SWNOVELS Chapter 4 Home Away From Home
Megan drove me “home” which took ten minutes tops to get there, but I didn’t expect her to try to make small talk with me the entire drive there. She was asking me all sorts of rapid fireball questions that I was not ready or comfortable to answer. All I wanted to do at that moment was to just go to Ben’s room and lay down for a minute. This is all happening too fast and I just need some time for myself, is that so hard to ask? Anyway, when we got to “our” house, for the most part it looked practically the same as the ones back at Josh’s which makes it even harder to identify where I am. The only good thing about that is that like Josh’s house, they are numbered, which is good for me so when I bike to school it makes it easy for me to remember.
That was a nice refresher that I definitely needed.
Speaking of a refresher, I could sure use one… right about now. I wonder what I will find in the fridge this time. Hopefully something I recognize. Walking around the house, I heard and smelled something boiling and that’s when I saw Ben’s mom peeking her head out of the hallway and greeted us. His mom had brown wavy hair and eyes like Ben’s, wearing a flower apron over her dress. But I couldn’t get over how she was seriously like the splitting image of Megan but only taller. Now that’s what I call scary. Us two siblings greeted her and made small talk before going our separate ways. While Megan went back to her room, I joined her, but not before quickly backtracking to go to the fridge.
Where I carefully tiptoed to see what kind of things I could find and when I saw how much was available with its bright lights glowing, the door suddenly slammed shut on me. That’s when I saw a slightly wrinkled woman’s hand with red painted nails on the door. I tilted my head slightly and looked up and saw it was Ben’s mother who was not pleased by my attempt whatsoever and said,
“No snacks before dinner, Benjamin. I’m making my famous meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. It’s good for you.”
I was confused. Megan had told me she was making Sloppy Joes. “Wait, I thought you were making Sloppy Joes?” I asked.
Mom scrunched her nose and tilted her head. “Who told you that?”
“Megan,” I answered. “She was the one who—” I stopped talking as I realized I’d fallen for the oldest trick in the book.
“She tricked me, didn’t she?” I asked, feeling like an idiot.
Mom nodded, and I heard Megan laughing in the other room. She came into the kitchen and leaned against the wall behind me.
“Well, well, look at the big brain on this little one,” she said, messing up my hair. “Wow, Benji, you must have a world record for being the most gullible person on the face of the earth. I can’t believe it finally took you this long to figure it out. And it only took you thirteen years!”
“Hey!” I protested.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Ben, I meant fourteen. Is that really any better?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Just call me when dinner’s ready,” I said, storming out of the kitchen. Megan had the nerve to push my head forward as I left, and when I turned right at the end of the hall, she said, “Uh, you know you’re going the wrong way, right?”
I stopped dead in my tracks, feeling even more embarrassed. I tried to save face by saying, “Uhh, I knew that, I was only testing you.” and then stormed off in the opposite direction. I felt like an idiot. When I was far enough away where they couldn’t see me, I eavesdropped his mom saying, “Ooo, you shouldn’t have told him that, Meggie... was gonna see how long it would take till he noticed.”
“Why bother, Mom? Seeing his reaction right away is way more fun. Trust me.”
Glad someone here is enjoying my misery. I’d heard enough, so I headed into my new room, which was at the end of the hall. It had Ben’s name written all over it, with gray walls unlike the bold bright colors I was used to. There was a desk with an old computer that was actually the same one I remembered having, and an old decent-sized TV on a small table with a cabinet with its doors open.
I saw a gray N64 system sticking out along with three controllers lying around. But that’s not all—his bed was probably the most distinctive out of all my adventures so far because everything was football-themed. His bed was covered in football helmet logos from all the current teams, like the Chicago Bears, Giants, Lions, and so on.
I wonder what his favorite team is? I then looked at his wooden desk and saw a framed photo of him when he was about 6 years old, maybe, with his family at Giants Stadium. I couldn’t help but feel a little resentment and anger towards them. They seem like such a happy and complete family, while here I am separated from my own, and they have absolutely no idea. Then again, would they even believe me?
What do you think?
Maybe. I’m starting to really regret not telling them, especially Emily. But I think I should tell someone I should trust with my life. Like my little brother Alex, he’ll understand now that he is in High school. I could always count on him. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder what he will do in my predicament since he wouldn’t be able to go one day without his phone.
But what am I thinking?! That can wait. The first thing I should do is focus on how to get out of this kid’s body and fast! Then I can tell Alex everything. My only guess as to what is keeping me from doing just that is the beef that is happening between Ben’s two best friends Ally and Josh. Ally is someone I need to talk to in person not on the phone so I could get her side as that can really help my case to determine who is in the right and who’s in the wrong. Plus it seems like the only thing here that makes the most sense considering Ben´s home life is pretty stable and doesn’t seem to have any enemies at the moment.
Now that’s settled, I guess the only thing I should do is to find his school schedule because I know I am no miracle worker that can get things done in a day. This shouldn’t take long at all and with my luck, I should definitely be outta here after school ends on Monday and just in time for him to enjoy the big field trip to Washington DC or else I am in big trouble.
So I’m looking and looking for Ben’s stupid school schedule in every nook and cranny of his room right, even emptying his backpack and just as I give up… what do I find? His schedule. It was conveniently thumbtacked on a board above his computer on the wall. I had to smack myself in the forehead as it was literally staring me in the face the entire time. I took the thumbtack off the schedule and held it in my hand and here is a rough idea of what I remember of Benjamin’s Fall Schedule being something like this:
1st period: ELA —-- Mr. Adler Room 124 or 126
2nd period: Science —-- Ms. Hart Room 133 or 131
3rd Period: Gym—--- Mrs. Longhorn
4th Period: Math—-Mrs. Rodriguez Room 125
5th Period: Social Studies —-Mr. Goodman Room 127
6th period Lunch: —---Cafeteria
7th Period: Art —--------Mr. Santoro Room 113
8th Period: Cooking—---Mrs. Butler Room 109
Ben’s schedule was a breeze compared to Gary’s or Elizabeth’s. As I started to memorize it, Ben’s mom yelled for us to come eat dinner. I ran into Megan in the hallway, and she told me to wash up first. I was used to telling Gary or Elizabeth’s little siblings to wash up, so it was weird being on the receiving end. I washed my hands and stared at my kid-sized hands in the mirror before heading to the kitchen.
I sat down at an uncomfortable wooden chair and was served meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The meatloaf was actually pretty good, but the green beans were soggy and deflated. I poked one with my fork and it deflated even more. I grumbled to myself and took a bite, while Megan chuckled at my defeated look.
I just sighed, gave her an annoyed glance then rolled my eyes thinking This can’t be happening. Anyway, Ben’s mom looked at me and abruptly asked,
“Why are you so quiet at the table today, Ben? Is something bothering you?”
Indeed, there is something bothering me. Three things, to be precise. First, my reflection is that of a child, not a high schooler or a college student, but a middle schooler. A middle schooler. That is something I cannot stand. Second, my so-called “best friend” Josh is venting to me about his problems with a girl in our friend group that I have not met yet. Finally, I cannot relate to their problems or pretend to, as I have never experienced or encountered a breakup that involved friends before, or a relationship for that matter. So yeah, that bothers me, but I don’t think these people would understand, especially little Miss Popular Megan.
Looks like I really am on my own!