Hypocritical Living
There was a knock on Kenny's door, as he lay there reading a comic. He wondered who that could be this early in the morning. He got up, put his comic down, and walked to the door. He opened it, and Wendy stood there, looking at him calmly. She smiled, and forced her way in. The twenty-three year old man looked inquiringly at her. She shut the door behind her, and she turned to face him.
"Pregnant." She said patting her belly. "Six months, it's not Tokens. I need your help."
Kenny took in what she was saying, and stared flabbergasted. "You're pregnant?" he asked looking at the girl confused. "Yu don't even look it." He whispered. "But, you're about to get married. Your mom and dad thought you were a rich decent girl." He mumbled. "So did the whole town."
"Look, it was a onetime thing. It was a really nice party, I drank too much, and me and Clyde just—"
"Whoa!" Kenny gasped as he lifted a hand to halt the conversation. "Clyde!?" he asked. "A dad? Does he know?"
"No." Wendy said softly. "And he cannot know, Kenneth. You have to help me." she said softly. "Come with me to Canada and help me abort the damn thing." She said determinedly.
"Wendy!" Kenny gasped looking horrified. He could feel the color leaving is face. "What the hell! Why would you do that? It's horrible you even said that!"
"If you don't come to Canada, and help me, I'll go to a back alley abortion clinic, and I'll have them take it out myself." She said looking coldly at Kenny. "I am not going to let some one night stand ruin my life with Token." She said as she started toward the door. "Are you going to help, or not?" she asked calmly.
"Yes." Said Kenny, trying to buy himself more time to think. "But we're going to have the baby." He said bitterly.
"I will not!" she shouted. She grabbed the door knob, and opened the door.
"Wendy!" Kenny shouted as he grabbed her by the shoulder. "Close the damn door, I need to tell you stuff." He said as he trembled.
She closed the door, and turned back to him. She looked angry. "Talk. You have one minute." She said bitterly.
"Wendy, you can't abort right now. You're six months along, and the baby is alive. Not only would you kill a human being, who can already feel, but your own life is at risk if you do an abortion that late into the pregnancy. Please, Wendy, think about this. There are only three months, and counting until you deliver. Just go with me to Canada, and let's tell the guys you're going to shop for wedding clothes, and other things. Okay? Just promise me you'll have this kid."
"No. If you and I go there, it's going to be for an abortion." Wendy said with a snobby voice.
"Wendellin, if you and I go there, it'll be on my terms. You can either go with me, have the child, and hand custody over, or you can go to some back alley place, and you will surely die. Which will it be, my girl?" he asked menacingly.
"Fine. I'll go pack my bags, we leave today at noon." She said as she opened the door, and left the house.
Holy shit! If Token knew, he'd call off the wedding for sure. He would totally go crazy! He'd probably kill the girl. Or worse. GO beat the shit out of Clyde. Dammit, he thought as he stood there. He hated life. He hated girls. Nothing but drama. Nothing. Not a damned thing. He went to his room, and started packing. He felt dizzy, and just wanted to disappear. Why is it, that whenever there's a big problem and it needs to be resolved, they have to call him? He hated rejecting his friends and not giving them advice, but he also hated getting into their problems. Things were really getting bad. Token would crap his pants if he found out. Worse. He would kill Kenny if he knew Ken was helping Wendy cover up a lie. She was a genius, and a rich girl. She didn't want this stain on her reputation. But Kenny couldn't quite understand this. Not at all.
Just as she promised, at noon, they headed to the Denver airport. She was silent the whole way, and Kenny didn't want to pursue a conversation with her. He sighed as they paid for their tickets. They went to their gate, and waited. Finally the plane was ready to board, and they both went and found their seats. Wendy submerged herself in a book, and Kenny went to sleep. He was so amazed that he was actually doing this.
When they got to Canada, they made the arrangements needed to find a place to stay. They settled themselves in, and both took a while sightseeing. This was a good place to be. The people spoke different languages, and with different accents. He had quite a lot of fun. A month passed by quickly. In no time at all, they had bought a lot of wedding clothes, souvenirs, and had even sent a post card to their friends and family. It was all smooth.
