Growing Up Brady And Johnson (Read 3,860 times)

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 21


It was Friday night, or Football Friday, as the residents of Salem
referred to it as. Football was a big deal in Salem. It was the sport
that brought all of Salem’s residents together in the fall. Between
the Varsity high school football games,and the junior varsity football
games, the football games were the place to be on Friday nights. Then
after the football games, many residents would then flock to The Brady
Pub for burgers, shakes, or on those cool fall nights, clam chowder.
The Salem High Mascot was the Wild Cat. On Friday’s the children in
all of the Salem school district would wear their Wild Cat gear to
school, decking out in jeans and their Wild Cat shirts, sweatshirts,
and hoodies. Now that Carrie was a cheerleader, on Friday’s she would
wear her cheerleading warm up suit with the rest of the JV
cheerleaders. As a gift for making the squad, the cheer captain, Lisa,
had gifted the new seventh grade JV cheerleaders a pack of white
scrunchies. She had instructed the new girls that they would wear
their new scrunchies with their cheer warm up suits on Fridays. That
Friday, morning, the first Friday football game, Carrie dressed
excitedly for school. Her entire family was coming to the JV game
tonight to watch her cheer. Carrie had been practicing for weeks with
the other cheerleaders. She was nailing the cheer routines, and she
was excited to show her family her hard work.
Carrie went downstairs for breakfast. Her purse and school books in
hand. Eric and Sami were already sitting at the kitchen table, eating
breakfast. The twins were wearing their jeans, and Wild Cat t-shirts.
Sami had insisted on getting white scrunchies like her sister, and
Roman had relented, and gotten his youngest child the hair accessory.
Sami beamed proudly at her big sister as Carrie went to pour herself a
bowl of cereal. “See, Carrie,” Sami said. “My hair’s in a pony like
your's. Grandma did it for me.”
Carrie smiled at her sister. “It looks great,” Carrie said.
Eric chimed in. “And all the elementary kids are coming to today’s pep
rally. We get to see you cheer before anyone else.” Eric said this
with so much pride.
“I know,” Carrie said. “I can’t wait to see you guys in the crowd.
I’ll look for you.”
“I told my entire class," Sami said.
The Brady kids finished their breakfast, and all left for school, with
the excitement for Football Friday, and all the activities that went
along with it.

[André DiMera]

Hope everyone has fun at the game.

