BAD MEMORIES

I own nothing the characters and show are property of Brenda Hampton and the Producers of ABCFAMILY. The story you are reading is my own creation however.

Ben got out of the limousine and left his backpack and other items in the backseat, as Mike opened the door for him to get out. Well your dad told me that he might ride back with you if he had no other important business to attend to. But if does he made sure I was to remember that this will be your routine everyday during the summer. School. From eight to twelve, and work from one to five. Mike looked at Ben with a disappointed expression which made Ben look away from guilt. I under stand Mike, and I will be here when you arrive. Ben I know I am only your dad's driver, but I have been around you since the day you were born Ben, and I would like to think that you had better since than to use drugs.

Mike, Ben said in an apologetic tone. I do know better, that's why I didn't use it. But, when I bought it I wasn't thinking clearly, and didn't know what I was doing. I know that is no excuse for my actions, but I truly am sorry. And Mike, I don't think of you as just a driver. You have been around me since I was a kid and I am sorry that I disappointed you the way I did, and I promise not to disappoint you or anyone else like that ever again. Ben stated looking at Mike in the eyes. Ben, that is easy for you to say but as I have told you many times before actions speak much louder than words. Okay, Ben said as he walked towards the door leading into the office complex.

As he entered the building Devon the security officer in charge of the front desk met him at the entrance and provided Ben with a security pass to get into the building. Why do I need this Devon, Ben responded. All employees are required to have one Ben, its part of the new security policy this is how we make sure that the only people who have access to this building are actually suppose to be in this building, Devon replied. Since when did we need these things, Ben asked.

Well in recent month's your dad has had a little trouble with security so he wants to make sure no one walks away with any of his company secrets. Okay, I guess I will have to start getting used to this. I guess you should Ben since this will one day be your company. Yeah, well with all the mistakes I have been making lately I doubt my dad will want me to run his company. Ben, you're Leo's son, and the last Boykewich heir, the only person Leo would want to take over his company is you, But, it's up to you to decide whether or not you can handle the responsibility.

Well, I hope I can Ben replied. Because so far all I seem to do is take on responsibility, that I'm not ready for. Maybe because you are trying to take on too much too soon. Ben, you're only seventeen, and you have the rest of your life to settle down and get married. Also I heard about you and the wife I'm really sorry that happened to you, Devon said looking apologetic. It's okay Ben said as he looked at he tall middle aged African American. I guess we both took on too much too soon, Ben stated. Well Marriage is just like a business Ben, you have to work hard at it in order to get a profit, Devon said. Maybe we should have worked harder, Ben said as he got onto the elevator to ascend to the top floor.

As Ben got off the elevator on his fathers floor he was met by Nora who, greeted him with steely brown eyes, and a sneer. Ben, what in God's name were you thinking, she said as she got up from her desk and walked up to him. So, my Dad told you about my little incident I guess, Ben stated calmly. Little Incident, Ben why on earth were you smoking pot, or thinking about smoking pot. Do you want me to get high in front of you to teach you that drugs are bad like I did with the alcohol. Because I care about you kid, but there are some things where I draw the line, Nora said with sneer. No, Nora you don't have to do anything like that it was a one time incident just like the beer.

Ben, maybe it's a good thing that you and Adrian are getting a divorce because so far every time you are around that girl she does something that sends' you down a dark path. And I should know I was in a similar relationship. Nora, Don't! Ben said with an angry tone. Don't try and compare my marriage or my relationship with Adrian to your relationship with Bob. Because, none of this might never have happened if your son wouldn't have embarrassed Adrian at the party just to make some Act of loyalty to Amy..

Ben, Nora stood in shock at his response. I didn't mean anything bad by that, but look at everything that you're doing. Yeah, Nora I know what you meant. You meant that Adrian is bad for me and Amy and Ricky did nothing wrong. But, you know what it's done and its over. I didn't smoke the pot, and Adrian and I are getting a divorce. While your son and Amy are getting married so worry about your son and his family, and let me do what ever it is I need to do. Ben, I'm sorry if offended you but look what's happening to you. What is happening to me, Nora. Ben asked. Because so far I don't know what is happening to me, and I don't think you know me well enough to make any judgments about me, Ben responded. You're right Ben I don't know you that well, but I do care about you, she replied as she went back to her desk.

Ben, breathe a sigh and approached her with a sorrowful tone. Nora, I'm sorry for what I said, but I am so tired of everyone criticizing me for my relationship with Adrian, and how things turned out. I know me having the pot was a bad choice, but I didn't smoke it. I just thought about it, because after everything that happened I just wanted to feel numb for a while, he said.

