Into The Devildom

Benjamin's Intro

Lord Diavolo

I raise my eyebrow then shove the letter in my pocket, "Come on Benji, giz'us a look," he pouts, I shake my head "Nah mate, we should go in, mam said tea will be ready at six and its tento now," I say looking at my watch. Jacub pouts more "Now Jacub, stop larking around or will both get a bollocking, inside now." My phone buzzes and I rip it out my jeans pocket, its a text from Ruben;

"Got the flat to myself tonight, fancy a catch up? ;)"

I grin at my phone, "that a text from the misses?" Jacub asks, "I've already told you once, stop beefin' about and get inside now!" I yell, Jacub does as he's told and I reply back to Ruben;

" You had us at "flat to mi'sen" be there after tea."

"Cool! Bring Sammy, I miss him!"

I love that he loves Sam, I once again throw his tennis ball and head inside the farmhouse.

I can sense the tension from dad as mam finishes grace, well all say Amen then dig in, "Now Benji, ya mam said you finished your job quickly, am chuffed son, you'll be running this farm in time," my dad says, I stop eating looking down at my plate, "there's something I wanna talk to you about dad," I say, "Oh aye?" I look up at him "I wanna go back into education and study art," I say.

He bursts out laughing "Now then, that's some good joke our son, good un." I blink at him,"Am not joking dad... I got a letter for an exchan-" he slams his fists on the table cutting me off, "Now you listen 'ere Benji, you will take over the farm, you'll marry a fine lass, 'ave kids and pass the farm down to your first son like me father did and his father before that! Get ye 'ead away from the fairies and accept it son, I had to and so will you," he barks, I feel the anger in my blood boil, "And what if I don't want a wife?" I bite as I look at him.

"Jacub, Alex go to rooms please," mam says, they both scurry out the dining room and bolt upstairs, leaving me, dad and mam. "I didn' raise no queer!" he slams his hands on the table, I stare at him blankly, "Beatin' your kids isn't raising us dad, mam raised us better! Never once did she lay a hand on us!" I shout. "I should bash ya 'eadin," he snaps, "And there's the coward that you are, your nowt but scum dad!"

"Am a good Christian!" he yells, "A good Christian doesn't drink alcohol dad! You drink and beat your kids! I might not be a good Christian, but at least am not in denial!"

"I will send you back to the camp," he points at me, "Sure dad, send me to a camp full of gay people, I could shag maybe one or two of them," I hiss, his eyes widen with horror then he moves towards me, he goes to swing but I mange to bolt past him, "Get back 'ere Benji!"

I ignore him, run up the stairs and bolt into my room, I make Sam jump, I lock my door, pull my suitcase from under my bed, I have to pack fast, I grab my sketchbooks, my art supplies, clothes, manga, phone charger, laptop and my Nintendo Switch packing it all into my suitcase. Dad is banging on my door, I swipe my car keys from my desk, and throw my suitcase out the window. "Come 'ere Sam," I whisper he does as he's told and I lift him up.

He's use to me sneaking out the window with him, I climb onto the roof, slowly walking across it to the low edge of the roof, I jump down, I bend down and gently place Sam on the ground, tracing back to under my bedroom window, I retrieve my suitcase, when I return where I left Sam, he's waiting by my green Mini Cooper.

"Good boy," I press my keys opening the back door, he jumps in, I close the door behind him, shove my suitcase in the boot and jump in the driver's seat, by the time, my dad runs out the front door, I turn the key and the engine roars into life, I slam my foot down looking at my dad getting further and further away in my mirrors, tears stream down my face as I drive away from the family that can't accept me for who I am. I punch my steering wheel, I eye back in my mirror, Sam is laying down "I'm sorry boy, but you might have to stay with Ruben and Amanda for a bit," I choke on emotions.