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 22


Kayla took the last of the clean clothes out of the dryer. She, Steve,
and Benjy were going to that night’s JV football game to see Carrie
cheer as part of the JV cheerleading squad. The night before, Roman
had brought Carrie, Eric, and Sami over to the house to meet Benjy.
Kayla had warned Roman not to overwhelm Benjy. They had gotten pizza,
and the kids and Roman had gotten to know Benjy a bit. They had
brought Benjy Wild Cat gear for Football Friday, a Wild Cat t-shirt,
and a long sleeved shirt. Kayla wasn’t sure what Benjy would think of
the gift, knowing that he was having a hard time adjusting to all the
kindness, but Benjy had taken the gifts in stride. Steve had explained
to Benjy about Football Friday. Benjy had signed that he had never
been to a football game before, and that he was excited about it.
Eric then had piped up, and said that Benjy could sit with him. Steve
had then signed this to Benjy, and he seemed pleased about this fact.
Steve had then assured Benjy that he and Kayla would stick close, so
that they could interpret for him. Kayla was happy that the meeting
with her family had gone so well. They had also planned to have dinner
with Steve’s mother, Jo, and Steve’s sister, Adrienne and her husband,
Justin that Sunday, so that they could meet Benjy.
Kayla took Benjy’s clean clothes into his room. She found Benjy and
Steve playing with the Lego set. “Hey Sweetness,” Steve said. “Need
a hand?”
Kayla beamed at the scene before her. “No. I got it. You keep
playing.” Kayla put away Benjy’s clean clothes. She then put the Wild
Cat t-shirt on Benjy’s bed. “Football shirt,” Benjy signed to Kayla.
“Yes,” Kayla said and signed.
“Benjy get ready now,” he signed back. “Excited.”
Benjy got up from the floor, and walked over to his bed. He quickly
peeled off his shirt, not minding that Kayla and Steve were still in
the room. He quickly put on his new shirt, and beamed up at his new
parents. “Benjy ready to go,” he signed.
Steve grinned. “Yes, he said,” I’d say that you are, little man. But
Kay and I aren’t ready yet.”
“And we need to eat dinner,” Kayla said.
Benjy nodded quickly. “Dinner,” he signed. “Benjy want food, please,”
he signed.
“What do you want for dinner?” Kayla asked as she signed the question.
Benjy thought for a moment. Since coming to live with the Johnsons, he
had gotten used to all the different food options they had presented
him with. “Still warm outside,” Benjy signed.
‘Yes,” Steve said slowly. “What are you thinking Benjamin?”
Benjy’s brow wrinkled as he thought. “Picnic outside,” he signed. “Burgers.”
Kayla smiled. “That is a great idea,” she said.
“I’ll man the grill,” Steve said slowly. “And Benjamin, you can help me.”
Benjy clapped his hands excitedly. “Benjy help,” he signed with fast hands.
Steve and Kayla had quickly learned that when Benjy was excited about
something, he would sign quickly. Sometimes it was too quickly for
them to even see what he was saying, and they would have to ask him
to slow down, and sign it again slowly. This instance was no
exception.
“Of course you can help,” Kayla said. “Steve doesn’t want my help at
the grill.”
Benjy grinned. “Benjy will help Steve.” He signed back.
Steve rubbed his hands together. “Alright, let’s go make some burgers.”
The family of three set to work to make dinner. While Steve and Benjy
were in the backyard making the hamburgers, Kayla busied herself
making the rest of the food in the kitchen. She had a feeling that
Steve and probably Kimberly and Shane would be spoiling the kids
tonight with food from the snack stand, so she didn’t go overboard
with dinner for she, Steve, and Benjy. She made pasta salad and a
fruit salad. She took the food outside and arranged everything on the
picnic table, along with condiments for the burgers. Once the burgers
were ready, the family sat at the picnic table to eat. Kayla made
Benjy’s burger for him. He signed to her what he wanted on his burger;
cheese, pickle, and just a little bit of ketchup. Benjy signed that he
didn’t want to make a mess and ruin his new shirt. Kayla obliged, and
made Benjy’s burger to his liking. Carefully examining the burger once
Kayla put it on Benjy’s plate, he was please. “Good burger, Kayla,”
Benjy signed back. Benjy picked up the burger, but then put it back
down quickly.
“What?” Steve asked. “Something wrong?”
Benjy quickly got up, and went into the house without signing to
Steve or Kayla. They both looked at one another, puzzled. Before they
could go back inside to check on him, Benjy emerged back outside,
shirtless. He grinned. “Benjy now ready to eat,” he signed.
Kayla and Steve began to laugh. Steve ruffled Benjy’s hair. “Oh,
Benjamin,” Steve said.
They then ate their dinner. Once dinner was done, Kayla quickly
cleaned up the kitchen. Benjy had put his Wild Cat shirt back on by
that point. Kayla and Steve quickly dressed for the game as well.
Ready to go, they left their house for Benjy’s first football game.

[misfit]

Aw! This chapter is so sweet and cute and fluffy and I love it. Can't wait for more!

[André DiMera]

Glad Benjy’s adjusting well.