Ben, I know exactly what you're saying. But, that numbness only last for a moment, and then you will find yourself craving it again, and the more you use the faster the numbness goes away, and the more you crave it. After a while you will find more drugs, harder drugs to erase those feelings, and I got to tell you kid it's not worth it. Sure, your life is shitty right now, but that feeling only last for awhile, and you don't crave it. But, sooner or later it goes away, and things get better so try and get better soon. Nora told him as she looked at the young man feeling sorry for all he had gone through in the past year.

So, is my Dad in Ben said. Yeah, I'm in he told Ben as he stood in the doorway having listened to the entire conversation. And I am proud and thankful to you Nora for being able to talk to my son about this without giving him, a live demonstration. Trust me boss Nora said I learned my lesson the last time. But, now since we all have said our apologies, I think it's time that Ben got started with his new job in the mailroom.. Leo stated. Right, Dad, Ben replied with a somber tone. Leo then opened the elevator, and pointed Ben to walk ahead of him into the elevator.

Nora sat at her desk, and watched the father, and son team disappear behind the closing doors. She sat, and wondered why Ben would become so defensive of Adrian, after she slept with his best friend. She also wondered what he meant when he said that Ricky humiliated Adrian at the grad party. She had heard from Margaret and Shakur of her son's actions regarding his relationship with Adrian.

From what they had told her, Adrian wanted a committed relationship, but Ricky was being selfish and aloof with Adrian. Margaret was worried at first about Ricky being involved with a girl like Adrian and also having a child with Amy would affect him. But, from what she saw, she believed that Adrian was actually a positive influence for him, however she also believed that Ricky was a negative influence on her.

Nora, then sat back in her chair, and began to remember Bob, and how they first started.

FLASHBACK

Bob was similar to the way Ricky was when he first started high school the hottest guy in school and she a shy teenager like Amy. She was shocked when he actually approached her to dance with her during the Junior Prom. She was so shy at being asked by this handsome man, and then when they started to kiss in his car it led to more, and later she lost her virginity to him. Bob, being devoutly religious was shunned by his family for getting a girl pregnant, and even though she opted to get an abortion, he forbade it. He said that they would raise their child on their own without the help of their families. Soon both dropped out of school, and were married at a quick wedding at City Hall. He got them a small two bedroom apartment, in a bad part of town, and began working at a factory, while she began working at a clothing store in town.

Nora, remembered how hard it was on her, and Bob to keep up a happy life since neither had help, and there was little money for them. Not only that because Ricky came earlier than expected, she had quit her job because they couldn't afford daycare. In order to make up for all of the money needed for bills, Bob took on a second job to support all of them. Soon, he was tired and irritated easily by Ricky's crying.

She then learned that because of her stress she stopped giving milk, which meant more money for formula, which irritated Bob even more. Soon, he began drinking and staying out late with friends from work. This worried Nora who noticed the changes in Bob's personality, he became angrier, and his temper went off easily. He also started demanding sex of her more than usual. This soon led to a confrontation when she refused and he hit her and forced himself on her.

Soon, it got worse. Bob began to hit and rape her on a regular basis. But, in time he eased off as Ricky became older and began to notice his father's behavior. After a while he stopped drinking and started using harder drugs, and became less interested in her. One day while Ricky was coloring , he ran up to his father and showed him a picture had made. Bob was watching T.V. and when Ricky blocked his view he hit their little boy in the face. This frightened Ricky who ran to her. At first Nora threatened Bob to stay away from her, but that only directed his attention at hitting her as well.

Soon he was beating both she and her son. She soon went back to work at a local diner, and one day after a long day she came home and Bob having been using drugs, beat her for not having dinner ready. She saw his crack pipe on the table and smoked it. Soon she remembered that feeling of being numb and feeling nothing g that Ben had spoken of. So she began to use drugs as well, she thought if she only used them every once in a while she would be able to tolerate her marriage to Bob, at least for Ricky's sake.

But, then came the day that changed everything. One day after having to work late and close up the diner she came home to a dark apartment. Usually Bob would be passed out from drugs or alcohol in front of the T.V. but she didn't see him. She figured he must be in bed or the can, so she went to check on Ricky when she heard cries coming from his room. There in front of her Bob, was molesting their seven year old son. She quickly grabbed the nearest item on the wall and tried to attack him. Bob, turned just in time to avoid the attack and she accidentally struck Ricky with a small plastic bat that left a large red bruise and made him cry even more.

