By the Creek

  THE next day was Saturday, and David had to work the lunch shift at the Dairy Barn. Once he was done, he drove home carefully, thankful there hadn’t been more snow, and parked in the driveway. When he stepped inside, it was obvious that his mother had spent half the day cooking. “Geez, Mom, it’s just Benjamin.”

  “I want to make a good impression. It isn’t every day you meet your son’s first boyfriend.”

  “Don’t say things like that around Benjamin. I told him he could talk to you if he felt he needed to, and he might, but he’s really shy, and he doesn’t know that you know, okay? I want him to feel comfortable.”

  His mother opened the oven door and checked what was inside before closing it again. “Okay. I promise to be good and not embarrass you… too much.”

  “Mom,” David groaned but said nothing more. That was probably the most he was going to get out of her. She’d been itching to meet Benjamin for months. She’d seen him a few times because David had pointed him out when he was out in the field as they drove by, but they’d never actually met or talked, and David was really hoping they would connect somehow. Benjamin needed someone other than him to talk to, and David didn’t know who else he could trust enough to help.

  A soft knock sounded on the door, and David hurried to open it, his mother right behind him. Benjamin stepped inside, carrying something wrapped in a bit of plain blue-checked cloth.

  “Benjamin, this is my mother.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Harper,” Benjamin said formally and handed her what he’d brought. “My mother sent some of her wild berry preserves.”

  David watched his mother open the package and grin. “This looks delicious, thank you,” she said. “You and David can sit in the living room while I finish getting dinner ready.” She turned and went back into the kitchen. David opened the hall closet and hung up Benjamin’s coat.

  “Would you like to watch television?” David asked. “I know you’ve seen it before, but we could watch something if you like.” David picked up the remote and started to turn on the set.

  Benjamin shook his head. “Papa made me promise that I wouldn’t do that. I think he thinks that it will instantly corrupt me.” Benjamin smiled, and David set the remote on the coffee table.

  “I put the photo albums in there,” his mother said from the kitchen. “Why don’t you show them to Benjamin?” David could tell his mother was getting way too much delight out of the idea, but Benjamin seemed to like the idea too, so David picked up the top album and opened it, groaning at the first picture.

  “That’s me as a baby,” David explained. “And that’s a picture of my mom, dad, and me when they brought me home from the hospital.” David heard Benjamin chuckle and turned the page. “They looked so happy.”

  “You were cute back then,” Benjamin said before turning to David. “There are no pictures of me like that. We don’t take photographs and don’t like to be photographed. It’s considered a graven image.”

  “For my mom, these represent memories,” David explained. “Whenever she looks at them, she remembers what it was like when I was born and my father was still alive.” David leaned a little closer. “Sometimes I’ve seen her cry when she turns the pages.” David stopped what he was doing. “Do you want to do something else? I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  When Benjamin shook his head, David turned the page. “This is my dad and me on vacation. I must have been four. I don’t remember it, but apparently Dad wanted to take me fishing.” David pointed to a picture of his smiling father holding David in his arms as he stepped into a boat. “Apparently I wasn’t as thrilled as he was. Mom said they untethered the boat from the dock and sped away to one of Dad’s fishing holes. I get seasick, and after about five minutes, I turned green and threw up all over him. Mom said it was the shortest fishing trip in history.” Benjamin chuckled at David’s story.

  “It’s true,” David’s mother said from the doorway. “Marv was an avid fisherman and wanted David to learn, but that put an end to it. He tried a few times, but if David steps on a moving boat, he gets sick. We tried canoeing once, and that was okay, but most boats and David don’t mix.”

  David turned to the next page. “That’s Dad on the last boat he had. He was happiest on the water. After he died, Mom sold it, along with most of his fishing stuff. She kept his best rod and reel for me, though.”

  “But you can’t go on a boat,” Benjamin observed, studying the picture of David’s dad.

  “She wanted me to have something special of Dad’s,” David explained. He turned the page again, and there was a picture of David with no front teeth, smiling at the camera, along with another picture of his dad.

  “You look like him,” Benjamin said. “Do you miss him?”

  David nodded. “Yes. He was my dad, the only one I’ll have. Mom’s great, but there are things that a guy needs his dad for, just like girls seem to need their mothers. My dad always listened, and at bedtime, he told me stories that he made up about all kinds of animals. He didn’t do that much anymore by the time he died, but when I was young, he did it all the time.” David didn’t think about his dad every day anymore. He still missed him, but the pain and loss had dulled. “It’s funny, but I miss him at the weirdest times. Like when I first started my job, I wished my dad could be there to see it, and I know when I graduate in the spring, I’ll wish he was there.” David continued turning the pages in the album. The pictures progressed, with both David and his dad getting older, and then David reached the back of the album and showed Benjamin the last picture his mother took of David and his dad together. His father was in his hospital bed, and David was lying next to him. “I remember this,” David said, a tightness in his throat. He didn’t try to say anything more. It was the last memory he had of his dad, and his mother had caught it on film. “My dad died that night, after I left.”

