G/T Adventures

The Smythes' Pt. 2

Four years ago, I wrote the first part of this story. Looking back through my shorts I realized just how many people wanted a part two of this. And as it was one of my favorites I've written, I figured why not come back to it after all? So here we are. Years later.

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Mrs. Smythe stood with her husband in the kitchen, the two of them reviewing some bills. Their phone bill was insanely high this time around, and they both knew it was Louis. Beth could hardly push the buttons let alone rack the bill up so high.

"We need to talk to him," Mr. Smythe mumbled. "This is ridiculous. How long does a teenager need to spend on their phone?"

"Now, Daniel, we bought him that phone so he could talk to his friends whenever he wanted. Whenever we were busy with Beth. We can't get mad at him for talking to his friends, for venting to his friends." Mrs. Smythe tried to console her husband. Louis' situation was different from other teenagers. She was glad he had people to go to if they were occupied.

Mr. Smythe grumbled something under his breath but knew his wife was right. He set the papers down and closed his eyes, his hands running over his face while he let out an exasperated sigh. "This on top of Bethanie's doctor bills are going to break us this month, Gracie. We might have to see what the insurance can do but they don't want to cover the tests, the special costs when we take her. We might just have to cancel the phone plan for this month."

Money was getting very tight. Specialists were seeing Beth, and some thought there was a breakthrough, an answer on why she was born the way she was. But they kept ordering more and more tests. And each one was more expensive than the last. If certain things needed to be cut to get to the bottom of his daughter's special disability Mr. Smythe would cut whatever he had to.

Beth listened to her parents from the doorway, watching their facial expressions and hating that she was the reason Louis was about to have his phone taken away. That was his only freedom anymore, and she knew it. He was on it all the time. He was using it as a distraction from the fact that once again, their parents' world was revolving around her. 

"D-Dad, I...I don't have to know why," she finally spoke up, and as always once they knew she was watching they put on a set of smiles and turned her way. It hurt her. It hurt her so much knowing they felt that they had to pretend with her. "I didn't know how much money it was. I-I don't need any more tests. Besides, I think they just enjoying poking at me."

"Bethie," Mrs. Smythe frowned now and stepped closer to her daughter. "We want to know too. If they can figure it out maybe there's a cure for it. And then maybe you can live your life as a normal teenager, like Louis does."

"Th-That goes against everything you've ever told me growing up! You've always told me I should try and make the most of this, that I shouldn't ever feel like I'm not good enough, and now it sounds like you're telling me you'd want me to be normal." Beth was hurting more and more by the moment. "I-I'm perfectly fine with how things are! I-I don't have to know why I'm some stupid little freak!"

Mr. Smythe fully faced her now, gazing at her. "Bethanie, that's not what we're saying at all. We love you. We just want what's best for you. It's scary for us, knowing your life will be so different. We worry about your future. We-" Though the doorbell rang. Catching them all off guard. 

The sound gave Bethanie a chance to slip back to her room. It's not that she was forced to hide from people, it was that she couldn't take the stares sometimes. She wasn't a secret from the world. Most people knew of her. Of the girl that was born a few inches tall. Sometimes people even found where they lived and would intrude, just wanting to see if she was real or not.