All the way home Amy sat silently beside me with her forehead pressed against the window watching the world pass us by. It was not long before I heard soft snores and I knew she had fallen asleep, I let a small sigh escape me as I leaned back into my seat closing my own eyes.
"What are you doing Stan?" I asked myself "Don't you know how hard it is going to be raising a child?"
My mind raced with so many questions about how this was all going work itself out. When the bus stopped, I knew I was about to face many challenges and somehow, I was going to have to be ready to take them on.
"Amy wake up," I said as I softly as I gentle tapped her on the shoulder "we're here."
She jumped slightly before looking back at me and bringing her hands up to wipe her eyes. I stood up grabbing her bag and holding out my hand for her to take...which she did without any hesitation. The moment we stepped off the bus it felt that every single person was watching my every move but that was probably just me feeling insecure. I looked down at her as she silently walked beside me, I noticed her eyes were everywhere scanning the entire area until a candy store came into view and then her eyes just stopped.
"Would you like a candy?" I asked...she looked up at me and nodded. "Okay," I said reaching for the door to open it. I watched her eyes light up the moment we walked into the store. "You can pick out one thing," I told her. She smiled before letting my hand going to search for her perfect treat. It did not take her long to find her treat and she came back carrying a chocolate bar.
"Is that the one you want?" I asked with a smile.
She nodded as she handed it to me, so I was able to pay for it. I handed it to the cashier who rang it up and as I pulled out my wallet, I noticed that the cashier was looking at me weird.
"What?" I asked handing the guy some money.
"It's just I never saw you in here with a kid before," the cashier replied ringing up the candy bar and taking my money
"She's my niece," I said as I took the candy back and handed it to Amy..."Weirdo," I mumbled as I took Amy's hand and walked out of the store still feeling his eyes still on use as we left the store.
As we approached my apartment building, I was hoping that my roomies were not going to be home. Today was Kenny's day off so he was more than likely off hooking up with some chick he just met on tinder and as for Cartman well maybe if I was lucky he would not home from his job for a couple more hours. No such luck though because as soon as I got to the door I could hear them inside laughing about God knows what...I took a deep breath as I turned the knob and opened the door.
"Stan!" Kenny shouted raising a shot glass and giving me a wide grin, clearly they were both drinking. "How the hell are ya?"
Cartman laughed and patted him on the back... The moment I stepped in with my niece I watched their faces drop and smiles faded. "Stan, what the fuck is this?" Cartman asked glaring daggers at me "Who the fuck is that?"
"This is Amy," I explained taking off my coat and gesturing for Amy to do the same so I could put them in the closet by the door.
"Dude," Kenny said calling me over "Can I talk to you for second?"
I nodded before leading Amy over to the couch "Okay...I'll be right back," I told her. I could feel her eyes on me as she watched me leave the room.
"What?" I asked as I stepped into kitchen where Kenny was already pouring himself another alcoholic infused drink.
"Stan did you know you brought a kid home with you?" he whispered.
"She's Shelly's," I replied
"Then why the hell isn't she with your fucking skanky older sister?" Cartman hissed shoving his way past me to get into the kitchen.
I felt my face go hot "Because dumbass...she died."
"Dude...I'm sorry," Kenny said patting me on the shoulder as Cartman just rolled his eyes.
"And I told her that if anything were happened to her, I would take care of my niece," I explained.
"But Stan you don't know anything about raising a kid," Kenny said.
I sighed "Don't you think I know that but what else could I do."
"You should have just ditched her in some orphanage," Cartman snorted
It took all my strength not to punch him in the face at that moment, somehow I managed to control my anger and ignore his fucked up comment. Kenny elbowed Cartman in the side "I think what Cartman is trying to say is that you should told us about bringing a kid here."
"Damn it Kenny!" Cartman hissed rubbing the side Kenny had just elbowed "That's not what I'm trying to say. What I am trying say is she can't stay here."
"Why not?" I asked, "I actually pay a bigger part of rent then you do."
"Asshole!" Cartman snapped "You're just not getting it, she's not welcome here!"
"Then maybe I should move out?" I retorted before turning to walk out of the kitchen.
"It sure would be nice to come home and not seeing your sorry ass sitting around feeling sorry for yourself," he replied, "you're such a whiny ass little bitch."
"You know what?" I said turning away from him and shaking my head as left the kitchen "I just can't deal with you right now."
"Dude..come on!" Kenny shouted after me, but I just ignored him as I rejoined my niece in the living room.
"Are you hungry?" I asked with a heavy sigh before quickly grabbing our coats from the closet.
She nodded quickly getting to her feet and holding out her hand for me to take.
"Okay," I smiled taking her hand "let's go get something to eat."
She followed me to the door and just as we were about to exit, I heard Cartman shout "You're going fuck this up Stan, just like you always do because you are a screw up!"
