It's so touching to see the way Kenny turns to Stan whenever he finds himself in trouble. Stenny fans can appreciate that these two are still deeply in love. Most of you are probably wondering things like, "When will they get back together? Or the one question that is on every reader's mind, "When is Stan going to learn that Kenny is Mysterion? Be patient, my readers. It will all come in good time. Have yourself a good read
The next morning, I woke up after having slept on Stan's couch. I felt well-rested, especially after the horrible events from last night. But at least I felt better knowing that my dad wasn't too badly banged up. And that both mom and Karen were okay. Maybe I'll go visit them later. Rather I liked it or not, I would have to go home sooner or later. Just as I was getting up from the couch, I heard a sound in the living room that made me turn my head sharply. It was only Randy Marsh coming in from the kitchen where he raises his mug of coffee to me in a salute of greeting.
"Hey, so you're finally up," he said. "I heard what happened last night. Is it true that you just beat up your old man?"
"Y-Yes, Mr. Marsh. We had an...unfortunate fight that didn't end well," I explained awkwardly. "It was an accident though. My dad is okay and is in the hospital."
"Of course. I'm sorry to hear that," Mr. Marsh said sympathetically. But as he was walking away, I did overhear him saying under his breath. "Heh-heh...wait until the guys hear this one. Stuart got his ass kicked by his own son."
Needless to say, it wouldn't be long before everyone else knew what happened also. That's South Park for ya. Now I started to head for the kitchen where I found Mrs. Marsh cooking eggs and bacon at the oven while Stan sat at the kitchen table with his book-bag. Stan's face lit up when he saw me enter and gestured for me to come on in and take a seat. Now I went over and sat down at the kitchen table just as Mrs. Marsh turned to me with a kind smile.
"Hello Kenny. How are you feeling this morning? Sleep well?" When I nodded my head yes, Mrs. Marsh beamed. "You don't have to leave for school until 7:00 so why not have a hearty breakfast? You'll need it."
"Oh you don't have to do that for me," I said. "Besides, I've left my book-bag at home along with all my textbooks. I'll need to go back and get it."
"No need," Stan told me proudly. "I had Cartman go by your house to collect your things. And don't worry," he added in an undertone. "Cartman won't steal anything there. Not that there was anything of value to steal, though."
I laughed at this and quickly began to relax. Mrs. Marsh cooked us a wonderful breakfast, and I got to enjoy eating eggs and bacon with some toast. Can't remember the last time I had a big breakfast. The whole time we ate, I couldn't resist sneaking my hand over to touch Stan's muscular thigh underneath the table, only to get my hand playfully slapped away and receive a scolding look from Stan. I was having so much fun being with Stan again that I no longer felt depressed anymore. Once we've finished eating, I got up from the table and so did Stan. It was time to leave for school now.
"Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Marsh. I'd better get going. I've got a lot to deal with today." I said good-bye to Mrs. Marsh before exiting the kitchen and heading for the front door.
"Wait up Kenny!" Stan called. Stan catches up with me at the door where he placed an hand on my shoulder and looked me over in concern. "Will you be alright now?"
"Yes. I'm going to go visit my dad later today. I can't run away from my problems for long." Then I looked into Stan's eyes and felt my heart melt. "Thank you so much for being there for me, Stan. I'll see you later."
Just as I was about to head out the door, Stan reached out and took my arm to stop me, then he leaned in to whisper softly into my ear. "Call me later and we'll do something fun together, okay?" No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't stay away from each other. Something always brought us back to one another...
The afternoon sky had turned into a lovely shade of purple with rolling blue-colored clouds. I arrived at Hell's Hospital around 5:30. That's where I met up with mom and Karen in the lobby, and together we went to the hospital room where dad was staying in. I was feeling pretty bad for hurting my dad last night. And I was feeling even more more guilty when I saw his badly bruised and swollen face. The doctor informed us that dad had suffered a concussion but otherwise he would be fine and most of his injuries would heal in time. I breathed a sigh of relief. But then mom rounded on me with an angry scowl.
"Kenny, how could you do that to your own father?" She lectured me. "I get that there was problems between you two but y'all didn't have to assault him! I thought you were better than that. This family has enough to deal with as it is, I can't have you adding more to our grief."
Karen was most outraged that mom would have the audacity to blame me, that she glared distastefully at our mother. "Kenny was only defending himself! Daddy was being drunk and unreasonable. You can't keep sticking up for daddy when he gets like that!"
"Your father may be a drunken sorry excuse for a man, but I'm tired of constantly having the police called on us because of all these fights!" Mom scolded Karen. "I'm the one who has to keep this family together and I'm the one who's been taking care of everyone for years! But nobody ever wants to take responsibility for their actions!"
I knew perfectly well what she was trying to say... Poor mom had to put up with a lot over the years. She was getting old and exhausted. I looked down upon my father who laid in the hospital bed with stitches done and passed out from all the painkillers they had him on. I didn't mean for this to happen. Karen was watching me nervously and she was afraid that I would get upset again. Instead I regarded my mother calmly and decided to say what needed to be said here.
"You're right, mom. It is time for this family to start taking responsibility. I want you to know that I'm very sorry for having put everyone through this. It won't happen again. Dad has made mistakes but you're no better then him, mom. You've complained for years about the problems in our household, but never once have you tried to do anything about it. All you do is give people excuses..."
"What?" Mom became defensive and opened her mouth to argue, but I quickly cut her off.
"You're our mother... You're the one who's suppose to provide for us, take care of us, make sure that we have everything we need. You keep getting fired from jobs, you get arrested for domestic fights, and all you do is drink and feel sorry for yourself. I'm the one who took care of Karen. I did all the things that both you and dad were supposed to do. You're never there when we need you the most..."
"Now Kenny, that's not fair. I did the best I could to take care of you and your brother and sister. But it just wasn't easy..." Mom was starting to get tears in her eyes as I exposed the truth to her.
"Of course it wasn't easy. It's because you make it so hard," I told her gently. "I love you, mom. But I can't keep living this way. And someday I won't have to...I work hard to better my life. I'll always put other people's needs over my own. I know how to take care of people. Maybe you're not such a horrible mother. After all, you're the one who taught me to be selfless. I only hope that you'll follow my example and start trying to improve our lives, instead on just wallowing in the stink of it."
Once I finished saying my peace, I took Karen's hand and together we exited the hospital room and left mom to take good care of dad. Now it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was feeling better now that I've dealt with the problem and cleared my conscience in the process. I squeezed Karen's hand and she squeezed back while smiling up at me proudly. When we were outside the hospital, there was only one other person I really wanted to see. I took out my cell-phone and dialed one number. And then fifteen minutes later, I saw Stan Marsh arrive in the hospital parking lot and who got out of his mom's car to greet us. Stan and I stood before each other, we stared into each other's eyes, and then we embraced each other. Everything was going to be okay now...
