5
Ben had woken from the whiskey stupor in the motel in a sweat and hadn’t felt right since.
That night he’d had a troubling nightmare about Johnny. No doubt the news from Ellen must have caused it. He swore to himself that he’d lay off the drink. Or cut down at least.
Walking down the driveway, he passed a couple of cleaning vans. As he walked through the front door he took off his coat and threw it up onto the rack, he frowned as he noticed a tweed jacket hanging beside it.
“Shit…” he muttered to himself.
In the living room he found three cleaners ripping up burnt carpet. The room had been cleared of furniture, the roof was blackened and the wallpaper was peeling from the walls. He turned and walked back into the hallway.
He could see out the kitchen window, a flashback of the trees blowing heavily floated through his mind. He could hear a deep voice coming from the kitchen.
Shit, shit, shit…
Walking through the doorway, Ben saw Ellen’s father Gerald leaning against the counter holding a glass of whiskey. Ellen was sat at the table with a glass of wine, she looked tired.
Shit, this can’t be good.
“Benjamin, how are you?”
“Good, Gerald, and you?” he gave Gerald the fakest smile manageable.
“I can’t complain, although this muck isn’t what a man of my taste usually enjoys, if I do say so myself.”
“Well if you stayed in Houston you could enjoy whatever kind you wanted, Gerald.”
Gerald glanced at Johnny who was sat at the table drawing. Gerald’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the glass tightly.
“Yes, well, certain events occur and all.”
Ben ignored him and turned to Ellen, “What’s going on Ellen, why’s he here?”
“Johnny, go to your room please,” said Ellen. Johnny stood up and walked out of the room without even looking at him.
Ellen cleared her throat. “Ben, I’ve been trying. God knows I have, but lately things just aren’t working out. I called my dad to come up and take Johnny for a while, until you move your things out at least. Your brother said you can stay with him until you get on your feet.” She took a sip from the glass, shaking her head. “Johnny’s not coping with our unhappiness well, Ben. I don’t think he likes the way I am, I’m snappy, and he hears me crying at night too, look!”
She showed Ben a picture of her lying in bed alone and tears were running down her face. Johnny was stood at the room door with tears running down his face too.
“What, you want me to leave?”
“I can’t do it anymore,” she looked at him. “I never see you anymore; you come home and barely interact with me or Johnny. I’m sick of doing everything around here, I just feel so depressed all the time. This is the only way. I’ve thought it over a hundred times.”
He shook his head, “I’m out working Ellen, that’s what I’m doing. I’m trying to keep a roof over our heads.”
“It’s not enough Ben. I’m tired of just getting by. I found a bottle of rum last week, guess where? It was hidden behind Johnny’s wardrobe. What if he’d of found it and drank it? You need to go to a group meeting, you need help.”
He looked at Gerald who just shook his head.
Patronizing prick, he thought as he looked at the glass in his hands.
“No, I don’t own that Ellen. I’d never be that stupid. I keep a bottle down in the basement alright, but that doors always locked. I’d never put Johnny’s life in danger, you know that!”
“How am I supposed to believe anything you say?”
“You don’t think I feel bad, Ellen? I drink because it’s the only thing that makes me feel like I’m not losing my mind. How many times has something dangerous happened in this house? I feel like I’m the only one who sees what’s going on, there’s something weird going on in this house, with that boy!”
“Don’t try that again, Ben. I don’t want to hear it!”
She took a step towards him.
“Same old Benjamin Wells, I’m tired of your excuses! There’s nothing wrong with the house, there’s nothing wrong with me and there’s nothing wrong with Johnny. It’s you, you are dragging us all down with you, but I won’t let you bring Johnny down with you Ben, I can’t. You need help, all of this paranoia, it’s all in your head!”
“Why do I even bother, honestly? I’m trying to talk to you, but you just don’t listen anymore Ellen,” he took a step towards her.
Gerald stepped in between them, facing Ben.
“Don’t you even think about it, son” Gerald muttered quietly, setting his glass on the table. He was a tall man, well built, but Ben was damned if this son of a bitch was calling the shots under his roof.
They stood staring at each, unblinking.
“You forget that this is my house,” said Ben. “Not yours, got it?”
After a few moments there was a knock on the door.
“What?” Ellen said.
“Mommy?” Johnny stuck his head in through the door. “I’m hungry.”
“I know, Granddads going to get you something on the way to his house.”
“I don’t want to go, Ben’s here,” Johnny looked up at Ben. Then Ben remembered what he’d put in his pocket.
You idiot Ben, he thought as reached in.
He pulled out the envelope, “Johnny, do you want to know what I got you for your birthday? Your presents in here,” he walked and gave it to him.
“What are you doing, what is it?” Ellen tried grabbing it but Johnny was too quick, he ripped it open in an instant and pulled out the brightly decorated card.
“Disney world…?” Johnny said staring at it. “I’m going to Disney world?” he began jumping up and down.
Ellen finally managed to take the card from his hands.
“No, Johnny,” said Ben, smiling. “We’re going to Disney World.” He turned around and fixed Gerald with his best fuck you stare, “all three of us.”