The Nothingness of Ben by Brad Boney

you two stop fighting. You got that?”
    Ben looked at him, impressed. “We got it,” he answered. Ben went back to his chair and his bowl of Froot Loops.
    “Can I say something?” Jason asked.
    Ben nodded. “Please. You don’t see your brother asking permission, do you?”
    Jason took a deep breath and rolled his head back and forth.
    “We can’t leave this two-bit cattle town fast enough for me!”
    Then he gave out a yelp of joy.
    “Wait,” said Quentin. “Can there be a little accommodation here?”
    “How so?” asked Ben.
    “Can we at least finish out the school year? It’s only five months. If this place where you work loves you so much that they’re gonna pay for all this, then surely they can give you five months. Not even half a year.”
    Ben looked at Jason, whose face betrayed his obvious disappointment.
    “Cade?” Ben asked, gesturing with his spoon.
    The youngest Walsh brother digested the information. “I agree with both of you. We should go to New York but not until after school’s over.”
    Ben finished his cereal and drank the remaining milk straight from the bowl. “Then I will take that deal back to my client. You know, this just might work out. I don’t care what people say about you,” he joked. “You boys are alright.”
    They all laughed. Even Quentin.
     
     
    T RAVIS stayed away that day. The brothers didn’t question it since they figured he was with Trisha. Ben kept them in the dark about what happened the night before, and since Ben had mastered the art of takeout long ago, they didn’t go hungry. Their neighborhood even had some decent restaurants. As usual, they passed the day and night watching more movies. On Friday morning, the Walsh boys sat in the living room eating cereal and watching Donnie Darko (one of their favorites). Shortly before noon, they heard a knock at the door.
    “Probably Travis,” said Quentin. “Poor fool can’t stay away for more than a day.”
    Ben got up and headed toward the door. Poor fool. But when he opened it, there was no Travis.
    Instead, Colin stood on the front porch, his arms outstretched, grinning wildly.
    “Yeehaw, Walsh! Look at me. I’m in Texas.”
    That’s when someone stepped out from behind him.
    “Hey, stud.”
    It was David.

Chapter 8

     
    “ W HAT are you doing here?”
    “Surprise, Walsh. I knew if I asked, you would say no. And since I hate to travel alone, I thought it would be a nice gesture if I brought your boyfriend along. It doesn’t hurt that he can walk onto a plane anytime he wants.”
    “I hope it’s okay,” said David, his voice deep and comforting. Ben’s spirits lifted when he saw him. David looked like the kind of guy that can only be found in glossy magazines and high-class porn. Ben knew he could hold his own in that department, but when they went out in New York, everyone looked at David with lust and Ben with envy. He hadn’t thought about sex since the phone call, except for a few stray mental images of a shirtless Travis, but his cock woke up when David looked at him sheepishly and ran his fingers through his wavy brown hair.
    “Of course it’s okay,” said Ben. “Come on in.”
    As they grabbed their bags and filed past him, Ben leaned forward and gave David a kiss.
    “Hey, sexy. It’s good to see you.”
    “Likewise,” said David, kissing him back.
    Ben led them into the living room, where his brothers were sitting up with varying looks of surprise on their faces.
    “Boys, you remember Colin, from New York. And this is our friend David. This is Quentin, Jason, and Cade,” he said, pointing each of them out as he went.
    “Wow,” said David. “They’re like Xeroxes of you.”
    The Walsh boys had heard similar comments for years and their reaction had always been the same—smile politely and nod. Colin and David sat down and gave a brief summary of their trip. Ben noticed his brothers didn’t have much to say at first, and he wondered if this was a good idea. Not like