Five Times Caleb Punched Ben, And One Time Ben Hit Back
Based on the following Prompt: http://turn-kink.livejournal.com/799.html?thread=148255#t148255
Part 1/6
The first time was an accident that Caleb still feels terrible about almost 20 years later.
When they were young Caleb, Ben, Anna, and Abe would spend hot summer days after finishing their chores in Caleb’s uncle’s orchards.
Abe would chase Anna around teasing her, pulling the ribbon in her hair and stealing apples from her basket. He thought it was hilarious until she would turn around to challenge him and he would take off running, usually hiding behind Ben who was 6 months younger but already 3 inches taller.
Caleb would take to the trees. Without any adults around to tell him no he’d try to climb to the top thinking that maybe he could see the ocean from there; maybe he would be the first to see his father’s ship coming into harbor.
Climbing back down was a lot easier than going up. Gravity was on his side and the closer he got to the ground the more comfortable he felt with taking risks. He’d swing one handed from limbs that were 15 feet off the ground or hanging upside down from his legs, knees hooked over the braches. He would hide out up there until Abe and Ben’s brothers would come and call them home for supper.
Caleb still remembers vividly what happened.
By the time Thomas and Samuel came calling for them Caleb was already halfway down the tree. Anna and Abe were making their way towards the edge of the trees, walking hand in hand until Thomas pointed it out and laughed making Abe drop her hand and wipe his on the back of his trousers. Caleb watched Ben walk around a few trees looking for Caleb. Caleb waited for Ben to come closer before he got into position.
What he meant to happen was to just surprise Ben. He meant to flip upside down and hang onto the branch right in front of Ben as he’s walking by. He meant to have Ben startle and then start laughing and Caleb would climb all the way down and the two of them would trail after the others.
What actually happened was this:
He managed to hang upside down but his timing was off. Ben was too close and when Caleb swung down his hand connected hard to Ben’s face. He fell back and landed on the soft grass beneath the tree. Caleb was just as shocked as Ben and just as he was about to apologize and ask if he was okay he noticed the first trickle of blood coming from Ben’s nose. Caleb’s eyes widened and Ben’s hand went to his face. When he pulled it away and saw the blood, which had started to come out more forcefully, he let out a wail that Caleb was sure could be heard in the center of town.
By the time Caleb dropped down from the tree and gets to his feet Samuel and Thomas had raced back to them and Sam was collecting Ben in his arms.
Caleb followed after repeating “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry” over and over again while Ben cried and covered his face with both hands the whole way back to town.
Ben’s mother met them at the door and he went willingly into her arms. He tried to explain but she swept him inside their home too quickly and he was too afraid to follow after. The last thing he saw before Thomas gathered him, Abe, and Anna was Ben’s mother pressing a damp cloth beneath his nose and Ben’s tear stained face.
The next day Caleb finished his chores quickly and ran over to Ben’s.
He was the yard with his father holding a bucket of grain to feed the chickens. His face was bruised and Caleb rushed over and threw his arms around his neck. The feed fell from Ben’s hands and the chickens swarmed them and Caleb apologized over and over and tightened his grip.
Reverend Tallmadge had to pick them both up together to get them away from the chickens and put them down a few feet away.
Caleb pulled back and touched the tip of his finger to the tip of Ben’s nose. Ben flinched and Caleb started to cry.
“I didn’t mean to do this. It was an accident.” He tugged desperately on Ben’s sleeve and Ben held Caleb’s hands at his wrists.
“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt so bad anymore.”
“Are you sure.”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at me?”
Ben smiled and shook his head.
“I’ll never do it again.”
“I hope not.”
Caleb hugged him one more time before Ben’s father sent them both on their way to play.
Carefully.
Part 1/6
The first time was an accident that Caleb still feels terrible about almost 20 years later.
When they were young Caleb, Ben, Anna, and Abe would spend hot summer days after finishing their chores in Caleb’s uncle’s orchards.
Abe would chase Anna around teasing her, pulling the ribbon in her hair and stealing apples from her basket. He thought it was hilarious until she would turn around to challenge him and he would take off running, usually hiding behind Ben who was 6 months younger but already 3 inches taller.
Caleb would take to the trees. Without any adults around to tell him no he’d try to climb to the top thinking that maybe he could see the ocean from there; maybe he would be the first to see his father’s ship coming into harbor.
Climbing back down was a lot easier than going up. Gravity was on his side and the closer he got to the ground the more comfortable he felt with taking risks. He’d swing one handed from limbs that were 15 feet off the ground or hanging upside down from his legs, knees hooked over the braches. He would hide out up there until Abe and Ben’s brothers would come and call them home for supper.
Caleb still remembers vividly what happened.
By the time Thomas and Samuel came calling for them Caleb was already halfway down the tree. Anna and Abe were making their way towards the edge of the trees, walking hand in hand until Thomas pointed it out and laughed making Abe drop her hand and wipe his on the back of his trousers. Caleb watched Ben walk around a few trees looking for Caleb. Caleb waited for Ben to come closer before he got into position.
What he meant to happen was to just surprise Ben. He meant to flip upside down and hang onto the branch right in front of Ben as he’s walking by. He meant to have Ben startle and then start laughing and Caleb would climb all the way down and the two of them would trail after the others.
What actually happened was this:
He managed to hang upside down but his timing was off. Ben was too close and when Caleb swung down his hand connected hard to Ben’s face. He fell back and landed on the soft grass beneath the tree. Caleb was just as shocked as Ben and just as he was about to apologize and ask if he was okay he noticed the first trickle of blood coming from Ben’s nose. Caleb’s eyes widened and Ben’s hand went to his face. When he pulled it away and saw the blood, which had started to come out more forcefully, he let out a wail that Caleb was sure could be heard in the center of town.
By the time Caleb dropped down from the tree and gets to his feet Samuel and Thomas had raced back to them and Sam was collecting Ben in his arms.
Caleb followed after repeating “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry” over and over again while Ben cried and covered his face with both hands the whole way back to town.
Ben’s mother met them at the door and he went willingly into her arms. He tried to explain but she swept him inside their home too quickly and he was too afraid to follow after. The last thing he saw before Thomas gathered him, Abe, and Anna was Ben’s mother pressing a damp cloth beneath his nose and Ben’s tear stained face.
The next day Caleb finished his chores quickly and ran over to Ben’s.
He was the yard with his father holding a bucket of grain to feed the chickens. His face was bruised and Caleb rushed over and threw his arms around his neck. The feed fell from Ben’s hands and the chickens swarmed them and Caleb apologized over and over and tightened his grip.
Reverend Tallmadge had to pick them both up together to get them away from the chickens and put them down a few feet away.
Caleb pulled back and touched the tip of his finger to the tip of Ben’s nose. Ben flinched and Caleb started to cry.
“I didn’t mean to do this. It was an accident.” He tugged desperately on Ben’s sleeve and Ben held Caleb’s hands at his wrists.
“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt so bad anymore.”
“Are you sure.”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at me?”
Ben smiled and shook his head.
“I’ll never do it again.”
“I hope not.”
Caleb hugged him one more time before Ben’s father sent them both on their way to play.
Carefully.