Something's wrong with Jake.


Characters: Stanley Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Ethan and Jake Marsh (sons of Stanley Marsh and Kyle Broflovski).

Stan and Kyle are 43, Ethan's 17 and Jake's 14. Kyle's surname is Marsh.


The Effects of Bullying

Stan looked up when he heard the door slam and fast footsteps go upstairs. He sighed and stood up, following them up.

He walked into Ethan's room, where his oldest son was ill and had stayed home from school.

"Was that Jake coming home?" He asked.

Ethan nodded, "I don't know what's up his ass though."

Stan and Kyle acknowledged that they had incredibly foul mouths and allowed their kids to swear when they became teenagers as long as they didn't do it when family was over or in public.

"How are you?"

"Much better," Ethan smiled.

Stan smiled back, nodded and left the room, entering Jake's after a short walk across the landing. Jake was lying back on his bed, staring up into the ceiling with a glum expression.

"You okay?" Stan asked as he sat on the bed.

"'M fine," Jake mumbled, his tone clearly indicating otherwise.

"You'd tell me if it wasn't?" Stan didn't believe him, but he didn't want to cause an argument.

"Sure Dad."

Stan frowned and stood, he'd have to tell Kyle about this. Maybe Jake really was fine, but he couldn't help but worry about his son. All he wanted was for his kids to be happy and he couldn't bear the thought of failing either of them in that regard, if he couldn't keep his kids happy, what could he do?


Stan was making dinner when Kyle got home.

"Hey dude," Kyle smiled as he wrapped his arms around his husband from behind and nuzzling between his shoulder blades.

"Hey," Stan returned the smile and met his husband for a kiss, "How was work?"

"Normal," Kyle shrugged, "What's for dinner?"

"Just some spaghetti bolognese," Stan replied, "I need to talk to you about something."

"What's wrong?"

"It's about Jake."

"What's going on Stan?" Kyle asked with a frown.

"He just seems really down and he has been for a while lately. He's usually down here reading or something but when I went upstairs to check on Ethan he was just lying on his bed doing nothing."

"He has been a bit down lately," Kyle agreed, "I'll go talk to him, how's Ethan?"

"He's better than this morning," Stan said, "He looked a lot less pale too."

"Good," Kyle said, pulling away from Stan, "I'll go and talk to Jake."

"Tell me if he says anything?"

"Of course."


Kyle knocked on the door to Jake's bedroom.

"Jake?" He said, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Kyle furrowed his brow at Jake's tone as he walked in.

"Your dad's worried about you," Kyle explained as he walked over to the bed, where Jake was lying in the same position as when Stan checked on him before.

"I told him that I'm fine."

"But your mood is down in the dumps," Kyle shook his head, "We're your parents, you can tell us if something's wrong."

"I'm fine!" Jake sat up with a glare. Kyle remained calm, staring into the eyes he shared with the boy.

"Chill," Kyle said sternly, "We just want you to be okay, don't take whatever it is out on us."

Jake huffed and lay back down, rolling over so his back was to Kyle.

Kyle sighed loudly before turning to walk out, stopping at the doorway.

"Whatever it is that's bothering you," Kyle said quietly, "If you ever decide that you're ready to tell me or Ethan or your father, we'll listen. We'll do what we can to help."


Ethan had gone downstairs for dinner but he didn't have much of an appetite. Jake had already been excused.

"Ethan," Kyle said, "Can you do us a favour and keep an eye on Jake at school, something's clearly bothering him."

Ethan nodded, "Sure, I'll tell you if I see something."

"Do you wanna go back to bed?" Stan asked, "You look tired."

Ethan nodded and left the table, when he got back to his room, he saw Jake sitting on his bed.

"Hey," Jake mumbled.

"What's up?" Ethan asked.

"Some stuff has been happening," Jake said, not meeting his brother's eyes, "I need some advice."

"Tell Dad," Ethan said, "No matter what you think, you're still a kid Jake. Kids fuck up and they need their parents' help, it's a fact of life. They'll help Jake, I'll help."

Ethan could see tears coming to Jake's eyes and he sat next to him, pulling his younger brother in for a hug, "What's wrong? Tell me."

"It's pathetic," Jake sobbed.

"I don't care, tell me. I'll help you through this Jake but I can't help if you don't tell me."

Jake bolted up and out of the hug, "I need some time alone."

He ran out of the room and Ethan could hear the door to Jake's own room slam before letting out a loud sigh.


Stan had been unable to get a job since he started trying so he kept to his advice column in Jimmy Valmer's town newspaper. He was eating a sandwich for lunch as he typed up the advice for a recent question he received when he heard the front door burst open and the same quick footsteps up the stairs he'd been hearing for the past few weeks. He immediately stood up and followed them, entering Jake's room without knocking.

"You'd better have a good…"

Stan trailed off when he saw his son bawling into his pillow. He walked over and gathered the boy into a hug.

"What's wrong Jake?" Stan asked, sounding choked up himself, "I hate to see you like this. Tell me what's going on."

"I CAN'T FUCKING TAKE IT!" Jake screamed, going into near-hysterics.

