Mickey's Friends - Giselle Johnson (best novels ever .txt) 📗

Ch.1
Ben was 11 years old, walking in the hot sun after playing a game of basketball with his friends. Street ball is what they called it. He was reigning champ and made everyone bow down at his feet begging for mercy when a game was over. Right now, he could hear the chicken and macaroni and cheese calling his name. His mom was a wonderful cook and he loved her for that. Not to mention, she had the most enthusiastic personality. Ben was all she had after his dad left and his mom was all Ben had…other than basketball.
“Next time…Imma just start dunkin’ on everybody.” Ben said, moving back and forth, dribbling the ball, in circles around his friend, Jason.
“Mannn...you’re allllll talk.” Jason said laughing at his friend and at the same time becoming dizzy as he watched his friend go around in circles.
“No, you’re all talk.” Ben said, coming back to himself, and walking properly again.
“You both are talk.” Susie said.
“Ughhh…Susie. Why are you followin’ us?” Jason said rolling his eyes.
“I’m not. I was invited to Ben’s for dinner.”
“By who? Not me.” Ben said.
“Well…your mom invited my mom…who this morning told me that after I was done playin’ ball to come home with you…so I could meet her at your house for dinner.”
“Huh?” Jason said.
“I’M COMING WITH YA’LL.”
“You are so country.” Ben said.
“Well…I am from Texas. Besides, the only reason I’m walking with ya’ll is because I’m scared of being kidnapped or somethin’.”
“Pleaseeee…I have lived in Detroit all my life and not once have I seen someone get shot, kidnapped, robbed, or beaten.” Jason said.
“Yeah. That’s all in the movies.” Ben twirled his basketball on his fingertip.
“Well…the movies are inspired from somethin’.”
“So, you’re saying…aliens are real?” Jason said.
“Maybe so. I’m looking’ at a bunch of alien heads right now.”
Ben and Jason looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Takes one to know one.” Jason said, still laughing.
Susie ignored them and continued walking, looking around for any suspicion.
“Girl…nothing is going to happen.” Ben said, jumping in front of her. He put his hand on her shoulders. “Trust me.”
Susie smiled and nodded her head.
The three musketeers continued walking and playing around with each other as 11 year olds in Detroit do. But, little did they know that someone was watching them.


Ch.2
“MOMMA…I’M HOME! Ben shouted as he entered the bathroom.
“Oooohhh weeeee!” Jason said, shaking his hands together.
The house smelled wonderful. It smelled as good as fried chicken and mac n’ cheese could get. Today was July 4h and all of Ben’s mom’s friends were invited to dinner. Ben was able to invite friends too, but he didn’t have many. He had Jason, but that was good enough. Jason was always there for him. Even after…the incident.
Ben put his basketball in the corner and slipped his shoes next to it. Jason slipped his shoes off next to his. Susie ignored what they were doing and continued walking into the kitchen.
“Take your shoes off, Susie.” Ben whispered.
“Dude, she can’t hear you.” Jason said.
“I know.” Ben chuckled, “3…2…1…”
“GIRL! YOU BETTER GET OUT MY KITCHEN WITH THOSE SHOES!” Ben’s mom exclaimed.
Susie ran out the kitchen, scared out of her mind. She slipped her shoes off and put her hands up as if to surrender. Ben and Jason burst out laughing. Susie looked at them and rolled her eyes.
“Sorry…” Susie said, rubbing her wrist.
“Baby, it’s fine! Just…no shoes in the kitchen. It’s unsanitary.” His mom said as Ben mocked her to Jason. Jason laughed and covered his mouth so he wouldn’t be heard. “Your mom is in the bathroom. But, dinner is ready. Come on.”
With that, Susie slowly walked into the kitchen. Ben and Jason skipped together to the kitchen.
“Mommaaaaa.” Ben said, turning the corner.
Ben and his mom hugged then did their personal handshake.
“BAM!” they said.
“Hi…Miss Hannah.” Jason said, smiling.
“Hey, Jason. Your dad isn’t here yet. But, he should be here soon.”
Jason nodded his head, disappointedly. He knew that was going to be the case. His dad was never anywhere on time. He was constantly out in the city, fighting crime, as most police officers did. Jason wondered why he was stuck with the work addict dad and why he couldn’t simply be one of those donut-eating kind. He looked up to him for being a face of protection, but at the same time, he wanted a real dad.
Maybe that’s why Ben and Jason were such great friends. They, both, shared the same heartache and pain in their household, living in one parent households. Ben had his mom and though they were close, not a day went by when Ben didn’t wish for a dad. Then, Jason, never knew his mom. She died while giving birth to him. He never even got to see her.
“Come on, man.” Ben said, touching Jason’s shoulder.
“So…Nathan…tell us…how is it being a big crime dog?” Susie’s mom asked, bashing her eyelashes in his face.
Jason stuffed himself with cornbread as he prepared himself for his dad’s response. His dad’s jaw tightened as he smiled. He was tall and strong, muscles cutting from his arms and showing through his uniform shirt. His voice was booming as he began to answer the question.
“Well…first thing first…you have to always keep your eyes open for crime. Something is going on at every corner. You have to have a keen eye.”
“Jason and Ben said there is no crime in Detroit.” Susie said, getting scared all over again.
Ben began coughing over his soda. “No, no, no. We never said that. We said we had never seen crime.”
“Big difference.” Jason said calmly stuffing himself with more cornbread.
“Exactly. Big difference. Detroit is a very dangerous place.”
“So, what do you suggest for people like me, never steppin’ foot in a dangerous place in their life? How do we keep safe?” Rosie’s mom, continued to flirt as Rosie slid down in her chair embarrassed.
“It’s simple. The buddy system. Always have someone with you.” With that, Nathan got up. “Hannah, delicious. I’ll be going now.”
“I haven’t even gotten the ice cream yet.” Ben’s mom said, touching his hand. Nathan flinched and looked back at her. Then, she moved her hand and looked away.
“Another time. I have work.” He said, coughing, pushing his chair in.
“Wait,” Jason climbed out of his seat, “Dad, we’re still going to the fireworks show, right?”
Nathan stopped in his tracks and looked at Jason, confused.
“You promised you wouldn’t sign up for any shifts for this holiday so we could spend some time together.”
“I forgot.”
“How could you forget? It’s the 4th of July. All people do is watch fireworks and eat.” Jason raised his voice.
“Watch your tone.” Nathan said, staring his son down.
The room got quiet. Everyone: Ben, Rosie, Rosie’s mom, and Ben’s mom, Hannah, all exchanged looks at across the table.
“I’m just proving a point.” Jason stood his ground.
“Point proven.”
“But…” Jason began to cry out.
“I
have a city to protect. Are you coming home with me or not?”
Jason and Nathan looked at each other. Jason’s could feel his face burning with heat and his palms were heavy with sweat.
“He can come with us.” Hannah stood up. Ben smiled at his mom, saving the night.
Nathan quickly took his glance off of Jason and looked at Hannah. He took in her blue sundress she was wearing and how her hair was in a high ponytail, her hazel eyes filled with concern. She was a beauty and strong.
“I…I…umm…there’s no need for him to miss out on anything. It is July 4th. He deserves to see fireworks. Ben and I are going. He can come with us.” She continued.
Nathan looked at Hannah one last time before returning his eyes back to Jason.
The room was quieted again as Hannah continued to stand up and Ben crossed his fingers hoping Nathan would say yes.
“Fine.” Jason said, storming off. He ran into Ben’s room. Ben and Susie got up from the table and ran behind him.
Ben’s door room slammed and the adults were left in the room together. Hannah closed her eyes and Rosie’s mom, Kim, tapped her finger on the table. Nathan stood by the door, ashamed, and put his hand over his face. He began to rub his face.
“Uhh…I’ll pick him up in the morning.” He opened the door and closed it behind him.
Once he was gone, Hannah sat back down and sighed.
“That’s so sad.” Kim said.
Hannah shook her head, “Yeah. It is.”


