Hidden Burdens (working title)

More Time With Ben

Samson sniffed around at almost every bush and street light they passed, marking his territory for the other dogs in the neighborhood. Ben offered the leash for Kimmy to hold if she wanted to. He had to get her attention first, gently nudging her shoulder. 

She flinched, shooting her head up at him. Her eyes darted at the leash in his hand before accepting it, wrapping the leash around her small hand. Flinching from any kind of touch was the reason Ben was still afraid to offer some kind of hug or affection since that day during her court hearing. Despite knowing she was hugging everyone else, including John.

The walk was mostly quiet so Ben could get some fresh air in his lungs and collect his own thoughts. For some reason, being outside always seemed to help whenever he got like this.

Ben watched the ground while holding his hands in his pockets. He eventually had to break the silence when he noticed Kimmy was kicking the rocks on the sidewalk and one nearly missed Samson. 

Kimmy stopped, but only because she was out of rocks. When she came upon another one, Kimmy kicked it in the direction of someone's yard. 

“Kimmy,” he scolded, a little firmer than he meant to sound. 

Her form tensed up as Kimmy’s head bowed lower. 

Ben reassured she wasn’t in trouble and reminded her of the dangers they’ve been trying to teach Kimmy around rocks, adding respect to people's property to the list. 

Once that was all said, he changed the subject to lighten things. “Your hair is getting long. I was gonna make a hair appointment for myself this week.” Ben ran his hand through what had become unruly of his hair despite combing it twice a day. “Would you like to get yours cut? Or do you not mind keeping it long?”

Kimmy shrugged, still not looking up at him. 

“It's up to you, kiddo,” Ben reminded her, though they also needed to let Stella know. Haircuts were considered altering a kid's appearance and were usually left up to the parents, in case there was a religious or cultural reason. It also helped parents know they still had parental input with their kids while they had to be in care. It usually wasn't really an issue. At least not for Ben and Kayla. The parents had come to trust them on decisions such as haircuts. They were mostly surprised by Ben's knowledge of girls’ hair.

Eventually, Kimmy accepted the offer to get her hair cut, with a nod of her head. 

When they rounded the block and were back on their street, Ben contemplated asking what he had been mulling over in the back of his mind. He hoped Kimmy wouldn't be upset with him for asking.

“So, how come you were staring at that boy in your class?” Ben watched the kid tense up once more, prompting him to add, “whatever you say, kiddo, I will believe you,” and asked to confirm if it was a crush. 

Kimmy hesitated at first before she finally shook her head. 

“Were you just nervous to see him today?”

She nodded somberly. 

“What about when you're in school?” Ben continued to ask. “Does he just make you nervous?”

Kimmy nodded some more after a minute when they were a couple of houses from theirs. 

“Is he bullying you?”

That time, Kimmy hesitated again, chewing on her lip. He reassured she could tell him anything, reminding her what Ben had been trying to get through with Claudia and her bullies.