This is story of an erratic journey from college disaster to eventual 'coming of age' of a very unusual and troubled young man. Benni is not really liked by his mom, whereas a very limited number of other women are prepared to shoulder his undesirable attributes to get a piece of him. Be warned, he's not a graduate from Sunday school nor the model family, and he doesn't think and act like you may well do and/or expect him to. But the contention is that while Benni may frustrate and disappoint you, it's Benni's story β and I can't change that.
Author.
ONE
Benni β that's how his mom and dad named him β is an evil cuss, according to his mom. His dad Ross James isn't so sure, arguing, "Gladys, there must be a minute blob of goodness within that boy; no-one is completely bad."
"That boy is," sniffed Gladys, though unable to really believe that totally. After all, Benni had saved the family β Ross, herself, himself, May-Bell, Frank, Ivan, Jerry and Archie.
Everyone in the family and most of the neighborhood were amazed that one young man could achieve so much; however, he still wasn't proclaimed a hero.
It began when Benni, the oldest son, arrived home finished with college β actually he was expelled for a night of mayhem in a women's dorm. Because the sensationalism of so many females lining up to have sexual intercourse with this masked intruder would have made headlines around the country β nay, around the world β he escaped being hauled before a Judge and jailed.
Back home, Benni found the family was being terrorized by the Mason families β the families of two brothers whose older boys had been competing for sisters who also had attracted Frank (19) and Ivan (18) James.
Fighting broke out and that brought in the parents. Then arguments and insults were traded between the parents and fueled an all out feud, with serious threats being made that finally resulted in Ross and Gladys refusing to allow their sons to go out at night.
The police were called and both families were orders to 'cool it'. But still it simmered.
"I'll fix it," Benni promised on his home-coming when Frank and Ivan vented their frustration, and fix it he did.
On his first Friday night home, Benni persuaded a former girlfriend now barmaid at Hank's Tavern, Jacqui Roberts, to separately lure the two Mason men out behind the tavern. On both occasions, with Jacqui faking a scream to indicate non-involvement, Benni clubbed each man. They were bound and trucked to a disused quarry.
When the Mason fathers regained consciousness, they found themselves bound to stakes.
That was rather puzzling and uncomfortable for them. So they struggled but failed to slip free; they hollered but no-one came to rescue them.
An hour later someone they could not see in the darkness threw a bucket of water over them then, leaving them to half freeze.
Then an hour after that vehicle headlights switched on and Jed Mason watched a guy dressed in black approach, carriying a rifle. Jed yelled to his brother Arnold to wake up. Arnie was the real mean brother.
"Good evening guys, are you cold?"
Teeth chattering the brothers agreed they were.
"Well then, I'll light a fire. By the way, I'm Benni James."
The brothers watched horrified, yelling their concern as Benni tipped two bags of fire-starters around them and then poured kerosene all over them from the neck down.
"I avoided pouring any incendiary over your dicks so they'll be the last to go; I thought you'll like that respectful touch."
By now Arnold was cursing Benni while Jed was telling him to shut up and plead for his life.
Benni flicked his dad's cigarette lighter.
"Good, it's working."
The brothers had fallen silent, both wide-eyed and shaking.
After a couple of very long minutes Benni stopped tossing up and catching the lighter, this extended and seemingly pointless action watched almost unblinkingly by two pairs of dulling eyes as the events in their lives careered through the brains of the two facing apparent death.
Benni stared at them, then smiled.
"I don't want you to plead for your lives. I just want you to promise to leave my family alone. No more feuding β just being really nice neighbors."
"Yes, I promise," shrilled Jed.
"Arnie?"
"Yeah."
Benni picked up the rifle, pulled out a knife and cut them free.
"Just step away from the fireplaces guys."
They went ten feet away and faced Benni, who pointed the rifle into the air and fired it.
"You can see it's loaded. Now, next time β if there is to be a next time β I'll kill you and perhaps pick off members of your families β those rotten sons of yours, for sure. I'll kill you if you report this offence even if it's after I serve eight to ten for doing this. The only way you'll be able to stop me is to kill me.
"Catch Arnie!"
Benni threw the rifle at Arnie, and then stood his ground.
"You stupid bastard, prepared to die," sneered Arnold. Even he had urinated in his pants, which was easy to see.
But as mean as he was he'd never killed a man. He aimed between Benni's eyes and his hands began to tremble; he aimed at Benni's right kneecap but then thought of the consequences of Benni coming out of hospital and then coming after him.
"Fuck, come on Jed," snarled Arnold, throwing the rifle to the ground. "And don't fucking light a cigarette until we get out of these clothes."
"Oh Arnie," said Benni. "Catch β your truck is parked under those trees up there. I walked out last night and found it at the tavern where you left it, thinking I'd need something to put the bodies in."
Arnold caught the keys and they both ran off.
By the weekend both families had left town, leaving their properties up for sale.
Gladys had hugged Benni and thanked Benni after he'd he explained what he'd done.
His father had said it was a brilliantly conceived plan but with one flaw β throwing a loaded rifle to Arnie.
"You mug, he could have killed you."
"Well, for one thing, if he had I wouldn't have known he had unless he was a rotten shot.
"When he checked and saw the rifle really was loaded he was overwhelmed as basically he's a coward, and the fight ran out of him. Unable to shoot he knew I'd broken his spirit β but even worse, he knew I knew that. Already he was thinking of moving out of the district."
"Christmas," said his mom. "Exactly what did they teach you at that college?"
The family celebrated with a special dinner when it was confirmed both Mason families had departed.
TWO
A couple of days later the near penniless Benni had bought the two Mason's properties, getting loans and guarantees from both lots of his grandparents, each of whom unbeknown to the other, accepted that Benni needed a home of his own to settle down where he could concentrate on giving them great-grandchildren.
"You told my parents that cock and bull story," shrieked his mom.
"You fucking swindled my parents out of fifty thousand bucks!" roared his father.
"Look, look," soothed Benni, showing no fear although smaller than both his parents. "They're loans and they know I'm good to pay them back because I'm their grandson."
"Oh," that's different, smiled Gladys frostily. "You are mom and dad's favorite grandson and you of course know both believe with missionary zeal they can save you from yourself."
Benni's dad was suspicious, sensing something was not quite right. " When are you due to pay back the loans?"
"I'm a good negotiator, dad. Both loans are interest-free and are due to be paid back in twenty years."
"But in all probability all grandparents won't be around in twenty years."
"Good one, dad. You know that, mom knows that and I know that, but as sure as the sun rises in the morning they don't know that. All four of them believe they won't die until they're ready to die."
"You're evil thinking like that and taking advantage of them like that," replied Ross, shaking his head. "You'll have to give the money back."
"They've got heaps of money just sitting there. And mom, what is evil...like me, you don't believe Satan exists?"
"I'm worried about you son," said Gladys, turning into Ross's arms.
There was a shortage of rental accommodation in the city, so Benni let both vacated houses for sharp rents and the grateful tenants agreed to paint their homes and put in new lawns and gardens and undertake all repairs and interior refurbishments with no contribution from the landlord.
The real estate agent who'd made the introductions for a fee was amazed, not only at the rent levels but at the conditions to which the tenants had agreed.
She asked Benni how could such a young person act so outrageously and get away with it.
"Look, buy me lunch and drop fifteen percent off your commission and I'll five you some tips," smiled Benni.