A Thousand Paper Cranes
By Reiko Anne Nguyen
Original Publish Date: October 14, 2005
Summary: Benny never thought he'd find another adventure quite like pickling the beast. Little did he know that freshman year would prove to be anything but ordinary. Varsity hazing trials, dead bodies, and town secrets are bound to be revealed.
Chapter 4: Family Matters
"It was during these moments at the Reynolds' house
that Benny could temporarily forget his own problems.
They always made him feel as if he were part of their family.
A part of their lives."
Benny went home to take a shower before returning to the Reynolds' house for dinner, as Sue had invited him. Feeling much more presentable in the only pair of khakis that he owned and a white collared shirt, Benny knocked on the door and was welcomed by Sue and Noah's youngest daughter, Claire. At four years old, she had already wormed her way into a special part of Benny's heart. It was him, after all, whom she took her first walking steps towards.
"Hiya, Benny!" She squealed in delight as he scooped her up in his arms.
"Hey, Claire! You know you're not supposed to be opening the door by yourself," he gently chided the little girl, causing her to pout in defiance.
"But mama said I could help around the house! She's busy making pas-getti right now."
"Oh, is she? And what about your papa? Or your sisters?"
The little girl put a finger under her chin and thought hard. "Um, papa is resting because he had a hard day at work. And Diane went back to college so she can have parties with hoooo-ligans. That's what papa said she was doing…"
"And Gracie?"
"Mama said not to bother her because she's having a nervous breakdown." Benny had to laugh at the child. She was honestly oblivious to the hilarity of her comments.
"And what do your mama and papa have to say about Janie?"
"She's in her room making herself beautiful for you."
Benny rolled his eyes. "Yep, that's definitely something that would come out of your mom's mouth," he said to the little girl before taking off his shoes and carrying her to the kitchen.
"Welcome back, Benny!" Sue greeted over her shoulder as she stirred the spaghetti sauce. The aroma was enough to make Benny salivate. "Why don't you go ahead and take a seat in the dining room. Claire, honey, do help mommy by getting your sisters to come downstairs?"
Benny put the little girl down before looking around the kitchen, intent on being useful. "Is there anything I can do to help out?"
Mrs. Reynolds shot him a challenging look. "Do you know how to cook?"
"Uh, I only know how to eat."
The comment caused Mrs. Reynolds to laugh good-naturedly. It didn't surprise Benny at all that Noah Reynolds would fall in love with someone as warm and pleasant as Sue, even if she was…different.
Back in 1941, Noah Reynolds was a naval aviator for the USS Enterprise. It was when he was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii, that he met and fell in love with a local girl by the name of Tsurara Kurosawa, or Sue as she was simply called, whose family was facing imprisonment as a result of the war. Luckily for them, however, Hawaii was home to over a hundred-thousand Japanese individuals, making it was nearly impossible to place them into concentration camps.
Within two years, Noah eloped with Sue, whose Japanese lineage was a source of great racism. They eventually moved to Roscoe Hills in San Fernando Valley where anti-miscegenation laws—which banned interracial marriages—were repealed. Sad to say, however, anti-Japanese sentiments did not diminish within the community, and the family grew accustomed to stigma they received.
"Very well then," Mrs. Reynolds said as she turned off the stove top and faced Benny. "Since there's nothing else left for you to do here, I suggest you run along and wait in the dining room with Mr. Reynolds. He needs the company.
Benny nodded his head obediently before exiting the kitchen and entering the dining room, which looked as if it belonged in a French manor rather than a suburban house. It was bright, uncluttered, but utterly extravagant with its glass and iron wrought table, upholstered satin chairs, embellished chandelier, and delicate antiques that could make any man feel watchful of his big, clumsy movements.
"How's it going, little man?" Mr. Reynolds greeted him over his newspaper. Little man. It was a pet name Mr. Reynolds had used on Benny since he was four years old. Truth be told, Mr. Reynolds was more of a parent to him than his own father—a fact he hurt to admit.
"I heard about your near-death experience from your mother." Mr. Reynolds continued with a lazy drawl. The man always had a vague southern accent that no one could always quite catch.
"I wouldn't exactly call it a near-death experience."
"I didn't think so," Mr. Reynolds chuckled as he folded his newspaper and put it on the table. He then straightened his gray argyle sweater, which made him look more like a strapping professor from a prominent institution rather than a military veteran and the father of four.
"How was your trip to Hawaii?" Benny asked, attempting to change the subject as he took his seat next to Mr. Reynolds.
The older man sighed in exasperation. "It was great. Real great. Tremendously marvelous. Totally groovy. It was a gas!"
Benny chuckled at the man's phony use of enthusiastic words. "Didn't go well with the in-laws, huh?"
"A summer with Satan would have been more welcoming," he muttered just as Claire skipped into the room with Gracie in tow. "You know the saying, 'when you marry a woman, you also marry her mother'?"
Benny nodded his head.
