The road was empty. It was very quiet. Vacant could be the right choice of words. Even desolate can describe the lone stretched words. These words were also the feelings of Ben as he lied against the window of the car. He stared at the empty highway. There was nothing to see. No houses, no building, nothing. Just sky, gravel, and the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. At least there was something he had in common with the roads, he thought.
"A few more miles, and we are almost there," said his grandfather.
Ben shifted his eyes at his grandfather before turning away. His grandfather made a loud audible sigh. It was not the sigh that showed frustration, but was in congruence with his grandson. Both were feeling the emptiness within as they traveled the lone road to their destination. A place in which neither wanted to go. A place in which they wish they did not have to go.
Grandpa Max adjusted the knobs of the radio to find a suitable station. However, there was nothing. He switched over to the AM radio and came across a program describing teens in the prison system. He turned the knob loud enough so he could listen. That alone made Ben pull out his headphones and connect it to his cell phone. He indulged himself and swallowed his emptiness through the beats and trashing of heavy metal.
However, Ben wanted to express himself. He wanted to tell his grandfather his true feelings. He wanted to get it over with. To display on telling him that he was not liking where they are going. He had hated it. Not because of the place, but the person who they were going to pick up.
Ben had always believed in justice. That was something that was instilled in him since becoming a superhero. He knew there will be consequences, but it was always in the name of good. With his cousin Gwen on his side, he knew he had a lot to conquer. Because she had always had his back. She was his number two. She was also the person who they were going to pick up from the place of agony. The place of shame. Tears were edging from his eyes at the thought of that.
He drowned his sorrows in the mashing and gnashing of heavy metal. Even that was not enough to combat his tears.
"Ben, can we talk," asked his grandfather. When he didn't receive an answer, he poked his finger at Ben. Ben tilted his head and removed his headphones.
"What was that, grandpa," asked Ben with his eyes on his grandfather.
His grandfather sighed. "I wanted to know if we can talk." His eyes were on the road. Both hands gripped the steering wheel. His cheek were puffy and very red. If Ben can guess it, they were in the same pain of knowing their dear Gwen was in that predicament.
"Yeah, we can," replied Ben. Ben put down the headphone. "I am all ears."
His grandfather turned off the radio, leaving nothing but the sound of the road to fill its void. He put his finger to his lip, as if he was trying to find the right words to say.
"Okay," he respond. "This is going to be a new era for the both of us."
"I know," said Ben. "This is going to be something different."
"No, Ben," retorted his grandfather. "What we are about to experience is a new era."
Ben swallowed nothing. He tilted his head against the back of his seat. He knew what his grandfather had meant, but did not have the feeling to accept.
"Gwen may not be our same Gwen anymore," his grandfather said. "However, we are going to treat her the same. No matter how it looks."
"Grandpa, can a few months in juvenile hall do those kinds of things," asked Ben. "I don't think something like that can break a spirit."
"Based on rather the person believes it or not," respond his grandfather. "Then yet again, I am not the one to understand. Never in my years I thought I would have to see any of my grandchildren to considered a criminal."
"Aren't you embarrassed," asked Ben.
His grandfather relaxed his face and slowly looked at Ben. "No, I am not. You are my grandchildren. And no matter who you guys have done, I will never abandon you. Never."
Ben can hear the uncertainty in his voice. He had always had this tone of doubt ever since the day in the courtroom when they have sentenced Gwen to two years in juvenile hall. The verdict was meet with shouts, tears, anger, and sadness. Ben remembered sitting in the chair. He had his hands tucked in his lap. He couldn't look at her. She did not have any emotion. There was no anger in her voice. She just sighed and accepted her charges.
It was the last time that Ben had saw her in person.
He wrote letters. But he had never send them. He was offered visits, but he did not go.
The thought of his dear cousin behind bars made him go into reclusion for quite awhile.
It wasn't until he was giving word that Gwen had a retrial. Her sentence was reduced to the few months she had spent. Ben was only a few minutes away from seeing her release.
There were mixed emotions with him. And he was not surprised on what feelings his grandfather might had. He was basically their surrogate father during their summer adventures. Those adventures were the expenditure and the fruition of the close relationship with the pair. Those were the moments that Ben relived anytime he had thought of Gwen.
However, guilt resided within him. Who knew what kind of feeling Gwen felt about him. He was supposed to be there, and he wasn't.
Guilt was clotting his veins. And he was suffering.
He gasped when seeing the sign of the entrance of the juvenile hall was a few miles away. Many things flooded into his mind like a swimming pool.
Hey, Gwen. Glad that you are back.
Hey Gwen. Long time no see. Sorry for not giving you any letters, calling you, or showing anything of caring. I was being a coward. I was afraid. I was….
He was ashamed, he thought to himself. It was not the crime she did. It was the fact that his cousin and best friend was in jail. He was embarrassed. He was ashamed. However, it was more to himself than anything. He knew that if he was in her position, then she would go out to defend him. That was their creed. They were to protect each other.
