My Boy: Part 9
The final installment of My Boy. Marcus (age 67) visits with David and Ben.
"Why do I have to be here Dad? This is weird." Ben says to David from across the table
Ben, he sure looks a lot like his father. I never thought I would actually see him in person, he's a fine boy; reminds me of David at that age. I don't think I can remember a thing from being that young. Come to think of it, I can't remember much at all these days.
"Marcus?" David says while changing his glance from his son to his father
"David, you're looking well." I say
"Thank you. Look, I think you should tell Ben a few things about yourself." David says
"This is stupid." Ben says
I don't even really remember who I am anymore. What am I supposed to tell this kid? Hey, I'm Grandpa and I killed a man. That would blow over well.
"Well Ben, I'm not sure what to say."
"Whatever." Ben says
"Show some manners, Ben." David says
"Dad, I just want to go."
"In a little while" David whispers
"Where's Josephine?" I ask
"Oh, I'm sorry Marcus but Diane and I both agreed that it would probably be best for her to stay home this time."
Is that what I am to my own son? Some dirty family secret to be hidden away? Way to go Marcus, you sure played your cards right.
"Anyone in there?" Ben asks while waving his hand in front of my eyes
"Ben, stop it" David says
"I'm here" I say
"Marcus, we don't have much time." David says
"Sorry David, I just seem to have a hard time keeping focused these days."
"You haven't been taking your pills have you." David says
"Of course I do."
Of course I don't. They wouldn't even tell me what it was really for. Something about delusion repression. Made my throat dry, I don't like that.
"Maybe another trip to the doctor might help." David says
"Dad" Ben says as David quickly places a hand on his shoulder
"I don't know David."
"You're not healthy. I don't want my son to see you like this."
Considering where we are, you'd think a little trailing mind would be the least of his worries. Although, I suppose it's completely my fault why he thinks this is normal. Oh, Marcus.
"Ben, sit down. Respect your Grandfather." David says
"He probably doesn't even know we're still here Dad. Let's just get out of here already."
"Ben," I say as I watch him return my words with a blank stare "you look a lot like your father did."
"Umm, thanks?" Ben says
And David looked a lot like I did at that age. It seems that is all we have in common though.
"Marcus, how have you been feeling? Physically." David says
"Oh, pretty tired." I say
David begins to open his mouth but stops as his gaze momentarily hits the floor.
Sometimes when I go to bed I don't know if I'll wake up in the morning. That thought used to scare the hell out of me, but I sort of accept it now. I've felt a little torn from the real world for some time now anyway.
"Diane says Hi." David says
"No she didn't, Dad." Ben says
"Benjamin watch your mouth." David says
"You told me never to lie."
"That's okay. You can tell her I said Hi, or not." I say
I've never met Diane. I get the feeling she isn't particularly fond of me though. I miss Joanne. I can't believe I lost that letter. Reading that every night is what helped keep my head together I think. Now look at me.
"Tell Josephine I said Hi, too." I say
"I will, Marcus. Look, we should be going." David says
"Already?" I say
"Yeah it's a busy day, you know." David says
"Sure, I understand."
Am I really that repulsive? I can't even hold my own son and grandsons attention for ten minutes. I can't even hold my own actually.
"Say goodbye to your Grandfather, Ben." David says
"Bye." Ben says without meeting my eyes
"Goodbye, Marcus. I'll try to stop by around Christmas, okay?"
"Christmas, okay." I say
"Can we uh, get out?" David says to the guard nearby
Christmas. That's a long time. I miss Christmas, I only really had a few good ones. They all involved that man walking away from me.
"Marcus, let's go" the guard says to me as I get up and follow him towards the cells.
Five cells, ten cells, fifteen here we are. I think I should lie down, I feel a bit tired. God, these beds never get any more comfortable. Certainly doesn't compare to that old twin I used to share with Joanne. I can barely remember those days, that's all I have and I can't even remember. This feels like one of those nights I might not wake up; I can feel my brain getting slower. My body ages, my brain devolves; ain't it a shame. This is a nice photo of Ben, I wonder if he has any photos of me. I doubt it, I could tell by his eyes he was taking me in for the first time. I feel like that some mornings when I look in the mirror. Well, maybe tomorrow morning I'll recognize myself.
End.