Ch.3
The three kids said nothing. They just sat on Ben’s bed and sighed. Nathan was one hard-core dad. He was a great person who loved everyone, but he was tough on the ones he loved the most.
Rosie sat on the edge of the bed, twirling her hair. Ben read basketball magazines. Jason just sat and day dreamed. It was absolutely silent, except for the quick turning of magazine pages, considering Ben was only looking at the pictures.
“You ain’t even readin’ nothin’.” Susie whispered, loud enough for Ben to hear.
“Sorry…I don’t understand country.” Ben said, turning a page.
Once again, it was back to silence.
Susie tried to break it once again, “When are the fireworks?”
“At 9:30. Shhhh.” Ben replied back.
“I wasn’t askin’ you.” Susie said, standing up.
Susie walked over to the window and began to stare out. She looked out and saw kids running around on the concrete. She saw people laughing and shouting. She saw couples holding hands. She saw happiness.
“You know. Back at home…in Texas…my grandma used to tell me stories. Scary stories about her youth and how she constantly believed a ghost was following her. She thought she was haunted, which explained why she was an orphan. However, she told me, when she got older, she realized how it was only a guardian angel.”
“What is the point of this story?” Ben said, closing his magazine and looking at Rosie.
Rosie turned around and looked at Jason who continued to say nothing and just stared out.
“I’m tryin’ to explain that there are people in this world who do and say certain things we don’t like.” She then directed her eyes to Ben. “However,” she went back to looking at Jason, “The things we don’t like are very few compared to the things we love about them. We all have a guardian angel of some type that’s there to catch us when we’re feeling low.”
“Sorry, but I don’t ever feel haunted.” Ben said, opening the magazine again.
“My grandma wasn’t literally haunted. She just felt always protected. My grandpa was her guardian angel. Always had her back.”
Susie walked back to the bed and sat down next to Jason. “Jason…”
Suddenly, Susie was interrupted by the opening of the door. All the kids turned to see Hannah standing at the door.
“You guys ready?” She asked, trying to give a warm smile.
“I’m always ready.” Ben jumped up and walked out.
Susie patted Jason’s back and stood up. Jason followed.
“Try to have some fun.” Hannah said to Jason as he walked out the room.
Jason just silently nodded his head.
Before, Hannah was about to turn the light off in her son’s room, she looked out and was astonished at what she saw. It was a pig sty. Socks and