Fred's Troubles

Fred tossed the large stuffed animal to the side of the room. Why had his aunt bought him that? Of all things! He leered at the teddy bear, which now rested on its head. There was nothing special about it. It was just your average toy. It had soft, brown fur, beady black eyes, wore a dark red scarf around its neck, and was completely not Fred's thing.

Fred grumbled to himself about how his aunt must be losing it as he picked up his football gear. Tonight was Semi-State. The team, the Brooklyn High Cobras, was undefeated all season thanks to their star quarterback, Fred. If they won tonight, they would be going to State. If they won State, Fred would be the most popular guy in school and everyone would love him. Fred grinned at the thought.

His mom shouted from downstairs that it was time to leave. Fred walked over to the door, giving the teddy bear an extra kick on the way out. Tonight was going to rock.

Fred stumbled into his room and slammed his equipment on the ground.

"How could we have lost?" Fred thought to himself.

The game had gone horribly, ending with a score of 66 to 18. Fred was way off. He tripped three times, he fumbled the ball on almost every pass, and couldn't even get past the thirty yard line without getting pummeled. Fred let out a shaky breathe. He needed to hit something. He noticed the teddy bear, still lying where he had kicked it. That would have to work. Fred picked it up and threw it into the wall, knocking down a family photo from three years ago at Coney Island.

"Shit," Fred silently pushed the glass into a pile with his shoe. The teddy bear sat there, not a shred of glass near it, "Stupid bear." He stood and went downstairs to get a broom. He tripped on the second-to-last step and fell flat on his face. He stood and brushed himself off, swearing to himself. The broom could not be found anywhere. He went to ask his mom for it. Instead of the calm conversation Fred had expected, his mom went off on him.

"How could you brake that picture! It was the only one we had of the whole family. Now you're brothers are off to college and God knows if we'll ever even hear from them again!"

Fred tried to explain that the picture was still intact, it was just the frame that had busted, but she wouldn't listen.

"You are going to pay for a new frame and you're grounded for two weeks!"

Fred backed out of the room quickly. What was that about? Fred bumped into his dad on the way to his room.

"Why is your mother upset?"

"I don't know."

"She was just screaming her head off at you, how could you not know?"

Fred shrugged, "It was just a picture."

"Oh, so I guess you're going to say that tonight was just a game too?" His dad crossed his arms.

"It's not my fault we lost."

"Really? Because from where I was sitting you were the only screwing up out there!"

"I'm sorry. I'll do better next time."

"If you're lucky enough to have a next time. Do you really think the coach is going to take you back after tonight?"

"Well-"

"Shut up and go to your room."

Fred was stunned, neither of his parents had ever told him to shut up before, nor were they ever this mean. Fred practically ran to his room.

He sat on his bed trying to think of what had happened that could make his day go so wrong. He went to school, did good, well Fred-good, on his tests, hit on a few girls, came home and received that stupid bear-

Fred froze and looked at the bear. It leaned against the wall, its sewn on smile beaming. "You," Fred marched to the bear and picked it up. "I don't know how, but somehow you caused all this didn't you? Didn't you!" Fred realized he was yelling at a stuffed animal and relaxed, "I'm getting rid of you tomorrow." He slammed it into the ground one final time and went to bed.

Finally got this done. I'm just gonna say the boys are juniors in high school for this story. Review! And don't forget to vote on my profile poll. (AN: I edited Crossing Worlds and you may want to reread chapters 5&13 considering they have the most changes and will come into play later in my series.)