Character twist story

Bye Bye Benny

Today was the day my life began to go to hell, my world came unraveled, and I unhinged…
I remember when it all started; Ben came home from school yelling about his drug test. I should have taken it to heart, and actually listened. This is the last memory I have of my little Benny.
“Mom, I got drug tested today at school, I didn’t know you signed me up for that.”
“Well, surprise!” I exclaimed, “I just figured I had nothing to worry about with you, so why not? So how’d it go?”
“Oh mom, you know me.” And then I watched my son strut down our hall to his room, and shut the door. I heard the blast of his music coming from beneath the door, and thought to myself, what a good kid he is.
The next morning he came running upstairs, flew past me into the pantry, grabbed a raspberry granola bar, and ran out the door. I gazed out our kitchen nook window as he climbed into the back seat of the mini van. I waved to the driver Jimmy, and as Ben closed the door, I noticed three strange boys in the back seat that I had never seen before. “That’s odd.” I exclaimed as my husband wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck.
“I’m sure it’s nothing pumpkin. Maybe Ben made some new friends, God knows it’s about time.” I nodded as he kissed me, than ran out the door to work. But part of me just couldn’t shake what I had seen; three boys, two with black hair, one with brown, metal belts, tight pants, and big jackets. I remember I couldn’t shake the feeling that their dark, shifty eyes held more than just your average teenager. As I pondered this, my oven went off, and the thought vanished from my mind.
The next few days were moderately normal, everything was fine except when that mini van pulled up each morning. Those same three boys were always there, awaiting my son’s arrival. I decided to ask him who they were.
“Hey Ben, before you go flying out of here, who are your new friends?”
“Oh, they’re some guys I met in my Calc. Class. They’ve been helping me a lot. I have to go mom, love ya.” Now I was satisfied, what nice boys I thought, to help my little Benny in class. They may have an interesting way of dressing, but at least they’re nice boys.
That afternoon when I got home, the mail was waiting for me on our welcome mat. I picked up the stack and began to sift through the pile, bills, bills, and more bills, and then I came across Ben’s drug test. I nonchalantly opened the sealed envelope while watching Jerry Springer, and peered down at the results. I nearly fainted when I read them. They said he tested positive for Methamphetamine and Cocaine. I couldn’t even believe what I was reading, my little Benny, a Meth addict! Ben didn’t do drugs, he was a good kid! The paper fell from my hands to the floor, but the check marks were forever engrained in my mind.
Still looking at the spot where the paper had been only seconds before, I remember Ben came running in the front door. The smile faded from his face as he stared at the paper on the ground.
“Honey, it says you tested positive for a few things…”
“Oh mom, you know how those things are, I mean it’s a school test for God sakes.” He left the room while I still lingered on his last word. Doc, why didn’t I take that as a hint, am I honestly this naïve?
“No, you just chose not to see what was in front of you, but please, go on.”
The days wore on, and slowly I began to see a change in my son. He no longer ran around, played sports, did anything! All he cared about were those three boys; I think he would have died for them. He started wearing the tight pants and big jackets, but that didn’t bother me as long as his grades kept up.
One day he came home from school and about gave me a heart attack. His hair was no longer brown. Oh no, it was black with choppy layers and blond streaks; and to go along with that, he had his report card in dangling from his hand. I knew by the look on his face that I wasn’t going to be happy, and before I could say anything he butted in with, “Mom, now listen, I know my grades aren’t going to be exactly what they are supposed to be, but I have a really good reason, I-“
“What are you getting?” I asked
“You have to understand I-“
“What are you getting?” I asked again.
“I’m failing math.”
I remember I started screaming at him. “Ben go to your room right now! I’ll deal with you when your father gets home!”
Doc, do you think if I’d been more understanding and willing to listen he wouldn’t have, you know, gone and done it?
“It’s hard to tell. But you can’t keep blaming yourself for this. You tried your best and that’s all I can ask of you. If you can, please continue.”
Well, I waited until his father, Mike, came home. I told him everything that had happened, and he told me I should go try and sort things out with him. I agreed with him and walked the twenty-five steps down the hall to his room. I walked in his room, he was nowhere to be seen, but I saw the light coming from beneath the bathroom door. I kneeled next to the door, still staring at the family portrait he had framed on his desk and began.
“Ben, look, I’m sorry. I’ll admit, I overreacted, but I just couldn’t accept it. Not you, you were supposed to be different. I’m sorry, and whatever you’re going through, I’m here and willing to listen. We will get through whatever is going on. I promise.”
I waited, no response. I remember I pushed the door slowly open and caught a glimpse of his foot. I think the next few moments felt like slow motion. I lunged forward to see if he was breathing, he wasn’t. I screamed for my husband to call 911 as I held my little Benny in my arms just one last time. I picked him up and put his head in my lap as an unmarked pill bottle rolled out from his hand. I lost the only thing I really loved, and it was all- I’m sorry, I can’t go on.
“It’s alright, it’s not your fault. You have to believe that you did all you could. Susan, you can’t keep blaming yourself for this. I think we’re finally making progress, you were finally able to get to the end of the story, now it’s time to let go.”