Suzie’s House 42: A Little Understanding

  When we left Ben a couple of weeks ago, he had just learned that the man who shot Vin is the same man who offered him a ride - or at least so everyone in Suzie’s house thinks.

Being in home was all different now that Ben knew what was really going on.  Least he knew what was up with the guy who shot Vin anyway.  There was something going on between Vin and Miranda, but Ben wasn’t sure he wanted to know about it and kind of ignored them.

They were in the TV room talking.  Ben wandered into the kitchen where Mom was cooking up a storm.  She must be really upset about something ‘cause it was supposed to be Vin’s turn to cook.  That’s OK.  Vin needed to sit anyway.  Every time he stood around for very long his face got kind of grey like he was going to pass out or something.

“Mom?  Can I talk to you about Mrs. D?”

“Sure, Honey.”

“She’d out to get me.”

Mom scrunched her lips together and nodded.  “She certainly is.  That woman should be in a mental hospital, not a classroom.”

Something inside Ben let go.  His shoulder’s didn’t feel so tight and his belly too.  He smiled cause he couldn’t help it.  Mom believed him, just like that.  He didn’t have to argue about it or anything.

“Honey, I’m not sure what I can do about it.  I’ve already tried to talk to her, which probably only made it worse.  I’m afraid I said some things to her that weren’t very nice.”

“Wish I could,” Ben muttered.  Boy, he sure wished he could have been there and seen Mom lay into Mrs. D.  It would have been totally sick.  Sick like skateboard sick, not like running to the bathroom.

Mom tapped the wooden spoon on the edge of the pot, set it on the rooster spoon holder.  “Be that as it may, I’m afraid I’ve only made things worse.”  She smiled at him real quick while she turned down the heat under one of the pots.

“It wasn’t too bad today.”  Actually, it was as bad as ever, but at least it hadn’t gotten any worse and he was still home with Mom and didn’t have to see is Dad for a whole extra week.  Dad said he had something to do over the weekend.  He didn’t say what, but Ben bet it had something to do with a new girlfriend.

“I have an appointment with your Vice Principal next week, but I don’t know if he will take me seriously after that little scene I made yesterday.”

“You mean when you burst into my science class looking for me and Mr. D was hanging off you and yelling and everything?”

Mom nodded.

“Was that about the man who shot Vin?”

Mom nodded again, looking very serious.

He’d thought it was kind of funny at the time.  I mean, Mrs. D looked like a total freak in front of everybody, but his mom looked a little wild too.  Anyone who knew his mom would have thought something major was happening.  In a way, Ben guessed it was.  He still got shivers when he thought about how close a call it was when the guy offered him a ride and he almost took it.

“So I don’t know if I’ll be much help dealing with Mrs. D.  I’ll do all I can, but you may have to tough it out.”

“It’s OK, Mom.  As long as you understand.”

“I do, Honey.  I understand completely.”  She have his hand a squeeze.  “Would you do me a favor?  Set table for me.  It’s time to eat.”

“Sure, Mom.”  Ben went to the cupboard, happy to help out.  He didn’t ever want his mom to have an excuse to send him away.  Besides, it felt good to help her.  Unlike some people, she appreciated it.

The previous was Suzie’s House 41: Coming to the Point

This is Suzie’s House 42: A Little Understanding

Next is Suzie’s House 43: To Clear the Air