To Ben - Who Always Makes Me Laugh!

*NB Ben has Down Syndrome, so I have written his voice as close as possible to how he actually speaks.

“Hi James, good to see you. Ben’s upstairs beautifying himself in front of the mirror, he’s been up there for hours trying on so many different outfits the floor’s just littered with clothes! He could probably do with your help in making his final decision.”

“Oh yes, he’d said he wanted to go to the wine-bar tonight. No worries I’ll go up and speed him along a bit.”  

“Ben! James has arrived! He’s on his way up now up to give you a hand.”

“Ha ha he’s probably singing to himself and can’t hear you, I’ll knock loudly on his door so that he knows I’m coming in.”

“Good thinking. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

“Oh, actually he’s on his way down now Charlotte. Wow Ben, you look really cool!”

“Hi James, thanks. Ready mum! Coming now. You ready?”

“Yes I’m ready. Come on then, let’s have a look at you.”

“Whatcha think?”

“Ha ha you’re not on a catwalk now you know! And I’m not sure the pouting lips and twirling around is totally necessary! But wow, yes you do look great Ben! I love that hat, it really suits you. You’re certainly going to be the most handsome man there!”

“Yup definitely.”

“Ha ha you are so conceited!”

 “Hurry up James or we’ll be late!”

“Oi you little bugger, you’re the one who’s been taking hours getting dressed! Ha ha and don’t you give me that innocent look, I know you and your dawdling only too well! Go on off with you - and have a good time, enjoy yourself!”

***

“Good morning Ben, did you have a good time last night?”

“Morning mum. Yeah, was brilliant! Ben dance all night!”

“I know.”

“With lots of ladies!”

“I know!”

“How you know?”

“Aha, a little fairy told me.”

“A fairy?”

“No it wasn’t a fairy really, I had a message on Facebook telling me all about it!”

“What message? Who from?”

“Don’t look so worried, it’s all nice – very complimentary actually. Stop hovering at the door, come in properly and I’ll read it out to you.”

“What it say?”

“It’s from Claire, she says that her cousin rang her this morning and told her all about her night out last night.”

“Oh Claire! What she say?”

“Well, it was Claire’s cousin and her friends that you were dancing with!”

“Claire family?”

“Yep, this is what they said.”

“Was Claire family who dance with Ben? What they say?”

“Ha ha if you shut up for a minute and listen I’ll tell you! Okay, are you listening? This is how their conversation went: Her cousin rang her this morning and said, “We were in the wine bar last night and met a wonderful young man with Downs Syndrome and we danced with him all night! He was such an amazing dancer.”

“That me?”

“Just listen and you’ll find out! So Claire replied to her cousin, “Oh that must have been Ben!”

“It was me!”

“It was you yes, but just wait till I get to the end!”

“Okay mum.”

“So, her cousin said to her, “Yes! He was called Ben! How on earth did you know that?” Ha ha you’ll love this bit, Claire’s reply is the best part.”

“What Claire say mum? Spit it out!”

 “Oi you, that's a bit rude! Okay, Claire said, “Oh Ben’s famous, he’s known by almost everyone in town and he’s a real babe magnet!”

“Babe magnet?”

“Yeah a babe magnet, you know, like a magnet that attracts babes – or women, ladies, like you did last night – what do you think to that as a new nick-name?”

“Hmm. . . Babe magnet? Yeah I like it! What like this?”

“Ha ha you and your sexy poses! Put those pouting lips away and go and get yourself some breakfast! – Ha ha without wriggling your bottom on your way out!”

“Hmm babe magnet, yeah, good Ben name.”

***

“Morning James, how are you feeling now? Better I hope.”

“Yes much better thanks, definitely on the mend anyway.”

“Oh I’m so pleased, two weeks is a hell of a long time to spend lying in bed feeling rotten. If during the day at all you don’t feel up to it, just let me know and I’ll take over and you can go home and back to bed again.”

“No, I’m sure I’ll be fine, but thank you.”

“Ben’s out at the moment. I sent him up into town to catch the bus back home on his own, bit of a try out – he should be back soon – I hope!”

“Oh he’ll be fine. Don’t worry, he’s got his phone on him hasn’t he?”

“Yes he has. Ha ha but you know me, I always worry about him.”

“He’ll be fine – I can go and check on him if you like?”

“No, best not, it’ll defeat the object – and anyway he’d be really pissed off if he thinks we’re checking up on him!”

“Yeah that’s true. Oh! That sounds like him now. It is him! Morning Ben.”

“Hi Ben. How was your trip on the bus? All on your own, and you came back home safe and sound! I’m so proud of you. Here, give us a hug.”

“No, must tell you something first! Then hug.”

“Oh okay, nothing bad I hope?”

“Not bad mum, good!”

“Whew, well that’s a relief!”

“Oh mum! I just met really beautiful girl on bus and we talk all way home!”

“Oh boy you’re such a drama queen, what’s with all this clutching of your heart, twirling on the spot and gazing up at the ceiling?”

“I think I’m in love.”

“Well that’s excellent news! Err don’t take this the wrong way, but I know what you’re like with your talking to everyone whether they want to talk back to you or not – err just out of interest, did you speak to her first or was it she who spoke to you first?”

“She spoke me first of course!”

“Okay, okay no need to look so indignant about it.”

“Well what you expect? I am a fridge magnet you know!!”