Sun rose on the Smith farm; all the foster children were up
and working doing their chores. They were all told that it is not a charity on
the farm if they want to eat, the kids worked. Benan is out with Ruairì and
James shovelling out the barn then redoing the hay. Heidi and Mariah milking
the cows, Betty, Kelvin and Brad feeding the chickens, pigs and other animals.
All in all, it was a typical morning thing for Benan, but
sometimes he wondered why the Smith’s kids never helped them with the chores,
besides the twins coming over kicking over buckets or complaining that the job
wasn’t done right. Any complaints about Joeb or Gertrude would mean at least
being ignored or at worst punishments.
Washing up and getting ready for the bus for school by
7.30am, the fosters had to wait for the bus while the twins left later as they
got a lift from their mother. Once on the bus, the seven fosters took up the
front seats as this is the only time they have to themselves.
Benan looked at Ruairì, “I’ve been finding our morning
chores easier today, how about you?”
Ruairi shrugs, not even a bead of sweat on his face. James
crinkles his eyebrows, “You tore through that pile of hay in no time. Been
on the ‘roids, Benny?”
“‘ Roids? Haha, little Jimmy.” Benan barks out a
laugh, posing like a bodybuilder. “Like we could afford that sort of stuff
and aren’t we supposed to start getting big muscles?”
“Yeah, but it seems weird.” James turns to look at
Ruairì. “You guys have been weird since being sick.”
Benan hears a laugh from the barn door, “You, Fatty, with muscles? Best joke I have heard this week.” It was Joeb, Benan thinks to himself, why can’t there be one day that this little pest leaves us alone? “Even if you got muscles, you’ll still be a discarded loser!”
Just take it Benan, his words can’t hurt.
Ruairi stares at the farmer’s teenage brat. “Go, we
have work to do.”
James nods, “Yeah, piss off, Joe.”
“You can’t talk to me like that. Or are you fighting
Fatty’s battles now?” Joeb sneers. “My father would like to know that
you tossed out trash were picking on me. He might just send you away if I
complain enough.”
All the foster children knew that Joeb’s parents were decent
people but would and have believed everything their twins have said. Neither
one could do anything wrong in their eyes.
Benan gives an involuntary growl. His body shakes in anger,
calling him names was one thing but threatening his family was another
completely different kettle of fish. As he turns, Benan’s skin starts to
stretch, the growling increases to deep bass.
Taking a step forward towards Joeb, Benan could feel his anger rising, his body flushed with heat. This is a trespasser, a threat to our pack! Fight to preserve pack!
Those words reverberate through Benan’s mind. His muscles bunch and grow. Skin starts to break, and slick wolf hair could be seen emerging underneath. The very air around crackled with anger around him, all there was to do is remove the threat!
The scent of fear and urine stung the air, Benan growled an appreciation of this, you should fear the pack, intruder! Now it is time to remove the threat!
Before the change could completely take control, Ruairi
steps in front of Benan. His own eyes have started to change, a reaction to Benan’s
transformation. Just starting into his eyes, Benan knew the pack was safe, not
need to worry.
As Benan takes a deep breath. Words were exchanged with the interloper, but this was ignored by him. The flush of instinct cooled, Beta will fix this, the hunt has not started.
“Wow, where did that come from Ben?” Benan blinks
at the pup, his eyes blurred realising he was looking at James. “That gave
me the willies.”
Ruairi came over to Benan, “He is gone and won’t say
anything. Let’s get back to work.”
James gives an affirmative while Benan shrugs at Roy’s
comment and heads over to the new hay bales and picks one up in each hand. Why
should he care about the Smith’s children or William any more he is a wolf, not
the fat 15-year-old anymore, I could just run away and be a wolf. Hunt and have
fun, not caring about all this shit!
At least one thing the chores have been getting easier for
me Benan thought not realising that he is carrying two bales.
Snapping the ties of the bale with a twist of his hand,
Benan starts to spread the hay over each pen’s ground. James, with his face
full of worry, calls out. “Didn’t that hurt Ben?”
“He is fine, James.” Ruairì says. “but Ben
should be using the knife as he would hurt his hand doing that.”
Putting on a fake grin, Benan picks up the knife and cuts
the next bale.
After all the chores, the children rush around getting
ready. It is their responsibility to be on time for the bus, not Farmer and Mrs
Smith. Ruairì and Betty get the lunches ready, while Mariah double checks the younger
one’s bags are adequately packed.
Being the last to have a shower, Benan could hear the
commotion going on in the main living area. Looking at his reflection, could he
see muscles under his flab?
Keep dreaming fat boy, you are an overweight failure who will be a nothing forever. You will never get a girlfriend because you are disgusting. You are pitiful and pathetic, just run or die. A little ‘pick me up’ for each morning. Guess you are nothing, and no one can make you feel worse.
Knowing that he will be at the library today, that will mean
he will have to be quick out of class before his bully corners him again. If he
could, he would just run away and be a wolf. No one would pick on him as he
could just run away or bite them. His luck he would only be shot by some
hunter, either way, Benan would not be missed.
Three loud bangs on the bathroom door distracting Benan with
his musings. “Come on, Ben, you will miss the bus!” Mariah yells.
“I am coming, keep your shirt on,” Benan grumbles,
dropping his voice. “It not like I am excited about school.”
Pulling on his shirt and shorts for another beautiful
summer’s day, Benan leaves the bathroom. Everyone else has their backpacks on,
Ruairì and Betty have packed the last of the lunches, only his and Mariah’s are
gone.
Putting on a big simile. “Sorry, Mariah just was lost
in the mirror on how sexy I am.” Posing like a model on TV, all the
younger kids laugh. In a fake Fabio voice. “What can I say? I am the most
beautiful man in the world, ha ha ha.”
This got another round of laughter, Betty, with a big smile.
“Hey Fabio, here is your lunch.”
Bouncing over to the bench, winking at Betty. “Thank
you, my dear, you are most awesome.”
Betty laughs at Benan, he is always silly in the morning,
let’s hope he has a good day
Dropping back into his normal voice. “Hey, Betty and
James, me Roy and Mariah are playing Fantazim in the library today, want to
come to play too?”
“Sorry, Ben, but I am with my hockey squad this lunch.
We want to do a few drills for this weekend’s game.” Betty replies.
James shrugs. “Why not, is Mariah playing with her
counter deck?”
“I choose a different deck today, want a bit more of a
challenge today.” Mariah gives a snappy comeback.
“Bring it!” Both Benan and James yell.
Samuel Colbran 