Page 23 of Something Like Summer
“Well, yeah.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m not doing itjustice,” Allison sighed. “Just listen to it once.”
When the bell rang, Benreturned to school with Allison before doubling back and headingtoward the parking lot. Just as his hands were on the exit door,someone called his name. He turned around and craned his head overthe crowded hallway until he spotted Ms. Hughes waving him down.Ben almost bolted in terror, but it was too late. She had seen him.His teacher for science, a class that he had been skipping for thebetter part of two weeks, approached him with concern.
Ben’s feet were glued tothe floor as he tried to think of what he should do or say as shenavigated the swarming students.
“I’m sorry,” he blurtedout when she reached him.
“Where have you been?” sheasked, looking him over for signs of illness.
Ben breathed in and waitedfor the words to come, but they didn’t. He had been so preoccupiedwith everything lately that he hadn’t dreamed up what his excusewould be when he inevitably returned to the classes he wasskipping.
“Ben?” she prompted whenhe failed to answer. “Is everything all right? Is something wrongat home?”
As tempting as it was tolie and say he had a problematic home life, he knew it would onlylead to more trouble. “I’m really sorry that I’ve been skipping,Ms. Hughes,” the words came finally. “It’s… It’s hard to explainwhat’s going on. I’m not in trouble or anything, but there’ssomeone who needs my help. That’s why I’ve been leaving schoolearly.”
The school bell rang whileshe considered his words with an open expression of confusion. Thestudents disappeared one by one until they were left virtuallyalone. He knew Ms. Hughes would stand there until she had herexplanation. After all, she was often late to her ownclasses.
Ms. Hughes had been histeacher freshman year as well. Running late from lunch one day, Benhad seen Ms. Hughes and another female teacher standing very closetogether. They kissed and went their separate ways, never noticingBen. Occasionally he had wanted to bring it up, to let her know hewas gay as well, but it had always seemed such an odd subject tobroach and he worried she would react defensively, but perhaps nowwas the time to tell her.
“Level with me, Ben,” Ms.Hughes said. “Do you need my help? Is there something I cando?”
Ben wanted to hug her. Shewas possibly the only teacher in the world who would offer to helpinstead of dragging him off to the principal’s office.
“It’s nothing too serious,but I really am needed.” Ben smiled to reassure her, but it onlymade her worry lines deepen.
“And you can’t tell mewhy?”
“I can. But not yet.” Hecould tell her now, but gay or not, she was still an adult andwould probably insist that Tim’s parents would be informed and aproper nurse hired. All that mattered now was getting free of theschool.
She looked into his eyes,hoping the truth would betray itself there. “When are you comingback to my class?”
“Monday,” he answeredtruthfully. Tim’s parents came back late on Sunday. That left onlythree more days before his domestic fantasies would come to anend.
“I’m trusting you, Ben,”she said. “You owe me an explanation. And an essay since you’vemissed the first test.”
“All right,” he grinned,relief washing over him. “I promise.”
Ms. Hughes watched him ashe left, even though her classroom was full of students who wereprobably going wild in her absence. Once he could no longer beseen, she turned and walked slowly down the hallway, wondering whatit was in Ben that she saw in herself.
__________
Chapter 8
“Honey, I’m home!” Bencrowed happily as he struggled with a grocery bag in eachhand.
Today had been one of thoseFridays where even the teachers had their hearts set on theweekend. None of the classes he bothered to show up for had beendifficult or involved any homework. He and Allison once againdisregarded the talent show and spent the period gossiping. Herelated to her for the umpteenth time how much he enjoyed takingcare of Tim, while she filled him in on the action she and Ronniehad been sneaking in between classes.
After school, Ben took someof the money Tim’s parents had left and went grocery shopping,restocking much-needed supplies and picking up the ingredients forchili.
“Aren’t you going to helpcarrying in?” Ben called as he deposited the bags on the kitchencounter.
“I could probably managesomething,” Tim said as he crutched his way into theroom.
Tim had been much moreactive and restless the last few days. The painkillers had run outon Wednesday and he had no interest in a refill. He was wincingmore often, but he seemed happy to pay this price for hissobriety.
