The Barefoot Violinist

Admirer

Cory rushed after Tyler when a thought occurred to him.

"Hey Tyler!" he called, slowing down his pace when he caught up to friend. "So, you're mates with Blue?" he asked expectantly. "Think you can help me get her on my side?" he asked hopefully.

"Look, I'm going to be honest. That girl will kill you without thinking twice. She hates your guts, man." Tyler looked at him with pitying eyes.

"Just try. She won't let me anywhere near Bennett, and it's not like I can just turn up at his house. His mum will have my nuts for breakfast. Come on, please?" he begged. "We're friends, right?" When he saw his friend's hesitation, he continued. "Look, I'm not asking for much, just 30 minutes to chat to her, without any death threats or anything."

"Okay, I'll try, but if she kills me for asking, I'm coming right back to haunt your ass for the rest of your life!" he grinned at Cory.

"Don't worry, I'll charm her." he smiled back at Tyler, like a drowning man who was just thrown a lifeline.

By the end of the school day, Bennet had a half a dozen roses pasted to his locker, each one in a different colour. This time, there was a note. 'From your pushy bull,'  with a picture of a bull hitting his head against a wall. He smiled at the card, not sure why, but stuffed it in his pocket, leaving the roses where they were.

"Mum!" he called as he entered the house. Walking to the kitchen, he gives her a kiss on the cheek.

"Busy day?" she asks turning to pour water into a cup, taking one out for Bennett.

"You know, it's the same thing every day." he shook his head smiling at her.

Handing him a cup of tea, she leaned against kitchen counter: "Erm... Bennett?" She looked up at him hesitantly. "Have all your memories returned?" she asks quietly. "It's just that... it's just that..."

"Just that what, mum? Everything is where it should be." He assured her brightly. "Promise, I remember. The doctor even said that there is nothing wrong with me, remember?" he smiled at her.

"And Cory?" she asked quietly.

"What about him. There is no way I will ever forget him." he said bitterly, looking into his tea cup.

"But you don't remember after that?" she pushed gently.

"After he beat me and broke my violin? You mean that after?" he put his cup down to leave the room. 'What was that all about?' he wondered as he flopped down on his bed, looking up at the ceiling.

The more he thought about his mother's question and why she would mention Cory, the harder it was to get to an answer. The veil still seemed to linger over his thoughts. Something that should be there, was just out of reach. A frown furrowed his brow as he tried to remember what it was. But there was a blank space, that he couldn't seem to fill. It fluttered just out of reach.

"Bennett!" his mother called from downstairs.

Jumping up, he jogged downstairs to where she is standing in the living room. A massive bouquet of flowers, sitting on the table. "Who are those for? Do you have a secret boyfriend mum?" he looked at her in surprise.

"Stop it!" she laughed. "If I had a boyfriend, you wouldn't be sleeping so peacefully!" she wiggled a finger at him screeching, laughing at the horrified look on his face.

"I'm your son! I shouldn't be hearing this!" he moaned putting a hand up to cover his ears. "It's burnt into my retinae now. Thanks for that glorious mental image, mum." he walked over to the flowers. Roses. Every different colour of rose.

"There's a card." his mother said looking expectantly at him.

'From your pushy bull.' was all it said, with the same hand drawn picture of a bull hitting a wall. Again, he smiled for no reason, something fluttering in his mind's eye. But as soon as it was there, it left.

"Who are they from." his mother asked almost anxiously, watching his face closely.

"Dunno." he said holding the card out to her.

"Awww that's so sweet. You've got a secret admirer!" she exclaimed with a bright smile.

Bennett snorted, but he was confused. 'First at school and now this? What's going on?' His thoughts racing around, but not getting anywhere. "Do you know who it's from mum?" he asked taking back the card she held out to him.

Her face flushed red, and she looked away mumbling. "No, no. No idea. I just thought maybe you would."

"Should I?" he enquired, his brow raised in question. "Is there something I'm missing?"

"You need to figure it out for yourself honey." she shook her head looking at the flowers and leaving Bennett none the wiser. With a frustrated groan, he looked down at the card in his hand. 'Why does it sound so familiar?'

"What's that supposed to mean?!" he called after his mother, but received no response.