Grown- up Benjamin (5 years later)
"J?" Benji suddenly asks.
"Yeah, Benji?"
"Um....are you having trouble picking out your pajamas?.....or....something....OK, when are you gonna turn the light off?"
When he says this I feel a little pang of guilt in my chest for waking a five- year- old up at 10:00 p.m. "Oh, uh, sorry. I'll turn off as fast as I can." I say.
"But, J?"
"Mmm-hmm?"
"Do you need help picking out your pajamas?"
"I was just about to ask you that! I can't pick between silky or fuzzy!"
"Silky...pick silky"
"Can I ask you why?"
"May...May I ask you why...You always tell me may."
"Oh, sorry. May I ask you why?"
"Are questioning my judgement?"
"Certainly not! I just want to know why your perfectly superb judgement told you to pick silky."
"Because, Then you can cuddle the fuzzy sheets on your bed, and get this kinda- cold kinda- warm feeling!"
"Thank! I'll remember that!"
After a few seconds Benji smiles at me and asks, "Are you gonna ask me how I knew that you would like that?"
"It was coming.....How do you know I will like it?"
"Because, I'm older now! I go to school now! Just like you, J! And guess what!"
"What?"
"Mom, says that Alyssa, Sophie, and I might take the bus now!"
"Are Alyssa and Sophie big now, too?"
"Uh...no."
"That's blunt! Aren't they a day older than you?"
Benji glares at me and says, "Physically, yes. Mentally, no."
"Where'd you get those big words from?"
"Miss Plooffrock told me."
"Oh, yeah? Who's that?"
"Mrs. Gradslapp's assistant."
"Well, I guess she's right in a lot of ways! Well, I'll turn the light off now, OK?"
"Night!"
"Night!"
I walk into the bathroom and find Mia there too with a distressed look on her face. 'What's the matter?" I say.
"Oh, you know... things just aren't going my way."
"Is it college?" Mia plans to move in with Rocky for her second semester of college since they're both going to the same college. Rocky is starting her first year of college next semester too because she just got out of the Marines. Rocky wants to be a doctor, and Mia wants to be a nurse. Brianna is going to college to be a teacher, and Christine is gonna be an astronaut. Kayla wants to be involved in politics.
"Yeah," Mia replies, "I'm sure it'd be very stable to room with Rocky. Not because I'm afraid that she might not pay rent or anything! Because....she's in a relationship that could take a step further anytime now. Mom think so too."
"OK, just tell her that you can't do it. Just tell her that you want to stay in the dormitories."
"J! It's more complicated then that!"
"It's Rocky we're talking about! She probably won't care at all!"
"I'm not afraid of hurting her feelings! We already looked at the apartment, J! I can't just decide to live somewhere else just like that!"
"Well, just risk it, then! You're taking the semester off to save up, aren't you?"
"Jeremy! I've been saving for only half of the rent! I'm not ready to support myself like that yet!"
"It's only August you've still got a bit of time."
"To get new jobs?"
"Ask mom and dad to borrow some money."
"Don't you think they're doing too much of that already?"
"Well, don't get mad at me for this! I just asked you a couple of questions!"
"I'm not! Jeez, Jeremy! Ever since Benji was born you've been so irresponsible!"
"Shut up! Ever since you got of college you've been acting the same way!"
"Out of stress! You're just acting this way because you got what you wanted."
"Whatever, please don't bother me with your problems if it's just gonna make you mad."
"What are you talking about?! You asked me!"
"I don't know what you're deal is!"
Mia walks out of the bathroom. I have to admit I do feel a pang of guilt in my chest for fighting with her, but not for what I said.
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