It started just like any other new year in the quiet mountain town of South Park, Colorado. The second semester of the school year had just begun, bringing several new faces to South Park Elementary due to more families moving in over the holiday break. It also meant the return of students that teachers both loved and hated due to their questionable behavior choices. Most of the newest kids in the school consisted of preschoolers and kindergarteners. One of these kindergarteners was Henrietta Biggle. When it was her turn to introduce herself, she was shy and shrunk down in her seat, trying to keep herself from being seen.
"Henrietta, it's okay. You can talk," her teacher said to her. Henrietta shook her head no.
"It's fine, ma'am. I don't like talking in public," she said, still hiding.
The student next to her looked over at her and laughed. He reached over and started tugging on one of her pigtails.
"Hey! We don't accept loser bitches in this room," the kid said to her in his scratchy, high-pitched voice.
Henrietta gently tapped on the kid's arm, terrified.
"I don't know you, but please stop pulling my hair. My mommy just fixed it this morning," she said to him as politely as possible.
The kid just laughed and continued to tug on her hair. Tears started to form in Henrietta's eyes. The kid death stared at her.
"The name is Eric. Eric Cartman. And I don't care what happens to you," he said, tugging harder. The tears started to flow down Henrietta's face faster.
"Eric, that hurts," she said through her tears.
Eric didn't give a fuck. He continued pulling on her pigtail until the boy sitting beside Cartman grabbed him and tackled him to the ground.
"Ow, Stan! That was not fucking necessary," Eric screamed at him. Stan growled like an angry dog at Eric.
"Yes, it was. It was the only way to get you to stop pulling her hair," the boy replied. Eric huffed at him.
"You're kidding, right? Look at her," Eric said, pointing to the crying girl. The kid in the green hat sitting beside Stan spoke up.
"Fatass, she just moved here. Give her some space," he said to Eric. Eric glared at him.
"Kyle, I am not taking advice from someone like you," he responded. Kyle rolled his eyes.
After that, everyone started arguing. The teacher started to get irritated and raised her voice.
"Children, leave her alone. She's hurting because of all of you," she said. The classroom went silent, except for a few sniffles that were coming from Henrietta as she was trying to calm herself down.
The teacher gave a slight nod to Henrietta, acknowledging her existence.
"You don't have to talk if it makes you uncomfortable," she said to Henrietta. Henrietta smiled at her, still a little nervous.
"Thank you for understanding, ma'am," Henrietta replied, sitting back up and drying her tears.
The teacher smiled at her and went back to the board. Things were peaceful once again, but only for a few minutes.
"It's not fair that you don't make her do anything, yet we have to do everything you say," Eric said. The teacher sighed.
"Eric, she's new here. I'm not going to shove everything down her throat on day one," she replied, making Eric furious. He pushed his table down.
"Henrietta, you're dead to me," he said with a growl. Stan looked over at Eric and kicked him down.
"Didn't you hear what she said? You are only making the issue worse," Stan said. The two of them started to fight each other. Most of the other kids watched the fight, except for Henrietta. She was terrified for her life.
The teacher walked over to Henrietta, looking upset.
"I am so sorry that he is treating you this way. I'll let you stay in a different classroom while I lecture him about how badly he is hurting you and others around him. I know a kid in the first grade that is good at protecting younger students like you," the teacher said to her. Henrietta let out a whimper.
"Thank you, ma'am. That would be great," Henrietta replied. The teacher raised her voice again.
"I hope you are proud of yourself, Eric. You just hurt someone who could have been a great friend," she said.
The teacher walked with Henrietta to the first-grade classroom. The teacher knocked on the door, and a young boy with blonde, curly hair opened it for her. His attention instantly drifted to Henrietta, and his eyes started to glow pink.
"Hello, Michael. I was wondering if you could help protect our newest student. A certain kid has been causing her trouble," the teacher said to him. Michael looked up at her.
"Let me guess. Eric Cartman," he replied. The teacher nodded.
Michael carefully placed his hand on Henrietta, making her shiver.
"I don't see how someone would willingly harm a beautiful blossom like her," Michael replied, making Henrietta blush.
"So, I'm assuming that is a yes for protecting her," the teacher said to him. Michael nodded.
"Between Eric and Kenny, so many girls were hurt last semester. I cannot let that happen again," Michael said, looking into Henrietta's eyes. The teacher smiled at him.
"Thank you, Rogers," she said to him before walking back to her classroom.
Michael held onto Henrietta's hand, smiling at her.
"Don't worry. They can't get to you here. You will be fine," Michael said to Henrietta.
She looked up at him, nervous. Henrietta reached over to him with her other arm and touched his hair.
"We have the same hair color," she said to him. Michael nodded.
"Yep, you are not wrong about that," he said, brushing through Henrietta's hair with his hand, making her giggle. Michael held onto her hand tightly.
"I'll keep you protected, and we will become great friends. Perhaps even more than that with enough time," Michael said to her. Henrietta smiled back at him.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. Back in my old town, people bullied me for my size. I only lasted for half of the year. That's why we moved here," the shy girl said to Michael.
Michael pulled her in for a hug, shocking Henrietta.
"It's going to be okay. Now that you are here, nobody will be allowed to lay a harmful finger on you. I'm going to make sure of that," he replied to her.
And Michael continued to keep that promise for many years. However, his ways of keeping it started to become based on obsessiveness rather than wishing to protect her. The consequences of bullying Henrietta or flirting with her became more severe. More intense. More deadly.
