BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (175 page)

Ben chose to seek Shawn and prove him his father, now that the deed was done, he was back - to reclaim Jake as his father, again, in addition to Shawn! Thus, still Jake's oldest, which Kevin felt, left him where? Who was he to anyone? If that were not enough, now Ben, is going for Crystal. Who is black, and apart of Shawn's clan. His father bought land, behind Shawn, which makes him apart of Shawn's clan. Despite being a rival of his brother, he has to stick close to watch what he's doing, to do it too, to do it better. Again, where does that leave him and Paul? Because Ben was right there in the midst of it, shaking Gail loose, and picking Crystal up; doing all of it to keep his place in the family - it pissed Kevin off. Thus he was steadily growing resentful of the whole thing; Kevin was determined not to follow suit just because they were all doing it. He would stick with his mother, stick with Quincy and slowly, break away from the rest of them, the McPhersons, because who was he to them anyway? Mr. invisible, the middle son, who in fact was the oldest son, without recognition of that, or the privileges of the oldest.

{{ Knock knock knock }}

The knocking on his car window startled Kevin from his deep thoughts, he looked up, it was his brother, Ben; who opened his drivers side door, "What you sitting in here for? Foods done, Quincy cooked a roast, it's a beaut, tender and juicy, what, you want yours brought out here?" He joked with him.

Kevin looked at him a moment before speaking, noticing his face, "You been fighting?"

Ben moved back so he could get out of the car. "Yes, no big deal. Nothing major."

Kevin slammed his car door, walking towards the house, "So what brings you hear? Thought you'd be - with your new father?!"

"What brings me here? My mother lives here, you live here, Quincy lives here."

"Oh, so - you remembered huh? Or, is it, you've worn out your welcome there? You know, with them?"

Ben stopped at the steps, with his brother before him, holding the screen door open; he stared at Kevin, "Is there a problem here Kevin?"

"Who me? Problem? What would makes you think that?"

"Ohhh, I don't know, your shitty sarcasm maybe?"

"My shitty sarcasm? Hmmm, I don't think my shitty sarcasm is a problem."

"Close the screen door and come back this way, mom won't want mosquitoes getting in the porch."

Kevin slammed it slightly and stepped back down to face his brother, "Thought you were mad at mom? Done with her?" He asked facing Ben.

"That matter has been resolved, all is fine now between mom and I."

"Well good for you Ben, now that all is well in your world, what's your problem?"

"Don't turn it around on me Kevin, you're the one displaying attitude here, not me. The question is, why?"

"Why the fuck do you care Ben?"

"Oh my, fuck - we're angry aren't we? So let's hear it, don't ever wanna be accused of not fuckin' caring!"

"Man you know what, I'm not even gonna get into it with you, because you're not me, so you can't relate to me! As far as you're concerned, everything that's wrong in this fuckin' family, happened to you! So there can't be anything seriously wrong with me!"

"I wouldn't know would I Kevin, you're not saying anything yet that makes a damn bit of sense!"

"There's a reason for that Ben, I don't wanna share it with you! Get it? You don't get to be in the midst of everything Ben, there are some things in life, that will exclude you Ben, like for instance, what's wrong with me?! Okay, so leave off! All right!?"

"Ah, I see - so - it's your turn now, right, Kevin?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"This wild hair up your ass - it's me, right? Dad right? Or should I clarify it for you, Jake? That one? Am I on the right track?"

Christine and Quincy could hear their raised voices from inside the house and came out on the porch, Quincy speaking first, "Boys? Everything okay out here?"

"No Quincy it's not! Appears that I'm no longer welcome at my mother's home, your home! My brother is pissed off for reasons he doesn't have the balls to share with-..."

"Fuck you Ben!" Kevin responded with a shove.

Ben went back, and smiled.

"HEY HEY HEY! CUT IT OUT NOW! Kevin, what's wrong with you?!" Christine scolded opening the porch door.

"Mom, Quincy, go back in, little brother has something he needs to get off his chest." Ben announced, staring Kevin down. "You wanna go that route? Huh? Well Kevin? A little physical exorcisin' make you feel better? Will it? 'Cause I'm all up for it? Come shove me again, come on."

"Fuck you Ben! Go back to your father's house! To Shawn! That's where you wanna be anyway!-..."

