Suzie’s House 93: Getting a Handle On It

This one links back to so many different threads in the story that I don’t know where to begin. I think it stands reasonably well on its own, but if you have any points of confusion, let me know and I’ll put a link to the answer in the comments.

Suzie chose one of the larger cast iron pans. Not the one so large it looked like something Popeye would hand Bluto just so Bluto could plunge to the floor with it. The regular large one should do. She should be able to squeeze all five lamb chops into the pan at once.

“But Mom,” Ben said in that new, whiney voice he’d never used before living with his father, “Dad let us do it all the time.”

Suzie doubted that. Rob wasn’t likely to go out of his way for Ben. “I didn’t say you couldn’t have your friend spend the night. Just not on a school night.” She set the pan on the stove, then dug around for a couple of pots.

“But he needs a place to stay tonight.”

Suzie paused with the refrigerator door open. What did they have that would go well with pork chops? She hadn’t made it to the grocery store in over a week, and it showed. “Why can’t he stay home?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Suzie closed the door, having found nothing she could use. She gave Ben her full attention, sensing something not right. “Why can’t you tell me?”

“I just can’t.”

She wanted to order it out of him, to demand that he tell her at once. It would do no good. She took a deep breath, and took out the last of the potatoes and onions from the drawer. Talking to the cutting board, she said, “Ben, I don’t ever want you to feel you can’t talk to me about something. No matter how bad it is, even if it’s something to do with me, I want to hear it. All right?” She glanced over at him.

“If that’s true, then why didn’t you tell me you were thinking about throwing me out?”

“I did! As soon as I realized….”

“You can’t have decided just like that. You should have told me sooner. What you were thinking. You should have told me what you were thinking.” Ben’s lower lip quivered.

“Oh, Ben…” She reached for him, but he stumbled backward. The little boy who would let her hold him so he would feel better was gone. In his place was this horribly injured young man. God, what had she done to him? To both of them.

He looked away, trying hard to master himself. Out of respect, Suzie turned back to her cutting board.

Maybe she should make scalloped potatoes instead of mashed. Except there was no cheese left. Seemed everything she tried to do today was two steps forward, one step back. Nothing she needed came easily to hand. She wanted to make a salad, but the only thing in the fridge was lettuce. Well, then, she’d make Hollywood Salad.

And maybe, if she stayed quiet and busy and Ben didn’t run, he would tell her why his friend couldn’t go home.

Actually, she could think of a number of reasons on her own; none of them pleasant. Maybe the kid’s parents were neglectful, and left town without him, locking the door behind them. Maybe they’d had a fight with the boy and ordered him out of the house. Maybe something worse.

How would she feel in the boy’s position? Or Ben’s?

Suzie put her paring knife down and sighed.

“All right. He can stay the night, but only on the condition that you go to bed at your regular time. I take it he’s the one standing around outside.” She gestured toward the back door as she put the pan away and took out the Bluto cast-iron pan. Six chops wouldn’t fit otherwise.

Instead of going to the door and letting his friend in, Ben stood by the kitchen table and stared at her, an expression of wonder on his face. He seemed unable to come up with the words he needed. She understood the feeling.

Well, they couldn’t leave the poor boy out in the back yard. Suzie walked over, Bluto pan still weighing down one hand, and opened the door.

A man with bright red hair hanging lank and long stood in the doorway glaring at a kid in the yard who must be Ben’s friend. It was him! Not the one who shot Vin, the one who had tried to kidnap Ben. Sean.

For a moment, Suzie was too stunned to move. They all simply stood there, eying one another.

“Suzie, what’s for din…” Vin said, coming in from the central hall.

As if watching some avant-garde movie Suzie watched Sean pull a gun from his waistband. He shoved past her, stepping carelessly across her threshold and into the room, and pointed the gun toward Vin.

With no conscious volition, Suzie brought the pan up and whacked the man on the back of the head. He dropped like a stone.

“Nice!” Vin stepped in to tie the guy up.

“Wow! Mom! That was great!”

“Way to go, Mrs. Hammaker,” A boy said from the doorway behind her. He wore a grin to match Ben’s. That was how Suzie met Gene and captured Sean O’Connor.

If you enjoy Suzie’s House and would like to see more, please leave a comment. Suzie’s House is powered by its readers.