by David Bruno
*****
A couple days after Benny was born, he was able to go home with his father. Jon and Sarah and Jennifer’s parents, Dave and Kim, were there with JB.
Jon put his arm around his son. “JB, nobody should have to go through this. Just know you have a whole extended family here to help.” He walked over to Dave and Kim and hugged each of them.
“Jennifer was a special woman. We all loved her very much. She was a perfect match for JB here.” Jon moved to his son and clasped his shoulder. “The funeral home called me today. Not sure why they called me, but they did. They asked if we wanted Jennifer’s jewelry. I said that you’d want the ring that you made for her. They delivered it here earlier today.” He handed it over to JB.
“Thanks, Dad. It was a silly ring. She loved it though. I thought I had plenty of time to get her a real ring,” he said as he showed the ring to Benny. “I can’t do this without her.” He broke down again. Kim took her grandson so JB could regain his composure.
Kim said, “You aren’t alone though. You have all of us.”
*****
Later that week, the families endured the funeral. Hundreds of people showed up. In addition to both families and friends, all of the foundry employees and their families were there offering condolences to their boss. Everyone tried to express their sorrow to the family as best they could. Psalm 23 was read, bringing little comfort to the family who had lost a daughter, wife, and mother so tragically and so young.
Jenn was laid to rest.
From a distance, Max observed the funeral unnoticed by those in attendance. Memories of Veronica’s passing went through his mind. They were still quite fresh and raw. A lump formed in his throat because he knew he could and should have done something to help. He knew the family’s pain—he carried his own.
But he still had an unpleasant duty to call the Agency. “Jeff, I’m at the funeral. So far, I can’t yet confirm this had anything to do with our experiment. I’ll monitor things and let you know. But it appears as if it could have been just a tragic accident.”
Max hung up the phone, ashamed of himself and his cowardice. With uncharacteristic humility, Max made a promise. Dear God, I ask that the baby boy born to this family last week have no powers. If it is your will that he has powers, I don’t know if I can protect him. But I swear I will try. Max pulled a tissue out of his jacket and blotted his eyes.
CH 08
BENNY AND THE DANCE
2010: SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
“Okay, Benny! Time to eat breakfast!” the industrious father shouted upstairs to wake his fourteen-year-old son. “We need to get ready for church. Get moving!” He growled as he turned off the TV news. It seemed like the same thing on the news each day—clashes among the superpowered. This time it was in Miami: five innocent people killed.
As usual, Benny was running late. He didn’t really care to go to church. But it was important to his dad that he attend.
JB had found his rhythm as a single dad over the past decade and a half. He missed his wife but felt she was there with them each day, in their hearts. It was hard to balance ownership of the foundry with his fatherly obligations, but he’d done his best and was proud of the boy Benny was growing into.
Still, there were times it seemed Benny resented the limited attention he received. JB picked up the latest letter from the principal giving Benny two days of detention. He had shoved another boy in the hallway. It was an all-too-familiar occurrence. But this time was different. The letter clearly read: One more incident and Benny will be suspended for a week. It might have been easier if he had been an exceptional student. While Benny was quite smart and capable of straight A’s, he was satisfied with B’s and C’s. This frustrated JB, who knew education was a key to success. Benny’s performance now would determine his future. He reasoned that Benny lacked a purpose. Benny needed one fast, or he risked falling deeper into a pattern from which it would be extremely difficult to recover.
In honor of Jenn, JB kept the slag-and-iron ring at the center of the dinner table. It served as a memory of his wife and the happy but very short life they’d shared together. He was happy knowing it was there as he and Benny ate their cereal before going to church.
*****
As Benny and his father left the church service, they contemplated the sermon about God’s love even for those people cursed with superpowers. Soon, they met up with Joe Howard in the parking lot. Joe and Benny had been friends for as long as either could remember. Though he was relatively popular among his peers, Joe was the only kid in school that had bothered to see through Benny’s roughness and realize that there was more to him than the angry veneer on the outside. The pair were true friends and relied upon each other during those difficult formative years.
