Hello Zootopians! Check out my first story which firstly takes place in pre-movie world, describing Nick's youth, who's trying to pretend like normal teen and not let his father overcome his thoughts. What will be his future in this world of cruelty? In the shadow of the father Chapter one: Child of misery Narrative point of view
The downtown of Zootopia, 21st November 2002, 8.34 am
The day was beginning as normal as always. Sunbeams were booming through the windows into a cluttered loft. In the air hovered the remnants of cigarette smoke from last evening. Entering this den someone might think that it probably belongs to some thugs or drug dealers because of syringes lying everywhere which once have been filled with heroin and steroids. Also deceptive might be residues of cocaine which only a couple of hours ago were piled into neat dumps.
Walls are plain without any paintings, well, the only remaining decorations are many cracks on the outer side of the ceiling. Once white carpet now has faded its colour, with a dozen various beer cans and bottles lying on it.
Of course, the apartment doesn't belong to any thugs, nor junkies or drug dealers. It's party lodging for a bunch of high schoolers in their senior year. One may think they should be preparing for their matura exam so that they can go to good college, get a proper education and achieve something in their lives. Well, these guys have a different plan for their future. Sometimes, especially for pre-students, it is very hard to earn a living, though there is always money for alcohol and drugs, the same with an occasion to throw a party every week. Some people don't understand the disastrous side of drugs and how they'll be bitterly disappointed in their future because of them. Many of those people are now
As the sunbeams go throughout the apartment, they land on the eyelids of one particular red fox. It is important to precise the species of fox according to its fur colour. Swift foxes are vigorous, full of life. They may seem brilliant mammals in this cruel world but they have one, very significant downside. They can't or they don't know how to get themselves out of difficult and problematic situations, they just don't have the ability to use their intelligent mind in the way red foxes do.
The arctic are the lazy ones. They are all laid-back stoners, carefree creatures who have a lot of leisure time, well they have time for doing nothing because they almost do nothing all the time.
Finally, we get to red foxes, often called reds. Reds are the best kind in my opinion. They are like a mix of those two previously regarded ones but they have this one precious ability, which is using their minds profoundly. It may seem pretty simple like everyone can use their minds. Maybe not always wisely but still, we can. Reds can make almost everyone do what the want to, without losing their wits.
„Mmpphh", the muttering sound goes through the room, waking up the other animals from deep alcoholic slumber.
„Grrhhh", another sound exits from slowly waking up red fox, who is half lying on the ragged and dirty couch.
„Oh mother, oh fuck my head..." says first woken up mammal. The hangover from last celebrations starts to kick in.
As the fox has woken himself up, he saw that he didn't have any pants on him so he rushed into other room for some coverage for his private area. While running he tripped over another lying body on the floor.
„Oh God. Bren!...Brenly!" silence hovers in the room while the kicked swift fox is waking. Opening his two deep blue eyes he receives a shock from the soaring sun and piercing pain in his head.
„Wha...What has happe.." but he has no chance to end his muttered sentence because is interrupted by another, this time red fox, who tripped over him.
„Why for God's sake are you sleeping on the threshold?! Couldn't you put your lazy butt somewhere else so I haven's tripped over you and broken my nose?!" The red fox is yelling while holding his hand around his now bleeding and possibly broken vulpine nose.
„Ahh screw you Nick, If you weren't all frolic with that vixen of yours yesterday, you wouldn't have to run all the loft for your panties. By the way, where is she?" said Bren, the swift fox
„I don't know and I don't give a thing. Aww my nose!" complained Nick, the red fox
„You'd better go and take your pants before everyone wakes up"
„ Oh yeah, right, let me see where I put them yesterday evening"
Said Nick as a replay to Bren's adjustment to red's state
Then Bren added „I don't expect you to know where would you put them, you were so drunk, stoned and everything that you mistook me as your foxy girlfriend, speaking of which, sweet ass"
„ Yeah, yeah, cut the talking. She was the one-time thing, I don't even know her name, nor her number or anything" said Nick, while searching the room for his underwear.
