Writings of an Amateur Volume 2: Juvenile Stories

By Dustin A. Benson

As a man whose mind wonders in depths most do not fathom, Benson is back again to continue the volume. He now brings to the table stories from 2002 to 2007 with more symbolic meaning, hidden messages, and unnoticed observations. Benson describes small worlds of pure imagination and creativity, ranging from morbid events to sexual foreplay, juvenile letters to mature conversation; and no story is left out. Twisting together both fiction and nonfiction, Benson describes events that will leave you wondering on what will be next. As an added treat, Benson adds illustrations to his works.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499005080

Dustin A. Benson

Dustin Benson is a reason to hope, the love to achieve, and the best man to call a friend. He is sincere and intelligent with a loving heart for those in need and a playful spirit that glows more when he smiles. He is like an exploding star that is forming a new universe; beautiful, strong but fragile and full of billions of complexities. He is self-motivated, highly dedicated and full of inspiration which brings out the light from those who enter his life.

Book preview

Before the Day of Love

Pounding Beating Shh…

Pounding Rocking Breath

Shh… Silence.

The light of the pink candle

Flickers.

Breathing Pounding Night

Breathing Pounding Soft Light

Heat of Passion

The flame of the fireplace

Roars.

Silence… Shh… heart beating fast. Thud tha thud tha thud tha. It stops… Breathing heavily. In (breathe) . . . Out (breathe). Closing eyes, the crystal ripples through the air as it falls to the ground like a fallen angel. Splash! The water from the eye explodes into tiny pellets like bird food flying in the park. Light-headed and dizzy, the sound of everything dims as the emotion waves like the ocean.

Silence… Shh… heart beating fast… but slower. Thad . . . tha . . . thud . . . tha . . . thud . . . Quick breaths and uncontrollable quivers of the bottom lip. Two pieces of glass fall from the eyes. Shatter. Silence. Lowering to the ground, breathing… lost and cold in the heat of spring. The vision of everything fades as the confusion blows the leaves of the trees. Bowing head, the lips softly move…

"Dear…,

Please… get through… I… without…

Amen."

The hand lies upon the green bottom of what the mother created. Velvet petals of three roses touch the bottom… or what we call grass. Standing up and opening the eyes, you see it and hear the words.

Father, may he leave here in peace and enter your arms.

You see the name. The name of your blood—the very thing running deep in your veins. The twenty-one-gun-salute and the willow sings a lullaby in the cemetery.

Silence… Shh… heart beating… Light-headed and dizzy. In (breathe) . . . Out (breathe). Death has killed your last love, but the day of Cupid has a reason.

Silence… The picture fades as the memory is folded into the mind. Darkness… Thud tha thud tha thud tha . . .

Running by the white rose

Brother once protected

Laugher of children—

The rose intakes the sun’s life through the window

Running by the white rose

Brother once protected

Cries of teenagers—

The rose intakes the breath of Death through the window

Running by the white rose

Brother once protected

Laughter of children—

The rose intakes the sight of a new generation.

Date: February 13, 2006

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The Accident

Scene One

(The curtains rise. It is the morning of Wednesday, March 21, 2005. There are a few bags in the room. Jennifer, a young woman in the early sixteen, walks in circles as if she was waiting for something. Her puppy, Lucky, is sitting in a chair in the corner. There is a sound of a phone in an upstairs room. The answering machine picks up.)

Jennifer’s Voice: Hey, I am not here at the moment. Leave a number and a message, and I will get back to you at the beep.

(The answering machine beep,s but there is no response. The doorbell rings.)

Jennifer: (Answering the door) Finally you get here. Where were you? I’ve been waiting for an hour and forty-five minutes.

Nick: (An eighteen-year-old male.) I was in traffic. I am sorry.

Jennifer: (Grabbing two bags and the puppy.) It is okay. You just worried me.

Nick: (Grabbing the other two bags.) Where is your sister?

Jennifer: (Walking to the door.) She is upstairs. (Yelling for her sister.) ASHLEY! COME ON!

Ashley: (Running down the stairs.) Don’t leave without me! I’m coming. Please wait! (As she nears the bottom of the stairs, she trips, falling to the bottom. Her three bags are on her.)

Jennifer: (Dropping the bags and the puppy.) Ashley! Ashley, are you okay?

