Chapter 16
“Ben…” Donna called out in an effort to slow him down. “Please stop.”
“I just want to go to bed now.”
“I think that’s a really good idea, but I need you to listen to me first.”
“Why? You’re just going to say it’s not his fault.”
“It’s not, Ben. Your dad isn’t…he can’t…” Donna huffed out an exasperated
breath. Ben wasn’t the only one who was tired. She looked into her son’s
eyes and saw her husband’s stubborn features…well, maybe a little of both
their stubborn features. “Sit down with me a minute.”
Donna took his hand and led him to a table by the hotel pool where they
had complete privacy.
“You really said some awful things to your dad back there Ben. It hurt him
very much.”
“It hurt me very much that he didn’t keep his promise to get Julie elected.”
“Whoa, champ, hang on a second. I was there at the beginning. I know what
he promised; he promised to do everything he could to get Julie, a
candidate we all believed in, elected. And he kept that promise, Benjamin.”
“No he didn’t. He was way more worried about the Governor’s race in Illinois,
and the Senate race in Virginia, and if Jake had autism too. This whole thing
was a joke to him.”
“You’re much smarter than that, Ben.” Donna gently reprimanded him
before she let out another sigh. “Maybe that’s part of the problem. You’re
such a bright boy; you always have been. Your dad and I have dragged you
around the country more times than I can count so we could work on
campaigns and keep you near us while we did.”
“I like working on campaigns.” Ben protested.
“I know. It’s kind of become our family thing, which has good points and
bad.” Donna acknowledged. “I like that we all share these experiences
together, I really do, but sometimes I think it’s too much for you.”
“Why?”
“You act like such a grown up, Ben, that sometimes we forget you’re only
ten.”
“I’m almost eleven.” Ben reminded her and Donna let out a small chuckle
even as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Eleven is still a long way from being an adult. There are a lot of things
about politics and campaigns that you just can’t fully understand yet. And we
have no right to expect that you do. We just forget.”
Donna pulled her son closer to her and tucked him into her side. “We have
a great team of people that work with us Ben, and God knows we all like to
win, but we can’t make it happen every time and we can’t make elections
turn out ‘right’ just because we were lucky enough to find the real thing.”
“Why not? If it’s the right person, we should be able to get them elected.”
Ben argued.
“I wish.” Donna muttered. “Right now, all you need to believe, is that your
dad did everything he could to help Julie and he would never let you down if
he could help it.”
“I don’t.” Ben told her even as he yawned. “I don’t believe it.”
“Maybe you’ll feel differently after you’ve had a little sleep. Let’s go to bed.”
When Josh and Donna talked quietly together later, in the dark hotel room
they shared, they decided that Josh would try to talk to Ben again tomorrow
when they left for the airport. Maybe Josh would find a way to get through to
him.
*************************************************
“You’re awfully quiet back there Benjamin.” Josh checked his son’s
expression in the rear view mirror; it was sullen and Ben refused to make
eye contact with him. Tori, however, was happy to share her opinion.
“Ben only said 3 words since we got in the car.” She reported.
“Shut up.” Ben shot back.
“Five.” Tori updated the number and Josh rolled his eyes.
“Tori, please stop. Look at your book until we get to the airport.” Josh
directed her. “Ben, talk to me kiddo.”
“There’s nothing to say. It’s over.” Ben answered, still looking out the window.
“Yes, it is, but we ran a great campaign. Julie can be very proud of herself
and what she accomplished. Maybe next time-“
“Next time?” Now Ben met his eyes in the mirror. “Are you kidding me? Why
would she want to run again? This was her one chance and you ruined it for
her.”
“Ben, that’s not true.” Josh said solemnly. “I did everything I could think of to
help her. The whole team did.”
“Like hell!”
“Ben!” Josh nearly shouted. “Don’t you talk to me like that.”
“Too loud.” Tori announced.
“Dad’s the one who’s yelling.” Ben told Tori in an equally loud voice.
“Ben, let’s both take it down a notch.” Josh suggested.
“Oh, sure. Let’s not upset Tori. It’s okay for me to be upset but don’t do
anything to upset the Princess.” Ben’s volume grew and Tori started crying.
“Benjamin!” Josh had to shout to be heard over both his children in the back
seat.
“This was all I ever asked you to do; help me elect Julie, but you’re too busy
with all your ‘real candidates’ to make that happen.”
“Jesus, Ben, do you think I have some kind of magic wand and I can just
make these things happen?”
“You do it all the time!” Be protested.
“You’ve seen me lose races before.”
“Not the important ones.” Ben argued.
“Stop the shouting!” Tori shouted. She tried to put her hands over her ears
and dropped her book. When she couldn’t reach it because of the seatbelt,
the meltdown began.
“Ben, get her book.” Josh demanded.
“No. You don’t care what’s important to me, so I don’t care what’s important
to her.”
“Ben, you’re too smart for that kind of remark. Give Tori her book and we’ll
talk about this calmly when we get to the airport.”
“No. And I don’t want to talk at the airport. I’m never talking to you again. I
HATE you!”
“I hate you. I hate you.” Tori echoed.
“Shut up, brat.” Ben let his anger loose on his sister.
“Both of you stop it, I’m trying to drive and I can’t-“ Josh turned around in his
seat and never saw the car turning right into them.