„Oh you do know her name pal, you just don't remember it. Let's see, M, N, L, O, O yes it starts with O" Bren was trying to help Nick recall his date's name but ineffectively.
„O...O...I don't know anyone with O as the first letter of their name"
„Nick, Oli..." Bren tried to help his friend one more time
„Olivia?" said Nick half asking
„No, you dumb fox. It's Ollie, you weren't so wasted to not remember her"
„All I remember is that she was good and I got laid, hehe" red said, showing his toothy grin to Brenly
„Yes, all you, zero respect to a woman...ehh" Brenly implied
„Hey I do respect women, you know that" Responded Nick to his friend's accusation
„Oh, of course, when you want a quickie.."
„Heh, that's also true"
„You can be very persuasive then" added Bren to Nick's statement
„Ok I get the point swift"
„...and very kind in need" Brenly added one more time to tease Nick a bit
„Ok stop it, Quit the teasing and help me wake rest of the group"
As the two fox buddies went to, call it „living room" which was all jam-packed with sleeping animals, mostly foxes and wolves, there were also many other bottles and trash from the party
„Wait, Bren! You go wake up the guys, I'm gonna make a call" said Nick now dressed in his boxers.
„Who are you calling, better not your mother" Bren replied
„Errrr"
„Nick no, she will be so furious about you. Let yourself rest a bit, cure your hangover and then meet her, personally, not through the phone"
„Brenly, I know she will be mad at me but I have to inform her where I am and that everything is all right"
„No, nothing is right with you and your mother. You two are like enemies to each other" the swift fox said, mostly talking the truth.
„You know what, fuck off and mind your own relationship with your mother" Nick replied in angry, offensive tone.
„Ok, you know better, as always"
„Yeah, whatever"
After their little chat. Brenly went to other guys, while Nick went out of the room into a balcony, to have some fresh air and to settle his thoughts. When he is done with thinking, he took out his phone, chose his mother's contact and pressed his thumb to green phone button.
First call, nothing
The second call, still nothing
Three more calls, also nothing
This gave some hope to the fox. He thought 'If she doesn't answer I can make an excuse that I tried to call but she was unavailable.
But this happiness hasn't lasted too long. On the seventh or so call Nick's mother answered with cracking voice like she cried a moment ago.
„Where are you" Nick's mom half yelled through the phone
„Mom, don't worr-" but Nick didn't have time to end his reply, his mother's another yell interrupted it
„I asked where are you?!"
„Calm dawn mother, I'm with my friends...downtown. There's no need to yell at me mom, everything is fine. We had a little party down there, now we're tiding things up and right after that, I head to home"
„Oh no Nicholas, nothing is right. You are like, like...child of misery!"
„Seriously mom, 'child of misery'?"
„Yes, yes. Lost cub who doesn't know what to do with his life, who doesn't see anything but alcohol, cheap ladies and drugs, who doesn't see his mother's pain and concern for him..."
„I said calm down mom, I'll be at home in a couple hours, no need to panic"
„I'm not panicking right now Nick, I'm trying to get to you and preserve you from misery life! How can you not see that?!"
„Ok, I think we've had enough of this talk, I'm home by 6 pm sharp, bye"
Nick waited for a reply but didn't get one. So after ending this row with his mother, he took a look at the pavement below him and saw all the people with their kids. How the kids and their parents are so happy together. Recalling his father, he thought, that maybe the fate of happy and well-behaved kid just wasn't his one. Maybe, maybe not, who knows, probably only God himself, he thought. While re-entering his party loft he has been struck with one last thought:
„God If I'm really lost, like a freak without destination in his life, please help me"
End of chapter one
Nick Wilde – red fox
Brenly Kingsley – swift fox
Nick's mother – red fox
Nick's father – red fox
Nick's date – arctic fox
Nick Wilde belongs to Disney, the rest of characters are mine.
Thank you for reading