Ashley: (Getting up.) I’m okay. The last step is a doozy, but I am okay. Peachy, just peachy. (Laughing slightly.) And how are you?

(They grab their things and leave. The curtain close. A voice is heard in the distance.)

Ashley’s Voice: Sunday, March 18, 2005. Jennifer says we are going to stay with Nick, so I’m packing important things. I don’t want to leave, but it’s the only way…

Scene Two

(The curtains rise. Jennifer walks in the room. Ashley’s voice stops. Ashley hides a book underneath her.)

Jennifer: I know this isn’t home, but it’ll have to do. (Sitting on the bed.) I love you.

Ashley: I love you too.

Jennifer: (Getting up and starting for the door.) You might want to start unpacking.

(Curtains close, and Ashley’s voice continues.)

Ashley’s Voice: It’s the only way to hide from Jennifer’s ex-boyfriend. But no matter what happens, I lover her.

Scene Three

(It is the afternoon of March 30. Nick, Jennifer, and Ashley are in the car. Nick and Jennifer are talking. Ashley is looking out the window. As they cross an intersection, Ashley sees a semi that is not going to stop.)

Ashley: WATCH OUT!

(The car gets hit. Ashley falls out of the car and rolling on the street hits the curb. The car flips several times.)

Ashley: (Getting up.) NOOOOOO!

(As she starts for the car, some sirens are heard in the distant. Then the car explodes. An ambulance pulls up. Curtains close.)

Scene Four

(Ashley is in the room with Nick. Jennifer is dead. Doctors and nurses are around the bed.)

Nurse One: We are losing him.

Doctor: Clear.

(Nick’s body jumps.)

Doctor: Clear.

(Nick’s body jumps again.)

Nurse One: I’m afraid we have lost him.

(As Ashley is crying and screaming.)

Nurse Two: Nick Reynolds died March 30, 2005, at 9:13 p.m.

(The curtains close, and Ashley’s voice is heard.)

Ashley’s Voice: April 1, 2005. Nick and Jennifer were buried today. I cried so much. It’s like you don’t know how much you love someone until you lose them. It’s sad how life ends… in such a tragedy.

(As the last lines are said, the Star-Spangled Banner plays. When finished, Ashley’s voice is heard once more.)

Ashley’s Voice: November 11, 2012. Lucky, my sister’s dog, had puppies today. I still remember that day when the car exploded. Yesterday, I went to their graves.

(As the third sentence is being said, the Star-Spangled Banner plays once more, and a sight of Nick and Jennifer are seen but as if they were ghosts.)

Ashley’s Voice: In spite of the car accident, I still believe Jennifer is near.

(As the Star-Spangled Banner ends, the lights dim and curtains close.)

Date: 2002 Unknown

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Squirrel Queen

Setting: Forest

Homeless Man (BoBo): (While leaning against a tree) They said I was crazy… I’m not crazy. The bears will get ‘em! Money, who needs money?

Crack Whore (Tina): I need another hit! How do you get out of this freakin’ forest?

BoBo: Trees—these darn squirrels! Get! Get you squirrel… Hey, are those my sunglasses? You leave them alone, you furry beast! I’ll eat you alive. (Hears someone coming and hides behind a tree.)

Tina: Freaking squirrels! How we get out of this place?

Bobo: (Comes out from behind a tree holding stick) You’re a big squirrel… You thought you can just come up in here and take my sunglasses? Die, Squirrel Queen! (Swings stick at Tina, Squirrel Queen.)

Tina: What’s wrong with you, freak? I need to get out of here! I need some money too.

Bobo: You need? What about them—squirrels? They need to get! (Throws stick at a squirrel, and it runs off.) I know a way out of this here forest, but night comes and them bears’ll get ya. Take these sunglasses. The bears don’t like ’em.

Tina: I don’t want sunglasses. I need to leave and get some things.

Bobo: I know how to get a squirrel. Say, what’s your name?

Tina: Squirrel! I don’t want a squirrel!

Date: 2005 Unknown

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The Wise Hag

Once upon a time, far, far away in a magical forest, there lived a very wise blind woman. This woman looked of a princess for the poor but acted the proper of the rich. One day, a shepherdess came along and saw the wise woman. She talked to the woman, and the woman talked about a key. Lost in the woman’s conversations, the shepherdess left to continue on her way to the king. Once there, she met the cook, and he brought her food for, not only to feed her but her sheep as well.