"I hate this!" Wendy shouted as she paced frantically around the room. "Token is getting suspicious. He wants to come and see me. He says that I should be coming back soon. I have got to get rid of this thing!" she said as she punched her stomach.
"Wendy, stop!" Ken moaned. "I know this is frustrating for you, but you have to just think about the baby!" he shouted.
"I don't give a damn about it! I just want it out of me, right now!" she shouted.
"You have a month left, honey!" Kenny shouted as he grabbed her hands, preventing her from doing it again. "Please. Calm down, you could hurt yourself. Besides, the poor child can feel your hate, and rejection. It could hurt it." He said as he tried to lead her to a chair. "I will go make you some tea, you're too agitated to be able to think straight." He said as he went to the kitchen.
He heard Wendy let out an exasperated scream. "I hate this!" she shouted. There was a sudden crash, and glass shattered.
Kenny dropped the tea bag, and ran to the living room. Wendy was on the ground on her stomach two storeys down, and the window was shattered. He screamed.
"Wendy, what have you done, you stupid girl!" he shouted.
He grabbed his keys, and ran out of the house as quick as he could. He picked his friend up, and gently laid her in the back of his car. He had rented one, for the stay here. He drove them off to the general hospital. Oh, Kenny hoped everything would be okay.
In the hospital, there was serious injury to the amniotic sac, and she had to give birth prematurely. She had suffered a minor injury to a rib, and could still move, and be happy. The child, however, was not so lucky. She was born prematurely, and her lungs didn't have time to develop. She was put in an incubator. Kenny cursed what Wendy had just done. All for her own selfishness. He wondered if God was watching.
"I'm booking a flight back to South Park." She said as she got dressed. The doctor said she was free to go. "I leave today. You coming with me?" she asked smiling.
"No." he whispered. "I am staying here. I have to watch over the baby." He muttered as he felt cold inside. "Wendy, shouldn't you stay here for a while longer? To see if she makes it through?" he asked gently.
"I had the stupid worthless baby, I signed her over to you, she's your problem. Not mine." Wendy said smiling at him gently. "I am leaving today."
"Don't you even want to meet her?" Kenny asked softly.
"I don't want to talk about this, Kenny. Please. I gave you the child, isn't that enough?" she asked bitterly.
"Wendy, she's a premature baby. She's in an incubator. She could die!" he said as tears came to his eyes.
"And you know, Kenny, I would love to pretend with you that I care, but that would be a lie. I will see you when you come to south park." She said bitterly. "I have to go get ready for my wedding. In fact, I would prefer you not show up at my wedding, at all. Best for all of us." She said smiling. "See you later."
Kenny was left dumbfounded at the general hospital. The baby managed to survive and grow stronger with each passing day. If Kenny thought he was going to be thanked by Wendy, and shown gratitude, he had another thing coming. She went back to South Park like she said she would But she brought with her a reputation to destroy. She spoke ill of Kenny, talking about his deviant habits, and how wrong he was for doing what he did. According to Stan, Wendy told him that in Canada, he had found an orphan girl and was adopting her. He was a father living without a wife. That was a sin.
Kenny could not believe what the girl had said about him. He had half a mind to ruin Wendy's life in an instant. He didn't want to go back to south Park and cause a lot of trouble, so he just stayed there. People wrote to him, and begged him to come back. He never told a soul why he was in Canada, but he stayed with his daughter for seventeen years. All good things must come to an end though.
"Dad?" Kenya asked as she sat down on the couch with Kenny. "I want to talk to you about something." She muttered softly.
"What's up?" he asked. He looked over at her, and saw there was tears in her eyes. "Whoa, Kenya!" he gasped. "What's going on?"
"I was cleaning out a cupboard in the living room, and I found this." She muttered as she pulled out an envelope from her lap. Kenny recognized it, and knew what she had found. "You lied to me? This whole time? You weren't really my dad?" she asked softly. "Why?"
"I promised your mother I wouldn't tell anyone when she gave me to you. That included you." He said softly. "And I know I didn't conceive you, Kenya, but I do love you like my own. I've always wanted the best for you, and I've always wanted to see you make something good of yourself. I never loved you less than any real dad would to a real daughter. You are my girl, and I really care about you." He said softly.