"Okay, okay," Stan's voice was soft, "Take a deep breath and tell me what's going on."

Jake took a deep breath as instructed.

"The kids at school," Jake started, "They… make fun of me, all the time. They insult me and sometimes they punch me, but never in the view of Ethan so he never knows, so the teachers never know."

"Why?" Stan asked, pressing a kiss to his son's forehead like he would when Jake was a lot younger.

"Because I have two dads," Jake whispered, "They call me a fagling and punch me because I'm proud that I have you and Dad."

Stan finally let his tears fall as he nuzzled Jake's red curls, much more tameable than Kyle's but with a clear resemblance.

"I try to fight back, but they gang up on me and I just can't compete."

"We'll sort this," Stan said, "I'll call your father and we'll deal with this."

Jake nodded, his sobs now just sniffles, "I'm sorry I skipped."

"Don't worry about it. Stay here and do whatever the fuck you want, I'd have probably done the same thing."

Jake nodded as Stan went downstairs to grab his mobile, selecting Kyle's number and ringing it.

"Hey dude," Stan heard Kyle's cheerful voice through the phone, "To what do I owe this honour?"

"Jake's skipped," Stan said, "Have you got any ops today?"

"No," Kyle replied, "What the fuck is he doing now?"

"He's really upset," Stan sighed, "He's been getting bullied at school and it just… bubbled over I guess."

"I'm on my way," Kyle growled, his volatile temper already starting to light.

Kyle hung up and Stan went back upstairs to see Jake, the teen was setting up his PlayStation.

"Your father's on his way," Stan said, "He might not be happy with you skipping, but just tell him what you told me and you'll be okay."

Jake nodded, Stan walked in and gave him another hug. Jake allowed him to stay even as he booted up the game and even as Kyle walked in.

"What's going on?" Kyle voice was one of a man who was inches away from going on a rampage, even Stan was looking nervously at him.

"Calm down Kyle," Stan stood up and walked over to him.

Kyle took a deep breath and looked over to his son, his eyes much softer, "What's happened Jake?"

Jake pulled his knees to his chest, "Kids at school won't leave me alone."

"What are they doing?" Kyle asked, walking over to the bed and taking a seat next to his son.

"Call me names, gang up on me, punch me."

"Why?"

"I've got two dads. I've got two dads and I'm proud of it."

Kyle's voice reverted back to its temper-induced state, "Not this again. I've had to deal with this once before."

"I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Kyle replied, "Gay marriage was legalised nationwide when we were sixteen! You'd think that you wouldn't find these closed-minded cunts this often anymore."

Stan nodded with agreement.

Kyle stood up and went to Ethan's room. Ethan had taken up boxing and he had a punching bag in his room, Kyle lashed out at the bag with his fist, knocking it to the floor.

"Ethan can pick it up," He said upon re-entering the room and seeing the shocked looks on the two faces, he turned to Jake, "We'll sort it out, you go back to your PlayStation."

Kyle pulled his mobile out of his pocket.

"Customer service?" Stan asked, a smile creeping onto his face.

"Oh yeah," Kyle nodded.

Kyle walked downstairs to make the call. Stan grinned, Sparks II would probably be hiding under the kitchen table.

There was a brief quiet with just the sounds of Jake's games filling the room until they heard.

"HOW THE FUCK HAVE YOU MISSED IT? HE'S CLEARLY BEEN IN A BAD MOOD FOR A WHILE AND FOR NONE OF THE TEACHERS TO BAT AN EYELID IS PATHETIC! HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PROTECT KIDS FROM BULLYING IF YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR? TEENAGERS AREN'T GOING TO TELL ANYBODY ABOUT IT SO IT'S THE JOB OF THE TEACHERS TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE CHILD'S MOOD!"

Stan cracked up upon hearing his husband, it sounded like he was yelling down the phone from in the room with them.

"Can I play?" He asked his son.

Jake nodded and passed him a second controller.

Kyle entered the room looking very red-faced.

"Sorted," Kyle croaked, his voice hoarse, "They're checking CCTV and finding out who did it."

Jake looked up at him and nodded.

"But you're getting a detention tomorrow for skipping."

Jake frowned, "Alright."

"I got it down from a week."

"Thanks."


Ethan was late home that day and he went up to Jake's room first.

"They won't bother you again," Ethan said as he sat on the bed.

"What do you mean?" Jake asked.

"I saw what happened at lunch today. I met with them after school and made sure they wouldn't bother you again."

"What did you do?" Jake asked.

"Some of them might have some headaches tomorrow."

Jake laughed, "Thanks."

Ethan pulled his brother into a one-armed hug, "You'd do the same for me, I'm not letting them get away with harassing my brother."

"Yeah," Jake smiled, "Thanks anyway."

"You'll always be my little brother and I'll always love you, even when you're pissing me off. Besides I know that Dad was pretty protective of Uncle Ike."

Jake held up the controller that Stan had used earlier, "Wanna game?"

"Yeah sure," Ethan grinned, he'd just protected Jake, but now it was time to destroy him at his favourite game.