"You shet your mouth Kevin!" Christine yelled, cutting him off, he ignored her continuing,

"...-You don't get to have it all Ben! Everywhere you go, you want people to bow to you, kiss your ass - want you above everyone else, whether you deserve it or not! We don't fuckin' need you here! Go back to-..."

"I SAID SHUT IT UP!! NOOOOOW!!" Christine yelled into Kevin's face and then slapped him across it when he continued on.

"Oh my mother, I've offended your dear Ben, maybe I should be the one to leave." He steamed glaring down at her.

"You know what Kevin, don't bother! Mom, Quincy, it's been nice, I'm out'ah here." Ben turned taking his keys from his pocket.

"BEN! Stop! Wait!" Christine called to him.

He spun around walking backwards, "Mom, I love you! Quincy, this is not about you man, okay? I love you too, but my brother's hatin' on me and I can't fix that - I'm gonna go! Thanks!" He turned back, climbed into his car, started it, backed out, and drove off.

Christine stood on fire, she turned to Kevin, "How dare you, do that to him!"

"Why can't I dare it mom? Who is he? Why should I have to play second fiddle to Ben all the time!? What about me? Does anybody, you - give a damn about me?!" Shaking his head, he turned from her, rushed into the house, and to his room, leaving Quincy and Christine staring at one another. "What is going on?" Christine asked her husband.

"Darlin' the same thing that has been since man's beginning, the rivalry between Cain and Abel, continues on. There's not a thing we can do about it. We have to leave them, let them work through it on their own. Come on in now, dinners gettin' cold."

*

Ben drove trying to make up his mind where he was going, then remembered he would be helping his father, Jake with the house. Even so, he felt like shit. He made it to town, pulled over to get gas, stopped there and dialed a number on his phone; Crystal.

She saw the name and answered it right away, "Hi." She was on the front porch, her and Angela and the boys, they were contemplating taking a drive. However, Angela's bodyguards wouldn't let her go without escort, therefore, for the time being, on the porch they sat.

"I wasn't sure you would have your phone on, I know it's been off a while, just thought I'd call you."

"I charged it up today. You feeling better now, no longer mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you, I'm frustrated. I know I said I'd wait, that I'd, back off. But - shits all messed up everywhere man. Kevin and I had it out just a bit ago, he's pissed at me."

"Why?"

"He resents me about shit, who knows. To do with Jake, Shawn, me and him. You know, family can fuck you up, like no one else in the world can!"

"Tell me about it, I know exactly what you're saying." She agreed.

"I mean, how the hell are you supposed to keep up with every fuckin' body, every given day, on every single thing that you say, wish and do? No matter what the hell you do, you step on some fuckin' body's toes! You know what Crystal, I love my brother, I do, I love both of them! Kevin and Paul, hell, we've been through a lot together - but we're supposed to be men now - why the hell do I have to watch my brother's and be careful with my steps so they aren't worked up? I mean, come on - I know I'm my brother's keeper, but there comes a point when you just wanna say, fuckin' grow up! Go do your fuckin' thing! Live your goddamn life and hey, we'll check in later! Why the hell have I been designated to watch over them and make sure they're always okay? I mean, damn, I did it for years, I don't wanna fuckin' do it for the rest of my life! At some point, aren't they supposed to get a hold of their own lives and get on with it? Do I have to be there every fuckin' step of the way? You know what I mean? If you need me, call me - if I can help, I will! Otherwise, fuckin' let go of my hand - you can cross the street now your damn self! FUCK!"

Crystal sat listening, saying nothing, letting him blow off steam.

He went quiet then too.

"You still there Crystal?"

"I'm still here." She returned softly.

"You think I'm a jerk now, don't you?"

"Absolutely not."

"Sorry for all the cursing."

"I've heard it before, and I'm sure I'll hear it again."

"I feel better now."

"I'm glad you feel better."

"Have I put you off me?"

"No, there's no way you can do that."

"Crystal?"

"Yes?"

"I hate that he's come back to you. I hate it. Because I love you. More than you will ever know. I'm gonna go now, bye."

"Bye Ben."

Crystal clicked the phone off, and looked into Angela's eyes.

"That Ben?"

"Yeah, Ben."

"He okay?"

"Yes, he's okay."

"What are we gonna do today?"

"Let's check on Vivian, see what she's doing, and play it by ear after that."

Angela smiled, "Okay." And then, thought of something, "Crystal?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to hang around me, if you wanna; go out with your friends or something, I understand. I'll keep Isaac and Darren for you."

