not grocery bags, but suitcases. She said something about living with her granddaughter for a couple of days because she needed a break from Mr. Huffman, Jim." 

"And have you ever interacted with either of them before the incident? Family friend, asking for a cup of sugar? What's the relationship between you?" The officer asked. Ben thought about it for a moment- he always remembered the fighting, but only ever saw Jim twice. Mrs. Huffman would come over to see his grandma every now and again, but that was about it. 

"Mrs. Huffman was a good friend of my grandmother's. But ever since she died, I haven't seen her as much. I've only ever have seen Mr. Huffman once or twice." The officer nodded, closing his notebook. 

"Thank you sir." The officer put his hand out, which Ben shook.

"Any time."

~~

Benjamin finally walked into his apartment. He sighed. Today had been such an exciting, yet weird day. It seemed as though everything was thrown at him with no mercy. He decided that he should just Door Dash tonight, for tomorrow would be more wandering. Ben sighed, plopping himself on his dusty couch. This couch held many memories, some being lost change, and others being rainy nights where his grandmother would read to him. 

She would always read the same book- they never seemed to finish, for Ben would always fall asleep before. 

Ben smiled at these memories- his grandmother was everything to him, long after her death even. Ben remembered the day his mother told him about the heart attack. You would think the poor woman had been through torture- Ben's mother came in crying and shaking. They had both been close to Grandmother, Ben remembered. Grandmother had helped them through everything, even if it was just cooking lasgana. 

Benjamin sighed again, this time more dramatic. He missed his grandmother and his mom. His mom was in England at that moment, working hard. He missed her a lot. His grandmother had been in a grave. He missed her a lot too. Oh well, Ben thought. I can manage for another day.