  “Boys, dinner is almost ready,” his mother said quietly. “David, take Benjamin and show him where to wash up.”

  Swallowing hard, David closed the album and led Benjamin to the bathroom. They washed and dried their hands before heading back to the kitchen, where his mother was putting the last of the food on the table. David showed Benjamin where to sit. Benjamin folded his hands and bowed his head in prayer. David looked at his mother, and they did the same. He and his mom hadn’t prayed before meals in years, but he wanted his guest to feel comfortable. After a few seconds, Benjamin lifted his head again, and both David and his mother lowered their hands.

  “I made a pot roast,” David’s mother said self-consciously, and Benjamin smiled.

  “Everything looks and smells very good,” Benjamin said, and then he looked at David. He looked back, not quite sure what Benjamin was expecting. Then the expression passed, and David’s mother began passing the food around the table.

  “What’s dinner like at your house?” David asked.

  “Papa always carves the meat while Mama serves the rest of the food.” Benjamin took a helping of potatoes, and David then passed him the plate of roast. “I usually help some of the other children.”

  “Mom makes the best pot roast anywhere,” David said, smiling appreciatively at his mother.

  Once all the food had made it around the table, they began to eat. David watched Benjamin as he ate, almost elegantly, from his plate. David loved watching Benjamin do just about everything, and eating seemed to be no exception.

  “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” David’s mother asked.

  “I have two older sisters, one of whom is already married, two older brothers, and two younger brothers, Adam and Jeremiah. I also have two younger sisters, Ruth and Sarah. Mama and Papa keep a very close watch on my sisters.” Benjamin took a small bite and swallowed. “Boys have a lot more… options….” He looked at David for help.

  “Freedom?” David supplied, and Benjamin nodded.

  “Boys have more freedom than girls do. Girls go to school, and when they’re of age, they learn ho
w to keep house and take care of the family.” Benjamin looked at David’s mother. “We’re very different from you English in that way.”

  “I understand,” David’s mother said, and she smiled. “There are many times when I wish I could stay home and take care of the house and David, but that isn’t an option for us.”

  Benjamin looked at the table. “I did not mean to criticize.”

  “You didn’t,” David’s mother said, and Benjamin lifted his gaze. “You come from a very different background than we do, but that doesn’t mean your ways and traditions are any less special, just different.” The conversation dropped off for a few minutes. “What do you do during the winter?”

  “We take care of the animals and do things we don’t have time for the rest of the year. Papa and one of my uncles make furniture that they sell. The girls sew and embroider items to sell. It’s a quieter time, but everyone is still busy.” David’s mother nodded slowly. “There’s always something to do. Thankfully, this winter hasn’t been as hard as last year’s, and we don’t need to forage for more firewood.” David was happy about that, remembering what had happened last winter.

  They continued the meal in quiet conversation. When they were done, David helped his mother clear away the dishes. “I’ll take care of this—you two can sit in the living room if you want,” she said.

  “Thanks, Mom,” David said, leading Benjamin into the other room. “I know something that will be fun,” David said, and he hurried away. He hunted in his closet for the specific box. After pulling it out, he carried it into the living room. “Do you play checkers?” Benjamin grinned and nodded. “Great,” David said and pulled out the board. “My dad made this for me one Christmas.” David got out the dark and light pieces, setting them on the inlaid board. “What color would you like to be?” Benjamin chose the light pieces, and they began to play, sitting on the floor on opposite sides of the coffee table.

  “I need to drive into town so I won’t have to go tomorrow,” David’s mother told them as she walked into the room with her coat on, carrying her purse. “I shouldn’t be gone too long.” There was a bit of mischief in her smile, and at that moment, David realized just how much he loved his mother. “Be a good host,” she reminded David before leaving the house.

  They finished their game, which Benjamin won, and he began setting up the board again. David leaned across the table, and when Benjamin looked up, David kissed him lightly.

  “Davey,” Benjamin said once they broke the kiss. “We can’t do that… here.” He was already blushing as he looked around the room.

  “Benny,” David said, taking his hand and leading him toward the sofa, “Mom left so we could have a little time alone.” David sat next to Benjamin, still holding his hand. Once they were seated, he tugged Benjamin to him, his clean scent filling David’s nose. David rested his head on Benjamin’s shoulder. “I want to be near you for a while.”

  Benjamin made an affirmative sound and held David. David’s neck tingled when Benjamin kissed him lightly, but neither of them moved. “Do you still have chores to do tonight?”

  “No. Papa excused me for tonight, but I have to help extra tomorrow, which I don’t mind, because I get to see you,” Benjamin said. David felt him turn slightly, and he did the same. Their lips met again in a soft kiss. “I keep thinking about you when I’m alone.”

  “I think about you too,” David admitted. “After I first saw you at the creek, I kept thinking about you all the time.” David shifted slightly to get things more comfortable. He’d stopped being embarrassed about his reactions to Benjamin a while ago. “When I drive down the road, I always watch so I can see you if you’re out. I know I can’t stop by all the time and you have chores to do, but sometimes I hope just to catch a glimpse of you.” David hugged Benjamin even closer. “I’ve seen you in the field working with the other men.”