"I love you, too." She said softly. "But why didn't Wendy keep me?" she asked looking at Kenny sadly.
"Because she was really selfish. She thought only of herself, and her life. She's been lying to everyone for seventeen years, did you know?" he asked softly.
"I want to go meet her. I want to give her a piece of my mind." Kenya said softly.
"No, honey. She is married now. With a daughter of her own. She has a life, and it would be unwise to ruin that all because you're upset at her."
"But she left me." Kenya said bitterly. "I want to go see if the life she traded me for was worth it for her." She muttered. "I am going to South Park. With or without you." She said as she stood up. "This weekend. It's the start of spring break." She added as she walked off.
Kenny tried relentlessly to try and stop her. But her mind was set, and so she and Kenny went to the airport, and flew to South Park.
Wendy was sitting in her kitchen, looking at a shiny table. She smiled. She did a really good job cleaning. She sighed as Token and Katie came walking in. Katie had been talking to her father, and now was quiet as a mouse.
"Hello, Token." She said softly. "Hello, Kate." She said grinning at her. "I want you to go get ready for dinner." She said as she got up. "I'm getting ready to serve the food."
Katie walked off in silence. Token looked unhappy for some reason.
"I still think you're being too hard on the girl, Wendy." He muttered as he sat down.
"I love to talk to you about our daughter, Token, but we have abused this topic far and wide, my dear. I don't want to talk to you anymore about it." She said softly.
"You are stunting your daughter's freedom." Token said bitterly. "You are being really strict over nothing. She has only girlfriends, she has no boyfriend, Come on, Wendy. Let her take a trip to the movies without one of us this time." He said bitterly.
"No. If so much as one boy looks at her, she is toast, and her virginity is lost to me, and her lifelong partner. I was a virgin when you had me, Token Black. Are you forgetting that?" she asked as tears came to her eyes.
The next day, Wendy had given her daughter a punishment. She was sitting up in her room crying, when Token came home from work that day. He came up to her room, and closed the door.
"I hate living here!" Katie said bitterly. "When I turn eighteen, I am getting the hell out of here, that's final." She muttered as she wiped away tears.
"No, Katie, don't say that. You're mother and I love you very much." He said as he hugged her.
"My mother doesn't love me. She loves herself. Come on, dad! You and mom raised me right. You really think I would go out there and have sex with boys I don't even know? Dad, it's gotten so bad, all the girls make fun of me! I can't even go to school without mom dropping me off. Long sleeve shirts all the time, even when it's hot here!? Come on! I can't live like this." She moaned.
"I know. I just think you should give your mother a break. She was raised as a decent girl, top grades in school, she had everything she wanted. I was her first boyfriend. I was her first husband. She is the kind of person who values those things. I think, as a father, I'm slipping on my duties to you both. Just think about what I said. I have to go talk to your mother." He said as he got up. "No matter what, I love you." He muttered.
He walked out of the room, without waiting for her answer, and made his way down stairs. Wendy was making soup for dinner. He sighed. There was no easy way to do this.
"Wendy?" he asked softly. "I want to talk to you."
"Whatever it's about, it'll have to wait. I'm making dinner and—"
"I have an extra marital affair." He said going red in the face. "I want a divorce." He added hastily.
"No. You're lying to me. You don't. And even if you do, Token, I forgive you. I am really happy with you, and your daughter will be disappointed if you leave us. Now, let's pretend this didn't happen, and go and have a good dinner." She said as she hugged him tight.
Katie and her dad sat down under the icy glare of Wendy. They all got themselves a bowl of soup, and started eating. It was very good. Delicious.
"So, Kate?" Token asked softly. "How's things at school?" he asked as he tried to make conversation.
"Well, let's see. Everyone is getting ready to do the earth day celebration." She said smiling. "I've been voted in as class president. Things are actually pretty good." She said grinning.
"I am so proud of you." Her mom said as her icy glare melted into a happy smile. "I knew you could do it, princess." She said smiling.
