Disclaimer: Don't own it. I disclaim to own it.


"And there is no TV and there is no play station," Sharona continued

"No," Monk stood up and spoke with vigilance Sharona and Benjy had never heard before.

"No," he repeated more softly, "I'm afraid I've got to put my foot down here. Sharona you're not being fair"

A wide smile spread across Benjy's face.

Sharona glared at her son and then looked at Adrian.

"Why does it matter to you," Sharona asked in a soft but very firm voice.

"BECAUSE," Adrian enunciated, "I was in Ricky's shoes. My school life was spent being bullied by my classmates and nobody cared. I know what Ricky was feeling every day"

Sharona sighed inwardly. Adrian did have a point which was rare for Adrian. Normally he would just incessantly babble unless it was about a case in which case he would be brilliant. Sharona didn't approve of Benjy fighting for one reason and one reason only. He too could have gotten hurt.

"Sharona," Adrian said, "I would loved to have had a friend that gave a damn about me, the way Benjy did about Ricky"

"He coulda gotten a teacher," Sharona argued weakly.

"As I have told you before mom," Benjy said, "I did. I did that every day and they never did anything. I was tired of watching Ricky get hurt and picked on and bullied anymore."

"Well and I can appreciate that," Sharona said, "but I'm not willing to lose another child"

"Another child," Benjy and Monk said together.

"Yeah. I had another child 3 years before Benjy was born. She lived to be 3 days old and when she died I thought I would die too"

"I didn't know I had a sister," Benjy said surprised.

"It… was way too painful to talk about," Sharona explained, "and when you came along-"

"Look Sharona… you have to let go of the kid"

"Her name was Brenda," Sharona snapped, "not THE KID. An' who are you to talk… you still haven't let go of Trudy"

"That's different," Monk replied, "I knew Trudy for 10 years. You knew Brenda for 3 days"

"Mr. Monk," Benjy said, "I don't think that was exactly the smartest thing to say"

"Yeah see," Monk said, "If I had, had a friend like you years ago… my school life would have been a lot different"

"Yeah well," Benjy said, "If I had, had you in my life when I was younger my life would have been a lot different"

"Yeah you'd be nuts," Sharona mumbled, "but I guess you're right Adrian."

"I'm sorry say that again," Monk replied

"No," Sharona teased, "Don' get used to'wit"

She threw a pillow at him and it hit his rear.

"Wipe," he shouted