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“I wasn’t sleeping. I was just waiting for you to get in, and I got bored.” He shrugged his shoulders and stood up slowly from the couch.
My eyes run over him, and something strange pops out to the forefront of my mind.
Benny has the same colors on as yesterday. All black, which is no surprise, but moreover he has the same clothes on as yesterday. It’s a black and white All American Rejects shirt and dark jeans. Under his eyes look a little dark, and from the look of his face it doesn’t look as if it’s seen any water. Did he not go home?
“Benny, don’t lie to me. Did you go home last night?” I stare at him. My stomach balling up in knots as I wait for him to answer me.
“Of course, I went home, Miss. I just got here before you today.” Once again, he tries to brush me off. I reach out and grab his shoulder as he tries to walk by me. Leaning down, I look into his eyes and see the pain and humiliation there. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and I refuse to just sit back and ignore my gut telling me that Benny is in trouble.
“Benny, I need you to be honest with me, buddy. You’re not going to get in trouble and if you really want to keep things just between us, I’ll do my best, but I know something is wrong. I didn’t want to push you, but I need you to tell me.”
I watch as his face gets red, and then his eyes fill with tears that he blinks away. “Miss . . . it’s nothing,” he says softly and drops back down on the couch behind him.
“Benny, something is wrong. I can tell something is wrong. I’m so worried. You’re a good kid and I want to help you, but I don’t know how unless you tell me.” I sit down on the couch and fold my hands in my lap.
The seconds tick by, and I hear a few of the kids coming into the center. Luckily, none come toward my office.
When Benny starts to fidget and begins to open and close his mouth, I realize he doesn’t know where to start.
I don’t mind asking the hard questions. “Why didn’t you go home last night?”
“I did. I went home, I just didn’t stay,”he offers.
“Why?”
With his head still angled down, Benny tells me a story that breaks my heart into a million pieces. “My dad isn’t very nice. He was really drunk yesterday, and I know when he gets like that I’m going to get hurt. My mother had already got her share of his fists, and she told me to go before he realized I was home. He likes to beat on my legs and back, so I look like I’m weak, but people can’t see why I’m hurt. If anyone sees them, I’m supposed to say I had an accident.” Suddenly, his eyes dart up to mine. “If you tell anyone, things are going to get worse, and I haven’t figured out a way to beat him yet.”
I let out a gasp and lean back against the couch. “This is why you wanted me to ask Christina about letting you in to train? You want to beat up your father?”
“No, I don’t want to beat him up. I don’t like to fight as much as I pretend I do. I just don’t want him to hit me anymore. I’m tired of the pain, Miss. It always hurts, and I’m tired. I just want him to stop.” His eyes fall back down, and I watch in anguish as one lonely tear streams down his face.“I don’t know why he doesn’t love us, Miss.”
“Oh, Benny.” I grab hold of him and pull him into a hug. He crumbles into me, and part of me wonders when the last time was someone actually hugged this boy. No wonder he’s fighting all the time. It’s all he knows.
After a few moments, I pull back and look into his tear-stained face. “What about your mom? Does she ever tell the police anything?”
“She’s tried twice already. But it never sticks. He’ll leave for a little while and then show back up on the doorstep. He’s good for a day or so, and then he’s beating her up again. It’s like the cops don’t believe her anymore, and the last time something happened, they put me in a foster home. I hated it. I don’t want to go back. Don’t tell on me, Miss.”
“I’m not going to tell on you, I prom . . .” I hesitate as the words come out of my mouth. There’s no way I can promise that I’m not going to say anything ever. Especially if this gets any worse. “Well, let me say this. I promise you I won’t say anything unless it’s getting too bad. If I can’t get you the help you need without the cops getting involved, then I’m going to have to tell. My main priority is your safety. Do you understand?” I ask him, and he nods.
“Okay, now, I know how ruthless some of the kids in here can be. And If I noticed you have the same clothes on, they will too. Let’s go through the lost and found and check to see if there’s anything in there that you can wear.” I help him off the couch, and we start digging in the old clothes box to give him something else to wear. I’d give Benny the clothes off my back if it made it better for him. There’s no way I’m going to leave it on his shoulders. I have to find a way to help him, even if it’s not in the most conventional sense.
* * *
All day long, I keep my eyes on Benny. I’m amazed at how well he’s able to hide his distress. I found him a new shirt to put on and made sure he had some breakfast, and he went on about his day as if nothing were wrong.
He’s a really strong little boy.
Still, I’m not going to let him face this on his own. He’s already let me know that he didn’t want to go to the police, and I’m not about to break his trust by running to them. My mind drifts back to what Elliot said a few days ago about sometimes people just need to be beat up before they learn their lesson. If Benny’s got a bully, I bet I can find a few other bigger bullies to handle the jerk.
Once the community center is closed down for the day, I make my way over to Bright’s Boxing Gym, hoping that Christina is there.
“Haven! Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Christina says as she drops some towels onto one of the mats and makes her way over to me. Skyla is here, and when she sees me, she comes over as well.
It’s not lost on me that I’m about to ask her if she can help me get someone beat up, but I’m not sure where else I can go for help.
“Hey, Haven, you okay? You look like you’ve got a live wire up your—” Skyla starts, but Christina slaps her shoulder to get her to shut up.
“Could you have any less class?” Christina rolls her eyes before looking at me. “Well, she’s not lying. You okay?”
