Ben's Hen

Names Are Important

In the comments, I was asked for "A lifelong friendship looms with a dab of mischief." which should be easy enough to write in 800,000 words so stay tuned for that...?  

"Misunderstood? You think that thing's misunderstood!" Ben's mother threw her hands into the air. "Get rid of it or get out." She stomped to the bedroom door and slammed it shut. The air shivered.

Ben frowned at the closed door. "Wonder if Nate'll notice the crack's getting wider." He shook his head. "Doubt it."

Ben held the cockatrice in his palm and pinched the its neck between two fingers to keep it from twisting and staring at him.

The tiny creature creeled.

Ben grimaced and scratched his head with his free hand. "What do cockatrice's eat?" He studied the shape of the creature. Leathery wings sprouted from its shoulders. A long, barbed tail coiled around Ben's thumb. Scales, like a dragons, covered it entirely. Its head reminded Ben of a roosters, complete with comb and wattles hanging beneath the beak.

Ben scratched the cockatrice's head, beside the comb. "What do I call you?"

The dangerous creature arched its neck and pressed itself into Ben's fingers to deepen the itch relief.

"Chanticleer?" Ben shook his head. "Cooper?" Ben chewed his lip. "Peter?"

The door creaked open. Ben spun around. Nate stood in the doorway and glared at his brother. Ben quickly covered the cockatrice with his hand.

"What're you doing in here?" Nate crossed his arms. "You better not be messing with my toad."

"Trevor's fine."

"His name's Quigley and you know it." Nate frowned. "Something I can help you find?"

"No, just..." Ben looked around the room. "Wondering why it's such a mess."

"I hate folding socks. But I don't want them to feel lonely, so I leave my undershirts and boxers on the floor, too."

"Well, at least the hamper's getting used." Ben grimaced at the basket full of dirty clothes.

Nate pointed out into the hall. "Get out. Now."

Ben hung his head and walked toward the door.

Nate stepped aside. "What've you got there?" He pointed to Ben's hands.

"Nothing." Ben clutched the cockatrice close to his chest.

"You're stealing Quigley!"

"Why would I take Tommy?"

Nate shoved Ben against the wall. "Give him back!" He tried to pry open his brother's hands.

"Leave it!" Ben elbowed Nate in the nose.

Nate staggered backward, clutching his face. Blood dripped onto the floor from between his fingers.

"You're stupid frog's still in the cage." Ben pointed to the aquarium.

Okay, I admit, I took "lifelong friendship" and "mischief" as an excuse to introduce the brother...but if that doesn't describe brothers, I don't know what does. Except maybe, "matching prison tattoos".