Ben began sniffling. It went with notice from his grandfather. "Dry those tears," he said with a hint of sternness. "You are a Tennyson. And Tennysons stay strong for each other. Even when that person is in the wrong. Understand?"
Ben grabbed the tissue from the glove box. He wiped his tears before putting the tissue in his pocket.
When he looked up, he was at the entrance of the juvenile hall.
The copper colored sign of Bellwood Juvenile Correctional Facility stood ominous outside of the barbed wire castle. They passed through clearance before allowing entrance at the front gate. They had parked their car at the entrance where inmates were released.
Just thought of knowing his cousin was considered an inmate made his stomach cringed.
"Gwen: smart, talented, genius, beautiful, and loved-an inmate," he said under his breath.
Grandpa Max turned off the engine and rolled down the window. He had allowed the breeze to cool him. Ben noticed the sweat beaming from his forehead. He unbuttoned a part of his shirt to get cool. He knew that he was nervous as much as he was.
"So," said Ben.
"So, what?" replied his grandfather.
"How are going to approach this new era," asked Ben.
"I don't know," said his grandfather. "I don't know."
He shifted his seat to recline himself. Ben can feel the pressure of his grandfather. "Under the conditions of her probation, she is under restriction until she fulfills the rest of her sentence." He took a breath. "She must have a place to stay, she must go to school, and I am thinking about getting her a job."
"Sounds routine," said Ben.
"Plus, she must stay out of trouble," said his grandfather. He looked at Ben. "I want you to do your best on keeping watch with Gwen."
Ben didn't respond. The tone that his grandfather gave him was not a suggestion, but an order.
"Of course," said Ben. He looked down at his seat. He stared at his tattoo that he got a few months without his grandfather's permission. It was the insignia of a cat. He remembered Gwen's fascination with them. To show remorse and to honor his cousin, he got it inked onto him on her behalf. It was a reminder of his dear cousin. It was also to show his cousin that he still cared about her. He had just hoped that she would receive him the same way.
He rubbed the tattoo, remembering the pain that was on his wrist the day he went to get it.
It was for Gwen, he thought. Her pain is my pain.
The sound of the moving gate alerted the pair. Both looked over to see if Gwen was somewhere. They see two female guards walking down the corridor that lead to the exit. When they had enough distance, they see a girl.
She was wearing a plain white t-shirt. It was oversized and worn. There were some holes in it as well. Her blue jeans were loosely fit. He could tell she had a tight belt to keep it from falling. She did not look up. Her face was down. However, he had recognized the red hair and her green eyes. It didn't take much of a genius to realize that it was Gwen.
"She hasn't changed a bit," said his grandfather as he got ready to step outside of the car.
Ben stayed. He watched as his grandfather rushed over to the gate to welcome his granddaughter. He came to embrace her. She was motionless. Her body remained frozen. To Ben, it looked like that this was a dream to her, or so he thought.
His grandfather picked up her items and used his free hand to hold her hand. Ben watched them come to the car. The sound of the car made its sound when he had open the trunk. His grandfather opened the door for the car. Gwen made her entrance in the backseat. She sat behind Ben.
Ben quickly shifted his head to the front seat. His body was glued to seat. His body became paralyzed. He was filling the chills, it was tingling down his spine. His grandfather returned to the car and turned on the engine. The sound of gravel made its presence as they left the juvenile hall.
Grandpa Max peered at the rear view mirror from time to time. Ben can tell that he was happy to see her. This was not a dream, but this was Gwen sitting in the backseat. Gwen remained motionless, leaning against the window. She stared at the window. Once she made that position, she remained still.
Ben cracked his knuckles. He wanted to say something, something to show some kind of feeling to her. Something, but nothing could come out.
"Glad you are with us, again," said Grandpa Max, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," she said. It felt forced, like she said something so nothing could remain awkward.
"You were missed," said Grandpa Max.
"Yeah," she said. It was very short and dry. She did not make one turn to him. Her eyes were focused on the window.
"Ben," said Grandpa Max to get his attention. "Don't you have something to say?"
Ben coughed. He adjusted himself. He tried to find the right words. "It has been awhile, Gwen. Glad you are back."
Her eyes darted quickly at him. He saw from the rear view mirror. He saw her once stunning green eyes fade away. Her face furrowed and turned into frustration. It made Ben develop a chill. He leaned back to his seat and stared at the road. Every now and again, he looked at the rear view mirror, she remained at him.
He noticed that her mouth was faintly moving. Her lips were quivering. He paid attention. His eyes were widened on what she was mouthing to him.
I hate you.
I hate you.
I hate you.
I hate you.
He could no longer look. He retrieved his headphones to surround himself in heavy metal. He took a final look of his ode on his wrist before turning up the volume on his phone.