The cook became the key to her heart, and they fell in love with each other. The king wanted to know how they fell in love, and the shepherdess told him of the wise blind woman in the forest. The king declared the hag in the forest to be a witch and demanded her to be hanged. When everyone heard of this witch, they prepared for the hanging. The king fulfilled his side of the bargain, and everyone was happy.

Date: October 4, 2005

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Times Love Game

He stood in front of the door that had once held so much joy and happiness in his life. The room was where his little brother had once laughed, cried, and lived in, but that was gone now. Looking at the cold blue wood he heavily sighted. He didn’t understand, but then, who truly ever does understand? Placing the thought deep in his mind, he forced himself to move on. Walking down the hall into the living room, his body fought the fact, but the memories were stronger than his action. Plopping on the soft light blue couch, he finally gave in. Warm tears formed in his eyes as he finally accepted the truth—the truth in life no one could explain. The doorbell rang, and he stood up, slowly walking to the pure, clean white door. Sliding the sliver chain and letting it fall to the side, he opened the door. Silence… awkward silence. The warm breeze whistled gently by him, making the grass softly dance in an erotic rhythm. Had he really heard the doorbell? Maybe it was kids somewhere in the neighborhood, or perhaps it was only his mind. Closing the door, he softly leaned his head against the wood. Breathing intensely, he detained his bitter tears back. The phone rang, and then he heard his little brother’s voice.

Um… Hello?

Turning around almost thrilled, he thought, Why did I think of this horrible thing? But then it hit him as the true silence erected. It was only a memory. A memory of the day it happened. But now, it was just the past. But that is what life is—the past and its memories that make it.

Saturday began like usual. Toast, hot from the toaster, was plated and sat on the marble counter by two cups of fresh orange juice. Even though he had noticed that Wes didn’t like Laura Lynn, he still drank it anyway. The paper rested on the kitchen table, while the news softly spoke within the dazzling kitchen. Thud, thud, thud. Brice smiled as he knew Wes was coming down the stairs and would soon be in the kitchen for breakfast.

And then like a tree blooming new life, his little brother entered smiling from ear to ear. No one really knew why the sudden change, for before, his face was always serious. Many knew it had something to do with his sudden emotional breakdown. But now, he was as happy as ever. Some people thought he was in denial about his parents’ death and the rest of the emotional breakdown, but no one could know for sure.

He smiled at Brice before looking at the counter and grabbing both cups to place them on the cherrywood table. As he placed both cups down, the phone rang. He left the kitchen and entered the living room to answer the phone. While doing so, Brice placed the toast on the table, while the oven buzzer went off signaling that the biscuits were done. As he opened the oven, he heard his brother’s voice.

Um… Hello?

While the brief silence continued, he placed the biscuits on the table and walked to the refrigerator.

Hey, stranger! But yea, Brice is here, let me get him.

Brice grabbed the butter and apple jelly and placed it on the table while walking to meet Wes halfway for the phone.

Who is it?

It’s a surprise.

With a smile on his face, Wes shoved his piece of toast in his mouth before washing it away with some of his orange juice.

Hello?

Wes grabbed three biscuits and headed for the front door."

I’m going out! Be back later!

Wes, please be careful!

Brice heard the bolt unlocked, the chain slid, then fell, and finally the door closed. It was to be a very different day.

Ten thirty made the night sky bright with many stars living in it. Brice sat uneasy on the couch in the dim-lit living room. It was so silent that you could only hear the grandfather clock gently ticking. It had been fourteen hours since Wes had left that morning, and it was highly unlikely for him to come home this late. But even Brice knew that his little brother was growing to be a young adult. But as the silence went by and his eyes watched the pendulum of the clock, his eyes began to grow heavy and still.

The clock hit twelve, and the chimes of the clock spoke into the night. His eyes opened as the doorbell went off. Walking to the door, he opened it to the face of two police officers. With a face of uncertainty, he let the two officers in the quiet, dead house. He thought to himself that Wes couldn’t have done anything wrong because he was very obedient. But as the head officer looked at him, he could see that lawbreaking was not the issue. As the officers explained what had happened earlier that evening, tears formed in his eyes. He had never cried in public before, but now, it was as if life had just thrown his hopes in a dumpster of horrid smells and vulgar creatures. The police officers left the house, leaving him alone in the silent house to be forever alone and forever silent.