"Well it's damn true. Mrs. Reynolds's father was tolerable. But her mother—good God…"
"Well, papa, I guess it's lucky for Benny that he's on mama's good side then," Gracie intervened as she took a seat across from Benny and slumped forward.
"Young lady," Mr. Reynolds began to scold. "What did I tell you about putting your elbows on the table?"
"Mama lets me do it," Gracie retorted nonchalantly.
"And what makes your mama's rules any better than mine? I'm the father of the house, aren't I?"
"Of course. But with the way you made marriage sound like just a few seconds ago, I would have thought that women wore the pants in the relationship."
"That's true, but mama's not the one paying for your art classes, now is she?" Mr. Reynolds attempted to laugh with as much wickedness as he could muster, but his daughter remained indifferent to his teasing.
"You are so un-cool, papa. By the way, Benny, are you going to ask my sister out already? And don't give me that 'we're just friends' excuse."
Benny couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You already know the answer to the question, Gracie. Why ask it again?"
"I'm only giving you the boost you need," she said. "Besides, you're almost fifteen, aren't you? I thought your balls would have dropped by now."
Benny tried to choke down the playful and vulgar comebacks that threatened to erupt from his mouth while Mr. Reynolds began to chastise his daughter.
"Your mother doesn't allow that kind of language, girlie," the older man scolded as he lightly smacked Gracie's forehead. "You're in front of a guest."
"Oh papa, Benny's barely a guest in our house. He's home more often than Diane is, and she's our own flesh and blood! That says a lot about—hey, what are you doing under the table, brat?"
"I'm looking for Benny's balls," Claire's enthusiastic voice emitted from under the table. "You said he dropped them, right?"
Mr. Reynolds stared down at his oldest daughter in the room. "See what kind of words you're putting into your sister's mouth?"
Gracie only yawned before dropping her head to the table, and before Mr. Reynolds could pick on her for her poor table manners again, Mrs. Reynolds entered the dining room with a large tray resting on her shoulder. Janie followed with a similar tray and, within minutes, the food was set on the table and every person in the house was seated.
"It's not every day that you cook this much food, Mrs. Reynolds," Benny pointed out as he picked up his chopsticks—a tool he had learned to use after years and years of dinner invites from the family. "What's the special event?"
"Well, I just figured that since you and Janie are starting high school next week, it would be fitting that we have a mini celebration. Isn't that right, papa?"
"Mmhmm," Mr. Reynolds mumbled as he began stacking his plate with fried dumplings.
"It's a rite of passage into teenage life, is it not, papa?"
"That's right," he continued to scarf the fried dumplings down his mouth.
"Soon enough, they'll be gone and leaving for college like Diane did, yes papa?"
"Yep," he said hastily as he engaged himself in a chopstick battle with Gracie. A dumpling on their side of the table rolled from side to side as father and daughter fought for the last piece.
"And they'll be partying and having premarital sex like wild hippies on television, right papa?"
"Absolutely, darling! Now pass me the soy sauce."
Benny passed Janie a laughing smile, and they both chuckled under their breaths. It was during these moments at the Reynolds' house that Benny could temporarily forget his own problems. They always made him feel as if he were part of their family. A part of their lives. Mind you, he loved his mother and father, and his brother and sister. But that didn't change the fact that the grass was always greener on their side.
The smell of scented candles filled Benny's nose as he stepped into the dimly lit foyer. He had just come home from dinner at the Reynolds house with a plate of leftovers, hoping he wouldn't run into his parents. No doubt, his mother and father were in their rooms arguing about the electricity bills.
For as long as Benny could remember, it had been difficult for his parents to support their family of five. Even Gabriella Rodriguez—a woman—had to find several jobs in order to keep the family afloat. Up till now, she still worked as a photographer at Midge's Photography Shop, which was doomed for closure as a result of tough competition against Dream Shots.
As for Benny's father, Rafael Rodriguez, he had quit his job as a carpenter to become an architect for a brand new firm in Los Angeles. He was often out of town, which didn't surprise or upset Benny at all. He knew his father was somewhat of a workaholic who had pushed his older brother and sister into becoming over-achievers.
"Dios mío! I can't believe you'd rather spend your free time kissing up to those eggheads you call your superiors," Benny heard his mother yell as he settled himself in bed that night.
"You know we need the money, Gabby."
"Money, money, money. Why can't you just ask your father for help?"
Benny could have sworn he felt his father tense as silence filled the air. They normally pretended he didn't have a father.
"I've told you a thousand times," Rafe began through clenched teeth, "not to mention him under the roof of this house. I disowned him the moment he disowned me."
"Rafe, please! Can you just, for a moment, forget your pride? You said so yourself. We need the money. Ambrosio is offering us everything he has. He already put the children in his will."
"Only because he has nobody left."
"Rafe, the man lost a wife and two sons—your mother and your brothers! Don't you feel some pity for him?"
Benny heard his father snort. "It's his own fault."
That was the last thing Benny's father said about the subject before his parents went on another wave of arguments.
