Akron Page #3

A gentleman.

Making the move down here was

the best decision I ever made,

I'll tell you what.

Couldn't drag me back

to those winters in Ohio.

So, Benny, let's really

get acquainted.

Tell me something about

yourself that no one else knows.

-You don't have to.

- No, no, no.

I will...

If I can think of something.

OK. Can it be silly?

Silly is far better

than tragic, my dear.

OK...

Well, back when

I was in high school

I had a crush on one of

my football teammates.

I mean, this was after I was

already out as gay in school.

It was hard to have

a secret crush

when you weren't

out of the closet yet,

but it was even harder

when you were out

because everyone

was watching and waiting

to see who Benny

would be going after.

And you know guys, I mean,

most of them thought I was into

them when I totally wasn't.

I did, of course,

develop a crush on this one guy.

His name was Ron.

Right tackle.

Kind of dim,

but sweet and cute.

I had to act like

I didn't even notice him

and I would stay away from him

but only because I would

get nervous around him.

So on Valentine's Day when

everyone was handing out cards,

I actually cut a card

out of construction paper

and slid it into

the hall locker.

It said,

"I have a crush on you."

I didn't sign it, of course.

And, uh, it was

the only card he got.

He made a point to show it

around the entire school...

and speculate on which girl

had given it to him.

Ah, he was beaming

for the rest of the day,

which made me happy too,

that I could even

make him feel like that.

Even a little bit.

I never told anyone that before.

That's not silly at all -

it's sweet.

You've got yourself

a romantic, Christopher.

Oh, you're insane.

You never told

your mother that story?

You should tell that to her,

she would love to

know that about you.

Benny and his mom

are very close.

Yeah. I'm lucky,

my parents are great.

What do they do?

Uh, my Dad's a lawyer

and my Mom's a stay-at-home

with me and my sister.

Yeah, the Cruz family

is a perfect little

Midwestern family, I guess.

Mom.

Cruz?

Your last name is Cruz?

Yeah.

Mom, go.

Is your mother Lenora Cruz?

-Yeah.

-Mom!

Go inside!

That was weird.

She can be

a little crazy sometimes.

How did she know my Mom's name?

I probably told her.

I'm sure I did.

You're smoking?

Christopher, dear, I'm sorry,

but I have to talk.

-Mom--

-I have to talk to Benny.

Can't you just leave us alone.

Benny, I was in

that parking lot that day -

with your brother.

-What--

-Benny, we can get out now.

Christopher, I have to say this.

Benny...

We were shopping,

Christopher was there with me,

and I was driving...

I was pulling out

of the parking lot, as usual,

and he just...

I didn't even see him.

Your brother...

He was so small.

I swear.

He was...

I didn't see him.

It was an accident.

I hope you know that.

A horrible accident.

It was the most

terrible day of my life.

You have to know that.

I know it was an accident,

Mrs. Gaines.

You poor kid.

I can't believe you're sitting

right here in front of me.

I think I'm gonna go in now.

[door opening]

Benny...

I'm sorry.

It's OK.

No.

No, it's not.

I just...

What the f***?

I just need a minute.

I feel like I can't breathe.

What can I do?

Nothing, really.

Just let me sit here.

Just, just give me a minute.

Why don't you

just hop in the shower?

I'm sorry.

You shower first.

I'll be fine.

OK.

[moaning]

[phone dinging]

-Just a second.

-No, no, no, no...

Hold up, it's Benny.

It's Benny.

Hey.

Hey, Ma.

Hi, sweety.

Are you busy?

No, no, no, not at all.

You sound like you're

working out or something.

No, no, no.

Well, yeah, I mean,

I'm just in from a walk.

How are you, sweety?

How's Florida?

It's great.

Yeah?

Good.

I just wanted to call

and let you know that...

everything is going

really, really well.

You good?

Yeah, I'm good.

OK. Well, keep having fun.

Thanks for calling, baby.

Thanks, Ma.

I love you.

I love you too.

The shower's free.

Great. Thanks.

I'm sorry for all of this.

You're sorry?

Are you kidding me?

I'm sorry.

I've just never heard

another side to the story.

And I think I just called

and interrupted

my parents having sex.

Oh, sh*t.

So talk to me.

Please.

Do you remember that day?

Not really.

I was, like, six.

I remember Davey being there

and being on the ground.

And I remember

my mother's screams.

Mostly I remember

what happened afterwards.

The funeral.

My father telling me

what had happened...

and telling me

to be a good boy.

And I remember my mother...

my mother not treating me

the same as she had before.

For a while.

And my Mom.

It's crazy.

[sighs]

I just want to have

a good spring break.

Yes.

We will.

I'm gonna go shower.

[sobbing]

Feet together.

Hands at your sides.

Palms facing forward...

And breathe.

Right hand

over your head, extend.

Nice simple stretch.

Open your chests.

Open your hearts.

And breathe.

Good.

I think you can extend a

little more right here, Benny.

I think I want to go home.

That's where we're going.

No...

I mean Akron.

We just got here.

I mean, I hate that I want to,

but I feel

really uncomfortable.

I don't know what to do.

I can't stay.

If we leave now

my mom's gonna feel terrible.

I know, but...

I mean, I feel terrible.

This was supposed to be

awesome, you know...

us down here.

We'll leave this afternoon.

Thanks.

So, like I said, uh,

Benny's got a lot

of exams coming up

and he's starting to get kinda

stressed out about them.

So, I think it's best

we get him back.

I understand.

Thank you so much,

though, Mrs. Welling.

Carol.

My pleasure.

I hope you'll

come down again soon.

You're welcome here any time.

Thanks.

Bye.

So I'm just gonna go

and talk to her real quick.

Yeah, sure.

Uh, you know we're not

leaving because of any exams.

We're leaving because of you.

What are you saying?

You had to go

and tell him, didn't you?

Christopher.

I told you over and over again

to stop talking.

-Sweetheart--

-And you wouldn't stop blabbing.

I had to tell him.

Why?

You don't even know him!

Who said

you got to decide that?

You just have to

ruin everything.

All the time!

We were going to have

a great Spring Break

and, like, be a couple

and all that other stuff,

and you just had to go, like,

ruin it.

Just like you

ruined it up with Dad.

-The past just doesn't go away.

-Aaahhh.

You were going to have to

deal with it sooner or later.

I know that, Mom.

But who said

you got to decide that?

I was happy.

I was really happy.

You wouldn't let me be happy.

This sucks.

I guess I'll go now.

Benny--

Let me ask you a question.

You knew, didn't you?

You knew about Davey,

and you brought me

down there anyway.

I didn't know until...

the day we left.

And then it was too late.

You knew that your mother

killed my brother

and you let me

walk into that house

like nothing was the matter.

I just wanted to have

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