"Are you kidding me? Where am I gonna find better company, than with my little sister? Maybe later on, over the weekend, I might take you up on that, but for now, I'm happy right where I am, with the company I'm keeping. Let's go see what Vivian's doing."

Angela smiled, jumping to her feet, "Come on Darren, and put that dirt down! Yuck, I think he's eating dirt!"

*

Victor sat at the bar drinking, thinking, his mind spinning. He'd tried to reach his mother earlier, but no one was home, no one answering the phone. He hated that she didn't carry a mobile phone - due to some nonsense when she was out and about, whomever wanted her, would have to wait until she was home to reach her, just as it used to be. Followed by a long sermon on unnecessary gadgets and mans stupidity to fall for it - just the worlds reason to get you to spend more money.

He took another drink of his beer, that he was using to chase down shots of gin - and then whiskey.

Divorced.

Crystal had actually made up the papers to divorce him. He couldn't believe it. That was something he never thought that she would do. He always believed, that if they divorced, it would be an act that he would have to initiate. He even saw played out in his minds eye, having to chase her down, pester her, press her to sign them, if he were to file for it. He saw her avoiding doing it at all cost.

So now, what was this?

"I didn't sign, a goddamn thing! I never saw them, I never saw any divorce papers." He stood brewing, looking gloomy and mean, the latter getting worse and worse with every drink, sip, shot. "I married you - me - Victor Prescott - married you. And you, divorced me?" He spoke low, shaking his head.

Some of his friends that saw him, observed him from afar, speculating on what was going on with him. He wasn't inviting them in, wasn't sharing the current event. He didn't want anyone to know - that he, Victor Prescott, the catch - one of the big fish, had been tried, and thrown back as if lacking. He felt embarrassed by it, and more resentful as he drank. When sober, he'd been hurt - desperate - feeling lost, now - drunk, other feelings were rearing their heads. His thoughts went from Crystal and what she'd done to him, after all he'd done for her, loving her, marrying her, patiently loving her through all of their problems. "I didn't have to stay, through all that, I could have left, got a divorce, did I? No, I stayed, and she divorces me?"

"Victor? What are you doing here? Early in the week isn't it? You drinking, don't you have to work tonight?" Omiyah asked.

He turned bleary red eyes to her, staring her down.

"Look at your face, you been fighting again? With who?"

He only stared at her, shook his head and took another drink.

"I take it, you don't have to work tonight?" She pressed.

"I'm not - fuckin' - goin' to work - fuck work! Fuck - everything." He pressed harsh and low.

"Has something happen?"

"She - she think she won, she think so." He murmured, his words distorted.

"Who? Crystal?" Omiyah asked.

"No - no - not her. That bitch! The head - bitch - think she won. She di-dit on purpose, she did. She fuckin' - she fuckin' gotta control - ever're'thing - ever're'body - so she cou'win she fucked up my - my house. She fucked it - up! So - so she cou'win. She not - no no - she not gone win - fuck up my - my house - I fuck up hers - I fuckin' teach her. Ever're'thing, her way - this a battle you see - battle of wills - mine - agains' her. No no no..."

"Victor, who are you talking about?"

"My - fuckin' - mother! She think she - won. No no, nope - not with me. My father - my brother, sisters - she won. Me - she - lost - jus' don' know it yet."

"I think you need to go home, sleep this off. Here, give me your keys, I'll drive."

"Fuc' away from me, bitch! Fuck off!" He shoved her aside, turning and headed for the door. Walking surprisingly steady to be so intoxicated.

Omiyah followed at a distance, unsure of what to do, dismissing from her mind his treatment of her, he was drunk after all. Outside, she watched him head for his car, "Victor! Come on, let me drive you home!" She called out to him.

He got in his car, started it up, and pulled off driving and burning rubber around corners, speeding.

"Oh shit! Oh no! God, don't let him wreck that car, kill himself, or somebody else."

The Prescott's had just gotten home from a summer sport event in which Tegan had been playing soccer. Natalie was in the kitchen disposing various items they brought home with them. Her son, in his room changing to get in the shower, her daughters in their room and her husband in the back yard with their pet. She stood cleaning her plastic storage bowls, while shaking her head at the loud blasting of music and bass that could be easily heard from someone driving through their block, also, the screeching of tires, with the music getting louder and louder as if whoever it was, was getting closer to her home.