Just as she was about to swing at Bob again, he grabbed her arm and began to attack her with such brutal force she thought he would kill her. She felt his hand come across her face and painful sting on her nose and lips. She then felt the blows of his fist on her stomach as he punched her, she fell to the ground in pain. He then looked down on her and actually relieved himself on her. "Their you Bitch". The next you should be here and maybe you might spare him the pain. If you aren't here to help me then I'm gonna get it from him, it doesn't matter to me who gets it. Bob then zipped up his pants and left the room.

Nora, then took her son who was crying into the bathroom, and cleaned him and herself. She looked at her little boy, who didn't know why his father would do such a horrible thing to him. Ricky then looked at her and asked Mommy why I didn't do anything wrong why did Daddy hurt me like that. I said I was sorry for whatever I did, but he still wouldn't stop. He said "It's a cruel world and I have to teach you that" Ricky said with a sob and tears running down his face. Nora held her son close to her and cried with him.

She didn't know what to do if she told anyone then she might go prison with Bob, and even if she didn't, she didn't know how she would be able to raise him by herself. She also didn't know how to fight back against Bob since he was so much stronger than she was. She thought about killing him in his sleep, but she knew she would still go to prison, she didn't know what to do, as she helped her son get redressed and put him back in bed. She then went into the bathroom, and got out a razor, she thought about slitting her wrists but, that would still leave her son unprotected. So she decided the only thing would be to feel numb from the guilt and helplessness.

She went into the kitchen pantry took out her private stash of crack and began to smoke. She, decided to try and be their every night for Bob to use, in order to protect her son. But, that only helped a little soon it didn't matter to Bob if Nora was their or not.. He began touch Ricky and every time she tried to protect him she would once again feel the punishment for her good deed. Soon she began to use drugs regularly in order to deal with the pain of her son enduring the hard lessons of his father's cruelty for two years.

Then one day when Ricky was ten years old, a representative of child services showed up at her door with a police officer. Bob, tried to deny what Ricky had told them at school but she didn't, and she told them every horrible detail, and to take her son away and make sure he never had to go through this again. She and Bob were both arrested for child neglect, child endangerment, child molestation, and several other violations, of child safety and welfare laws.

Nora was placed in prison and required to attend counseling meetings for the next five years where Bob was given ten years for his actions in Ricky's abuse. Before Nora was taken away she kissed Ricky on the forehead, and said "Thank you baby for having the strength to save yourself when I couldn't." That was the last time she saw heard from her son until the day she was given a letter by an attorney informing her that a family wanted to adopt Ricky, but she would have to sign the document and surrender all parental rights to her son. She was willing to agree to the terms but first she wanted to meet the family that wanted to adopt Ricky.

When she first laid eyes on Margaret and Shakur, Nora had to admit she did not know what to think of this couple, but after a few minutes of talking to them she got a pretty good idea of how Honest, Noble, and Loving they were. Margaret, also informed her that they had brought Ricky with them. But, he refused to see her. He said that him showing up was all he had to do and Nora accepted that. She soon singed the documents and the adoption went through without fail.

Later, Margaret worked to get Nora into an early release program, which also set her up with a job and an apartment. However she was also informed that Ricky had soon taken up the old habits of his father of using his looks and charm to seduce women. This worried her since she knew how it turned out for her and Bob. It also worried her because she wondered if the same evil that existed once in her and still in Bob was now in her son. When she heard that Ricky had gotten a girl pregnant she was even more concerned and began saving as much money as she could in order to help her son should he ever need it.

When he came to visit her two years ago, she realized that her fears were almost confirmed. The darkness that had consumed both she and Bob was in Ricky but somehow he managed to control it. Now she saw the light in his eyes that had disappeared from her and Bobs'. She never realized how that light could be there in a world like this until she met her son's best friend "Ben Boykewich." Ben reminded her of a once nice sweet boy who had a crush on her, but was too shy to ask her out she often wondered if she had asked him instead how her life would have turned out.

Ring Ring Ring. The phone went off and snapped her back to reality. Good evening Boykewich Industries, Leo Boykewich's office,. Nora speaking may I help you. Nora took down the message that was given to her and looked at the photo she had of Amy and Ricky on her desk. They looked so happy as they hugged on stage at his graduation after the proposal, and from that picture she took of them she saw the light come back into her son's eyes as Amy said yes to his proposal.

She then got up and went into Leo's office. There on his desk were photos of Ben as a little boy, and at his wedding with Adrian. In those photos she noticed the light in his eyes. But in the photo at his wedding it got brighter. Then she slowly remembered his eyes when he was standing in front of her only a moment ago. The light in his eyes was gone and only reappeared when he defended Adrian. She wondered if somehow the damage that had been done to her son was now passing from her son to those around him. Perhaps Adrian and Ben were only the first to suffer from the curse that she and Bob unleashed on their son.