Suzie’s House 38 : the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

  Remember a few episodes back when Ben came home unexpectedly ; he spoke with “the red-headed man” on the way home from his father’s house ; and Drew and Suzie demanded to know everything; and they told him the red-headed man is the one who shot Vin?  We now return to Ben’s bedroom that night.

“You haven’t seen him, have you?”  Mom looked really close at his face, hers all wrinkled up with concern.  She came toward the bed where he sat and knelt.  “Have you?”

Ben swallowed hard and nodded.  He had done more than seen the red-headed man.  He’d talked to him.

“When?”  Drew didn’t move, but his eyes got more of something; more concerned or angry or something.  He was already been leaning forward in the chair that went with Ben’s desk, but Ben felt like he’d moved closer.

“Tonight.”  Ben’s voice squeaked a little when he said it.  He could feel his mouth spazzing, and his eyes hurt like he was going to cry, which he was not going to because Drew wouldn’t and Drew was sitting right there.

God!  The man who tried to kill Vin had offered him a ride!  It had to be the same guy.  Red hair, silver jeep, how many guys could there be like that?  And Ben had almost done it.  Only thinking of what his Mom would say kept him from it.

He could be dead now.  He could have been taken out into the cornfields around town, shot, and left for dead, and no one would even know.

“Why?!  Why would he do it?  I didn’t get in the jeep with him.  I didn’t do it and he left me alone.”

Drew’s eyes widened in alarm.  He joined Mom on the floor in front of Ben.  Mom looked horrified.  She took his hands in hers and looked into his face really hard, like she didn’t want to miss anything.

“Are you saying the man who shot Vin offered you a ride tonight?  On your way home?”

Ben nodded.

Mom and Drew shared one of those grown up looks that always meant trouble.

“Drew, do you think….?  I mean, will he be safe living here?”

Drew stood up, paced to the door, to the bed, then back to the door.  He rubbed the top of his head with his hand, his eyes vaguely focused on the floor.  Mom stood slowly and wrung her hands.  They were both worried about him.  That couldn’t be good.

“Don’t send me back to Dad’s.”  He looked from one to the other.  Neither offered a smile or any kind of encouragement.  “Please, please.  Don’t make me go back.  I’ll be good.  I’ll be extra careful.  I won’t get in anyone’s car except Miranda or Drew or grandma.  Maybe I can help you find him!  Maybe…”  Ben stopped himself.  He was about to tell them about seeing the red-headed man at the bus stop.

That was close.  He didn’t dare say anything about it cause then Mom would make him move in with Dad for sure.

“I wish we knew more about him.  I don’t understand why he does the things he does.  Why shoot Vin, but not try to kill him in the hospital?  Why talk to Ben, but not try to take him away?”  Drew shook his head slowly.  He stood, went to the doorway.  “All I know is that Ben is safe tonight.”

Mom got up and went over to him, her hands turned down-side-up as if begging him for something.  Or like carrying a turkey on a platter.  “But what about tomorrow?  He has to go to school.”

“You could home school me,” Ben said hopefully.

“Not a chance, kiddo.”

Drew looked thoughtful, pulling his lips into his mouth so you couldn’t really see them anymore.  “Has it only been the one time?  You haven’t seen the red-haired man any other time, have you?”

“No.”  Ben shook his head and prayed.  Don’t let them send him to Dad.  Don’t let them send him to Dad.  Please, God, let him stay here.

Drew sighed.  He didn’t look happy.  “I’ll walk him to and from the bus from now on.  He’ll be safe enough.”

Both Mom and Ben sighed with relief.

The previous was Suzie’s House 37: A Dark and Balmy Night

This is Suzie’s House 38 : the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

Next is Suzie’s House 39 : Good Intentions