Once outside I bent down to my niece's level "What are you in the mood for?"
She shrugged her shoulders before looking around and began pointing at a picture.
"Pizza?" I asked looking back at the picture
She smiled and nodded.
"Okay," I replied "just not that place."
She walked beside me looking around taking in all the wonders of her new home. We arrived at the pizza parlor in no time.
"How many?" the host asked looking at us.
"Two," I replied
"Right this way Sir," the host replied
We followed him a table way in the back of the restaurant "Is this good?" he asked
"It's fine," I sighed wondering why if there was only the two of us then why did he seat us way in the back.
"Would your daughter like some crayons?"
"She's my niece actually," I replied
"Oh," the host said, "well does she?"
I turned to Amy and asked, "Do you want to color?"
She smiled and nodded..."Well there you have it," I said turning back to the host "she wants to color."
The host smiled before rushing off to go get some crayons...when he returned, he had a children's menu and a cup full of crayons. "Here you go little miss." he smiled "Carol will be your server tonight."
"Thanks," I replied as I scanned the menu. A few minutes passed before Carol came over "Have you decided on what you would like to order yet?" she asked sweetly.
When looked up at her couldn't help but to notice how cute she was "Yes," I replied in a cracked voice, but I quickly cleared my throat hoping that she did notice "we would like to have a small pizza."
Carol smiled as she wrote down our order "Would you like any toppings?"
I looked over at Amy and she nodded again..."What kind?" I asked her, she pointed to the picture on her menu.
"Pepperoni?" Carol asked and Amy smiled
"You got it," Carol replied "What about any drinks?"
"A coke for me and a..." I looked over at Amy once again who was now pointing at the Sprite logo "a sprite for her."
Carol smiled and told us she would be right back with our drinks. It wasn't long before we had both our drinks followed by our small pizza. "How many would you like?" I asked Amy who replied by holding up to fingers. "Two?" I questioned "How about we start with one slice?" She nodded and I carefully placed a piece on her dish "Now be careful," I explained "because it's hot alright." She ate it slowly and still continued to color at the same time. After awhile Carol returned asking if we needed anything else and I told her we were fine. After eating she packed up our leftovers as I paid the bill and left a nice tip for her.
I was hoping things would have cooled down a bit by the time we got back home but it didn't. I opened the door to find my "friends" sitting on the couch.
"Hey," I said I stepped in the apartment followed close by my niece.
Cartman just snorted and ignored me...
"These leftovers are for Amy's lunch tomorrow," I said holding up my box and taking it to the kitchen "so, please don't eat it."
I heard Cartman snort again and I just rolled my eyes..."Um Stan," he smirked "Kenny and I throwing a party is that okay with you?"
It was my turn to ignore him as I walked into the kitchen and placed the leftovers in the fridge. Their parties lasted until early morning hours and the only reason we never got into trouble was because most of the tenants and manager came. It turned out that Cartman was only bluffing about the party and that they were going clubbing instead. When they left I put on cartoons and opened my laptop to do some school work.
Sometime passed before Amy wandered over to me yawning..."Are you tired?" I asked...her mouth twitched into a tiny grin and she nodded.
"Okay," I replied "you get to sleep in my room."
She followed me into my room where I made up my bed for her to sleep in...She stood back and watched me before slowly making her way over and climbing on it.
"Now Amy," I said "if you need me, I'll be right out there on the couch...okay."
She nodded and I smiled. I had just turned to walk out when I felt her tiny hand grab hold of mine.
"Huh?" I asked turning back to her and seeing her holding out a book.
"You want me to read to you?" I asked...
She nodded and I sighed "Okay...but just this once." She smiled and scooted over to make room for me to sit next to her. I took the book from her and read the title out loud "The Cat in the Hat..." By the time I finished the story she had fallen asleep...I looked down at her and smiled, she looked so comfortable. She had fallen asleep leaning up against me, I gently lifted her off placed her head on the pillows and covered her up. Very quietly I made my way out to the couch with an extra blanket and made up my bed...
I must have been tired because I don't remember falling asleep but was suddenly woken back up by something heavy falling on top of me. "What the hell!" I snapped pushing said object off me...
"Sorry Dude," Kenny laughed as I sat up "it had to be done."
"That wasn't funny!" I snapped
"I thought it was," Cartman laughed
"Yeah," Kenny smiled "Anyway we were thinking that maybe you could stay until you found a different place to live."
"Totally not my idea!" Cartman shouted from the kitchen...
"But I just don't see what's the big deal about me staying here," I said
"We can't have little three year olds living here," Cartman said reappearing from the kitchen eating something
"Amy's seven not three," I defended
"Whatever," he shrugged "I still think you should take her back...I mean you don't belong raising your sister's dumb kid."
"She's not dumb!" I hissed clenching my hands into fists
"Okay she's not dumb," Kenny said "but is it really best for you?"