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 23


The JV Salem football team scored their second touch down of the
night. The crowd in the stands roared with excitement. The JV
cheerleaders cheered and danced on the side lines with as much vigor
as in the stands. Carrie beamed with pride as she cheered with the
other JV cheerleaders.
Up in the stands, Eric, Sami, and Benjy watched the football game in
awe and excitement. Sami kept bouncing up and down in her seat, all
the while cheering for Carrie. Eric and Benjy were also watching the
game unfold below them. Even though Benjy couldn’t hear what was going
on, he could tell that the crowd was jubilant. He would watch Eric and
Sami clap with excitement, and he would do the same. In between
clapping, Eric and Benjy would take turns throwing popcorn into one
another’s mouths. Steve sat beside Benjy to sign to him what was going
on, while Eric sat to Benjy’s opposite side. Sami sat next to her aunt
Kayla, intermittently talking about how neat it would be to be a
cheerleader and waving animatedly to get Carrie’s attention. Just as
Kayla had suspected, Shane and Kimberly had spoiled the kids rotten
for the game, buying them popcorn. By the end of the game, the Salem
Wild Cats had won.
Once the game was over, many of the spectators made their way to the
Brady Pub for burgers and shakes. Steve and Kayla had decided to take
Benjy to the pub for a little bit after the game. He had had such a
good time with Eric and Sami, that they couldn’t resist him when he
had asked to go to the pub after the game. Roman too had decided to
take the kids to the pub for a bit after the game as well.
Once at the pub, Steve, Kayla, and Benjy sat at a booth with Roman and
the twins. Carrie sat at another table with the JV cheerleaders. Upon
getting to the pub, Sami had asked for money for the jukebox, while
Eric had taken Benjy to get paper and crayons to draw while they
waited for their sodas. Kayla and Roman were now seated alone at the
booth. “Carrie did great tonight,” Kayla said.
“Yeah,” Roman agreed, “she did.” “Uh, sis, I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Would you mind watching the kids tomorrow night?”
“Sure,” Kayla said. “You got a hot date or something?”
Roman blushed slightly. “You could say that. I’m having dinner with
Diana Colville.”
“The reporter from The Spectator?”
Roman nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
“Not a problem,” Kayla said easily. “You can bring the kids over. I’ll
make tacos.”
Roman smiled. “That’d be great. Eric’s been wanting to play with Benjy
anyways.”
“How are the kids with you dating?”
Roman was quiet for a moment. “The twins seem fine. Carrie says that
she’s fine too. So they all seem fine with it.”
Kayla nodded, not wanting to necessarily press the topic in a public place.

[misfit]

Aw, love Roman being all blushy about his date with Diana. And Kayla not wanting to press the topic in public makes me think she'll have something to say about it later on. Can't wait for more!

[André DiMera]

Glad the game went well, and that Kayla agreed to watch the kids while Roman goes on a date with Diana.

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 24


Carrie sat at a booth with the other JV cheerleaders. They were eating
French fries and drinking milkshakes while talking about that night’s
game. “Carrie,” Tori said, “Why don’t you go get us more fries.”
Carrie wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Uh, I don’t know. I don’t
think my grandparents will give us another plate on the house. They
already gave us one plate for winning tonight.”
“Come on,” Lisa chimed in. “You could at least get us one more free
plate. Your grandparents own this place. They’d do it for you.”
Carrie hesitated for a minute. “I guess, I could try.”
Carrie reluctantly got up from the table. Sarah also rose from her
seat. “I’ll go help you,” she offered to Carrie.
The girls walked off to go see about getting more fries. Lisa and Tori
snorted with laughter once Carrie and Sarah were out of ear shot. “I
told you guys that we got Carrie on the squad for all the right
reasons. She’ll get us all the fun things.”
Kelly and Jessie giggled in agreement.
“Yeah,” Nikki chimed in. “Carrie is such a wanna be. She’ll do
anything to fit in. It’ll be easy to use her.”
Just then Rachel motioned to the other girls. “Uh, guys we’re being watched.”
Lisa glanced over and noticed Benjy standing not far from their table.
He was staring at them as Eric came up beside him, and motioned for
him to follow him back to the table. Lisa scoffed in irritation. “Big
deal.” She pointed at Benjy. “He’s a retard. Besides, it’s not like he
can hear us.”
With that the other cheerleaders began laughing. Their laughter was
interrupted by Eric. “Hey don’t call my friend names.”
Rachel sighed annoyed. “Eric why don’t you go away, and take your mute
friend with you.”
“I’m telling,” Eric said.
“Whatever,” Lisa said.
Eric then took Benjy’s hand, and they left.
“Do you really think he’s going to tell?” Megan asked.
“Oh please,” Lisa said. “They didn’t even hear us talk about Carrie.
That retard can’t even hear us, and Carrie’s dopey brother only heard
us call the deaf kid a retard. Relax.”
Before the girls could say another word, Carrie and Sarah returned
with another plate of fries.
“Got them,” Sarah said triumphantly as she and Carrie slid back into the booth.
Lisa smiled at Carrie. “Aw, Carrie you’re the best. Thanks.”
“Yep,” Carrie said as she snatched a fry from the plate.
Eric and Benjy walked back over to where the adults were sitting.
“Uncle Steve,” Eric said in indignation. “Those girls were calling
Benjy names.”
“What girls?” Steve asked.
Eric motioned to where the cheerleaders were sitting. “Carrie’s new
friends. They called Benjy a retard. I told them to stop, but they
ignored me.”
“Did Carrie hear this?” Roman asked.
“No,” Eric said. “She wasn’t there.”
“You did the right thing telling us,” Roman said.
“Name calling is not nice,” Sami chimed in. “Why would they do that?”
“I don’t know sweetheart,” Roman said. “Some kids can be mean because
someone is different.”
Kayla was about to say something, but Benjy began to sign. “Benjy want
to go home. Too many people.”
At that point, both Kayla and Steve thought that it would be a good
idea to take Benjy home. Kayla looked at Steve knowingly,and they both
knew that they needed to talk to Benjy about what had just happened.
Roman apologized to Steve and Kayla before they left with Benjy. Both
Sami and Eric hugged Benjy, and told him that they liked him, and that
they would play with him the next day. As the family of three left the
pub that evening, Benjy took Kayla’s hand tightly as they walked to
the car. Her heart broke for him as she realized that she and Steve
would have to have their first real serious conversation with Benjy as
his foster parents.

