There is indeed a wood man

Max’s POV:

Like any normal teenager, I disregarded what I saw or heard. Like my mother, I was just tired and maybe I just missed the Manhattan life that my mind was playing tricks on me. Yeah, that could probably be it. I placed my clothes in the closet and Ben was nice enough to carry all my bedroom stuff upstairs. I had a feeling that the burly man just wanted to give me a parting hug. I was their neighbor and their ward for a long time.

“I will miss you, Max.”

“Aw, I will miss all the food that Maria makes me eat and the two kids. Tell them I'd visit."

“And?”

“That’s just about it. Did I miss something?”

“You hurt me, kid.” Ben sounded wounded.

I chuckled. I was messing with Ben. “Aww. Of course, I will miss you too, but hey, there's this new app called Facetime. You need to connect wi-fi at home since we are already here. The kids would miss all the good stuff on the internet. Plus, it helps with homework.”

They do not have internet so as an exchange for all the wonderful food that they give me, I gave them access to ours. Even our N*****x account. Maria loves documentaries and the kids, well, they love cartoons. It’s a small act of kindness for the times they saved my growling stomach.

“Come here, gimme a hug. I will miss all those days when you mess with our front garden. I still remember you digging up the ground like a pup.” Folding me into his embrace, I buried my face

there. Ben was the closest thing to a father for me. He smelled of sweat and dust from all the boxes he carried but now is not the time to complain.

“I cannot believe you compared me to a pup, Ben.” I shook my head disbelievingly.

“Ben, the guys outside wanted to know if you plan to stay here because no one knows how to drive a truck,” Teresa said, grinning. Like me, she was also close to Ben and his lovely family. They were the first people to welcome us in the neighborhood there. Teresa would usually leave me with Maria whenever the babysitter bails.

“How long have you been there? I know you will miss me, so... come in and join the group hug.”

“Long enough to say that you suck at drama.” My mother did not need to be invited twice. She hugged Ben and hugged me in the process as well. I do not know how long we were hugging until my grandmother called Ben from below.

“I guess this is it. Max, be nice. Especially to your mother.” Ben kissed me and Teresa. He went downstairs to join the group of movers who brought our entire Manhattan life here. I did not want to go out and say my goodbyes. It's hard. After that, all I heard were three honks. A classic Ben type of farewell. I know it all too well because that is how he drives off to work.

“Dinner is ready!” Betty hollered from downstairs.

“I’ll come down, I just have to pee.”

“Max, I know how you feel about Ben...” I completely forgot that she was there.

“Save it, I need to pee.”

“Okay, see you downstairs.” Teresa left but I had no intention of relieving myself in the bathroom.

It was not my bladder that was full. My heart was. I was never good at saying goodbye to the people who had been a huge part of my life. I just needed a breather. I do not want to have dinner. But refusing to face my mother and my grandmother at the dinner table will make things worse.  I washed my face. I cried when Ben and I were having our moment.

Five minutes later, I was seated at the dining table looking and smelling at all the amazing food that my grandmother prepared. Well, there's something to look forward to every day now, huh?

“Wow.” My eyes feasted.

“I know, Mom is an awesome cook.” Teresa smiled at her mother.

“Yeah, back in Manhattan, we would always take out Chinese.”

“Well, those days are over. I will cook for the both of you every day.”

“That’s good. Teresa is an awful cook.” I said taking a bite of meatloaf. “Mmm. These are heavenly. Even better than Maria’s.”

“Who is Maria?” Betty asked. I can tell that she was trying to engage me in a more meaningful exchange of conversation.

“Our neighbor. Ben’s wife. The truck driver.” Teresa said nonchalantly.

“I see. Do you like your room?”

“It’s okay. I love the fact that I have my own bathroom and I do not have to share with Teresa.”

“You call your mother just Teresa?” Betty was intrigued and I know that she might call me off on that one. I will not explain myself to some woman whom I just met and who imposes herself on me as my grandmother. Nope, she did not earn it yet.

“Mom.” Teresa cleared her throat.” Please pass me the gravy.”

The dinner went smoothly. My mom and her mom talked about Haven and the latest gossip circulating and just about anything as if they had not missed years. I was waiting for an explanation as to why I was kept in the dark and these two had the audacity to act like nothing was wrong here. I am having a b*tch fit any time now. Teresa noticed it and changed the subject.

“We will visit your new school tomorrow. It’s not too far from here. Haven is a small town.”

“Yeah. I can tell.” I retaliated.

“Honey, do you need anything else in your room?” Betty asked me again.

“It’s fine.”

My phone rang for the first time today. Haven is not a pretty place if the connection here sucks. It was Nelly. Then it went off. I tried to dial her number again but it did not work. I turned my phone off and on because it usually works. When it did not, I excused myself from the table to search for a good reception area. None. Maybe in my new room since it was on the second floor. Nada. This place sucks. And then, I felt it. Someone was watching me from the woods. I rushed downstairs and dropped it like a hot potato.

“Someone was watching me from the woods. I saw him, I heard him!"

“Now...That is totally insane.” Betty said. I could tell that she was nervous. And Teresa was too. She stopped washing the dishes. “That’s impossible. At this hour, no one would want to be in the woods, honey.”

“I know what I saw and what I heard. It happened twice.” I reiterated. I saw someone and there was no way I am taking back what I said. “I saw it!”

“Max, I think you are tired.” Teresa gave the woods a quick glance before standing up to shove me to the stairs.