My Friend Ben

This is a kid’s book that I wrote a long time ago. It is meant to be a 16 page illustrated book. It isn’t really suitable for children. But I do stand by the message. Some people just get away with things. Then the moment you try to get away with the same things you get screwed. Am I right? Stick to your own path.

My Friend Ben

My friend Ben stomped on the flowers in Mrs. Grahusky’s Garden when we walked by it on the way to school.

I said, “Ben, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” And Ben just laughed and said, “I know, but it’s fun.  And as long as I don’t get caught then it’s fine.”

I wasn’t sure that that was true, but we didn’t get caught, and nothing seemed to happen so…

* * * *

My friend Ben shot spit balls at the fat kid in math class, and made faces when the teacher turned her back.

I told him, “Ben, its not nice to shoot spit balls, even at the fat kid.” And Ben said, “No way.  It’s great fun, and Mrs. Yoyo will never know.”

I wasn’t sure that that was true, but Mrs. Yoyo never did know, and the other kids laughed when Jimmy, the fat kid, complained on the playground after school, so…

* * * *

My friend Ben threw his candy wrappers out of the window on the bus, and they hit an old man on the head as we went by.

I said, “Ben, littering is wrong, and someone else is going to have to clean that up.” And Ben said, “No they don’t, and if they want to, that’s their choice.”  I pictured everyone throwing trash out the window and nobody picking any of it up, and then someone picked up Ben’s wrapper, and threw it in the trash.  I wasn’t sure if that was okay, but there wasn’t trash all over the streets so…

* * * *

My friend Ben told his mom that he ate all his vegetables, but instead he fed them to the dog under the table.

I said, “Ben, my mom says you won’t grow up big and strong if you don’t eat your veggies.” And Ben said, “Nonsense.  I’m bigger than you already, and I haven’t eaten broccoli in a year.”  He had a good point, he was much bigger than me, and I really hated broccoli, so…maybe he was right.

* * * *

The next morning Ben and I were walking to school and he stomped on some flowers again.

He said, “Try it.  Its not like the flower can do anything to stop you.  And it’s fun.”

And I said, “I’m not sure Ben, but I guess, just this once I could give it a try.”

So I walked up and looked at this one big purple flower that was right in the middle of Mrs. Grahusky’s garden.

It had a lot of petals and lines, and looked much too nice to step on,

but then I looked back at Ben, and he said “No big deal.”

So I held my breath, I closed my eyes, I lifted up my foot, and…

(the flower opens its mouth as tall as the boy and swallows him whole.)

The End.