I looked down at the floor..."Come on Dude...just take her back." Cartman said before going off to his room...
xoxxoxo
Thanks to my "friends" I couldn't fall back to sleep and as soon as Amy was up I fed her and we out of the house. She looked at me as if to ask "Where are we going?"
"We're going to visit a friend of mine..." I explained to her...
I walked up to the door and knocked..."Who is it?" a female's voice asked from the other side of the door.
"Stan," I replied
The door opened and there stood Wendy "Oh hi Stan," she greeted "what brings you here so early?"
I moved aside for her to see Amy, she looked from to the girl with confusion. "Can we come in?" I asked..She moved aside and I explained what was going on and why I now had a little girl.
"Would it be alright if she stayed here until I get back?" I asked
"Where are you going?" she asked
"I need to talk to my boss about different hours," I explained "I don't think raising a seven year old I should be working that late at night."
"Yeah but..." she started to say but I cut her off by planting a quick kiss on her cheek "besides you two should bond."
I then turned my attention to my niece "I'll be back in a little bit okay?"
Her mouth twisted into a tiny smile and she nodded.
I waved goodbye as I walked out of the door...When I arrived at my job I was feeling confident and nothing could take that away. I stepped into Chef Sid's office and sat myself down.
"What do you want Marsh?" he asked without even making any eye contact with me.
"Sir...I was wondering if I could switch from night to day shift?" I asked feeling extremely brave at the moment.
Sid glanced up at me before leaning back into his chair smiling..."So let me get this straight," he said "you just want me to switch the shifts...is that right?"
My confidence faded when I saw the look on his face, it looked so upset. I swallowed hard not knowing what he was going to say next.
"Sorry Marsh no can do," he said sternly "Why would I switch my best dishwasher with you my worst dishwasher?"
I felt angry..he didn't know what hell he was talking about, I was a damn good worker. I always finished my work on time and not once in the year and a half that I worked there had I ever called in sick. "Sir," I said trying to keep calm "If just give me a chance."
Sid glared at me before relaxing and asked, "How would you like to try out prep work?"
"Really?" I asked completely shocked
He nodded
I smiled before standing up and shaking his hand "Sir...you won't be disappointed."
"I better not be," he smiled
xooxxoox
Walking back to Wendy's I couldn't help but to feel happy that I was no longer going to be stuck back in the dish pit, things could only get better from here. When I knocked on her door her friend Bebe answered it and she looked pissed about something. "Hey Bebe," I greeted as I walked past her to find my girlfriend so I could tell her the good news.
I noticed Amy passed out on the couch as I made my way over to Wendy "What's wrong?" I asked when I saw her wiping her eyes like she was crying.
"Tell me the truth," she whispered without bringing her eyes up to even look at me "that little girl is not really your niece, is she?"
"What?" I questioned
"Stan please don't lie to me," she said confusing the hell out of me.
"What are you talking about?"
"We know the truth," Bebe said walking up beside Wendy and placing a supportive hand on her shoulder "we know that you cheated and had a secret love child."
"That's stupid," I replied rolling my eyes "Amy is my niece."
"Can you prove it?" Bebe asked crossing her arms across her chest.
"Actually, I can," I said "I have all the paper work saying that I am responsible for my niece."
"You responsible?" Bebe sorted shaking her head "That's a laugh."
"I am very responsible person," I defended myself feeling my face getting hot "I'm more responsible than your boyfriend."
"Eric is not my boyfriend," she shot back all red in the face.
"Well you sure do spend a lot of time together," I pointed out.
"That's not of your damn business," she defended.
"And none of this is any of your damn business," I replied deciding to turn my attention back to my girlfriend "Wendy I explained to you earlier about Amy being my niece."
"I know," she replied, "but what was I supposed to think when you cheated on me before in the past."
I really had no clue what she was even talking about because I was never the cheating one in the relationship and I had only hooked up with one other girl when we had been broken up. "I should go," I said with a heavy sigh "we can talk more when you are thinking straight."
"No, we need to about us now," she said firmly.
"What about us?" I asked knowing exactly where this conversation was heading, she was going to break up with me again and somehow, I was the bad guy here again.
She opened her mouth, but I held up my hand stopping her from whatever she was going to say "If breaking up is what you want to do then I guess we had a good run."
Her mouth dropped as I turned away and walked over to the couch where Amy was just waking up, the moment she saw me her eyes lit up and she smiled wide.
"Let's go home," I said smiling back at her and offering her my hand.
"Stan!" Wendy called after me "If you walk out the door then it really is over between us."
I waved goodbye as I shut the door... once out in the hallway I let out a heavy sigh, I think Amy knew I was upset so she tugged on my jacket.
"Yeah?" I asked trying my best to hide my sadness as I bent down to her level where she took a couple steps towards me and slowly wrapping her arms around my neck. It totally surprised as I hugged her back "Thanks," I whispered.