Chapter 10: Be British Or Be Dead
12.50pm and a quite large taxi cab pulled up in front of a property within a nice quiet estate just on the boarder of the main inner London city.
"Cheers mate, keep the change." Marcus spoke as he handed the taxi driver money and helped the others in carrying out their luggage bags and other things.
The taxi drove off and the five boys looked forward.
"Woah, this is your house?" Stan spoke in a state of shock.
"YEP, 67 Northlook Avenue; one of the best areas of London to live in."
"Dude, this house is huge!" Kyle replied as he looked up and across at the shear size of Marcus' house. The house itself wasn't massive, but was quite big. As white as chalk, the house was a single detached property and looked more like a millionaire's house rather than a regular house to the public.
The gates to the driveway opened automatically and the five boys walked onward and finally inside the house.
"Well, here we are. Make yourself at home." Marcus spoke as he placed all his bags down at the side and helped the others with their bags.
"This house IS huge!"
"OH GOD DAM IT, I KNEW IT!" Cartman shouted.
"Knew what?"
"I knew it right from the start; you're f---ing rich!"
There was brief moment of silence.
"……..Yeh, so." Marcus replied with a blank, neutral look on his face. "My mother and father both have very successful jobs as C.E.O.s of their own companies so they can afford to live in a house like this."
"W-w-wait a minute, I thought you said your dad was dead." Stan spoke looking slightly negatively confused.
"Yeh, he is. I meant my step-dad. My father's still dead!" Marcus replied.
"Oh……right. Well I guess that makes sense."
The boys took off their jackets.
"Anyway, enough about that let me show you around the house." Marcus walked off into another room of the house; with the four boys following him behind. "This is the living room. I have both British and American TV installed in here just so yer' don't get homesick and yer' won't get bored with all this British crap on telly…….The other rooms." Marcus walked through to all the other major rooms. "Dining room, Extended Kitchen, Downstairs Bathroom, Study, Cinema Room plus a Games Room just incase you get bored; but that's only under my permission."
"OH SWEET!" Cartman spoke in a very excited mood.
The five lads walked out into the garden.
"Behold….this is the garden. And I'm sure as you can see; it has its own swimming pool right in front of us."
"You guys, this is like SO AWESOME!" Cartman couldn't keep his excitement inside himself.
"As for bedrooms, there are two major guestrooms. One in the basement which is nice and cool. And the other which is upstairs. Each room's fairly big and has two beds in it so you'll have to pair up and decide which room yer' want to sleep in. The door to the basement rooms is just next to where the front door is and the stairs to upstairs are right next to that." Marcus sat down on one of the garden chairs next to him "So, any questions!"
The four boys looked at one another in utter positive shock.
"DUDE! Is this real! Is this REALLY your house!"
"Yeh of course it is. Yeh I can understand your shock. But yep, this is my home. Like I said, make yourself at home here. This place is just as much yours as it is mine. (Well for now that is)" Marcus laughed and replied.
A few hours passed and the four boys were enjoying a light hearted game of cards in the living room whilst watching British TV. (BBC 1 to be exact)
"Dude, this house is so awesome." Kyle spoke.
"Totally, I never knew Marcus had this kind of life. Man he's one cool dude!" Stan replied; picking up two more cards from a pile in the middle.
"Yeh so you'll be back tonight?" Marcus spoke on the phone as he walked back into the living room. "Alright then……..Yeh I got back just before 1………Yeh the boys are here as well……….OK then, see yer tonight…….OK bye!" Marcus put the cordless phone back on its stand.
"Who was that?"
"Oh that was just my mum. She's been away on a business trip for the past few days. She's coming back tonight. So that means until about 9 o clock, we've got the whole house to ourselves."
"Marcus, what does your mum do? Y'know, what kind of business does she own?"
"Oh, she runs an electronics business. Basically it helps make loads of electronic things and devices."
Marcus sat down and switched the TV channel over to a news channel.
"This is BBC News 24; the news that still smells like 1999. And now the news with two random newsreaders we don't give a toss about."
"Good evening and welcome to BBC News 24."
"Our top story tonight; the Prime Minister has just given another speech regarding the continuing trouble and problems between Britain and America. However this time, The Prime Minister has addressed his views; saying that he is now forcing strict and tough rules on any Americans found in this country."
"WHAT?" Marcus spoke as the five boys' attention was quickly drawn to the news.
The TV changed to the Prime Minister addressing the nation.
"People……of Great Britain, today……a decision has been given that will change the face of our society for all of time. In reply to America's decision to ban all British born people from their country, like always we are going to take another step further in removing all yanks from our country of Britain. And so……the decision has been made……that if anybody sees any Americans anywhere within our country…they are now given full rights…to shoot…and kill those Americans at any given time. Based on this diagram that is now being shown to you, Americans are usually seen wearing clothes like this and have really annoying voices that sound nothing like British voices."
