Ben Chamberlain's Inheritance

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

"Who exactly committed suicide." Ben asked from his detention.

"I have no idea what his name is mate." The guy from the cell close to him replied.

Ben wondered why the person would decide to end his life.

"What reason will lead someone to end his life." He wondered.

Ben laid on his small bed and focused on the lighting bulb above him.

He was ill at ease because he had that feeling he always had when he felt something bad had happened or was going to happen, especially

to someone close to him.

"I hope Henry is alright?" He thought to himself.

He no reason to be worried for Henry but the train of thought their conversation took the last time they talked was a bit of an omen for Ben

that Henry felt he had no reason to live.

Some hours later, it was time for a symposium. Inmates were already there.

Ben found a seat for himself and kept looking around for Henry but he was nowhere in sight.

"Why can't I find him?" He asked himself.

Eveyiwas seated now and the warden introduced the speaker.

The speaker dressed like those psychologist who couldn't solve their own problems using psychology.

He had a pair of glasses that dropped down to his nose. He wore his trousers to his waist that his socks was visible.

"How can he wear a stripped socks that had stripes with many colours." Ben 

thought.

Ben kept searching in the crowd for Henry but he still was nowhere to be seen.

The man introduced himself as Dr. Charles and he started by saying,

"it's not a crime to be here but it is a crime if you decide to remain here." The doctor said.

Ben was listening to what he was saying and somethings he was saying surprisingly to 

Ben was making a lot of meaning to him.

"You have to always strive to be a good person." The doctor paused. He wanted what he said to sink in then he continued;

"Doing good is not hard; it's being good that is hard."

Ben was listening but he was bothered that Henry was not here. Ben got up to ask one 

of the guard of he had any idea where his step brother might be.

"Please I can't find Henry." He asked one of the guard who Henry had not seen before.

The guard did not answer Ben. "Please I can't find my brother Henry."

"Go back to your seat." Was the reply he got

"Please I just need to......." He cut Ben off, "am I suppose to know the names of you scumbags

in here?" He said.

Ben was taken aback. "Get back to your seat and stop harassing my existence." The guard said.

Ben went back to his seat and he couldn't concentrate on what the doctor said until it was over.

................................................................................

"How are you?" Aunt Mary asked when he saw Ben. It was visitation day.

"I am okay Aunty but not totally okay." She frowned. "What's the matter?"

"I have not seen Henry after we had breakfast yesterday up till this moment." 

Ben paused, he was distracted by someone. "So the guy with a scare has a mother." Ben thought to himself.

"Ben! Ben!" Aunt Mary called him back to the present.

"I am sorry aunty." Ben said. "You were saying something earlier." She reminded him.

"So I tried asking but the guard I asked refused to tell me anything." 

"Hmmm.. I was called yesterday that Henry tried to commit suicide."

"What!" Ben was shocked. Now he understood why he was having that feeling he always had, 

when something bad has happened.

"But why Henry? Why?" He soliloquised.

"I am confused Ben and worried at the same time."

"I don't know what to make of this aunty." Ben said putting his head on the table.

"Henry has always been a strong boy with a strong character." She wiped a tear that was 

threatening to drop from her eyes.

"Henry has always been a good boy with a good heart."

"I know he is aunty." Ben said. I don't know what could have gotten to him that made him want to kill himself." She said.

As they were talking, they saw Henry coming towards them. Aunt Mary couldn't hold herself from running towards Ben.

"How are you my son." She said emotionally. Henry just looked at her and tears filled his eyes.

Ben stood up to go meet them. "How are you Henry?" Ben said while putting his right hand on Henry's shoulder.

"I-I-I am good B." Henry managed to say. "Please go and have your seat. You are creating a scene here." One of the guard said.

They say down and there was a brief silence. No one said anything. It was as though they were all trying to gather their thought on what to say next because it was an emotional moment they all just experienced.

"How are you doing Henry." Aunt Mary asked him again. "Well I am fine aunty." Henry finally said to her.

Ben put his right hand on Henry and asked, "what happened Henry? Is it true you wanted to commit suicide?" 

Henry nodded his head. He looked weak. That person who came up with the heist was not there at the moment.

"But why Henry? Why?" Ben asked. "All I know is the street life. It's like after here my life has no meaning; it has no purpose." 

"Henry don't speak like that." Mary said. "Yes Henry do not speak that way." Ben said.

"All that can change with the decisons you make from now on till the day you get out of here." Mary said.

"I was envious of Ben who has a father in the U.S. and I have a father who is a rapist." Henry said and wiped a tear from his eyes.

"You don't need to be envious Henry because I don't know what I will find when I eventually get there." 

Mary had a frown on her face. "Are you planning on going to look for your father?" She asked.

"Yes! I have to go look for him. He owes me an explanation." 

"And when are you planning on doing that Ben." Mary asked. "Immediately I leave this place". Ben said.

Mary just sighed. "So you see why I felt as though I had nothing to look forward to, except the street life I have been used to." Henry said.

"Don't worry Henry it's all going to be fine; I promise you." Mary said. "But first off you have to concentrate on getting out of here first." She added.

Visiting hours waa over. "Henry please take care of yourself. Ben keep an eye on him." Mary said and hugged them both before leaving.

................................................................................

The next day was a Saturday and they were playing football. Henry was on the field playing. He was a good football player. Ben just watched.

"Henry looks like his old self again." Ben thought. He was on the same team with the guy who choked the guy with a scar to sleep and they were partnering well.

"Your brother is a good football player." A boy of about his age came to sit by him. 

"Yea! He is." Ben replied. "My name is Kyle." The boy introduced himself. 

"I am Ben. How do you know he is my brother?" Ben asked.

"I see you both together most of the time." Kyle said. "Oh! I see." Ben replied.

"What did you get in here for." Ben asked. "I killed someone mistakenly." Was Kyle reply.

Ben looked at him. He didn't look like someone who could do something like that. "What about you?" Kyle asked Ben.

Be was hesitant in answering but he did, "we were caught committing a burglary." 

"What was it? A bank?" 

"No! It was a jewelry store." Ben replied. "Oh! Were you the one that was involved in that theft that went south." Kyle said laughing.

"What's funny?" Ben asked with a hinge of annoyance in his voice. "I am sorry for laughing."

"And come to think of it, how did you know about it?" Ben asked. "I know because my brother was there." Kyle said.

"Who might that be?" Ben was wondering. Then everything became clear to him. Ben saw that it was Scrawny who knocked Henry out.

"Are you......? Ben was cut off, "Yes Scrawny is my brother." Kyle said with a smile on his face