Page 24 of Something Like Summer
“Seriously,” he said as hefollowed Ben out to the driveway. “Sling a few plastic bags on mywrists.”
“I’ve only got paper,” Benchided as he took the last one and a twelve-pack of Coke from thetrunk. “Your moral support is appreciated though.”
“Why’d you buy so much? Myparents are coming back on Sunday.”
“I know, but tomorrow I’mcooking a meal fit for a king. Well, a very poor andunderprivileged king maybe,” Ben corrected.
“You’re making me hungry.Why not cook it tonight?”
“My parents are on my backbecause I’ve barely been around the last few weeks and have missedevery single dinner.” Ben waited while Tim opened the glass doorfor him. “I promised that I would actually be theretonight.”
Tim rolled his eyes. “Soit’s frozen burritos for me?”
“That or a pot pie. Ipromise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”
Ben stayed long enough toput the groceries away and make sure Tim had everything he needed.He meant to leave immediately afterwards, but they started talking,first about Tim’s homework that Ben had brought from school andthen about some of the insane antics Tim had seen on the daytimetalk shows. By the time he left to go home, Ben was already tenminutes late for dinner.
He ran most of the wayhome, cursing his mom for insisting he be there tonight. Whatdifference did it make? Couldn’t they shove food down their gulletswithout him there? He didn’t see why meals were considered qualityfamily time. Half the time you couldn’t talk anyway since yourmouth was full.
Then again, he could barelywait to cook for Tim tomorrow. He supposed that preparing a mealwas an expression of love and that he had been standing up hismother all week. Burdened by guilt, he burst through the door anddodged Wilford’s greeting in order to reach the dining room sooner.He was in luck. The table was just now being set. Whatever Mom hadcooked had obviously taken longer than she had intended.
Ben took over setting thetable as his sister and his father came into the room and tooktheir places.
“How nice of his royalhighness to grace us with an appearance,” his fatherjoked.
“Can’t blame him for notshowing up,” his sister Karen complained when their mom entered theroom with a meatloaf.
Ben had no complaints.Meatloaf was one of his favorite meals. Lately he couldn’t seem toget enough red meat in his system. His mother’s meatloaf was madewith strips of bacon on top and slathered with ketchup, whichcaused his mouth to water as she set it down. He was glad to behome for dinner tonight.
They went through the usualmotions. His mother made them say grace, which he always mouthed tomake her happy even though he didn’t believe in it. Once that wasover and everyone was served, Dad went into his usual rants aboutwhat had happened at work that day. Being manager of the localcable company didn’t sound very intriguing, but his father managedto bring home at least a few crazy customer stories everyday.
There was a lull inconversation as the meal neared its end and they all became tiredand full. The mood was meditative until Ben’s sister decided tobreak the silence.
“Janny swears she saw youdriving around in a Mitsubishi yesterday.”
“A what?” Ben asked,buying for time.
Karen rolled her eyes. “Ablack sports car. She was next to you at a stoplight and got a goodlook at you.”
Maybe he should have deniedit, but Ben didn’t see what he had to hide. He had earned hisdriver’s license last year, and it wasn’t criminal to drive aroundin someone else’s car.
“Yup, that was me,” hesaid. He didn’t elaborate, enjoying being enigmatic aboutit.
“Whose car were youdriving?” his mom asked.
“Who cares,” his dadinterrupted. “I’m just happy he’s actually using his license. Weshould break out the champagne!”
“The car belongs to afriend of mine,” Ben answered his mom while smiling at hisdad.
“Do we know this friend?”his mom asked. “Is it this Tim person?”
“Tim who?” his sisterprodded.
“None of your business,”Ben shot at her. “Yeah, it’s him,” he said to his mother. It feltgood to keep Karen out of the loop. That his mom already knew andthat his sister didn’t irritated Karen and made Ben even happier.As it turned out, he had chosen a bad time to push her.
“I’m surprised you admitit,” Karen said, a wicked gleam in her eye. “When Janny saw youschool wasn’t over yet.”
“What are you saying?” hismother asked, while keeping her eyes on him.