The images matched exactly what the boys were wearing. The four boys were stunned into silence; as well as Marcus who was even more shocked.
"The killing law……will begin tomorrow. Anybody who has handed in any knives, guns or weapons to the police will have them handed back to them within 24 hours. Like always, the British government will not give a f--- about what happens……to the rest of the British society and public. Basically……we don't give a toss!"
Marcus turned off the TV.
"Well I wouldn't have expected anything else from our government."
"JESUS CHRIST. What are we gunna do now?" Stan spoke with his shocked face still showing.
"Dam it! How the hell am I gunna try and stop yer' fro getting killed now. God I can't even imagine what it'll be like if one of you boys suddenly dies like that." Marcus spoke; at which point Stan, Kyle and Cartman looked at Kenny.
"WHAT?" Kenny shouted as he shrugged his shoulders.
Marcus sat back down.
"They're gunna shoot you if they see you. So they're going to shoot anybody who they see as American. See as American? Wait, if they see you as something else then they won't know you're American. Wait…w-wait a minute; THAT'S IT!"
"What's it!"
"I know how I get you guys safe from any of those twats trying to kill you."
"……Kill them first!" Cartman stupidly suggested.
"NO! Make you look British!"
The four boys looked at one another.
"What!" Kyle asked in confusion.
"It's simple. If you wear clothes that only British kids would wear, then nobody will know that you're American."
The boys thought of it for a moment. "Y'know that just might work. But where the hell are we gunna find somewhere that'll make us look that way."
Marcus scratched his head.
"I know! I know the perfect place!" He smiled with a huge sign of confidence on his face.
An hour later, the five boys were now standing outside a huge lads shop right in the middle of a busy shopping London Street. Hundreds of people were passing by and the noise of passing vehicles and endless discussions flooded the environment. They were looking up at how high the shop actually was.
"Well, here we are; SIGMA, a shop made completely for young guys like us. Everything they sell in here, from clothes to gadgets is all aimed at boys. No girls stuff in here." Marcus spoke with both his hands in his jean pockets.
"So this place is gunna help us look more……errrr…British?" Stan asked; now looking into the shop through the glass windows.
"Yep, I have a friend who works and helps run this place, so he'll know how to help yer'."
The five lads walked in and were straight away greeted by a member of the staff.
"Hello there! Welcome to Sigma." A guy slightly older than Marcus spoke in a very gay tone of voice. It could be clearly seen that this guy was gay. The four boys looked at each other in confusion.
"Hi there Ben; what's up!" Marcus spoke.
"Marcus! How are you! Good to see yer' back in London. How was the trip to America?"
"Oh it was good. Anyway enough about that, I need your help Ben……my four friends here are from America."
"America? Oooooo JESUS CHRIST. They shouldn't be in this country; you've heard the news reports haven't you!"
"Yeh I have, but I need you to do a huge favour me. I need you to make them look more British. You know, new clothes, new hair style, all that stuff. Please, I'd really appreciate it if you could do this for me."
"Well, we do have a No Americans policy in this shop……but I guess as a friend, sure I'll help."
Ben walked up to the four boys and laughed slightly.
"HA HA HA, oh my god, what are you wearing boys?"
"Errrrrr…this is just my regular jacket I always wear." Stan spoke in a normal tone of voice.
"Yeh, but this is 2006, not 1956." Ben turned back to Marcus "Don't worry Marcus; I'll do the best I can. I know quite a lot about British style. By 3 o clock today, these four boys will be the coolest looking guys in the whole London."
Stan and Kyle looked at each other with signs of slight fear on their faces.
"Alright, I'll be back in about an hour and a half. You boys just go and follow Ben. Don't worry he knows what he's doing."
"But dude, this guy's gay!" Kyle spoke.
"Don't worry Kyle. Ben knows his gay limits, just have fun and enjoy yourself while you're here. See yer later." Marcus spoke as he finally walked back out of the shop and looked onward as Ben took the four boys over to a part of the shop to begin their (let's say) 'British make-over'.
"Right, I'm gunna go and find somewhere to sit down. God, I need a drink!" Marcus though to himself as he walked back down the street.
An hour later, Marcus was sitting down on a park bench where hundreds of people were situated. The weather was hot and dry and everybody was enjoying the surprisingly nice British weather. Taking another sip of his drink that he had just bought, he took off his hat and wiped the sweat off his forehead. There were quite a few things happening in the park including a small music festival, a fun fair and even an enjoyable carnival in the distance.
Marcus' mobile phone rang and he immediately picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Is everything running smoothly as it should be Kane-Bridge."
"Yes, we arrived safely in London and we've already been back at my home. Everything's alright."
"Then where are you now! We're getting no signals from headquarters that you're at home so where are you?"
"I'm in a park at the moment."
"And the boys are with you correct?"
