Page 26 of Something Like Summer
Ben entered the housewithout ringing the doorbell. He realized he might catch Tim in acompromising situation by doing so, but the idea of finding himjerking off only encouraged him to make his way stealthily down thehall. It was a good thing that he did, too, otherwise he might nothave heard the girlish giggle before he entered the den.
A seductive murmurresponded to the giggle as Ben tiptoed the last few steps to peekaround the doorway, Wilford padding along behind him. Tim was onthe couch with his leg up on the coffee table. A girl was bent overthe cast, writing something on it with a pen. Her back was to him,but Ben didn’t need her to turn around to know that it was KristaNorman. Tim wiggled his foot, and she chastised him and giggledagain. He grinned back at her in satisfaction.
Ben decided to make asilent retreat, but before he could do so, Wilford opened his mouthand starting panting loudly. Tim spotted Ben. Krista began turningto see what the noise was but Ben retreated down the hall beforeshe could see him.
“Wait here,” he heard Timsay to her.
“Is someone here?”Krista’s voice sounded panicked, as if she was already beingmenaced by a gang of burglars.
“It’s just my neighbor,”Tim reassured her. “He promised to bring something by. Waithere.”
Tim appeared in the hallwayand brushed by Ben, barely using his crutches as he hurried away,gesturing for Ben to follow. They retreated all the way to thefront door before Tim turned to speak with him.
“What are you doing here?I thought you were grounded?”
“I snuck out,” Bensaid.
“Jesus, man! You almostgave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry. I wanted tosurprise you.”
“That you did.” Timsquatted down to pet Wilford. “Who’s this?”
Ben introducedhim.
“You know, he looks oddlyfamiliar,” Tim commented.
Well, yeah, I walked himpast your house a million times before we met, Ben thought. “Helooks like Wilford Brimley,” Ben explained. “You know, the old guyin the oatmeal commercials?”
“Oh yeah,” Tim laughed.“He totally does.”
“That’s why we named himthat. He just needs a pair of glasses and the look iscomplete.”
Tim chuckled and Ben joinedhim. For a moment it felt like everything was going to be okay. Timwould send Krista away, since she wasn’t important to him, and theywould have their day after all. All these hopes were blown awaywhen Krista’s voice called from the den.
“Look, you can’t stay,”Tim whispered. “I’m trying to get laid. I’m playing up the injurything like crazy, and she’s eating it up.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Ben mumbledawkwardly. “I, uh, yeah. Good luck, man.”
“You, too!” Tim gave himan amiable punch to the arm. “I hope you sneak back in withoutgetting caught.”
“Yeah. Well, seeya.”
“Yeah. Wait!”
Ben turned around, thatlast desperate spark of hope igniting.
“I need my car keysback.”
“Oh yeah. Ofcourse.”
Ben handed them over andthen hurried to leave. His face burned bright with embarrassmentthe whole way home. He felt humiliated and silly. How else did hethink this little game of his would end? Tim was feeling better andhis parents were coming home. He didn’t need Ben anymore. He wouldbe back in school soon with his ditzy girlfriend and assholefriends, and Ben would be nothing more than an amusing memory, ifhe was even remembered.
He didn’t bother to sneakback in the house. Who cared if he was grounded now? Allison wasforbidden to see him and Tim had better things to do. There was nolonger a reason to leave.
Neither of his parents washome, so Ben had his bowl of cereal and numbed his mind withtelevision. He barely noticed when they did arrive, ignoring hismother’s request for help unloading the car. When their attempts atcommunicating with him became too annoying, he turned off the TVand went upstairs to his room.
The phone rang before Bencould sit down on his bed. He picked it up irritably. It would onlybe one of Karen’s annoying friends, but at least he could have thesatisfaction of hanging up on them.
