Stan
It was the billionth time I went over to the center. I hated not knowing what was going on, and when I did know what was going on, I hated not being able to talk to anyone. Even Wendy wasn't a source of comfort to me for this. I just needed Heather. I'm not sure what my sudden dependence to the stranger was caused by. Maybe because of the first time I visited Butters in the center when he was going through Chemo. I walked into the ward, and she smiled at her position on her desk.
"Stan." She grinned as she stood up. "Come here and sit next to me." she said simply. "I didn't expect you to be here today. Butters isn't in the hospital anymore."
"I know." I said softly. "I'm not even sure why I'm here."
"Well," she said smiling as she pulled me over to her desk and sat me down beside her. "You're welcome to be here as long as you want." she said patting my back.
I sat, watching her typing fast on her computer. The screen was full of graphs and charts, and things I just couldn't figure out for the life of me.
"We're looking for a donor." she said simply. "One of the patients is going to need a bone marrow transplant. Has Leukemia."
"How do you deal with working here?" I asked as I sat there staring at the screen. "I mean, it's really fucking hard. Kind of tires you out emotionally. Makes me feel suicidal. Or guilty." I said softly.
"In what way?" she asked.
"Well, I feel like, it should be me, and not him." I said sighing. "Maybe if it was me, everything would be different."
"How so?" she asked.
"Well. I don't know. My mom and dad are here. My mom's the leader, and my dad's just dumb." I explained. "But my mom and sister would be able to deal with this with me. Kenny's just a kid. Butters is just a kid. I mean, look at this crap. It's unfair."
"You know what kid, think about what you just said. Then, try to think of ways to help them both. If they're just kids, as you say, then, try and think of ways to make things a little better for them."
"Hey!" I gasped. "I know what to do! Heather, I love you!" I cried as I hugged her. "I gotta go. I just had this marvelous idea."
I drove all the way back to South Park. I drove as fast as I could, yet not wanting to go over the speed limit. I parked at one of the stores and I walked in.
I headed to the art supplies, and brought Butters a pack of color pencils. I brought him a sketch pad, and some markers, and other stuff. He loved drawing. I could make his life a little brighter with this! I knew it would work. The smallest things make huge differences, right? Well, this one would.
I paid for all my stuff, and left quickly. I was bursting with excitement as I practically hit one-hundred miles per hour trying to make it to Butter's place. His car was in the drive, so Kenny and he must be there. I knocked.
"Heya, Stan!" Butters was cheerful, and looked like his normal self again. Accept the bald head. The thinness. The pallor. Okay, so he didn't look normal. He took my hand and pulled me in. "Nice to see yuh, pal!" he said cheerfully.
"You too!" I said as he hugged me. "Where's Ken?"
"Shower." Butters said smiling. "He just got in."
"You have a minute?" I asked.
"For you?" he said smiling at me. "Anything."
"I brought you something." I said pulling the bag into view. "Look inside."
Butters pulled the contents out and his face was full of joy. He laughed as he saw all the things I'd brought him.
"Neat! Aw, this is awesome, Stan!" Butters said as he blushed furiously. "Whoa! This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me!" he said smiling. "I love drawing! And I know just what to do first!"
"What's that?" I asked smiling.
"I'm going to draw a solar system. It's gonna be awesome! Thanks, Stan. Thank you!"
The boy hugged me, and I hugged back. "I love you, Butters." I said smiling. "I'm really glad to be here with you. You're a real good f-fr-friend." Oh, brother! Stammering when you're a jock sucks donkey balls!
"Guess what, Stan?" he said smiling. "I've got hair."
For the first time, I noticed the fuzz coating his head. It was blonde, just like previous, and it was growing nicely. I laughed as I palmed his head gently.
"Butters has hair again. Almost." I said smiling.
"Yeah!" he said excited. "Soon, it'll grow more!" he said jumping up and down a little. "I'm sure it will! Kenny said it would. Hey." he said smiling at me. "Let's play video games!"
I felt grief stricken. I felt like running back to the hospital, and pulling Heather back with me. She could be here while I tried to interact with Butters. I do love him, it's just, I hate this situation. As we played video games, I just wanted to cry. Why the hell was I here, pretending everything would be okay? That was such a lie! I couldn't lie! I hated lying to him. To Butters.
"Hey, Stan." Kenny was watching Butters and I smiling. "Who's winning?"
"Butters." I said smiling.
"Are you playing, or just letting me win?" Butters asked a little doubtfully. "I want you to play, too."
"No, way!" I lied. "I'll cream your ass, Butters. You just wait."
