Ben smiled weakly, and took another long drag of the joint.
“Look, Ben, I know this isn’t easy for you, but…” Mike trailed off, taking the joint from Ben and inhaling deeply before he continued, “You don’t have to hide this from me. If you’re going to try and hide it from everyone else here at least have one person on your side.”
“I’m not hiding anything,” Ben defended himself, “I told you, I grew out of that years ago.”
“Chloe told me what happened on the bus.”
Ben turned beet red, and he found himself beginning to feel angry again. Why had Chloe told Mike? Had she told everyone? Were they all playing one big, horrible joke on him?
Mike could see from Ben’s face that he wasn’t happy, “She only mentioned it so that if I noticed I wouldn’t say anything, she didn’t want us to embarrass you. But anyway, you don’t have to tell me anything, but just know I’m here, and if your bedwetting never bothered me before I don’t know why you think it will now.”
“I’m not ten anymore.” Ben said quietly.
“So?” Mike asked, “I told you, it’s not a big deal, but if you keep worrying about it you’ll make it a big deal. You came here cos you wanted to have a good time, not because you wanted to spend a week on your own trying to keep secrets from people. I’m not saying announce it to everyone, but if your friends are here and they offer you their support don’t throw it back in their faces.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Mike shrugged, “I know you’ve had a shitty time so far, but finish this for me, and we’ll go back and have a great time from now on, okay?”
Ben took the joint and nodded, “Yeah, okay. Thanks Mike.”
