Date: Wed, 19 May 2021 15:54:00 +0100 From: Andrew Passey Subject: Queerantine Part Two (Young Friends) It was a few weeks later at the start of February. Ben was in a good mood as he had a sleepover the day before at Matt's. They'd stayed up late playing computer games and talking shit which was the sort of thing Ben loved doing. As he sat down to dinner that Sunday evening with his Dad he wanted to roll that good mood on into the week ahead at school. However soon after they started eating Ben's Dad cleared his throat. This instantly got Ben's attention. It was his Dad's default action when he was about to say something that he was worried about saying to Ben. Sometimes it was embarrassing. "Please use a tissue to clean yourself up after masturbating rather than your sheets" was a particular low point. Sometimes it was bad news: "Work needs me to do an extra shift so I'm afraid we can't go away this weekend". Whatever was coming it was probably not going to be good. "So I've got some news for you Ben. Now don't overreact," he said. Not a promising start Ben thought. This could be bad. "What is it Dad?" "Your mother is coming to the UK for a holiday. She wants to see you." His Dad said with a wince knowing that this would go down very badly with his son. "Seriously. After all these fucking years?" "She's still your mother. She wants to see you. You know the reason she couldn't fly until now. She's coming with your brother as well. It's an opportunity for you to see them both. I know your brother in particular is very excited." "He's not my..." Ben started to say and then saw his Dad's expression so he changed tack. "She couldn't fly until now?! What a load of bollocks. She could always have flown to see me if she wanted to. Her environmentalism and morals were clearly more important to her than seeing her son. She could have got a fucking boat or paid for me to go." "She wouldn't have seen you if you did. She was always....strong willed about her principles. She's made her living as a campaigner, writing books about climate change. Refusing to fly or allow you to fly is ingrained in her. I definitely don't agree with her not seeing you as a result and I can see you think it's incredibly selfish of her but ultimately it's her decision. Just like it's been yours to cut her off. However while I usually allow you to make your own decisions on this occasion I will insist you see her and you brother. At least once anyway." "Why now? What happened to her oh so important principles? How come she can suddenly fly to see me after years of refusing to?" Ben asked the question foremost in his mind. "I honestly don't know Ben. I'm sure she'll explain all when she gets here although knowing your mother maybe she won't!. She's arriving next month. It's only a short stay and I know you have school so don't worry you won't have to spend too much time with her. But please do try and be nice to Archie. Your mother made her decision all those years ago. Your little brother is blameless in this." Ben shrugged but placated his dad by saying he'd do his best. He had no intention of doing so of course but he didn't want his dad to know that. He'd see them once and try to get it over with as quickly as possible. He had no desire to rekindle his relationship with his mother nor form one with Archie. Why was it all being put on him? He'd moved on. Why couldn't everyone else? A couple of days later he complained to his best friend Matt as they walked from the bus stop to their respective houses. "I haven't fucking seen her for years and NOW she decides to enter my life again? Fucking needy bitch," Ben said angry about the whole thing. "She's treated you like shit bro but you know she's still your Mum. Anyway she must owe you BIG TIME. Think of all the emotional blackmail you can play on her. You can get her to buy you anything you like!" "Fucks sake Matt, I'd settle just for her keeping her nose out of my life. She's been absent for so long and now she decides she can stampede back in? I cut her off with good reason," Ben was trying not to get too annoyed about it but it was hard not to. He knew Matt was trying to help but it was very hard for him to understand the situation. Ben had been abandoned by his mother. That left scars that he sometimes thought would never heal. "Adults are fucking crazy. I'm not gonna lie, parents are the craziest of crazy adults as well!" Matt said to Ben who nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. I'm pretty pissed off about this whole thing. I just wish my Dad had left it up to me rather than insisting I see her." "I know it's tough Ben but I guess there's fuck all you can do it about. My advice is to get in and out as quickly as possible. Smash and grab. Do enough to keep your dad happy then you're sorted." "That's sort of what I'm thinking too. Dad's pretty pissed off about the way I'm handling it so I could do with wheedling my way back into his good books. I'll just be polite and standoffish with them," Ben said thinking about how to play it with his Mum and brother. "Polite?! That would fucking be a first! Although yeah standoffish is something you do very well!" Matt replied with a giggle. "Fuck off!" Ben said to his friend with a laugh. Matt had a way of cheering Ben up which was exactly what he needed. They talked a bit more before Ben stopped to turnup his road. "Thanks for that Matt, you cheered me up a bit!" "I don't think I did anything really but try not to stress about it. Go home and have a good wank, that'll take your mind off things! I'm not gonna lie, that's what I'll be doing as soon as I get into my room!" Matt said with a giggle. "Ugh don't you have a filter? Some things you don't need to say!" Ben said pretending to be outraged but giggling as well at his friend. Matt smiled at Ben, "As they say Ben, emptying your balls helps to empty your mind!" "Literally no one has ever said that Matt apart from you just now! Anyway have a good one and see you tomorrow!" Ben started to walk up his street as he said this. "I certainly will have a good wank and thanks for wishing me one!" Matt shouted over to Ben who shook his head and shouted back "that isn't what I meant and you know it!". He giggled to himself though as he walked towards his house. He was in a much better mood now. Whatever happened with his Mum would be over quickly and things could go back to normal.