danger from his family. Rita's got it in her head that he's being abused."
"So she saw him at the mall with a big bruise on his face, and suspects he's having trouble at home." Betty thought about it for a second. "Well, that's fair enough, though I’m still in a blur."
They carried on with their usual conversation.
Both girls laughed at Betty's impersonation of Ian as they arrived at the address they were looking for. It was an impressive two story dwelling. There was a porch partially covered in ivy with a traditional looking wooden swing. Not exactly the sort of residence one would expect someone with a disposition like Becker's to live in. They knocked on the door, not knowing quite what to expect. A guy who looked like a slightly older version of Becker, presumably his brother, answered.
"What can I do for you ladies?"
"We're here to give this to Becker," Phoebe answered, handing him the VHS.
"Thanks, I'll give it to him," answered Becker's brother. "You know, over the past three days, the guy who usually brings this has just been leaving it in the mailbox."
"We were kind of wondering if we could maybe say hello to him," Betty piped up.
"Hang on."
He disappeared into the house, and about a half a minute later, Becker appeared at the door. There was a huge bandage covering the right half of his forehead that stretched over his temple and onto his cheek.
"Hello Becker," the two girls blurted out simultaneously.
"Uh...Hi," Becker was understandably surprised to see the two of them. "Did you two volunteer to deliver this to me?"
"Yeah," answered Phoebe. "We were just wondering how you were doing'."
It didn't take long for him to mentally piece together the fact that Rita had her hand into it.
"I'm O.K.," he stuttered. "Just trying to calm down."
There was about ten seconds of awkward silence as they just stood there and looked at each other. It didn't look like he was about to volunteer any more specific information about what happened to his face.
"Well we're glad to hear that," Said Phoebe. "Actually, I can see how it might even be kind of fun getting' a break from people like us for awhile." She gave him a playful hit on the arm. "I guess we'll be seeing you...um...whenever."
With that, the two girls turned and started to leave. They got about half-way across the lawn before Becker called to them.
"Uh, girls wait..."
They both turned around. "Yes?"
"Can we talk a little?"
The two girls looked at each other, then back at Becker. "Sure." The three of them sat down on the porch swing.
"So what's on your mind?" Phoebe inquired.
Becker looked downward. It was strange seeing him not strutting around like the alpha male he usually aspired to be. As a matter of fact, he seemed downright nervous.
"Do you two promise not to repeat any of this conversation anywhere else?"
The girls looked at each other, then Betty Spoke up.
"Becker, we are law-abiding Samaritans. If the story behind that thing on your face involves another person and isn't accidental, we are going to report something to someone, even if you won't."
He looked up and rolled his eyes, "I guess I might as well get this out of the way. This is no accident." He pointed at the bandage. "But it's also nobody's fault but my own."
"So what exactly did you do to yourself?"
"I was watching a movie at the mall. This guy with a big hat sits down in front of me. I asked him to take it off. He gave me the finger. The situation rapidly escalated." Becker looked down. "To cut a long story short, the guy was a lot bigger than me, and this is the result."
"Why were you seeing a movie alone, anyway?" asked Betty.
"Obviously because everybody I know was in school when it started. Why do you think you're delivering that tape to me? You are aware of the fact that I was expelled last Monday, aren't you?"
"Oh yeah, we know about the whole mess," responded Phoebe. "Getting back to the story, when that guy sat down in front of you, why didn't you just get up and find another seat?"
Becker sighed, and looked away. "I'm not even sure of why I did what I did. Haven't you ever done anything stupid for no reason that you regretted later?"
This coaxed a smile out of Phoebe, "You have no idea."
"Oh yes I do," Becker countered. "I may not have been in school over the last couple of days, but I've gotten crapload of E-Mail from people telling me about you and Felix."
"Listen Becker, there's something I've got to ask you," Phoebe leaned forward. "Do you remember how angry you and I were a couple of weeks ago after Ian insulted your religion and my mother in Sociology?"
