Today had been one of those Fridays where even the teachers had their hearts set on the weekend. None of the classes he bothered to show up for had been difficult or involved any homework. He and Allison once again disregarded the talent show and spent the period gossiping. He related to her for the umpteenth time how much he enjoyed taking care of Tim, while she filled him in on the action she and Ronnie had been sneaking in between classes.

After school, Ben took some of the money Tim’s parents had left and went grocery shopping, restocking much-needed supplies and picking up the ingredients for chili.

“Aren’t you going to help carrying in?” Ben called as he deposited the bags on the kitchen counter.

“I could probably manage something,” Tim said as he crutched his way into the room.

Tim had been much more active and restless the last few days. The painkillers had run out on Wednesday and he had no interest in a refill. He was wincing more often, but he seemed happy to pay this price for his sobriety.

“Seriously,” he said as he followed Ben out to the driveway. “Sling a few plastic bags on my wrists.”

“I’ve only got paper,” Ben chided as he took the last one and a twelve-pack of Coke from the trunk. “Your moral support is appreciated though.”

“Why’d you buy so much? My parents are coming back on Sunday.”

“I know, but tomorrow I’m cooking a meal fit for a king. Well, a very poor and underprivileged king maybe,” Ben corrected.

“You’re making me hungry. Why not cook it tonight?”

“My parents are on my back because I’ve barely been around the last few weeks and have missed every single dinner.” Ben waited while Tim opened the glass door for him. “I promised that I would actually be there tonight.”

Tim rolled his eyes. “So it’s frozen burritos for me?”

“That or a pot pie. I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

Ben stayed long enough to put 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 and then about some of the insane antics Tim had seen on the daytime talk shows. By the time he left to go home, Ben was already ten minutes late for dinner.

He ran most of the way home, cursing his mom for insisting he be there tonight. What difference did it make? Couldn’t they shove food down their gullets without him there? He didn’t see why meals were considered quality family time. Half the time you couldn’t talk anyway since your mouth was full.

Then again, he could barely wait to cook for Tim tomorrow. He supposed that preparing a meal was an expression of love and that he had been standing up his mother all week. Burdened by guilt, he burst through the door and dodged Wilford’s greeting in order to reach the dining room sooner. He was in luck. The table was just now being set. Whatever Mom had cooked had obviously taken longer than she had intended.

Ben took over setting the table as his sister and his father came into the room and took their places.

“How nice of his royal highness to grace us with an appearance,” his father joked.

“Can’t blame him for not showing up,” his sister Karen complained when their mom entered the room with a meatloaf.

Ben had no complaints. Meatloaf was one of his favorite meals. Lately he couldn’t seem to get enough red meat in his system. His mother’s meatloaf was made with strips of bacon on top and slathered with ketchup, which caused his mouth to water as she set it down. He was glad to be home for dinner tonight.

They went through the usual motions. His mother made them say grace, which he always mouthed to make her happy even though he didn’t believe in it. Once that was over and everyone was served, Dad went into his usual rants about what had happened at work that day. Being manager of the local cable company didn’t sound very intriguing, but his father managed to bring home at least a few crazy customer stories every day.

There was a lull in conversation as the meal neared its end and they all became tired and full. The mood was meditative until Ben’s sister decided to break the silence.

“Janny swears she saw you driving around in a Mitsubishi yesterday.”

“A what?” Ben asked, buying for time.

Karen rolled her eyes. “A black sports car. She was next to you at a stoplight and got a good look at you.”

Maybe he should have denied it, but Ben didn’t see what he had to hide. He had earned his driver’s license last year, and it wasn’t criminal to drive around in someone else’s car.

“Yup, that was me,” he said. He didn’t elaborate, enjoying being enigmatic about it.

“Whose car were you driving?” his mom asked.

“Who cares,” his dad interrupted. “I’m just happy he’s actually using his license. We should break out the champagne!”

“The car belongs to a friend of mine,” Ben answered his mom while smiling at his dad.

“Do we know this friend?” his mom asked. “Is it this Tim person?”

“Tim who?” his sister prodded.

“None of your business,” Ben shot at her. “Yeah, it’s him,” he said to his mother. It felt good to keep Karen out of the loop. That his mom already knew and that 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 admit it,” Karen said, a wicked gleam in her eye. “When Janny saw you school wasn’t over yet.”

“What are you saying?” his mother asked, while keeping her eyes on him.

“It was still sixth period,” Karen explained joyfully. “Janny has work leave so she leaves after fifth period. Apparently Ben does, too.”

“Is this true?” his father inquired.

Ben didn’t need to answer. His mother saw it all on his face. Denying anything would only make it worse.

“How long has this been going on?” she demanded. “Have you and this friend of yours been skipping school every day? What’s going on between you two?”

“Well, that’s not hard to guess,” Karen interjected.

“Be quiet,” his mother hissed at her before turning her attention back to Ben. “What’s gotten into you lately? First you lie to us about where you are and who you’re with, and now you’re skipping school? I don’t know who this Tim person is, but it’s clear that he isn’t good for you.”

“That’s not true!” Ben protested, feeling betrayed. She knew how much Tim meant to him. He’d told her, and now she was using it against him.

“You may not think it’s true,” she insisted, “but believe me it is. Anyone who asks you to lie and encourages you to skip school--” She shook her head, overcome with emotion. “Adam.”

“You’re grounded,” his father said on cue. “Starting now.”

“Grounded from what?” Ben asked incredulously.

His father looked to his mother for help. “The computer?” he suggested.

“For Christ’s sake, Adam!” She glowered at her husband before redirecting her wrath to her son. “You are grounded to the house. You aren’t going out with anyone until further notice. And I’ll be calling your school to make sure you are there the whole day, too!”

“That’s not fair!” Ben managed to shout as emotion constricted his throat. “I fucking hate you!” he croaked to his sister before he ran upstairs to his room.

Things only became worse once he had slammed the door. Left alone, he had time to realize the implications of this punishment. The last few days alone with Tim, the romantic meal and whatever memories they would have made, were all gone, forever stolen away from him by his stupid sister and his treacherous mom.

* * * * *

Groggy and miserable, Ben pulled himself out of bed at eleven in the morning and stumbled into the shower. He had stayed up late, wrestling with the anger lurching inside and listening to music that amplified these emotions.

Before all of this he called Tim to let him know that he wouldn’t be showing up after dinner or even this weekend. Tim, while sympathetic that he had gotten in trouble, didn’t sound as devastated as Ben had hoped.