There was a knock at the door and the doorbell rang. Token smiled at his family. "I'll go get the door." He said as he stood up.
Don't leave me here with mom. Katie thought as he left the room. She didn't know what to say.
Token opened the door, and smiled. Kenny stood there grinning at him. He was so red in the face, you could feel the heat coming off him. Token grinned. He reached an arm out and gave Kenny's right hand a shake. "How you doing?" he asked softly. "It's been a long while. Wendy and Kate, and I are eating dinner." He said grinning. "Wanna come in?" he asked.
"Maybe we should come back after you're done with your meal." Kenny said as he retreated.
"No, we are not." Said a girl's voice as she pushed past Kenny and stared Token down. "We are going in there, once and for all." She said bitterly.
"Oh! Is this your girl, Kenny?" Token asked smiling.
"Yes!" shouted Wendy from behind him as she came running down to them as fast as she could. She yanked Token aside and glared at Kenny. "The hell are you doing back here?" she asked bitterly. "I told you to stay away from us! I told you never to come back to my house! What the hell are you doing here!?" she shouted as her countenance went dark.
"I dragged him here, mom." Kenya said as she came up to Wendy and stared at her.
"Mom?" Token and Wendy said at the same time. "Mom!?" Wendy shouted at the top of her lungs. "I am not your mother." She said bitterly. "You better get out of here, Kenny, or I will call the police."
"No." Token said as he looked at the girl, and Kenny, who was cowering on the stoop. "I want to hear what the young lady has to say."
"No, you don't! Who knows what Kenny put her up to! Kenny is a demon! He is a sinner, and everyone thinks he is a terrible person. Kenny, everyone hates you in South Park." She said breathlessly.
"Actually, no." Katie said as she stood beside her mother. "The only one so far that has spoken ill of Kenny is you." She said bitterly as she looked him up and down. "The question is…, why, mom?" she asked sadly. "What are you hiding from us?"
"Are you my sister?" Kenya asked as tears filled her eyes. "This is exactly how I pictured you. You are pretty."
"Wait!" Token said as Katie advanced on Kenya. "I want to know why you called her mom, and why you call Katie sister." He said as he looked daggers at Kenny. "Someone is going to tell me the truth, or I will ring it out of you."
"You don't need to do that." Kenya said smiling. "I am her daughter. She got rid of me when I was born. All to hide an affair she had with some guy from this town that she didn't want to let you see. Kenny isn't even my real father." She said bitterly.
"Lies!" Wendy shouted as she wrapped an arm around her husband's shoulders. "Token, you can't honestly believe this lie, can you?"
"I wish I didn't." Token said bitterly as he stood there staring at her. "But I do. Who is the father, Kenny?" he asked looking at the girl, and looking at Kenny.
"Clyde." Kenny whispered.
"You had an affair with Mr. Donavan?" Katie said as she started laughing. "At least you got your mother's looks, Kenya. Because your dad is damned ugly."
"I'll take my divorce now, Wendy." Token said bitterly.
Wendy tried to beg him not to do this. She was crying hard, and on her knees.
"I'm going with you." Katie said to Kenny and the girl. "I hate living here. I'm going to get my bags, and I'm going with you."
"I'd like to see you try, girl." Wendy shouted as she grabbed for her daughter. "Token may not want to be with me, but I carried you." She whispered.
"What about me?" Kenya shouted as she slammed her fist on the side of the door. "I was dying! I was in the NICU!" she yelled. "All you wanted to do was get rid of me! You don't know what it took for me to have a normal life! I was born prematurely, and with a lame leg! You don't know about the physical therapy, or the way my dad cried himself to sleep because he saw how unhappy I was!" she shouted bitterly. "You carried me, too. And you just threw me away." She said as she glared at her.
"Come back for your bags later." Kenny said bitterly. The three of them left, and Wendy was left with Token trying to call them back.
"Wendy, you shouldn't have done what you did." He muttered softly. "I really did love you." He muttered bitterly.
"Then come back, and let's start a normal life now. You know everything, I know everything, let's just call it even." She whispered.
"You will never learn." Token said as he turned and left.