Welcome June
Chapter 1 Introduction
It was a bright sunny day at the Peach Creek amusement park. Unfortunately, the park has been basically vacant for some time now due to its lackluster location and rumors of children being assaulted. These rumors were well-founded with the assaulter being fellow employee Matt McGee, a large, burly man who resides in the park with his five-year-old daughter June. Unlike her dad, June is a sweet, and gentle soul. Her mom abandoned her with Matt when she was one year old, and they never heard from her since. Matt was tempted to leave her at an orphanage before a friend of his told him that he can receive child tax credit from the government. Matt does not take good care of June; he basically only feeds her enough to keep her from starving along with junk food, and her only toy is her teddy bear Molly, a gift from her mom. Once Matt is done working, June is often left alone at home for hours at a time while he is off gambling and drinking. One day Matt receives a phone call:
"Oh, hey Ma. Uh-huh, uh-huh. We will be right over."
June is sitting on the ground playing with Molly.
"Get your stuff kid, your grandpa is dead, so we must go to his funeral. Hopefully, they left me with something nice."
June just did what she was told and did not even shed a tear. She never met her grandparents and never formed a connection with them.
"Okay Daddy."
Meanwhile in the Cul-De-Sac…
"I can't believe my dad is gone…"
Three men are standing in a driveway. The tall-handsome man on the left who inexplicitly wears a beanie on his head is Edward, but he goes by Double-D. The tall-equally as-handsome man on the right who has a unibrow is Ed. The huge, muscular man with blue hair in the middle is Eddy. Eddy is the one who lost his dad.
Double-D puts a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I am sorry for your loss Eddy. He may have been tough on you, but he was still your father. This cannot be easy for you."
Ed pipes up: "I'm sorry too Eddy."
"Thanks, you, guys. You know what also sucks; I must house my stupid brother when he comes here. Mom does not trust him to not steal her jewelry."
Right on cue, a big, black van with flames painted on the sides pulls up. Matt steps out and walks toward Eddy.
"What's up bro?"
"Hey bro" Eddy says with irritation. He will never forget the years of abuse Matt had put him through.
Matt pulls out a cigar and starts smoking.
"I cannot believe that dad kicked the bucket. Cannot say I am too broken up about it, the man was a hard ass."
This concerns Double D.
"Don't you miss your dad at all?"
Matt just blows smoke in Double D's face.
Eddy becomes angry. "You know what-
Suddenly a tiny knock comes from inside the van.
"Oh yeah. Forgot about her."
Matt opens the passenger door and takes out June. She is placed between him and Eddy.
Eddy's anger suddenly disappears.
"Kid this is your uncle Eddy, bro this is your niece, Jenny."
"It's June daddy."
"Whatever."
Eddy growls at Matt. The concept of him having a kid both infuriates and terrifies him. His expression softens when he pays attention back to June.
He shakes her hand, which is so tiny in his huge hand.
"I have an uncle!" June is so excited to meet another relative of hers.
Eddy smiles at his niece. How can someone so cute and sweet come from someone so mean and cruel.
Double D chimes in. "Well, isn't she a sweetheart."
Ed moves forward. "Well, hello little one, I am Ed. Nice to meet you. Hey Double D! We should introduce her to our boys when they get home."
"Splendid idea Ed."
Matt just groans with irritation.
"Uh whatever. Say can you watch her while I go talk to Ma and possibly go out?"
Eddy sighs. "Fine. Come on June, you're going to hang out with Uncle Eddy and his pals."
June squeals with delight. "Yay!"
The three pals plus June enter Double D's house.
June looks around in amazement.
"Wow. This place is a lot bigger than Daddy's home, and we live in a whale!"
Eddy chuckles at her comment. "So, June bug? Can I call you June Bug? What games do you like to play?"
June hesitates for a moment before answering. "I don't know. Daddy never plays with me, and I do not have any friends. I am kept at home all the time."
Double D grows concerned. "Well June don't you go to school?"
June smiles blissfully and says: "What's school?"
Double D is aghast. "YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL!"
June quivers with fear. Ed picks her up and comforts her.
Eddy bonks Double D on the head and berates him.
"You idiot! You scared her!"
Ed talks to June. "There, there little one. Double D can be a meanie sometimes."
