Ben lay awake on the couch. They had gone to pick Timmy up but the store had been closed so they had come back and spent the day doing nothing. It was night now, the stars were twinkling in the sky and all was quiet. He could hear Timmy in his room, snoring. Ben thought about Teddy, what was he going through? He was scared for Teddy. His thoughts were racing, Edna seemed nice but he knew he couldn't live with her forever, she didn't seem very wealthy and Timmy hadn't talked to him. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ben jumped up and stared into Timmy's dark eyes.
"Oh. Sorry Timmy, I didn't see you coming." Ben said surprised, he had heard Timmy snoring a few moments ago.
"Of course not." growled Timmy softly, "And don't you dare call me Timmy ever again. My dumb grandma may call me kid names but you are not to. You don't live here and you certainly don't belong here. Grandma only took you in because she pitied you." He spat out the words with so much hatred. Ben nodded in fear.
"What you I call you?" asked Ben.

"Timothy." Timothy turned and stormed up the stairs. Ben listened carefully to make sure everyone was asleep before turning back to his thoughts.

Sun streamed through the silk curtains and through Ben's closed eyelids. Ben blinked his eyes open and slowly got up. The living hall was lit by the sun, even with the curtains drawn and a sweet smell drafted into the room. He took a deep breath, breathing in the delicious smell. What a great day to wake to. Timothy burst into the room with a tray with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies, steam wafted up from them. The sweet scent was so strong making Ben smiled. Timothy placed the tray down next to Ben.
"Thanks Timothy." Ben said, unnerved.
"You are not welcome. And I mean it. You are not welcome to do this anymore." retorted Timothy. Edna called from somewhere in the kitchen.
"What was that Timmy?" She asked loudly.
"Nothing Gran. Ben was just complaining about the cookies and I told him you baked them specially for him." lied Timothy. Ben gasped.
"No no I didn't-" He protested.
"And now he's saying he's saying he'd rather eat from a bin." shouted Timothy over Ben. Edna came in looking sad.
"I'm sorry Ben if you didn't like my cookies," she sighed deeply, she had been hoping to please the young guest, "I'll take them back and make something else."
"No Miss Edna! Please don't. I realised that it only tasted bad because I still had the taste of the bad snow I swallowed in my mouth, but now, the milk washed it away and I can taste how good these are." Ben quickly said. Edna brightened up and a smile quickly formed on her face.
"Oh thank you Ben. It warms my heart. And please, call me Gran. Well then, I'll let you boys alone to enjoy these cookies." She said cheerily and walked out. Timothy glared at Ben and stalked off. Ben gobbled the cookies, wondering if Timothy spat in them before giving it to him. He ate them nonetheless then drank the warm, sweet milk. After breakfast, they walked off down the snowy streets. The air was festive and lively. They took a bus out of town and went through a long country road past fields of snow. They finally came to a building with the words Pines and Needles spread out big. They entered the gate and into a snowy ground with hundreds of christmas trees lining the snow covered ground. Footprints were marked everywhere on the snow and all kind of sizes and trees stood.
"Now children, my budget is 20 dollars." Edna announced, making Timothy groan, then she turned to Ben, "I hope you don't mind if we get a small tree. It needs to fit in the living room plus I'm not what people would call, rich." Ben nodded reasonably and walked over to the smaller trees, about his size. Even the small trees were 40 dollars. He walked around, everything which was a reasonable size was about 40 dollars. He finally went to the smallest trees he could find, which were 20, they grew in pots and barely came up to his chest. Timothy had been complaining the whole while and had not searched at all.
"Gran!" called Ben, "I found these. They're 20 dollars." Edna came over, pulling Timothy with her.
"Oh Ben. They are gorgeous. These are just right." smiled Edna. Timothy smirked.
"Everybody else here can at least afford those 60 dollar trees. Like you are so poor you can't even buy a tree that is 20 dollars more. I mean this one won't even be visible in the room. The 40 dollar ones are better and you can't even afford them." said Timothy suddenly, making Edna blush.
"Timmy dear. I am not as rich as others-" She started but Timothy cut her off.

"No, you're not rich, you're poor. All my friends at school can buy a 200 dollar tree. And your budget is only 20!" shouted Timothy. Edna was taken aback, her little boy wasn't so little or nice after all. She suddenly gathered herself up and looked at Timothy.
"Well, the fact is I am poor. My budget is 20 and by shouting at me and disrespecting me, I won't suddenly get rich and buy you that tree. Ben here, has been helping all morning finding a tree, of my budget. You've been complaining. Timmy, you should be ashamed of yourself." scolded Edna.
"Don't call me Timmy! MY name is TIMOTHY!" shrieked Timothy and he stormed off. Edna looked at him defiantly and turned back to Ben.
"Come little one. Let's get this tree." She waved at the biggest 20 dollar tree and Ben helped her carry it. They bought the tree and stood outside the gates of the shop. Edna suddenly started to cry.
"Oh Ben. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying but I shouted at my Little Timmy. I shouldn't have, he's a good boy. I don't know what got to him." she sobbed.
"I said. Call me Timothy." A voice said from behind them, Timothy waltzed out of the gates.
"Oh Timmy! I mean Timothy!" Edna rushed forward and hugged Timothy, making him embarrassed, he pushed her off roughly.

"Stop it. Now let's go." Timothy said firmly. Edna tried to keep her tears from coming as they walked away.