[André DiMera]

Looks like Carrie’s teammates are using her. They were horrible to Benjy, even if he can’t hear.

[misfit]

Oh man, what a tough chapter to read with Benjy being bullied and everything happening with Carrie and the Mean Girls (sorry, it's October 3 and I couldn't resist).
Anxious to see what comes next!

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 25


Kayla and Steve arrived home with Benjy. They went into the living
room, and Benjy sank onto the couch. Both Kayla and Steve sat down
beside him. Kayla rubbed Benjy’s arm soothingly. “Want to talk?” She
asked slowly. “You look upset.”
Benjy looked up at Kayla with sad eyes. He began to sign to she and Steve.
Benjy told Kayla and Steve what the cheerleaders had said about Carrie
at the pub. “Benjy saw the girls talk bad about Carrie, Benjy signed.
They said that they wanted Carrie to be on the cheer team to get free
things. One girl called Carrie a wanna be.
Benjy then turned to Steve, and looked at him questioningly. He
continued to sign. “Steve, what is a wanna be? Benjy not know that
word.”
Steve was quiet for a moment, trying to think how to best answer
Benjy’s question. He finally spoke slowly. “A wanna be is someone who
wants to be like someone else. They might try to act like someone
because they really like that person, or they look up to that person,
or they want to be just like them.”
Benjy nodded. He began to sign again. “Carrie want to be like the
other cheerleaders?”
It was Kayla’s turn to speak. “I don’t know Benjy. What would make you
ask that?”
Benjy wrinkled his brow in thought. “Carrie had left the table, and
the one girl then said that Carrie got on the cheer team for good
reasons, to get the cheer team free things. That’s not right. The
girls use Carrie.”
Kayla’s heart sank as she watched Benjy’s exchange with she and Steve.
From what Benjy was telling them, it sounded as if the other
cheerleaders were using Carrie. If that was true, that frustrated
Kayla. Kayla began to speak again slowly. “That does sound like that
might be the case. Benjy, I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
Benjy sighed with a muffle. He began to sign again. “Benjy sorry too.
The girls called Benjy a retard. Benjy is not retard. That was mean.
Why? Why did they do that?”
A tear trickled from the corner of Benjy’s eye. Steve wrapped his arm
around Benjy. “I don’t know Benjamin,” Steve spoke gently. “People can
be mean when other people are different. It doesn’t make it right, but
sometimes when someone doesn’t understand a disability, they can be
mean about it. I’m sorry they called you that mane. You are not that
at all. You are a bright, smart, and caring kid. Kayla and I love
you.” Steve ruffled Benjy’s hair.
Kayla rubbed Benjy’s arm. “We do love you, Benjy. Steve and I are so
happy that you are living with us.”
Benjy nodded. He began to sign. “Benjy happy to be with Steve and
Kayla. What about Carrie. She needs to know about mean girls.”
Kayla thought for a moment. She loved how concerned Benjy was for
Carrie. “Benjy,” Kayla said, “Would you like to talk to Carrie
tomorrow about what you overheard tonight?”
Benjy wrinkled his brow again. He didn’t sign for a long time. He
finally began to sign. “Benjy want to tell Carrie. Kayla help Benjy?”
“Of course I will,” Kayla said.
Benjy looked satisfied with the answer.