Authors note: Thank you to anyone who read all of this story, and thanks to everyone who commented on my work. I have a few ideas in mind for another series in the future, so please stay tuned for my next work.
Ben, he sure looks a lot like his father. I never thought I would actually see him in person, he's a fine boy; reminds me of David at that age. I don't think I can remember a thing from being that young. Come to think of it, I can't remember much at all these days.
"Marcus?" David says while changing his glance from his son to his father
"David, you're looking well." I say
"Thank you. Look, I think you should tell Ben a few things about yourself." David says
"This is stupid." Ben says
I don't even really remember who I am anymore. What am I supposed to tell this kid? Hey, I'm Grandpa and I killed a man. That would blow over well.
"Well Ben, I'm not sure what to say."
"Whatever." Ben says
"Show some manners, Ben." David says
"Dad, I just want to go."
"In a little while" David whispers
"Where's Josephine?" I ask
"Oh, I'm sorry Marcus but Diane and I both agreed that it would probably be best for her to stay home this time."
Is that what I am to my own son? Some dirty family secret to be hidden away? Way to go Marcus, you sure played your cards right.
"Anyone in there?" Ben asks while waving his hand in front of my eyes
"Ben, stop it" David says
"I'm here" I say
"Marcus, we don't have much time." David says
"Sorry David, I just seem to have a hard time keeping focused these days."
"You haven't been taking your pills have you." David says
"Of course I do."
Of course I don't. They wouldn't even tell me what it was really for. Something about delusion repression. Made my throat dry, I don't like that.
"Maybe another trip to the doctor might help." David says
"Dad" Ben says as David quickly places a hand on his shoulder
"I don't know David."
"You're not healthy. I don't want my son to see you like this."
Considering where we are, you'd think a little trailing mind would be the least of his worries. Although, I suppose it's completely my fault why he thinks this is normal. Oh, Marcus.
"Ben, sit down. Respect your Grandfather." David says
"He probably doesn't even know we're still here Dad. Let's just get out of here already."
"Ben," I say as I watch him return my words with a blank stare "you look a lot like your father did."
"Umm, thanks?" Ben says
And David looked a lot like I did at that age. It seems that is all we have in common though.
"Marcus, how have you been feeling? Physically." David says
"Oh, pretty tired." I say
David begins to open his mouth but stops as his gaze momentarily hits the floor.
Sometimes when I go to bed I don't know if I'll wake up in the morning. That thought used to scare the hell out of me, but I sort of accept it now. I've felt a little torn from the real world for some time now anyway.
"Diane says Hi." David says
"No she didn't, Dad." Ben says
"Benjamin watch your mouth." David says
"You told me never to lie."
"That's okay. You can tell her I said Hi, or not." I say
I've never met Diane. I get the feeling she isn't particularly fond of me though. I miss Joanne. I can't believe I lost that letter. Reading that every night is what helped keep my head together I think. Now look at me.
"Tell Josephine I said Hi, too." I say
"I will, Marcus. Look, we should be going." David says
"Already?" I say
"Yeah it's a busy day, you know." David says
"Sure, I understand."
Am I really that repulsive? I can't even hold my own son and grandsons attention for ten minutes. I can't even hold my own actually.
"Say goodbye to your Grandfather, Ben." David says
"Bye." Ben says without meeting my eyes
"Goodbye, Marcus. I'll try to stop by around Christmas, okay?"
"Christmas, okay." I say
"Can we uh, get out?" David says to the guard nearby
Christmas. That's a long time. I miss Christmas, I only really had a few good ones. They all involved that man walking away from me.
"Marcus, let's go" the guard says to me as I get up and follow him towards the cells.
Five cells, ten cells, fifteen here we are. I think I should lie down, I feel a bit tired. God, these beds never get any more comfortable. Certainly doesn't compare to that old twin I used to share with Joanne. I can barely remember those days, that's all I have and I can't even remember. This feels like one of those nights I might not wake up; I can feel my brain getting slower. My body ages, my brain devolves; ain't it a shame. This is a nice photo of Ben, I wonder if he has any photos of me. I doubt it, I could tell by his eyes he was taking me in for the first time. I feel like that some mornings when I look in the mirror. Well, maybe tomorrow morning I'll recognize myself.
End.
Authors note: Thank you to anyone who read all of this story, and thanks to everyone who commented on my work. I have a few ideas in mind for another series in the future, so please stay tuned for my next work.
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