Who is Ben in Inventing Elliot?

Answer 1

Ben is a main character in the book. He is first described when Elliot witnesses one of the Guardians brutal 'punishments'. Ben is sadly the victim, and has his head dipped in toilet water. During the 'punishment', Ben's film for Photography falls out of his pocket. Afterwards when everyone is gone, Elliot picks it up and keeps it in his pocket, hoping to see the boy again to return it to him.

Later on in the story, Elliot wakes up early to go to the swimming baths as he had been doing every Saturday for the last few months. When he arrives at the pool he begins his lengthy swim, clearing his mind as he calls it. Meanwhile, there is another swimmer in the lane beside him, keeping up with his pace. He gets out, the mysterious swimmer almost straight afterwards, they're eyes meet.It was the boy who was being 'punished' from before. Frightened, the boy scrambled away to escape Elliot's presence, curious, Elliot follows the boy to a locker room. The boy backs up against a wall, his chest heaving. Reality hits Elliot, the boy was scared of him.

After asking the boy whether the film belonged to him and receiving no response, Elliot became enraged, describing the boy as a 'frightened rabbit'. Despite his anger, he still decided to give the film to Ben.

A week later, Elliot was swimming his lengths again, when he noticed the swimmer in the lane beside him get out and run away. Wondering if it was the boy, he followed. As he expected, it was Ben. Elliot left shortly afterwards.

At a bus stop, the boy approaches Elliot, revealing his name for the first time. He thanked Elliot for retrieving his film and invited him to his house to look at them. Obviously Elliot didn't want to be seen with Ben, but he pleaded with him, so he accepted the invitation.

To put a long story short, Ben's dad was in the RAF, he died but wanted Ben to become a boxer like he did in college. Ben didn't want to. Ben's mum knows he has no friends and tries to hide it. She was overjoyed to see Elliot, a friend at last.

Ben is a bit crazy sometimes, due to his bullying, but he and Elliot get along well. Then one day, Ben says he wants to go for a walk. The go to where the Guardians normally meet. They aren't there, obviously, but he reveals that his Mum told him they are moving. No more Holminster, Elliot congratulates him and Ben smiles like he had never before, without a trace of fear. Then he shouts at the top of his voice about no more Guardians. Elliot tells him to shut up but he continues. Elliot panics and punches his leg. He then shouts at Ben, telling him to leave him alone. Ben offers him to see pictures like they always do, but Elliot shouts and says he doesn't want to be doing that all the time. Ben offers to show them to him at school, but Elliot retorts by saying never talk to him at school. Ben says he would never do that and walks off, scared. Elliot wants to go after him but remembers he is strong. Ben wanted to keep in touch, but a change of plans saw him blackmailing Elliot. He also tells the Guardians about they're relationship. It then seems the friendship was from then over.