“Are you going to the ’80s dance on Friday?” Joe asked Benny.
“I don’t think I’m going. Nobody likes me, especially the girls. Besides, the principal truly hates me. All he wants to do is send me up to high school so I’m not his problem anymore,” said Benny as he hunched his shoulders.
Joe pleaded with Benny’s dad. “Mr. Brown, make him go! I don’t want to go by myself. I need a wingman!”
“Benny, it could be fun. You might get to dance with some pretty girls. What do you say?” His father knew that Benny needed some time with kids his own age outside of the classroom.
Benny sighed. “Alright, fine. I’m in.”
“Woohoo! I finally get to show off my new moves. Chicks will definitely dig them.” Joe strutted around the church parking lot, proudly displaying his new dance moves to the parishioners as they left the church. He shook his hips and pumped his fists into the air with no perceptible rhythm.
“Geez, Joe. If you dance like that, we’re both gonna get thrown out,” groaned Benny, eyeing his friend’s lanky figure and offbeat style.
“I’m going to ask Emily to dance. She’s a cheerleader and really hot. Perfect ten,” said Joe, holding up both open hands with a huge smile.
“Way out of your league, dude. Try two-ton Tina.” Benny laughed at the vision of skinny Joe grinding away with his 250-pound classmate. “Big girls need love too, Joe.”
“Very funny. Who do you wanna dance with?”
“Maybe Tammy Thompson. I always liked her. Cute, blonde, and stacked.” Benny grinned.
Benny’s dad glared at him. “Easy, Benny. You just came out of church. She’s someone’s daughter. Show a little respect.”
Internally, JB laughed. That’s my boy. Whew!
“Sure, Dad. She’s smart and seems nice too.” Benny flashed a cheesy smile at his father.
“Good choice. Not a ten, but an easy eight. Besides, I think she’s not nauseated by you. That’s a good sign,” said Joe with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
The pair laughed as they got into their family vehicles to go home.
*****
Friday evening finally came around. Joe lived within walking distance of Benny and swaggered to his place, hoping his dad would drive them both to the dance. He was dressed in baggy white pants with a white jacket over a powder-blue T-shirt. His sleeves were pulled up to his elbows. Topping off his look was a pair of jet-black Wayfarers and an old portable cassette player clipped to his belt. His hair was parted in the middle with wings flowing on the sides. His vintage cologne was an assault on the olfactory senses. In his mind, Joe looked awesome and was the night’s premier ladies’ man.
Benny dressed a little more conservatively, wearing acid-washed jeans strategically ripped at the knees and a Def Leppard T-shirt. A modified blonde wig caressed his head and formed a perfect mullet. He was the symbolic cultural opposite of his buddy Joe, but still well within the theme of the party. Benny’s dad drove the pair to the dance, dropping them off a safe distance from the front door to minimize the chance of embarrassing them.
“Call me when it’s over. Have fun and behave yourselves. Be gentlemen. I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will anyway—no fighting.” JB wagged his
finger at the boys to drive his point home.
“Got it, Dad. Love ya.”
*****
The large cafeteria area had been converted for the evening’s dance. Ambient lights were dimmed and special-effect lights flickered, flashed, and moved around the room. A mirror ball hung over the center of the dance floor reflecting color and light in all directions. Once-popular ’80s music blasted through large speakers, courtesy of the hired DJ. The bass hit so hard it seemed to liquefy the organs within their chests.
Benny and Joe looked on at their classmates, some dancing and gyrating to the rhythm. Many others moved to a rhythm of their own. It didn’t matter, because the strobe lights blended the moves so they didn’t look too out of place.
“So, are you really going to ask Tammy to dance?” Joe asked Benny, trying to be heard above the sound of the music.
“Probably, but I need to wait for a slow song. Maybe a little REO Speedwagon or Bryan Adams. I don’t have your… confidence to go out there.”