"I wasn't angry at him for insulting my religion," he clarified. "I was just mad at him for making me an involuntary part of his crummy stand-up routine."
"The point is this...The real reason I was pissed was because deep down inside, I knew that what he said was true. My mom is a total failure. Now let me ask you...was what he said about your old school true?"
He thought about it for a moment. "To tell you the truth, I can't even remember what he said about it."
"Phoebe, let me take over," Betty interjected, and attempted to cut to the chase. "Becker, we don't really know a whole lot about what goes on in private Catholic institutions, but like most people, we hear a lot of weird stories about sadistic nuns and perverted priests. Rita seems to feel that your bullying tendencies are a direct result of your elementary school education...Personally, I think it's a bit of a reach..."
Once again Becker rolled his eyes. "Well, you can tell her that it's not as simple as all that. From what I've been told, that's how it was a few years ago, but things have changed. Ever since all those priests were arrested, they've been on the defensive, and know that the FBI is watching them very carefully. They were probably a bunch of fags, but they were fairly benign ones. My main complaint about the place was that it's an all boys school, and as a result, I never really learned how to talk to girls."
Phoebe suddenly felt enlightened. "So that's why you like beating other guys up."
"Huh?" Becker was confused.
"You think that that's what impresses girls." She was now gazing at him intensely. "Well I've got news...that actually does work on a certain type of girl...Specifically, the kind that I thought I was, only a week ago...Before Rita talked some sense into me. You know, I think all of us at one time or another need someone to sit us down, and knock some sense into us."
Becker looked confused. "And I suppose you two now think you're going to knock some sense into me?"
Phoebe and Betty grinned at each other, "Actually, that doesn't appear to be necessary. we get the impression that that goon in the theatre with the big hat already did that for us."
"Listen, there's something that I've to say..." A tear was now starting to roll down Becker's cheek.
Phoebe could barely believe it. She laid a hand on his shoulder. "Go ahead."
"You have no idea how amazed I am that you two actually cared enough to check up on me like this. Goodness knows I sure don't deserve it."
Phoebe put her arm around his shoulder. "Well you should be thanking Rita Hammond. You really scared the crap out of her yesterday. She was convinced that you were receiving regular savage beatings from someone in your family."
"I'm even more amazed that Rita would have given a shit about me."
"Which reminds me," Betty spoke up. "Becker, I think there are some other matters that need to be addressed here."
"Such as?"
"Well, among other things, the issue of exactly why you got expelled."
"What's to discuss?" Becker shrugged. "I got expelled for being a jerk."
Phoebe picked up w
here Betty left off. "No Becker, it's a little more specific than that." She looked him straight in the eye. "Let's face it, last Monday when Ian and Rita walked into Mrs. Pinny's class arm in arm, we both went completely psycho."
Thinking about this, he shook his head. "Can you blame us? It was like suddenly finding yourself in the middle of the most farfetched twilight zone episode ever conceived."
"Well guess, what. We weren't hallucinating. Not only are those two a genuine item, but over the last few days, just about everyone in school has gotten used to the idea." Phoebe reached over, and grasped his hand. "Including me. As a matter of fact, it turns out that Ian's a great guy...And he's not stupid either."
"I'll say he's not," added Betty. "He's got the prettiest girl in the school, and nobody knows how he did it...Except Trish. She seems to know everything."
"What do you mean 'the prettiest girl in the school?' Becker mused. "Don't sell yourselves short like that."
Phoebe ignored his flattery. "Becker, are you familiar with the private school over on 15th street?"
"I think I know what you're talking about...the Hasting Academy, right?"
"Ian is going to be doing something there tomorrow at 10:00...I'm not sure what, but he wants everyone to be there. You want to come with us?"
"I seriously doubt that I'm part of that 'every one' of which you speak."
"You're probably right," suggested Betty. "But you should tag along anyway. It'll finally give you a chance to regain some dignity."
"I don't follow. I've spent the last year kicking the crap out of the guy. Now he's got a gorgeous