From what Benny knew, his grandfather, Ambrosio Rodriguez, was a huge political figure in the early part of the century. He was an austere man who prided his Spanish ancestors for establishing Las Californias. No doubt, Ambrosio was quite ashamed when his son, Rafe, purposely named his children after American heroes (Susan B. Anthony, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin).
"And why are you even thinking about moving us to Riverside?" Gabby continued the argument. "First it was New York, then Louisiana, then Tampa? Why not just forget moving altogether?"
"You know Loma Linda Academy is near Riverside. If I get that promotion, we can finally send Benny to a proper institution. I can't believe you'd keep your son away from a prestigious opportunity!"
"Oh don't point your finger at me! Benny may not be as academically successful as Susan and Adam, but he's happy here, Rafe. He's happy. Isn't that what matters? Isn't that why we got married? To be poor, but happy?"
"We've tried poor and happy, Gabby. And you know what? Not so happy. Besides, Benjamin will make new friends," Rafe said calmly. "He's not as melodramatic as you are."
A loud crash broke the argument.
"How's that for melodrama!" Gabby yelled as another crash emitted from the room across the hall.
"God damn it, Gabby! Why is it that every time we talk about this, you always have to throw something at me?"
"Is it my fault you're so big-headed that you make for such an easy target?"
"Hijo de—Gabby! Maldita sea!" Another crash emitted from the room, sparking another wave of arguments that was spoken in Spanish when Rafe and Gabby could not speak English fast enough.
Unable to stand the never-ending quarrel between his mother and father, Benny threw his sheets aside and stepped out onto his balcony. For the first time in weeks, the night weather was pleasantly breezy, and so the bars felt cool against Benny's hands as he pulled his legs over the rails and reached out for Janie's balcony.
The short distance between the two stages was short enough to be considered "safe," and so it didn't take much effort for Benny cross to the other side and pull himself over the iron balustrade. He then approached the glass doors and peeked through the translucent curtains, seeing Janie's restless form under her heavy bed sheets.
She's awake, Benny thought as he slid the door open and stepped into the dimply-lit room. It was clean, uncluttered, and very elegant with its light blue walls, white wooden panels, matching crown moldings, and silken scarves. A small, canopy bed draped with translucent curtains epitomized the timeless glamour of the room, along with a vanity table embellished in weathered silver.
"Hey Benny," Janie whispered quietly as he lied next to her, keeping a decent amount of space between them. "Are they at it again?"
"Yeah. It's nothing," Benny tried to seem unfazed. "My dad's been talking about moving us to this place and that place since I was ten. It'll never happen."
"But he sounded pretty serious this time. And Loma Linda Academy is a pretty good school, you know?"
"Whatever. I don't care. He can't turn me into Susan or Adam."
Janie nodded her head in understanding, thinking about Benny's siblings.
John Adam Rodriguez, Benny's older brother, had been what the whole town considered the perfect son. He graduated before the summer as valedictorian, served the student body as their charming and tactical president, and led the varsity football team as their captain.
Benny and Adam's older sister, Susan Anthony Rodriguez, had been similarly popular as Adam. She was considered to be the most beautiful girl in the neighborhood, being a spitting image of her mother, and had once been crowned the town's Valley Vista Queen of '59.
"Damn then, sometimes," Benny said as he thought about Adam and Susan. "Damn them for setting the bar up so high. My dad's always up my ass about how I need to be more like my Adam. I can't remember a time when he was actually proud of something I did."
Janie remained silent, although it was hard for her to truly understand the grief Benny's father placed. She didn't have it as bad. Quite frankly, she didn't have it bad at all.
"Well, look on the bright side," Janie attempted to perk up. "You have four years to try and fill up Adam and Susan's shoes."
Benny snorted at her optimism. "You want to make a bet on that?"
"No. I don't like gambling. It's a sin."
Benny snickered. "You're making that up because you're bad at betting. The bible doesn't directly condemn gambling."
"How would you know, Benny? You've rarely step foot inside a church."
"I did while you were away."
"And you didn't burn?" Janie jokingly whispered.
"Nope. God is alright with me spending my Sundays playing baseball."
"Why?"
"Because…he thinks it's better that I play baseball while thinking about church, instead of going to church thinking about baseball."
The comment caused Janie to choke into laughter as she tried to keep quite. "You're coming back in the next life as a toilet brush, Benny. I swear it."
The two of them continued to chuckle under their breaths as they persisted with their playful banter. Her company was exactly what Benny needed to take his mind off of his problems.
Minutes later, silence soon engulfed the dark room. Even the yelling next door had ceased and, within seconds, Benny heard soft snores. He looked down and smiled as he realized Janie had immediately fallen asleep, and then he silently thanked her for being a source of comfort—an unconditional gift when times were difficult to tolerate.
Disclaimer: "The Sandlot" was written and directed by David M. Evans. I do not own anything related to the movie other than this fan written fiction and the original characters I have created through my own imagination. I assure you that this piece of work does not make any profits, nor will it be published in the future. Copyright infringement is not intended.