“You amaze me sometimes, Benny. You really know these songs.”
“I can’t help it. This stuff is all my dad plays.”
“Well, I’m going out there.” Joe pointed to the dance floor, ditched his wingman, and sashayed to the promenade by himself. Benny laughed, wishing he could be more like Joe. There he was, dancing all alone, hands waving in the air. Oddly enough, he looked good. Before long, Joe blended into another group of mostly girls wearing their best puffy miniskirts, tops with shoulder pads, and massive bangs held in place with vast amounts of ozone-smiting hairspray. Benny stood by himself, clutching a red plastic cup of fruit punch.
It didn’t take long for Benny to get a little down. He blamed himself. His history of short-temperedness limited the number of friends he had. But he still thought this might be his night. All he needed to do was smile, fill himself with a portion of Joe’s bravado, and ask Tammy to dance. He watched her with one eye until he found his moment—a slow song—Chicago!
Benny gulped the last of the punch, tossed the cup in the trash, and approached Tammy.
“Hi, Tammy. Are you having fun?”
She politely smiled and nodded. Her fuchsia dress, side ponytail, and heavy makeup fit the ’80s theme well. You are so adorable.
He stuttered when he gazed into her deep, clear eyes. “W… would you… Umm, you look really pretty tonight. Would you like to dance with me? You’re an inspiration.” Oh, Benny, that was smooth. Match your line with the song. Bravo!
At that moment, Benny felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Jimmy Schultz standing over him.
“She’s my girl.” Jimmy was a brute. Not very bright, but he was strong and a star of the football team. The high school couldn’t wait for him. Jimmy pushed Benny aside.
Benny thought of what his dad had told him and, this time, chose to obey.
Surprisingly, Tammy stepped in. “Jimmy, I am not your girl. I came here with you because I thought you were a nice guy. Guess I was wrong.”
Benny’s heart sank. Tammy had come to the dance with Jimmy, of all people.
“It’s okay,” Benny said glumly. “You guys dance.”
Jimmy smirked at his victory and took Tammy to the dance floor. As Benny walked away, he didn’t look back. If he had, he would have seen Tammy look his way.
Benny grabbed a cookie and another cup of punch and blended into the scenery.
Eventually, Joe had to take a break from dancing and went to get refreshments. He found Benny sitting on a chair in a dark area along the wall with his wig in his lap.
“What’s up? You okay?” He dabbed the perspiration from his neck.
“Tammy’s here with Jimmy Schultz. Can you believe it? I guess she’s a ho like the rest of them.”
“Sorry, man. Jimmy’s a total tool. Just because she came with him doesn’t mean they’re going out. She’ll figure out Jimmy’s the worst for herself. At least now she knows you’re interested in her.” Joe flashed a smile and bumped elbows with his buddy.
“I don’t belong here, Joe. I want to go home. I’m just gonna walk. Would you mind calling your parents so they can pick you up when you’re ready to go?”
“Come on, stay! I’ll let you have Emily,” begged Joe, fluttering his eyebrows.
“Nah. See you later.” Benny walked out of the school and went home in the dark. He lived over two miles away, which gave him plenty of time to think.
The more he thought, the angrier he got.
*****
Monday morning, the school was abuzz with talk about the dance. Joe searched for Benny before class started to talk about the weekend.
“What happened to you, Benny? I haven’t seen you all weekend since you left me hanging.”
“Sorry about that. I didn’t want to spoil your fun.”
“Dude, check it out. At one point, I was dancing with four girls at the same time,” Joe bragged, holding up four fingers. “It was magical. I heard from Emily who heard from Heather that Tammy wanted to dance with you. She booted Jimmy not long after you left. She looked for you but you weren’t there to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.” He gave Benny a nudge.
“Seriously?” Benny sighed, internally kicking himself. “I guess I really am a loser. She can do better than me.”