Double D glares at Ed.
June cheers up. "I'm hungry."
Double smiles. "Alright then. Ed and I will prepare lunch while you get to know your Uncle Eddy."
Eddy picks up June. "So, June. What is my brother like as a dad?"
June frowns. "He doesn't really do anything with me. He just works, comes home at night, and drinks something that smells funny. I must microwave frozen TV food and my only toy is a teddy bear that was given to me by my mom."
Eddy frowns at this. "That sounds like my brother. I am sorry kid, but while you're here, how about you let your uncle Eddy buy you some new stuff and treat you like a queen."
June becomes excited. "Yes please! Thank you, Uncle Eddy!"
June kisses Eddy on the cheek.
Double D and Ed then enter the room with trays full of sandwiches and soups.
Ed, carrying the soups, accidently trips on his shoe.
"Oops…"
The four bowls of tomato soup fly in the air and are about to hit June when…
Eddy lifts June above his head and lets the soup hit his chest.
"Ye-OUCH! Ed you Dolt!"
"Sorry Eddy…"
June was surprised.
"You protected me. Nobody ever protected me before."
Eddy lets out a smile.
"What can I say, I like you kid. And if your ahole-
Double D glares at him.
"I mean if your dad is not going to step up to the plate and take care of you then I will as long as you are here. Not even if you are here, I will always have your back."
June tears up hearing this.
Ed starts bawling. "IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL DOUBLE D!"
June hugs Eddy tight. "Thank you, Uncle Eddy."
Everyone starts eating their lunch.
This is the first hot meal June has had in her young life. The grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup were delicious.
"This is delicious Uncle Double D and Uncle Ed!"
Double D grins at the small child
"Why thank you sweetheart."
Double D then turns to whisper to Eddy:
"Your niece is such a delight. So sweet and polite."
Eddy takes a bite of his sandwich. "Yeah, she gets it from me."
This causes Double D and Ed to both snickers.
June munches happily on her sandwich. For the first time in her life, she feels that somebody three people, care about her. Her Uncle Double is so polite and kind, her Uncle Ed is so funny and sweet, and her Uncle Eddy is…just the best. How sad it is that her uncle cares about her more than her own dad.
June dreads her dad coming to pick her up.
Right on cue her dad barges through the door, smashing the door so hard on the wall that it makes a hole.
Double D groans "Oh dear…"
Matt walks toward June
"Come on brat, we're out of here."
June frowns but then a spark of bravery lit inside her.
"I don't want to leave."
Matt is stunned.
"What did you say to me?"
June walks forward with her chin held high.
"I said I don't want to leave. I like it here, Uncle Eddy cares about me. You just care about the checks."
The three friends stare at Matt in disbelief.
Matt growls. "So what? You are my meal ticket kid. Now you are gonna do what I say or…he stops himself before he finishes his sentence.
"Or what? You'll hit me again?" June says with determination in her voice.
Eddy, Ed, and Double D give death glares to Matt, who sweats nervously.
June pulls up the sleeve of her blue sweater. Three large black bruises appear on her arm.
"This large one on the left is from when I clogged the toilet. The middle one is from when I accidently threw out one of your cans cleaning up. The one on the right is from when I asked…tears well up in June's eyes…asked about mom."
This was the last straw for Eddy. He can handle his bro torturing him throughout his childhood, but to see him physically hurt a little girl who depends on him is just despicable. Fortunately, Eddy himself is much bigger now, standing at 6'5 feet and bulging with muscle.
Eddy steps toward Matt, cracking his knuckles.
"So, you like hitting little girls? Your little girl. I might not have known June for long, but I already love her more than you do. I gotta say, seeing those bruises pisses me off."
Matt gulps but then smirks. "You think you can take me?"
Eddy smiles viciously. "Yep!"
Before Matt knew it, Eddy was on him beating him hard. Matt tried to get a few punches in but he was ultimately overpowered. Eddy was not a pipsqueak anymore.
Double meanwhile was covering June's eyes
Ed was stunned. "Holy Mackerel!"
Matt gets up with a black eye, three missing teeth, and a dislocated shoulder.
"FINE! You can keep her! See what I care."
Eddy sighs with relief and turns to June.
"Welcome to your new home June."
He hugs her and June starts to cry tears of joy.