Chapter 5: A Whole New World

Just then, the doorbell rang. Ben went off to answer it.

“Ms. Johnson? Please, come in.”

“Only if you call me Lucy, Ben. We’re way past the formalities.”

“Alright, Lucy.”

Abruptly, she leaned forward and hugged him. Already feeling a little excited, he noticed that her stiff nipples were poking him through her long wraparound dress.

“Good job! Where is your mom? Oh, here she comes.”

“Lucy! Don’t stand out on the stoop; c’mon in. Ben?”

“Oh, don’t worry, he was just about to invite me inside. You’re looking a lot more relaxed compared to this morning. Come sit at the table.”

“Claudia, remind me, how do you take your coffee?”

“With milk and sweetener, A; you’ll see the box of packets on the counter.”

“Ben, you want coffee too?”

“Sure, uh, same as my mom.”

“Coming right up.”

“Lucy, I love your dress. Do you have a date tonight?”

“I do, with my new bestie.”

“Really? Do I know this person?”

“Why, yes, she’s Ben’s mother. Claudia, I’m taking you out for dinner and dancing. It’s my treat. Just go put on a nice dress. It’s girl’s night out.”

“Are you sure? I’m kind of down in the dumps right now.”

“That’s exactly why I’m going to remind you tonight of how wonderful and desirable you are. Plus, you’re going to meet my dear friend Jackie and her partner Linda.”

“Wait a minute. You have some explaining to do, Lucy. Why are we meeting Jackie and Linda?”

“Because Jackie is a great lawyer, and she’s going to help you get organized to respond to this clown who has hurt you. No, wait, I know what you’re fretting about. She’ll be happy to meet with us and discuss what your legal alternatives are, without charge.

“If there is potential there, I’ll cover Jackie’s fees with an understanding that I get them refunded out of the results of the lawsuit.”

“Why would you do this?”

“Because, dear, you’ve been terribly wronged by this ass-clown; sorry, no offense, Ben.”

“None taken. He fucked up, and our relationship was already bad. I want to be part of this meeting, too, because he should be supporting me and not foist my college costs on Mom alone.”

“Claudia, your son is really sharp!”

“He’s cute, too.” Smiling, A brought in a tray with four cups of hot coffee and some little cookies she found in the cupboard.

“You think I’m cute?”

“Ben, don’t be an idiot. You’re just as cute as A, and I don’t usually describe teenage boys that way.”

“Um, I don’t—”

“Shut up, son, and thank the nice lady in the fancy dress and her sweet granddaughter.”

“Alright, you two, while we are gone, don’t burn down Claudia’s house. Ben will set you up on the couch, A, with blankets and a pillow and so forth. We should be back before midnight curfew, or I’ll call you.”

“Curfew?”

“It’s a joke, Claudia. She tries to mother me and lectures me about inappropriate behavior when I go on dates.”

Once they left, Ben turned to his guest.

“You two have been feeding us. It’s my turn to feed you, A. What do you like?”

“You can cook?”

“Kinda sort of. Pasta, burgers—”

“Pasta sounds good. I saw the bottle of marinara in your cupboard. We can have carrot sticks as our token vegetable.”

Twenty minutes later, Ben had prepared two plates and brought them out to the dining table, where A had put out the place settings and napkins. Also, to his surprise, were two large glasses with stems, each full of red wine.

“You can’t have pasta without wine, Ben. I tried it; it’s tasty. Later, this wine will help me take advantage of you.”

“You’re kidding, A.”

“Well, yeah. But that has crossed my mind. Grandma’s right. You are very cute. Let’s eat. Why don’t you make a toast?”

“Um, OK. To a better future!”

They gently clicked glasses and took sips. Then she raised her glass.

“Salute!” She pronounced it as sa-LOO-teh; it basically means “Cheers!” in Italian, which she explained to him after they had another swallow.

Conversation flowed easily as Ben tried to learn as much as he could about her, while she did the same with him.

“All that Disney stuff pisses you off. What did you say? ‘Ariel like the font.’ You tell people that?”

“I certainly do, usually like this.” She snarled out the words, and Ben leaned back, surprised.

“I get it. I promise, no princess shit.”

(He didn’t know, then, that future Ben would be escorting her in a formal gown to the junior prom.)

“As a matter of fact, Ben, I had some posters printed up for my targets. The poster has a bullseye superimposed over the Little Mermaid’s face.”

“Targets? You mean, at the gun range?” Ben spoke hesitatingly.

“No, Ben. Archery. I can hit that bitch in her face at 35 meters.”

“How far is that in English?”

“Eh, 38 yards, I think. Over a hundred feet.”

“You’re sexy and dangerous then,” he blurted out. Immediately, he flushed and looked into his lap. “Sorry, A.”

“Don’t be sorry; that’s a compliment. C’mon, look at me.”

She put her hand under his chin and guided his face up so they could see each other eye-to-eye. Suddenly, Ben was captivated. He’d never seen eyes like hers before.

“I was wrong, A.”

“What? I’m not sexy and dangerous?”

“No, you are very sexy and dangerous. And also, gorgeous. I’m just falling into your eyes right now.”

“Really? Is that good? Should you look away?”

“Too late; I just drowned in them.”

Now it was A’s turn to flush and stammer.

“Wow. Um, thanks? Here, let me clear the dishes and clean up. You pick something to watch.”

Before he could react or flinch, she leaned in and kissed him quickly on the lips. Then she stood and began clearing the table.

“Put the wine and the glasses on your coffee table. I’ll be done in a jiffy.”

He did as she instructed, while smiling over the word “jiffy.”