by Valerie Zwald

Created on: March 09, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

Ben had sat on this river bank so many times before, his lure bobbing in the soft current, grass blowing around his feet and bottom, insects humming and diving and dancing. He had a great spot, secluded - not that many folk wandered down this way, it was his mama and daddy's property. Or, rather, his mama's..... On this day there was no pole and lure, and it was too cold for the insects to be out. The grass was brittle and dull with winter. Ben pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulders and pulled his knees up to his chest. He was feeling comforted by the depth of his solitude, as if he were the only person left on earth. That is why the sounds of footsteps snapping through the underbrush behind him came as not only a surprise, but a disappointment. He was not invisible or alone in the universe. He braced himself for the inevitable...

"Ben?" The voice came softly, not searching for him among the trees and brush but targeting him, singling him out. He was caught.
He did not answer.
"Ben? Bennie? Come on, you need to talk to me." His aunt had resorted to the calling him Bennie, a name only his mother called him, and only when she was being tender and close. He stiffened his shoulders, and was angered to feel a hot tear roll down his cheek. He didn't wipe it. Why couldn't she just leave him alone?
"Bennie, I know this isn't easy for you. Back there at the house, some of the things that were said......" She stopped there, and Ben couldn't decide if she was sparing him from reliving the details or if she was truly at a loss for words. Whatever the case, he had enough.
"GO AWAY!" he spat at her. He meant it to sound large and menacing, but an unexpected quiver in his voice betrayed him. She would know that he was hurt and scared. He rallied his anger and tried again; "I said GO AWAY!" This sounded much stronger, like he really meant it. And he did, he was sure of it.
He could hear his aunt shift her weight, retreat a couple of paces, then stop again. Her eyes were locked on the back of his head, he could feel their weight. H tried not to move, not even to breathe very deeply. He just wanted her to go, to go NOW! He was about ready to scream at her when he heard her soft voice, barely audible above the trickle and rush of the stream.
"Okay then, Bennie. I'll go. We'll all be at the house....." Another hesitation, she was thinking, considering. "Tell you what, I'll come get you when the...company leaves, alright? No use having to battle a house full of people. You

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