He felt the soil beneath his toes. He felt the wind flow through his hair. He breathed in the scent of the field. He felt the presence of the plants surrounding him and felt them gather around him. Protecting, comforting, livi –
“Ben!”
The boy was snapped from his stupor by the shout of a voice. The plants receded. He turned around to see his mother hurrying toward him disapprovingly.
“Benni! What have I told you about bein’ out here wit’out permission?!”
His mother grabbed him by the arm and forced him in the direction of [[home]].“I don’ understand what the big deal is,” Benni pouted as he watched his mother prepare dinner, “All the other kids get to go outside and play. Why can’t I?”
A particularly loud chop on the cutting board made him jump, “I told ya it’s dangerous for you to be outside alone!”
“But why? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been trapped in this house for the past thirteen years of my life, ain’t it about time I experienced the world?”
His mother rounded to face him, gaze solemn, “The [[world]] isn’t ready for [[you]] yet.” Benni frowned and turned his head to gaze outside the window longing to be outside in the field. It was the only time he felt like he could breathe. The only time that he could truly connect with the world. He was born on a tiny farm in the middle of nowhere as the only child to his father and mother. His father was usually off at the markets selling produce while his mother stayed at home tending to house and farm. All the while, he was usually confined to the house unless he had his parents' permission, the two always taking about how it was dangerous if anyone were to catch him outside interacting with nature. He didn’t fully understand their fears or why he wasn’t allowed to be seen, but he had somewhat come to accept his circumstances despite his desire to [[explore]].Benni grit his teeth and shot up, “I don’t care if the world is ready for me yet! //I’m// ready to explore the world and see something other than this borin’ farm every day! I want a friend and someone to talk to other than you or Pa!”
“Benni calm down now -”
“No! I’ve been trapped in this house for thirteen years with ya and Pa telling me about how dangerous it is if I’m seen out among nature. It’s suffocatin’! I can’t take it anymore!”
Benni didn’t notice his mother’s widening eyes as his temper increased. It was when his mother screamed that he calmed down enough to notice the roots and stalks growing around his mother’s limbs gripping her tightly. He began to panic causing the roots to grip tighter, his mother crying out for him to calm down and breathe. Suddenly, his father’s voice sounded from the door, “Benni what the heck d’you think you’re doin’?!”
“I can’t [[control]] it!”He turned his gaze to the potted plant in the windowsill and reached out towards it, watching the flowers bloom, grow, and twist under his control. A smile made its way onto his lips and a moment later his mother called him to dinner just as his father arrived home. He was sharing small talk with his parents at the dinner table when he decided to bring up a question to his father, “Hey Pa, can I come wit’cha down to the markets tomorrow please? I promise I’ll keep my hood on, and I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Did ya ask your Ma? What did she say?”
Benni turned a pleading gaze to his mother, “Please Ma? You said I couldn’t go outside alone, and Pa’ll be wit’ me.”
His mother attempted to maintain a hard gaze but relented, “If you’re goin’, then I’m goin’ too to keep an’ eye on ya. I was serious ‘bout what I said earlier. Ya make sure you stay close to me, alright?”
Benni cheered, “I haven’t been to the markets in forever!”
His parents smiled softly.
“Alright, settle down and finish your supper. We’re [[leaving]] early tomorrow.” “Benni. . . listen t’ me now. . . I need ya to focus and breathe with me slowly. In and out. Jus’ like that.”
Benni closed his eyes and tried to take in a few deep breaths. He relaxed a bit and when he opened his eyes the roots began to loosen their grip and retreat. His father ran to his mother as Benni observed the damage that he had done. His mother’s clothes were ripped, and he could see large bruises forming quickly on her arms and legs. He right leg had gotten it the worst as it twisted at an odd angle from the amount of pressure put on it by the roots’ grip.
//I’m a freak – no, a monster. //
Benni ran to his room, ignoring the cries from his mother and father. He fell to his knees and cried. //No wonder they kept me locked away all this time. I’m dangerous. //
Benni looked out his window at the darkening sky. //They'd be better off if I [[leave]]. //The marketplace was bustling with life. Benni skipped around happily, breathing in the fresh air and taking in the sight of people from underneath his hood. His mother held him close by the hand as they made it to their stall to set up shop. Benni helped set out the produce then sat down on stools behind the counter waiting excitedly for customers.
People came and went. Some making purchases and some not. His parents were taking a break when he noticed a small group of kids about his age make their way towards the stall. His eyes widened when he spotted a couple of the kids swipe a few apples each before taking off in a sprint. Benni spared his parents a glance before taking off after the group of thieves.
Benni chased the group all the way to the docks where they ran onto an empty ship where they were cornered. Benni smirked, “Give it up thieves!”
“Oh, jus’ leave us alone why don’cha? What d’you want anyway?”
Benni made grabby hands towards the group, “You can’t jus’ take stuff wit’out payin’ for it. Pay up or give it back!”
One of the kids stuck out their tongue, “Make me hood boy!”
Benni fumed, arms raised in a threat. He was beginning to make his way over to the group when they felt movement beneath them.
[[“Wait. Are we movin’?!”]] The boat rocked back and forth setting off out into the sea. Benni ran to the edge of the boat mouth open wide as they got further and further away from the docks, “Why the heck are we movin’?!”
He turned back to the kids just as they rushed past him escaping to the trap door leading to underneath the deck.
//Oh no ya don’t.//
He managed to grab one of the boys by the back of his shirt and tackle him to the ground, holding no matter how much the other boy pushed and shoved, “Git offa me!”
“I don’t care how far away we are. I ain’t lettin’ ya off the hook so easy. I’m not going [[home]] until you guys give back what ya stole! Benni stayed held up in his room despite his parents attempts at getting him to come out of his room to talk. A little while later, his father told him that he would have to be left alone, so that he could take his mother to the doctor. That only made him feel worse as he curled up on the bed and cried. Eventually, Benni ended up falling asleep, tired from crying. When he woke up, he cracked open his bedroom door and took a peek outside. It didn’t seem like his parents were back home yet, so he shut his door again, his eyes travelling to moon shining high in the sky outside his window.
//I could leave now. It would be so easy to go.//
He went to his closet and took out the hood his parents always made him wear on the rare occasions he was allowed outside and slipped it on. Opening his window, he took one last look at his room, half expecting his parents to burst through the door, before [[he jumped out into the field]].//I can’t go back [[home]] anymore. //
Benni wandered through the woods. He didn’t know where he was going as he stumbled through the unfamiliar terrain. It was cold and he reached to wrap his hooded cloak tighter around himself. Eventually, he came to the wood exit his feet sinking into to sand and the sound of the ocean around him. His eyes landed on a small sale boat hanging by a string in the water by the docks.
He glanced around and shrugged when he saw that nobody was around.
//Well, I always wanted an adventure. //