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Chapter 4
It's almost 8:30pm and I'm just now arriving at Drew's school. I got high after school and passed out in the bathroom. I didn't even realize it until the cleaning lady woke me up. I know his teacher is going to be pissed. The school closed at 6:00.
"Daddy!" Drew runs over to me and hugs me as soon as I walk in his classroom.
I look at his teacher, Ms. Silver. "Sorry I'm late."
She narrows her eyes at me. "Mr. McCormick, I can't keep allowing this. This is the 5th time you've been late this month alone. I'm going to have to start charging."
"Look, I'm sorry. I had to stay after school and I lost track of time." That's halfway true.
"For two and half hours?" She asks raising her eyebrow.
I shrug. "It happens."
"Not to responsible parents. I even tried to call your emergency contact and I got an out of service message."
My emergency contact is my mom and her phone is hardly ever on. I don't know what I was thinking. "I'm sorry about that." I apologize for the third time.
"You're sorry a lot. I'm really trying to be sympathetic to your situation, but you really have to do better." She's right. I've been late more times than I can count, not counting this month, but I've never been this late.
"I know..." I look away and begin fidgeting.
"If you're unable to pick him up on time, find someone who can. I really can't keep letting this slide, especially without charging you extra. I honestly should do that."
"Please don't!" I plead with her. "I'm struggling to make the payments as it is. Please don't charge me a late fee. I swear it won't happen again!"
"This is your absolute last chance Mr. McCormick."
I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Ms. Silver!"
"You're welcome. I also need to discuss with you..." She looks at Drew then at me. "Drew's personal hygiene." She whispers.
I wasn't expecting that. "What about it?"
"He has a...stench to him."
I shake my head angrily. "It's not him! I guarantee you he takes a bath every day!"
"If it's not him, then it's his clothes."
I calm myself a bit. "Well to be honest, our washer and dryer are broken so I've been washing his clothes by hand."
"I see." She grabs her purse and pulls out a card and hands it to me. "I want you to have this."
"What's this?"
"It's my card for the Laundromat. It should have $30 on there. It's yours."
"But won't you need it?"
"I can get another one."
"Thank you so much Ms. Silver!" I can't help myself, I give her a hug.
"You're welcome. Now please try to arrive on time from here on out."
"I promise I'll do my best!" I grab Drew's belongings and we head out.
"Are we there yet?" Drew whines. I don't have any bus money, so unfortunately Drew and I have to walk home.
"Soon." I lie. His school is a 15 minute drive, but nearly an hour long walk. We've only been walking for 20 minutes.
"Why can't we take the bus? This is a long walk!"
"We can use the fresh air." Just then, it begins pouring. "Shit…" I mumble.
"Do you have an umbrella?"
I shake my head. "No, we'll stop at the first place we see and wait there until the rain lets up. For now, let's run!"
"How about there?" He points at a building.
"Okay, let's go!" We rush in there and I realize it's a fast food place. I look at the sign and…shit! We're at Cartman Burger! "Let's go somewhere else."
"But it's pouring!"
"I know, we'll run and go somewhere else…anywhere else!"
He sits up against the wall. "Daddy, I'm tired…and hungry."
"We'll get food somewhere else!"
"Why not here?"
"I said NO!" I yell.
"Is there a problem?" I hear a familiar voice ask me. I turn and see Cartman. He's the last person I wanted to see. This is exactly why I wanted to leave.
"Fuck!" I mutter. "No problem at all."
He stares me up and smirks. "Look at you looking like a wet rat and smelling like wet dog. Did you graduate yet?" I flip him off and he laughs. Cartman then kneels down to Drew's level. "You want something to eat?"
Drew nods slowly. "Yes…" He replies shyly and quickly hides behind my legs. I don't blame him, I'm sure to a child Cartman can seem really scary.
Cartman stands up and lightly shoves me. "Get the boy some food, Kenny!"
"What are you doing here anyway?" I ask him.
"Umm…I am the CEO. I guess you didn't notice the moniker." He makes sure to point at the sign on the door. "In case that word is too big for you, that means-"
"I know what the fuck moniker means, you dipshit!" I interrupt angrily.