The day of the funeral began with an early start. People from all over—family, friends, and guests all started dressing for the formal oration. Sunday morning started with Brice walking down the stairs and entering the mute kitchen. He sat a plate on the counter and placed a piece of toast in the toaster. The TV sat quietly, but he did not want to turn it on.

As the minutes went by, some family and close friends arrived at the house to wait on the transportation that would escort them to the beginning of a changed life. As the people stood up to show their respect towards the family, Amazing Grace was played in the Cherokee tongue. Although the room was filled with an unending amount of flowers and plants to create peace, the only feeling was sadness. Wes’s family of his mother’s side entered first, followed by his father’s side and then finally Elizabeth, his best friend, and Brice by her side. Death causes people to do strange things, and the biggest was the fact that Elizabeth was wearing a dress. She never wore dresses, but now she stood in a black dress holding a succulent red rose which was limp as the dead body. Then the music ceased, and the preacher began.

"I want to thank you for being here for this family. You have down so many kind things and have been a part of their lives. And on behalf of all those who are here, if we could, we would take away all the pain. But since we can’t do that, we’ll just share it with you. And though we are here to mourn and to remember, we are also here to smile and let go. And if I could borrow some of your memories to appreciate the kind of person he was. He had humor and hope… and a wonderful smile.

"Even though he went through his own personal wars, such as the death of his parents or the war of graduating, he still had hope. At the age of six, he had gone in the bank with his mom. And the lady at the counter gave him four Hershey’s Kisses. And he asked his mom if she wanted any, and she said no.

"So being the little boy, with candy, he ate them all. And when his mom got in the car, she asked for one, but he had eaten them. And although she said it was okay, he felt guilty for many years. And he felt guilty because he cared, and he knew that he hadn’t done anything to help.

"And then when he moved to South Carolina, he started to dress differently. And people would ask him, ‘Why are you changing how you dress?’ And he said, ‘Because they keep calling him gay.’ But he didn’t want to be like everyone else. He just wanted to find his click in this new home. And I appreciate all the things you’ve done for him, and he did for you.

"And he was a teen of hope. And he’d be the one to tell you you’re wrong. You’re dead wrong, and you know you’re wrong, and you’re wrong because of this. But then he’d take a little breath and say, ‘But I’m behind you one hundred percent. I’ll be there when no one else is, and we will go through this together. You will be loved… and I’ll be here.’ Which is why today is so special because in some real ways, he’s still in your corner to help you through something he knew little about. But he lived and survived because he was needed and loved. He taught you all a lesson that you know very well. And it is life is not always fair, but it is what you make of it. Life is not always fair, and he knew that, but he made the best out of what he had.

"We’re here to do a lot of things. And one of the things I believe we’re here to do is to seek balance and to put him in God’s hands and know that we’ve done well. And he’ll continue to tell you you’re wrong. You’ll hear that little voice in your head saying, ‘Wes wouldn’t like this.’ But today, he’ll tell you you’ve done good and thank you.

"Wes Heintz was seventeen when he died, and he was born in Seattle, Washington. He loved photography and loved to explore. He loved to read and write and meet new people. He had two brothers and two wonderful parents who passed away early last year. Wes was someone who kept much hope, and he was always willing to help. Even though he was quick to anger or depression, he was quick with advice and knowledge. He made you smile by being the happy, silly person he was. And no matter how much pain he caused, you loved him anyway… because he was your brother, your friend, and even your family.

"He was an attendant of First Baptist Church and a senior at Laurel High School. He seemed to be the tree of life for many people, even his dog.

"At the age of sixteen, Wes was allowed to go to a marine base for a day. And there he was shown all the drill sergeants and barracks and all the things on the base. But being who he was, he joined the new recruits in their drills and showed them how to have fun while doing it. After that, he went to the mall with another group of marines and showed them all how to do Dance Dance Revolution. And if you’ve ever noticed, it’s very difficult to get a marine to be silly and have fun. But Wes did it because he had hope. But even with all of this joy and happiness and help that he gave us, he showed us that even he needed someone to help him.

