I was bored at work and this little drabble popped into my head. This may be my last story. My last couple hardly got any reviews. That's more disappointing than getting negative ones. If this one doesn't get any, I'm done as an author.
STUPID THINGS
Bob Newby stared at the pictures of the monster from Will's nightmares, the very real monster. Bob had advised Will to stand up to his demons, and now the demon was taking over the boy's mind. Bob couldn't believe he'd been so stupid.
"I just wanted to help" he said to himself.
"What was that?" one of the doctors asked.
All eyes in the room turned, but Bob only notice Joyce's, wide and full of worry. He'd hoped to permanently rid her to that look, now it was worse than ever and he was responsible. He sighed. She deserved to know the truth.
"I just wanted to help" he repeated. "I knew Will was having nightmares. I used to have them myself as a kid, about a creepy clown. I advised Will on how to stop them"
"And how did you do that?" another doctor asked pencil poised over his notebook.
"By standing up to them. Stop running, look them in they eye and tell them to go away." He looked up into Joyce's eyes. "I'm sorry"
No one was prepared for what happened next. Joyce leapt on Bob, slapping, kicking, punching and screaming. Calling him all names under the sun. He ducked and put his hands over his head in an attempt to protect himself, while Hopper pulled her off. She fought and struggled like a wildcat.
"Get him out of here" Hopper ordered.
Doctor Own and the other scientists escorted Bob out of the room.
"If Will dies I'll never forgive you" Joyce shouted as the door shut.
The fight just seemed to drain out of her and she slumped against Hopper. He held her for a few seconds.
"It's not Bob's fault" he finally said. "He didn't know. He thought he was helping."
"I know" she whispered and she did.
She'd regretted what she said the moment it was out of her mouth. She hadn't been thinking. It was all so overwhelming. Under normal circumstances Bob's advice would probably have helped, but these were far from normal circumstances. Such a stupid thing, a simple act, and that thing was killing her son.
"I'm losing him." she said tonelessly. "I'm gonna lose my boy."
"No you're not"
Hopper stepped away and held her firmly by the arms, making her look at him.
"I won't let that happen" he said fiercely.
Joyce felt her heart flutter as it always did when Hopper looked at her that way, so intensely. She normally fought these feelings. But she was too exhausted to fight. She bit her lip and saw a different look in his eyes. His hands tightened on her arms pulling her closer. Instinctively, she went up on tiptoe, one hand sneaking round the back of his neck bringing his head down. They moved closer, her eyes closed, she felt his lips brush hers, barely.
The door opened. They jumped apart as if they'd been stung. Bob stood there. From the look in his eyes it was obvious he'd seen. He cleared his thoat.
"Doctor Owens sent me to get you." he said. "Will's awake."
As they headed back to Will's room, Bob again couldn't believe how stupid he'd been, not for his advice to Will, but for thinking he and Joyce could ever have a future.
THE END
