Pardoning the lack of excuse with nothing more than a nod, Agatha waits for both of her nephews to step into their home before she closes the front door. She pauses only long enough to see that Benjiro is avoiding looking at her and visibly paled, and eyes the kit that Russell has with him. Then she motions with her hand to Russell to follow and takes them both to the kitchen. Immediately Agatha falls into the easing routine of preparing tea as she listens.
No longer able to hide behind his cousin physically, Benjiro keeps his head forward even as he dares a glance to Rosemary to see her with a book. Hands folding together, he listens as she broaches the discussion in a careful manner. Habit takes over, and the teenager falls into a low bow, “I do. My actions were…not adequately justified. And I know I caused difficulty for you. I’m really sorry I…”
Hip against the edge of the counter, Agatha uses the brief pause to interrupt the apology, her voice more coaxing than commanding, “Ben. You can sit down. And you too, Russell.” With the water heading for a boil, she moves to take her seat close to Rosemary, and reaches for her wife’s hand to clasp as she waits for them to settle. Unsurprisingly, Benjiro is staring at the table instead. She then shares what little they have learned about the situation as she addresses Benjiro, “Your father finally responded to my calls this week. He would not say much, but he did tell us that you refused to attend university.” Along with a blatant attempt to dismiss Rosemary and herself as Ben’s caregivers. “…Can you explain why?”
“It’s um…” Benjiro begins uncertainly as he glances towards his cousin with hands clenched tight together under the table. “I-I didn’t think I should tell you before. I know you accepted me so that I could attend sixth form college, and if I had you could have been held responsible, and we don’t know why but I-I’m not the same.” Not as human anymore.
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No longer able to hide behind his cousin physically, Benjiro keeps his head forward even as he dares a glance to Rosemary to see her with a book. Hands folding together, he listens as she broaches the discussion in a careful manner. Habit takes over, and the teenager falls into a low bow, “I do. My actions were…not adequately justified. And I know I caused difficulty for you. I’m really sorry I…”
Hip against the edge of the counter, Agatha uses the brief pause to interrupt the apology, her voice more coaxing than commanding, “Ben. You can sit down. And you too, Russell.” With the water heading for a boil, she moves to take her seat close to Rosemary, and reaches for her wife’s hand to clasp as she waits for them to settle. Unsurprisingly, Benjiro is staring at the table instead. She then shares what little they have learned about the situation as she addresses Benjiro, “Your father finally responded to my calls this week. He would not say much, but he did tell us that you refused to attend university.” Along with a blatant attempt to dismiss Rosemary and herself as Ben’s caregivers. “…Can you explain why?”
“It’s um…” Benjiro begins uncertainly as he glances towards his cousin with hands clenched tight together under the table. “I-I didn’t think I should tell you before. I know you accepted me so that I could attend sixth form college, and if I had you could have been held responsible, and we don’t know why but I-I’m not the same.” Not as human anymore.