  “How can you know it’s me? Some of the fields are quite large.”

  David tilted Benjamin’s chin upward, kissing him hard and deep. “I’d know you just about anywhere.”

  “But….”

  “When I walked over yesterday, how did you know to come outside? The few times I’ve come over, I never even get close to your front door before you’re out to meet me. You can’t be watching for me constantly. How do you know?” David asked, and Benjamin hesitated.

  “Exactly. You just know, like I just know that’s you in the field behind the horse when I drive by.” David kissed Benjamin again. His body wanted to take things further, but rumpled clothes and guilty looks weren’t going to instill trust in his mother, and if he wanted any chance to have Benjamin over again, David knew he needed to behave. He shook with desire and the almost overwhelming need for Benjamin. But he had to remain in control, and he reminded himself that Benjamin deserved to be treated with respect and kindness. But it was getting harder and harder to restrain himself. David kissed Benjamin once again and then moved away from him. A hurt look flashed across Benjamin’s face.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Benjamin asked, his gaze on the space between them.

  David shook his head and swallowed hard. “Of course not. But you said we couldn’t do this here, and if I don’t stop kissing you and holding you, we’re going to end up doing things anyway. It’s not your fault, but I need a little distance so I can keep from mauling you like a dog in heat.” David took a deep breath and held it, then released it slowly. “Why don’t we play another game?”

  Benjamin agreed, and David sat back down on the floor on the opposite side of the coffee table. They played a few more games of checkers, and Benjamin won each of them, probably because David’s brain was so hormonally addled he couldn’t think straight.

  David’s mother came home in the middle of their fourth game. She made dessert, which she brought in for them, and they ate as they finished their game. “I better get home,” Benjamin said once he’d finished his portion of David’s mother’s apple crisp. Benjamin stood up, and David pulled him into a hug.

  “I’ll walk you out,” David said.

  “Thank you for everything, Mrs. Harper, it was very nice of you to have me.”

  David got Benjamin’s coat, and once they were dressed, he led the way outside. They said good-bye, and David walked Benjamin to the end of the drive. They said good-bye once again, and then Benjamin turned and began walking toward home. David stood at the end of the driveway until he saw Benjamin reach the buggy drive off the main road. He lifted his hand and saw Benjamin return the greeting before walking on and disappearing from view. Then David turned and walked back up the drive and inside the house.

  “Thanks, Mom,” David said, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.” David walked to his room and closed the door, knowing he was very lucky. With a sigh, he leaned back against the closed door, wondering just how long his good luck would hold.

  Chapter 13

  SPRING came with sun and rain. The sun melted the snow, and then it began to rain. A few times, David tried to walk to the creek, but the ground was too wet and soft. He saw Benjamin occasionally out working with his family, but mostly he had to stay away. Benjamin had come over once more and had lunch with David before the snow melted, but otherwise he only caught glimpses, and that had to suffice. He had school, work, and graduation coming up, so he was busy. But not busy enough to keep from thinking of Benjamin almost every chance he got. Time didn’t seem to matter. He’d go a few weeks without seeing him, and then there Benjamin would be, out in the field, or riding along the side of the road, and it was like the winter and their time apart had never happened.

  Finally, toward the end of April, the rain let up and the sun came out. Two days of dry weather and warm sun had David itching to walk to the creek. He could almost feel Benjamin pulling him there. So once school let out, he hurried home, changed into a pair of boots, and walked as quickly as he could across the field toward the creek. The early trees were just beginning to bud, though most branches wer
e bare, and yet spring seemed to be all around him. Early flowers bloomed in the low areas, with some of the shrubs and ferns greening up in anticipation of warmer weather.

  David reached the swimming hole, which had changed yet again, although not as much as it had the previous spring. The water was high and running fast, but the lines of debris indicated it had already receded quite a bit. David explored a little before walking downstream. The log that formed the bridge was still there, and David gingerly crossed its still-wet surface to the other side. He instantly felt better when he got to what he considered Benjamin’s side of the creek. He walked around to the pool, looking back over the water. David turned when he heard footsteps and then the pounding sound of someone running. Benjamin burst into the clearing with a smile on his face and his arms wide.

  David caught him on the run and encircled him in a hug that took his breath away. “It’s been so long,” Benjamin said, and David laughed, looking up at the sky and the sun for a second as if to say thank you before lowering his face and capturing Benjamin’s lips, laughter and joy turning to kisses and heaving breaths within seconds. It seemed so long since he’d had Benjamin in his arms. Benjamin kissed him hard, holding him tightly, and by the time they paused the kiss, David’s breath was gone, and he gasped for breath even as he tried to kiss Benjamin again.

  “I thought it would never stop raining,” Benjamin said without stepping away. “Spring finally came, but I was never able to see you.” Benjamin swallowed, shaking against David. Then he backed away, much of his excitement and joy dissipating.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” David asked with a sudden jolt of fear.