Benjamin

Benjamin was too long a name for so young a person.

So he was Benny, when he was young enough that it seemed cute and not condescending. And then he was Ben, when caring about your parents was no longer the cool thing to do. And then he was BJ, when he needed a cooler name because he was with cooler people now.

He was Benjamin again when his mom screamed and held up a bag of cocaine. He stopped hiding things under his bed and didn't speak to her for a week.

He was Benny, still, when she cried.