"MURDOC!" Sebastian hollered from the bottom of the stairs in his manor. The young Niccals boy ran down the stairs and saw at the bottom the looming figure of his father and next to him the tyrannical figure of his older brother Hannibal. Murdoc at the age of nine was used to this. His father would call him down and inform him that he would be performing in the show at the local pub that night as "Pinocchio" and sing "I've Got No Strings". He was tired of this routine but to avoid the sure beating he would agree and relinquish his freedom for another night.
"Yes Father?" he asked, they still were not at the "Dad" stage since Murdoc and his father had a mutual hatred for each other.
"Tonight at the pub you'll be singing again alright?" his father told him and Murdoc nodded before turning to go upstairs. "Oh and Murdoc!" his father hollered again, Murdoc turned around and stared at his father questioningly. "We have some new neighbors…make sure you say hello." His father said and smiled a toothy grin. Murdoc sighed and nodded before running back upstairs.
The next day Murdoc awoke and heard a noise, someone or thing was plucking away at a guitar. He rose from his bed and got dressed before running outside to see his new neighbor plucking away. He ran up to this new face and grabbed the guitar.
"What do you think you're doing? Stop it you can't play!" he said and the person turned to him. The person was wearing a base-ball cap that covered their hair, face and head in general while the rest of the person was covered in baggy blue jeans and an over-sized red T-shirt.
"Sorry mate…I didn't mean to annoy you." The person said and turned away. Murdoc in this moment of compassion turned to the person.
"Nah don't worry…what's your name?"
"People call me Rigs, what's yours?"
"Murdoc"
"I'm new here…think we can be friends?"
"I guess but learn how to play first!" Murdoc said. Rigs smiled and Murdoc had his first friend. The next day the young Niccals boy ran over to Rigs house and violently began knocking on the door. The door opened to reveal a very old and decrepit man who ushered him in. "Uh, I'm Murdoc…" he said and looked up at the man. His eyes were a light brownish green and his hair as white as winter snow. The man smiled at Murdoc and chuckled.
"Yes, Rigs has told me about you…please come in. Rigs' room is upstairs, go ahead." The man said and Murdoc ran up the steps. He walked in to find Rigs trying to play the guitar again and was failing miserably. Rigs sighed and threw the guitar down.
"Hey! Don't do that!" Murdoc said and picked up the guitar.
"Why not" Rigs asked and looked at Murdoc questioningly.
"Because then you'll never be any good!" Murdoc said and picked up the guitar.
"We saw you last night…" Rigs began. Murdoc looked at Rigs confused and Rigs continued. "At the pub when you sang…I saw your Dad too….he is just mean to you!" Rigs said and Murdoc chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah whatever, he's always like that you know?" He said and brushed it off. "Anyway I wanted to know if you wanted to play today." Murdoc said and Rigs smiled.
"Sure Grandpa and I didn't have much to do anyway." Rigs said and giggled. Murdoc and Rigs walked down the staircase as Rigs' Grandpa came after them.
"Rigs!" he called and Rigs turned around. "Here! Take some lunch money!" Rigs' Grandpa called and Rigs went back to get it.
"Thanks Grandpa!" Rigs said and ran over to join Murdoc. The pair walked happily down the street together talking and making plans of mischief along the way.
"So what's your Grandpa doing with you?" Murdoc asked. Rigs sighed.
"My Mom and Dad died in a car crash and my Grandma was with them. Grandpa is the only one I have left and since we didn't have lots of money all we could afford was a nice fixer-upper house in Stoke…..so that's why…" Rigs said. Murdoc looked at his feet.
"Oh sorry…"
"It's okay Murdoc…hey look ice cream!" Rigs pointed out and they both looked at each other, smiled and ran to the ice-cream vendor. But before they could get to the vendor they got to Tony Chopper.
"Oi! Whatsa doin' bumpin' into me like that Nerdoc?" Tony asked while cracking his knuckles grotesquely.
"And what is a big sack of lard doin' here? You're about as useful as ice in Antarctica! And if that isn't mean enough all you are is the turd hanging from the crack of my arse right before I flush you down a sewer of complete uselessness!" Murdoc yelled and Tony didn't like it. Tony raised his fist and brought it down into the Niccals boy's stomach sending Murdoc flying backward.
"Hey you big fat oaf! You can't do that!" Rigs screeched and Tony turned around.
"You have something to say prissy boy?" Tony asked and Rigs chuckled.
"Yeah say bye-bye to your manhood for me!" Rigs said and swiftly punched Tony right in between the legs with amazing accuracy. Rigs grabbed Murdoc and helped him up.
"Are you alright?" Rigs asked.
"Are you RETARDED!? RUN!" Murdoc yelled and he and Rigs ran as fast as they could back to Murdoc's house. They got there and sat on the front step gasping for breath. "That was pretty cool Rigs." Murdoc said.
"Thanks….so are we best friends now?" Rigs asked. Murdoc looked at Rigs and smiled.
"Yeah! I have and idea let's promise that no matter what we'll always have each other's back!" Murdoc said, this trusting-someone-else thing was exciting.
"FOREVER!" Rigs shouted and Murdoc joined in.
"FOREVER!" They both screamed at the top of their lungs until Hannibal came down and grabbed Murdoc by the throat.
"You scream forever one more time and I'll put you to sleep forever." He said and put Murdoc back down.
"forever…" Rigs whispered and Murdoc laughed.