Benji

Kyle said his name was Benji. He said that, even though it was dorky, he preferred to be called Benji, rather than Ben. Kyle said that Benji was from America, and that he’d moved in with his uncle. He said he’s short and blond, and that I’ll really like him. Kyle said Benji’s in most of his classes.

I told Kyle to shut up. I told him that I really wasn’t interested in his new friend, that I didn’t care about high school kids. I said I probably wouldn’t like him because he’s probably really annoying and immature, just like Kyle.

But then Kyle mentioned that Benji had moved in merely three houses down from us. So, of course, I joined Kyle in going around that afternoon, to ‘welcome’ Benji.

And though I told myself that it was just because I was being polite, I knew deep down that that wasn’t the real reason.

And just as a note: I don’t think Benji is a dorky name.