"Watch the language, it's a family restaurant!"
"Fuck you!"
He points at Drew. "What a great example you're setting for your child!"
"Shut up dude! I'm in no mood for your shit!"
"Well back to your original question, sometimes I do check on my restaurants. I know a senior student like you wouldn't understand that. Too much for your tiny brain to handle." He smirks.
I roll my eyes as I really don't give a shit. "Whatever!" I look at Drew. "Let's go order." I grab him and we get in line. I can sense Cartman is looking over my shoulder. I wish he would go away. The cashier asks what I want to order. I look at the menu and the only thing I can afford is either a small fry or a small drink. Drew's hungry, so obviously I'm going to pick the food. "Hi, can I get a small fry?"
"Is that all?" She asks me.
I nod. "Yes."
"That will be $2.05." I look in my wallet and add up all my change and realize I'm five cents short. "Shit…" This is so embarrassing.
"I can give you a nickel." There goes Cartman again. I wish he would leave me alone. He hands me a nickel.
"Thank you." I hand the cashier my money. "Here you go."
"Thank you. You're order number 189." She tells me as she hands me my receipt.
"All you're getting is a small fry?" Cartman asks.
"Yes I am."
"So are you two going to split that?"
"That's none of your business!" I push Drew ahead. "Let's go find a table." I find a table all the way in the back. Hopefully Cartman doesn't find us back here.
"Number 189." I hear called out. I show my receipt and I'm handed a tray with two large fries, a double Cartman burger, a cheeseburger, chicken strips, and a milkshake.
"Umm…this isn't my order. I only ordered a small fry." I tell the cashier that gave me my food.
"The rest is on the house." He shrugs and walks off.
"Why?" I call out.
"Can't you just accept it and be grateful?" Oh great, there goes Cartman again. I turn around and glare at him.
"Did you do this?"
He smiles and nods. "Yes! I'm the CEO, I can do whatever I want!"
"Why?"
"Your child looks hungry and I'm sure he needs more than a small fry." He stares me up and down. "You look like you could use a few meals yourself."
"I'll pay you back as soon as I can." I refuse to be indebted to this asshole.
He shakes his head. "Don't worry about it, it's on me."
"I don't get it. You've never been this nice to me before. What's the catch?"
"Like I said, your child looks hungry. If it were just you, I wouldn't give a shit!"
"That's the Cartman I know!"
"I refuse to have a hungry child in my establishment. Enjoy your free meal!" He walks off. I take my tray back to the table.
Drew's eyes immediately light up when I put the tray down. "Wow, look at all this food!" He hugs me. "Thank you so much daddy!"
"Anything for you, Buddy. I'm going to go the bathroom. I'll be right back." On the way to the bathroom, I grab a straw and put that in my pocket. Once in the bathroom, I go in a stall and pull out the smack I have left in my pocket. I snort it through the straw and flush the evidence in the toilet. I immediately feel much better than I did before I got here. I walk out of the stall and once again, there's Cartman. I roll my eyes. That's a great way to ruin my high.
"So you just left your kid out there all alone?"
"I had to go to the bathroom." Cartman stares at me, but doesn't say anything. "What?"
"What's wrong with you? Why are your eyes so red?"
"I'm exhausted. It's been a long day."
"Yeah, I know how stressful high school can be." He starts laughing. "You've been there for so long that you should be use to it."
He can make fun of me all he wants, I'm not going to let him get me down. "You're…absolutely right!" I slur.
"Are you okay? What are you drunk or something?"
"I can assure you, I'm not drunk." I put my arm around him, and he quickly backs away. "You don't smell liquor on me…do you?"
"You just smell, get away from me!" He pushes me towards the door. "Go tend your kid!"
"I got this dude, I got this!" I head back over to the table. "You ready?"
"I didn't finish eating and it's still raining." Drew tells me.
"That's okay. I want to give some of this to your Auntie Karen." I pick up the food.
"What about the rain?"
"It's okay Drew…really! Let's go home!" I can see Drew giving me a look of concern. He doesn't need to be, I'm just fine…better than ever.
A/N: I know things seem slow right now, but I promise you they'll start to pick up within the next few chapters! :-)