[misfit]

Great update! I loved Steve's reassuring pep talk to Benjy, and can't wait to see Kayla help Benjy fill Carrie in on everything that's going on. Can't wait for more!

[André DiMera]

Glad Benjy told Steve and Kayla everything, and is going to tell Carrie.

[wildheartashley]

Chapter 26

Benjy then looked at Steve. He began to sign. “Steve, did you get called names because of your patch?”
Steve was quiet for a moment. He was a bit taken aback by Benjy’s question, but he wanted to be honest with the boy. Steve spoke slowly. “Well, Benjamin, I was an adult when I lost my one eye. So, things were a bit different for me. I wear the patch because I don’t want people to see the scars. But yes, people did call me names when it first happened,and I thought the scars were ugly. I thought I was ugly,and that I couldn’t be loved.”
Benjy rubbed Steve’s arm soothingly, just as Kayla had done for him. “Benjy sorry that happened,” he signed. “Steve not ugly.” Benjy continued to sign. “Benjy loves Steve even with one eye.”
Steve’s voice cracked as he responded. “Thank you Benjamin.”
“Kayla loves Steve too,” Benjy signed.
“Yes,” Kayla said. “I do love Steve very much. We are all different,and that’s okay. That’s what makes us special.”
Benjy nodded. Benjy began to sign. “Steve take patch off for Benjy?”
Steve nodded. He gently removed his patch, so Benjy could see his eye. Benjy looked inquisitive at the scars. Benjy signed to Steve. “Okay for Benjy to touch?”
Steve nodded. “Sure little man.”
Benjy nodded. He took his right hand and touched Steve’s scars where the patch had been. Benjy’s touch was gentle as he traced Steve’s eye. Once finished he signed to Steve. “Steve not ugly with patch off.”
“Thanks,” Steve said softly. “Why don’t we get you to bed.”
Benjy nodded. “Benjy tired.” He signed. “Benjy feel a bit better. Think can sleep.”
Benjy then glanced at Kayla. She was lightly crying. He looked concerned. “Kayla okay?” Benjy signed.
“Oh,” Kayla said, “I’m fine. You’re just such a sweet boy, that’s all. Why don’t we tuck you in.”
Benjy nodded. Steve and Kayla took Benjy upstairs. They got him ready for bed. Once Benjy had his pajamas on,and his teeth were brushed,and his face was washed, he was ready for bed. Steve ruffled Benjy’s hair as Benjy snuggled under his blankets. Kayla kissed Benjy gently on the cheek. “Night night sweetie,” Kayla said.
“Good night Benjamin,” Steve said.
Benjy signed goodnight to Steve and Kayla, and then snuggled with his teddy bear as his eyes began to close.
Kayla and Steve then went into their bedroom,and got ready for bed. Once ready for bed, they cuddled under their blankets. “you were really sweet with him tonight,” Kayla said.
Steve was quiet for a moment. “I know how he feels, baby.”
“I know you do,” Kayla said. “I hate what happened to Benjy tonight. And then there’s Carrie.”
“Yeah,” Steve said. “It sounds like those girls may not be as friendly as Carrie thinks. I do like how Benjy wants to be the one to tell her though.”
“Well, it makes sense,” Kayla said. “He was the one who overheard it tonight.”
“It will all work out Sweetness.”
“I hope so,” Kayla said. “I just have an extreme dislike for mean girls. That’s all.”
“Uh-oh.I’m guessing you had your own mean girl in school. Oh baby.”
Kayla groaned lightly. “Steve, you have no idea. Let’s just say her name was Mary Anne Tyler,and that’s all we’re going to say about that.”
Steve grinned slightly. “Okay, baby. Okay. I get it. I won’t ask. Just know that the kids will be fine.”
“I know,” Kayla said.
With that, Kayla snuggled into Steve’s embrace as they both fell asleep.