The Forest Path

Chapter 2 - Ben

Chapter 2

Ben

Mom bounced down stairs, missed a step and stumbled into Ben’s arms,

Ben gave her a kiss, his mouth around my Mom's dainty lips is like watching a giant squid sucking air from it's prey. Fucking vile if you ask me. But still I managed to squeeze pass the large mass which is my Mom’s boyfriend and bounded into the kitchen to get a drink.

“Is the drama queen happy to day?” Ben muttered into my Mom's ears.

“Not that much, she went to her Dad today and he got rather…upset at the fact she is moving away with us.” My Mom whispered to no avail.

“It’s his fault if he misses you; he shouldn’t of let you go anyway.” Ben added whilst heading in for another famous saliva swapping sesh.

They came into the kitchen where I stood with my glass of Soda and my head, half in, half out the refrigerator. My eyes scanned, their arms were linked; Bad sign, for me anyway.

“Sammy.” Mom uttered while approaching cautiously.

“Yeah?” I said while spraying Soda all over Ben; oops….

“How can I put this….see Sam, when we move to Masonville with Ben and Felicity…”

“Yes?” I answered; I was getting bored at this point.

“You may need to share a room. And you will have to sleep on the floor for a while, it’s just until we can get the money for another bed.” Mom muttered quickly so I could not hear, but I did.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK MOM. That little bitch gets a bed and I don’t!?”

“DON’T USE THAT FOUL LANGUAGE INFRONT OF YOUR MOTHER” Ben shouted.

“SHUT, THE FUCK, UP. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SHOUT AT ME, YOU ARE NOT MY DAD AND YOU WILL NEVER BE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE!” I screamed

“That’s just fine with me; I wouldn’t want YOU as MY daughter even if you paid me a million fuckin’ dollars!” Ben screamed back

“Just stop, just STOP!” Mom screeched as she dropped to the floor in a corner with her hands over her ears and her eyes screwed tightly shut; I hated when she went like this she blocks everyone out, even Ben.

“Julie, babe, are you ok?” Ben lowered his voice and his-self to her level.

At first she ignored his tedious tone.

“You know I hate it when you and Sam argue” Mom stuttered out, eyes still shut.

“Yeah, I know” Ben said tenderly while his evil gaze was fixated on me.

I tried to say sorry but Mom ignored me. I flounced out of the kitchen, I grabbed my coat of the hook next to the front door and trudged out of it to my Chevy, Ben’s Ford was right next to it, he would not mind if his shiny new car got a tiny scratch on it. I grabbed my keys out and put a massive line right across the side and bonnet.

I climbed into the front seat and blew off the paint curls which congregated on the tip of my car key and placed it in the ignition, I turned the key but the engine stalled, note to self; never buy second hand cars.

It took several turns and slight swearing for the car to spark dully to life.

My favourite song came on the radio, The Chauffeur by Duran Duran, I remember Dad showing me the video to the song, he said it was art; it was more like soft porn to be perfectly honest. But still I hummed along to the tune for a while and started to wonder and said to myself,

“Shit, what the hell am I doing in my life…”

*******

By the time I got back, it was dark and Ben’s car had left. Good sign.

When I walked into the house the living room was empty, I threw my coat over the arm of the sofa. Mom must have gone to bed. I looked at the clock, nine? That is a bit early even for her.

I waltzed into the kitchen and put a T.V meal in the microwave, I usually eat healthier then this, but I could not give a rats shitty ass, I was hungry and really did not want to cook anything. I watched the time on microwave pass by, when the timer pinged I nearly jumped out of my skin I did not really think it was that loud. As I lifted the meal out from the microwave, the sheer heat of the tray, on which the food came, scorched my fingers. I dropped the food on the floor. I smacked my forehead in anger over my stupidity. I grabbed the dust pan and brush and began to scoop up the glutinous mass from the floor and threw it in the bin.

Defeated by a thing as simple as a microwave meal, I walked back into the living room and sat on the chair opposite the Television.

I didn’t put it on, but I did turn on the stereo, my mom is going through a classical phase so the first song was something I remember from my failed attempts to learn the piano, Canon in D by Pachelbel. Not my favourite, my favourite is Claire de Lune; I failed at that as well. However, it will do.

And hour passed and I decided to retreat back to the squalor from where I descended from earlier that day. I carried my fatigued and weary body up the stairs to my squat, square room, I flung myself onto the bed and fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

I had I nightmare.

It was about Mom, Ben and she was getting married, and I never saw dad again.

Ever.