"When his parents died, he was the one who needed help. And we helped him, and we cried with him because of the pain. But now, as we cry, he can help us one last time. And he can help us get through this pain.

"Wes had a favorite saying that he made up. It was and I quote, ‘Fear is the absence of knowledge, and knowledge is power the enemy doesn’t have.’ And maybe that was why he was so strong and helping… because he wasn’t afraid. Bow with me.

Father, our words can never match what we want to say in our hearts. So we bring them to you asking that you hold us close and sit with us and that we feel the presence of peace. And we thank you for the life of Wes Heintz and how he included us in his world as he made us better people and as he loved us. And today, Father, we ask you to help us remember and grieve and hold us close and tell us that it will be fine because he’s in your hands… and so are we. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Amen.

Music played once more as the people who had come stood up and exited the building while saying their last goodbye. Roses and cards were placed in the casket symbolizing the last tear for death as one by one the friends passed by the lifeless corps. Then it was Brice and Elizabeth who stood in front of the casket. They thought and wished that Wes would just wake up, but both knew better. Brice took Elizabeth’s rose and wrapped his together with hers in a midnight blue ribbon. As the two of them walked away, leaving the past behind them, a soft voice whispered to their ear in the gentle silence of the calm breeze.

"The bound of Love, the binding of Truth

Remember this tale to save his youth

A blink of an eye, a tear on the floor

To turn back time, this pain no more.

A rose for the love, a ring for the truth

All to restore important youth

Blink your eyes, cry once more

And back in the past I shall restore."

But as the words whispered in the air, they were gone. It was as if no one even heard them. Elizabeth blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

He opened his eyes while he lay on the light blue couch that had once been the best relaxing place in the house. His eyes glanced at the clock and took in the numbers it had. Ten thirty already, and the sky outside was darker than ever. Had he really lain on the couch all day? As new warm tears started to form in his eyes, the tick tock of the clock seemed to yell at him.

"Remember this tale

Remember your cries

Blink once more

Open your eyes."

The new tears ran down the trails of the old ones, and his eyes quickly shut and then suddenly opened.

Saturday began like normal. Toast, hot from the toaster, lay on a plate sitting on the counter. Two cups of fresh orange juice sat by the plates as perspiration formed tears of a once existing pain. The paper rested on the kitchen table, while the news softly spoke within the dazzling kitchen. Thud, thud, thud. Brice smiled as he heard Wes coming down the great wooden stairs. As Wes entered the kitchen smiling, he grabbed both cups and placed them on the table, while Brice placed the plates beside the cups. As the plates touched the wooden table, the phone rang, and Wes hurriedly walked anxious to answer it. The buzzer to the oven rang loudly, announcing that the biscuits were done, and as Brice opened the oven, he heard his brother’s voice.

Um… Hello?

While the brief silence shared the conversation, he placed the biscuits on the table and walked to the refrigerator to fetch the butter and jelly. On his way, his brother’s voice spoke once more.

Hey, stranger! But yea, Brice is here, let me get him.

Placing the jelly and butter on the table, he walked to meet Wes halfway for the phone.

Who is it?

It’s a surprise.

With a smile on his face, Wes shoved his piece of toast in his mouth then washed it away with some of his orange juice.

Hello?

Wes grabbed three biscuits and headed for the front door.

I’m going out! Be back later!

Suddenly, Brice yelled, NO!

Wes stopped and turned suddenly, confused and shocked. Brice looked just as confused as the voice on the phone replied with you remembered. The phone clicked, signaling that the person had hung up.

Don’t go out.

Why?

I don’t know really… I just have a bad feeling.

With that, the two sat on the soft light blue couch eating their biscuits. Wes tossed one of his biscuits on Brice. When it met his face, Wes let a little laugh out. Brice looked at him and threw a biscuit back. As the hours went by and the boys had fun, an owl rested on the tree outside, and his voice gently sang.

"The bound of their Love, the binding of Truth

The Rose and the Ring to keep their youth

Close your eyes and drop one tear

To live their life, year by year."

Date: January 2006

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White Rain

Fall was walking further down the avenue as winter began to peak through the window. The sky’s face looked down on the street,