A familiar voice shouted over the chatter. “Benny! Where are you?” It was Jimmy. He boomed, and when he spotted Benny, he made a beeline for him.
Benny scowled and shrugged his shoulders. “What more do you want? I left you alone with Tammy, dude.”
“You could have slit your wrists and just ended it.”
Joe jumped to his friend’s defense. “Back off, man,” he warned, trying to look formidable.
“Or what? You and your pathetic friend here gonna do something you’ll regret? Benny, you were born scum and that’s how you’ll die. Even your mother couldn’t stand having you around and chose to die instead. Pitiful.”
Benny glared at his much-larger opponent. His face reddened and his body visibly trembled. The insult went much too far.
“Don’t do it, Benny,” warned Joe. “You don’t need to get suspended.”
“AHHHH!” Benny charged at Jimmy. But the larger bully was far more athletic and certainly stronger. With lightning speed, Jimmy struck Benny in the jaw, slamming him into the lockers.
As Benny fell to the ground, something changed in him. He became unusually hot as his heart raced. Beads of sweat fell from his face and scalp. His skin hardened and turned a curious shade of pink. A burst of energy coursed through his muscles unlike anything he had ever felt. Tears streamed from his eyes.
“Look everyone, little Benny’s crying,” Jimmy mocked as Benny lay motionless on the floor. “He knows I was right about his dead mommy.”
The crowd fell silent, not wanting to get involved, but transfixed by the drama.
In a flash, Benny leapt toward Jimmy. Again, Jimmy struck first. This time, it was like hitting a concrete wall. An instant later, as Jimmy held his bloody hand and gasped in pain, Benny unleashed an otherworldly barrage of fists on Jimmy’s chest. The spectators winced at the sound of cracking ribs. With one final strike to his jaw, Jimmy hit the floor, out cold. Next to his unconscious body, two bloodstained teeth lay just outside of his mouth.
A moment later, Benny swayed and fainted.
*****
THE NEXT DAY: PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
“Mr. Brown,” said the principal solemnly to JB, “we’re going to have to remove Benny from school. This is not a simple suspension. He has been a nuisance since grade school and honestly, he belongs elsewhere. Yesterday, he put another boy in a coma. I cannot overstate how serious this is. They’re already talking of suing you and the school.”
JB bristled, opening and closing his fist in his lap. “As I understand it, Jimmy bullied Benny and hit him first. Are you kicking him out of school too?”
“According to multiple witnesses, Jimmy defended himself from your son, who was the aggressor. Unlike Be
nny, Jimmy has been a good student and will get a two-day suspension—assuming he recovers. For both our sakes, we need to hope he recovers.” The principal shifted uncomfortably. “Witnesses also said that Benny… changed after he was hit. The damage he did to Jimmy Schultz, who’s so much bigger and more athletic… ”
The principal paused momentarily before asking frankly, “Does he have superpowers?”
JB indignantly jumped to his feet and flailed his arms in the air. “Why would you ask such a thing?”
“Sit down, please. You need to be honest about this. There are institutions for people like him. Ways for them to learn to follow the law and suppress their powers.” The principal lowered his voice. “You know what society thinks of those people. We aren’t equipped to handle them and don’t need them in our school district. All local schools have been given Benny’s information and will not accept him. The way I see it, you have three choices. You can institutionalize him, homeschool, or you can move.” The principal hoped that JB would choose the latter so he would never have to deal with the Brown family again.
As the principal spoke, JB thought, My Benny, I hope you aren’t a freak. Life is hard enough for both of us without your mother. His face turned red with the principal’s suggestion that Benny be institutionalized. “This is why our education system is a mess. You just threw my son away when he needs help. He is not a piece of trash. The real problem here was the football player! So you accuse my son of being a freak. I’m glad he was able to defend himself.” With that, Benny’s father took his arm and cleared the principal’s desk of all its contents, spilling them on the floor. It was quite immature, but it made him feel better for the moment.