"Errrrr, no not exactly."
"WHAT?"
"There at 'Sigma' on Broadstreet Way. Didn't you see the report on the news! Americans getting shot by anybody? What the f--- is the government thinking!"
"What do you expect? It's the British Government; they always make ridiculous laws that no one likes."
"Anyway, I sent them to Sigma so that their 'American look' changes. I thought that if they looked more 'British', no one would know they were American."
"Well you better sort out the 'vocal' side to it as well. London is getting more talkative and questionable about everything so they're eventually going to have talk like us as well."
"Don't worry." Marcus looked at a bag he had sitting by his side. "I've got that under control."
The conversation ended and Marcus took a deep breath and looked around the park once more.
More time passed and it was now 3 o clock exactly. Marcus was back inside 'Sigma'; standing right next to where Ben was.
"Well Marcus, it took some time but I think you'll be SO pleased with the results."
"I hope so; I'm paying over 300 quid for this."
"OK BOYS; you can come out now!" Ben shouted.
Marcus looked towards a dark area of where the changing rooms were. The four boys appeared in the shadows. Marcus could only see the blackness that was covering them whilst they were in the shadows. But it was time, the four boys walked forward and stood just in front of Marcus. Marcus was slightly surprised with the results but was pleased that it had turned out alright.
Stan, Kyle, Cartman & Kenny were not wearing their usual jackets and trousers they usually wore and didn't even look the same as they did before.
The four boys were all wearing dark blue jeans with Stan and Kenny having a small chain coming out of their pockets. Stan was now wearing a short sleeved navy blue and white shirt with a huge white and light blue graphics picture all over it. His hair was combed and spiked up slightly. Kyle's green hat had gone and instead, he was hatless; now having his red standing up hair gelled down but spiked up just like Stan's. Kyle wore a dark army green shirt with a huge 'K' in a bold and crazy style and font written all over it. Cartman wore a long sleeved red plain shirt with black lines running down the sides; along with a black and silver belt. And finally, Kenny's scruffy blond hair could now be seen. But instead, it had been combed down the sides just like Marcus' hair. Most of it though was covered up with a dark blue hat that just hung off Kenny's head. The shirt that Kenny was wearing was light blue in colour and had a huge picture of some kind of dragon on the front. Along with this, he had an orange scarf over the lower area of his face where his mouth was.
Along with this, all four boys had different gold chains with different symbols on them around their necks and were all wearing band new ana-digital watches.
"Well guys, what do yer' think!" Marcus spoke in a very happy and proud tone of voice.
Stan looked at himself in the mirror and looked at the other boys.
"Errrrr, I've just got thing to say about this………"
"Oh god, they don't like it." Marcus spoke quietly.
"OH NO, have I failed? Oooo, I can't watch or listen!" Ben spoke in a very drama queen-like voice.
"I love it!" Stan replied.
"Yeh, these clothes kick ass!" Kyle replied; looking at himself in the mirror. "Man, I feel so much better looking like this than I did from before."
"Brilliant! Great to hear that!" Marcus smiled; quickly handing Ben the total amount of money he had to pay.
"Ooooooo, THAT'S SUPER! Well anyway, I put your old clothes in this bag; just incase you didn't want to lose them." Ben replied; hading Marcus a pair of filled plastic bags.
"Thanks again Ben. I really appreciate it." Marcus spoke; at which point the five boys walked out of the shop and back towards Marcus' home.
A little while later, Marcus and the boys were back home. Placing the bags down on a seat, Marcus walked into the kitchen to begin making everybody some evening lunch.
"Alright boys, I'm gunna be busy in here making something for us all to eat, so why don't yer' all go and have fun in the pool. It's full with water and the temperature's been set; so it's all ready!"
"WHAT, you mean it. We can go in the swimming pool!" Stan spoke.
"Yeh sure, just don't make too much mess or fighting."
"WOOHOO" Kenny jumped up in joy.
"Sweet. Alright guys, last one in's as fat as Cartman!"
"Hey I'm not fat you f---ing Jew!" Cartman shouted as the four boys rushed out of the kitchen patio doors and into the garden; taking off their new clothe and jumping into the pool to enjoy themselves.
Marcus picked up a chopping board and a knife and began cutting some vegetables. Suddenly, the wall phone in the kitchen began to ring. Marcus picked it up.
"Hello!"
"Secrecy is nothing but a coward's move." A mysterious voice said.
"WHAT? Who is this?"
"The chess pieces of this little game are moving. Realism is about to open new doors into this pathetic game of truth and understanding."
"Who the hell is this?"
"Existence is the reasoning of our beliefs. Truth will only be hidden by those who are cowards to the truth."
The call ended and Marcus placed the phone back on its wall stand in complete confusion.
"Heh……idiot!" Marcus spoke to himself as he continued with preparing the evening meal.