The Pathetic Benjamin Black

“Shhh. Here he comes now.”

A Man looking to be about 25 of age enters the drawing room of Black Manor, with a ragged backpack slunk over his shoulders.

The maids went mute and began to pretend they were cleaning. They had been discussing the pathetic and destitute nature of this man that had just walked in.“Good Afternoon” he greeted.

Of course, they ignored him. The man’s name was Benjamin Black, and although the maids couldn’t gossip about him to his face, that was were his privileges ended. His level was almost like the maids themselves.“

Er...Has anyone seen Claire?” He asked politely. Claire was Benjamin’s Wife. He had married her 3 years prior before moving to her maternal household.

“What gives you the right to ask where my daughter is?!” His Mother-In-Law had entered the room. A short, fat and heavily made up woman, with a scowl as despicable and detestable as that of a mangy dog’s.

“I’m just looking for my wife” the man responded. He had practiced keeping his composure for over 3 years.“You bold fool! Have you been playing with mud? You enter my house looking like a hobo, and the first thing you ask about is my daughter?”

“I’m just coming from school-”

“Disgusting, in both manners and looks!” says Benjamin’s Brother-In-Law, Simon, elder brother to Claire and first son of the Black family. He chewed on a small toothpick, and approached them.

“How did Claire ever settled for such a creature? You are one of the great wonders of the world, Benjamin. Not only are you average looking, but broke too?!” Simon mocked.“She must’ve been mad, that Claire!” said the Mother-In-Law.

These situations were neither new, nor original to Benjamin. The actual worst of it was when Joanne Black, this mother-in-law, had burned the mattress and sheets he used on the first day he moved to Black Manor.

He would endure them. He had managed for three years. He had a plan to move out of this accursed household.

“Where Is Claire?” Benjamin asked again.

Simon Black flicked his chewed cigarette at him.“Go clean up the big yard. Lady has been pooping there all through yesterday. Did you forget your job? It’s the least you could do for us, since we allow you to live in a luxurious mansion like this.” said Simon. He then pacified his mother.

“Come on, Mother. The doctor said to avoid incidents that could take your blood pressure. Just the mere sight of this creature living here could give you a heart attack.”

“Of Course, why won’t it?! Claire had so many options we had given here. Jordan Shepherd who was a CEO, and countless others, all of them billionaires! She better come back with a sensible one this time.” said Joanne Black.

Benjamin reeled from the statement. Perhaps he had misheard?

“This time? What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.Joanne Black looked at him, her pupils dilating to two massive black holes, and an ugly smile was forming from her lower lips.

“Oh, so you don’t know!”Joanne Black laughed a content laughter, with Simon smiling as well.“What the hell are you talking about?” asked Benjamin, a lot more urgently.

“Hey! Watch your step.” Simon stepped in front of him. Both were about the same height, but Simon’s gentle curve of his massive shoulders, and driven eyes towered over Benjamin.

“Finish your work for today. Only then can you come inside? Know your place.”

A few men soon appeared on the scene, with black sunglasses and translucent earpieces. They were the mansion security.“Anything the problem, here?”

“No” said Benjamin quickly. He remembered what had happened last time he crossed with them.

“No problem.” said Simon. Simon was well aware Benjamin would fold, and he would enjoy that more than seeing him take a beating. He liked that broken look that Benjamin had.“Isn’t that right, you live-in-son-in-law?”

After three hours of clearing the back garden, and scooping dog poop, Benjamin was finished. He smelled his clothes. They smelled of mulch and shit, which several of the groundskeepers had not failed to mention.

Why was he even doing this? The Black Manor already had four gardeners and labour to attend to things like this. But he knew why.

Joanne Black had told the gardeners to keep that patch unkempt always for him to clean up. He wasn’t even afforded the grace of working inside.

“Work faster, buddy.” one of the gardeners would casually say, even if he was working as fast as humanly possible. Here, he was treated with equal disdain from all persons. Well, except one person.

On his way inside the house to get cleaned up, Benjamin dialed Claire’s phone. He had wanted to during school hours, but he made a promise to be extremely focused with his schoolwork. That would enable him move up in life. Yes, everything was going according to plan. Slowly, but surely.

On the first dial, her number rang, but nobody answered.After the second and third tries, the number stopped going completely.“Weird. Is Claire Okay?” he thought as he entered into the Manor.

Entering into the Ante Room inside, a long man with with splotches of gray beards and jet black hair sipped a golden drink on the Visitor’s sofa.

Benjamin guessed his age to be around the late 30s, and with the smirk he had given him, eyebrows arched as high as space, eyes wide open, grinning like a fool, Benjamin established him as one of those Wall Street Asshole types.

“Well, if it isn’t Benjamin. I have heard….some things about you. Not a lot though.”

Benjamin proceeded to walk up the stairs without engaging him. Nothing good would come of it.“I mean, and I don’t say this lightly, you are a lot more rabid than she described you. Are you suffering, boy?” the man chuckled.Benjamin turned.“Than who described?” He had someone in mind already, but it couldn’t be.

The man chuckled again, but called out.“Claire! I’m still waiting for the Whiskey…” said the man.

God, No!