Page 56 of The Cut
‘No beds.’ Ben’s eyes drift to the window, avoiding hers. ‘I sleep in the living room. He wets the bed two or three times in the night … needs changing. No one else is going to do it.’ Ben is on his feet now, at the sink, washing out the mugs.
‘Oh Ben, I wish you’d told me. My mum would’ve—’
‘I don’t want to burden anyone.’ He cuts her off, watching her closely through the reflection in the glass.
Annie pauses for a second, then suddenly stands. Ben turns, thinking that he’s blown it. But instead, she steps towards him,216gently moves him out of the way and starts to run the tap. She waits for it to get warm then puts in the plug. Under the sink there is a box of washing powder. She pours in a measure and then, without saying a word, heads into the living room, strips the bed and returns with the sheets. She is on a mission.
By the time they’ve finished, it is getting dark outside. The sheets are hanging out to dry and Anthony Knot is tucked up in fresh linen, washed and changed for the night. The floors have been vacuumed, surfaces scrubbed, and the place is as spick and span as it could possibly be in the few hours they’ve worked together.
‘We make a good team.’ Annie smiles at him with admiration.
‘We do, don’t we?’ Ben slumps into his dad’s chair and starts to pull on his socks and trainers.
‘What are you doing?’ Annie stands, sweating with exhaustion.
‘Driving you home.’ He grabs a set of keys from the table.
‘I can call my dad.’ Annie puts her hand on his to stop him. ‘He’ll pick me up.’
‘It’s no bother.’ Ben is already pulling his coat on.
‘You’re not supposed to be …’ Annie stops herself. There are a lot of things that a kid of Ben’s age isn’t supposed to be doing. Nursing his dying father, for one. Illegally driving a clapped-out Ford Fiesta is nobody’s business. Annie smiles at him. ‘OK, you can take me home – on one condition.’
Ben steps close to her. ‘What condition?’
‘Please stop bullying Mark Cherry … for me. Do it for me.’ Their faces are close. ‘Deal?’
Maybe he is fully conscious of the effect the bullying has on his victim. Then again, maybe the Ben here in this room is different from the swaggering Top Dog in the school playground who needs to secure his position. This Ben is soft and caring, but the boy out in the world wears a whole other mask.217
He nods his head gently, but his voice is strangely detached. ‘Deal.’
Annie moves in close to Ben and plants her lips softly on his cheek. Ben turns his face, so they are mouth to mouth, and pulls her in tightly for a deeper kiss. It lingers and Ben presses their bodies together. Annie breaks first but Ben clings to her as if starved of love. He wants to go further.
She presses him gently away with her hand against his shoulder. ‘Ben …’ She glances towards his father. ‘Not here.’
‘Want to come upstairs?’ Ben holds on to her hand, pulling her in.
‘I need to get home.’ Annie turns and searches for her school bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she heads out into the hall.
Ben follows. ‘You always do this …’
‘Do what?’ Annie places her hand on the door latch.
Ben’s hand reaches out and his palm presses against the door. ‘Get me all excited and then run away.’
‘I’m sorry, it’s just … your dad.’
Ben’s voice lowers, trembling with rage. ‘You’re always sorry … Maybe Lynette’s right, you’re just a tease.’
Annie pulls on the door, but Ben holds it fast.
‘Ben. Let go … please. I’m going home.’
She pulls harder and Ben taunts her with the door. ‘You play this game with Patel or is it just me you like to get all hot and bothered?’
He finally lets the door swing open and Annie stumbles backwards, falling on to the floor. Ben snorts to himself, leans back against the wall and just watches her pull her skirt down and clamber to her feet.
She moves quickly out on to the driveway, turning back, her face flushed with embarrassment. ‘I guess I’ll … see you at the leavers’ party?’218
