DIET MOUNTAIN DEW • SCREAM 1996

0.0 : " MR. BENNY MERCER "

0.0 : " MR. BENNY MERCER "

SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1986

WOODSBORO ELEMENTARY was a bustling institution that eventually became every residents' first stepping stone to education. Benjamin Mercer was no different. At the ripe age of six ( seven this coming December! ), the little boy had started kindergarten just a few months ago.

Unfortunately for Benjamin, it had been a lonely couple of months. As a kid who had moved into town this past summer, the Mercer family and their youngest son lacked roots in this small town. While his classmates had long since forged bonds with their fellow peers through daycare and preschool, Benjamin was left as the black sheep of the herd.

During lunch and play time the boy was left to sit on his own. No one wanted to sit at his picnic table, they'd rather squish shoulder-to-shoulder than sit with what they called the strange boy. It left Benjamin to slump at the furthest edge of the bench away from his class and gaze forlornly at his pb-n-j.

This predicament was a saddening one, but the teachers couldn't do much other than encourage the other students to make friends with the lonely child. Most of the time the kids would blatantly ignore the attempts and flee farther from Benjamin. 

It was only when a pair of boys decided to rebel against the rest of their class and approach the boy did the pattern break.

Stuart 'Stu' Macher tugged on his best friend, William 'Billy' Loomis's hand eagerly. The lanky boy with a goofy grin and wild blond hair whined to his brunet counterpart. "C'mon, Billy! Let's go make a new friend!"

Billy scoffed but didn't pull his hand away nor did he drag his feet. In fact there was a shadow of excitement lining his dark brows. 

"You're so loud, Stu." The boy grumbled while eyeing up the kid who looked like he was one gust of wind from falling off the bench.

"I'm just excited!" Stu called back, almost skipping in eagerness.

Benjamin was poking at his baby carrots in distaste when the clank of two metal tin boxes meeting wood met his ears. The boy glanced up, startled. His chocolate doe eyes wide as he caught sight of his two most popular classmates plopped in front of him. He watched as they unpacked their lunches without saying anything, like this whole situation was normal.

It was only when the brunet Benjamin had come to know as Billy spoke that he was knocked out of his befuddled daze.

"What? I have something on my face?" Billy all but snapped, eyes narrowing in what Benjamin could only identify as a glower. 

Benjamin flinched back, darting his eyes to his sandwich and praying for his teacher to come over and whisk him away. "Sorry…" the boy whispered meekly, missing the way Billy's eyes softened apologetically.

Stu elbowed his friend and sent him a look to which the other only shrugged. The blond boy huffed but smiled once his eyes met Benjamin's face again. "You're Benjamin right? Gosh that's such a mouthful. You should have a nickname like Billy and me. Hmm…ooh! I know! Benny. That's cute! Right, Billy?"

Billy rolled his eyes and grimaced as he grabbed a piece of broccoli from his lunch. He pointed it at Stu and snarked, "Subtlety, Stu. You should try it out."

"What's that?" Stu cocked his head in confusion, playfully nipping at the chunk of broccoli before his friend had shoved it into his mouth causing him to choke.

It was only when they heard a small giggle did the pair freeze. Stu was frozen mid gag while Billy had snapped his gaze over with an intense look. Benjamin blushed at the attention, quickly staring back down at his food.