Page 8 of Born Into Trouble (Occupy Yourself)
Four
18 years old
“Proud of you, Ben.” GeeMa’s hand wrapped around his upper arm, squeezing tightly. “Papa, get a picture of our boy.” Ben stood awkwardly, his hand resting on her shoulder with her arm threaded around his waist. The black fabric of the gown rustled in the ever-present Wyoming winds, cap held pressed to his side for safekeeping.
“Benny,” Danny called, and he lifted a hand, giving a half wave. “We did it, man.” Benny held out his hand, slapping against Danny’s palm and giving it a pump before pulling him in for a one-armed hug.
“We did.” Stepping back, he steadied GeeMa when someone jostled past her, rolling his eyes when he saw it was Benita. Watching her, he saw she stopped near a cluster of freshman band members, at the ceremony today to play the small school’s version of ‘Pomp and Circumstance.’ With a frown, he watched as she sidled up to a tall boy, pressing close, leaning into him in a way that screamed intimacy. Without taking his eyes from her, he asked GeeMa, “You and GeePa headed home? Drive safely.”
She answered in the affirmative, and in a moment, he knew they were gone because Danny leaned in. “She fuckin’ him?” Danny had clearly seen the same thing as Benny, and much as it curdled his stomach, he knew she probably was. “Jesus, he’s just fourteen. She’s fuckin’ a kid ten years younger than she is. Jesus, Benny. Why do you stay with her ass?”
“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “I just don’t know anything else. It’s always been Benny and Benita.” As he watched, Benita’s gaze came to him, and she smiled her wicked grin, the one that always preceded all the crazy, fucked-up shit she came up with. Shit he was never quite certain how to take because she made him feel good, and bad, all at the same time. She lifted one hand, pressed her fingertips to her crimson mouth, and then started to blow the kiss to him. She paused the movement, and raised her hand instead, letting the kid take it and bring it to his own mouth, his eyes meeting Benny’s over her head in a clear challenge. “Maybe it’s time to end the cycle.”
Turning, he cut his eyes to a gaggle of senior girls nearby, also still dressed in their caps and gowns, chatting and laughing quietly with their friends. “Laura?” A blonde head lifted, followed by the rest in unison and he had to fight back a grin. “Wanna get a bite to eat?”
“Fuck, man. You’re setting her up for shit.” Danny’s warning was quiet, and Benny gave a single headshake in response. “Incoming.”
“I have plans, Benny, thanks. Next time?” Laura Smithfield smiled at him as she spoke, then the expression smoothed away, and she turned back to her friends, who continued watching him over her shoulder. He knew why, and that was confirmed a second later by a hard slap to his shoulder.
“Benjamin.” Benita could clip his name out like it was a curse word. This always meant she was pissed. “Wehave plans.” She pressed something into his palm, and he looked down, seeing a small paper packet. “Slip one under your tongue, baby. Let’s go to our cabin.”
He hardly heard Danny’s goodbye, staring into Benita’s eyes as he worked one of the small pills from the wrapping. Lifting his hand, he offered it to Benita, not surprised when she shook her head. “All yours, baby. It’s your day. Celebrate.”
