[ I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes but its only me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams, where the city sleeps and I'm only one and I walk alone) (Harold and Sid's thoughts)

The title of this chapter is named after a song by Green Day

Harold and his parents, Jerry and Marilynn Berman, sat around the dinner table. While his father led them all in prayer to give thanks to God for their meal, Harold's mind was swarming with many other thoughts. When they finished praying, they prepared to indulge in the hearty feast of lamb chops, potatoes, gravy and corn that Mrs. Berman had skillfully prepared. Harold just stared at his plate rather glumly, merely picking at the meat. Mr. and Mrs. Berman took a quick glance at their son, instantly suspecting that something was wrong.

"Uh-oh, Marilynn, we've been at this table for less than five minutes and Harold hasn't devoured everything on his plate by now," Mr. Berman pointed out." I wonder what that's all about."

"Jerry, stop it!" Mrs. Berman scolded her husband." Can't you see that our baby is obviously feeling blue about something?"

"Sorry darling, I was just trying to get him to brighten up a little," Mr. Berman insisted.

"Ignore your father, sweetie, tell Mommy what's wrong?" Mrs. Berman cooed, pinching Harold's cheek.

"Mom, knock it off!" Harold exclaimed, pulling away.

"Oh, you know I can't help it," Mrs. Berman told him." You may be twenty-one but you'll always be my baby."

"How can I be your baby when I'm having a baby?" Harold blurted out.

Harold's parents' eyes bulged with shock and their forks dropped onto the table. They were stunned beyond all relief to find out that their only son was suddenly expecting a child of his own.

Shit! Harold thought. Me and my big, fat mouth!

"Harold, what did you just say?" Mr. Berman asked, sternly.

"Patty's pregnant," Harold replied, softly.

"Harold!" Mrs. Berman cried, putting her hand to her heart." I'm….I'm….I'm at lost for words!"

Harold sighed as he watched his mother break into his tears. Mr. Berman gave his wife a gentle squeeze on her shoulder.

"Go ahead, Dad, tell me how disappointed you are in me," Harold muttered.

"I'm a fifty-three year old man, Harold, I lived my life," Mr. Berman told him, sternly." You, on the other hand, are twenty-one years old. You have no job and no plans on continuing your education. Granted, you received your high school diploma this year but you could have done so three years ago had you not been held back so many times."

"All you do is judge me and I'm sick of it!" Harold wailed." Lay off! I don't need this bullshit!"

"Harold!" Mrs. Berman yelled.

"Do not use that language in this house," Mr. Berman told him, strictly." You know better than that. I am still your father!"

Harold crossed his arms, angrily.

"And as your father, I have every right to be upset," Mr. Berman continued." You sit around all day doing absolutely nothing productive with your life, simply eating and sleeping day in and day out! And apparently, you've been having unprotected—not to mention—premarital sex. You better believe I'm disappointed in you. What on earth are you going to do with a baby?"

"Well, Patty doesn't want an extortion so I'm going to take care of it…..somehow," Harold muttered.

"The word is abortion and I hope that's not what you expected that young lady to do," Mrs. Berman stated.

"I thought it'd be a good idea but she's against it," Harold replied.

"She's being responsible," Mr. Berman said." Grow up and do the same thing."

"Okay Jerry, scolding Harold is not going to change the situation," Mrs. Berman reasoned." All he needs is some motherly advice and some fatherly guidance. Let's not be so harsh; we mustn't discourage our son."

"Fine, Marilynn, fine," Mr. Berman sighed.

Mr. Berman was a man who felt that tough love was the best love to raise his son with and to speak the truth without sugarcoating it.

Mrs. Berman, on the other hand, spoiled Harold and showered him with motherly affection, failing to realize that she is partially responsible for Harold's lack of maturity and dependability. However, she always seemed to have overruled her husband in the parenting department, so most of the time, Mr. Berman kept quiet.

"Harold, here's what you need to do," Mrs. Berman explained." Find a job and handle your money responsibly before this baby is born. Your father and I will do our best to help when we can. Being a parent is tough and often costly, so be very mindful of every decision you make before and after Patty gives birth. Also, I assume you love her, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Good," Mrs. Berman suggested." For that reason alone and more importantly, because she's carrying your child, the moral thing to do is marry her."

Harold was a little stunned." Marry Patty?"

Meanwhile, Sid was at home in the living room with his father, Mr. Gifaldi, disclosing the news of Nadine's pregnancy. The aging man simply hung his head, sighed and stared at his lap for a moment. He immediately began to have doubts about his son's reliability to take on such a demanding job—fatherhood. Sid has always been a timid, panicky kid; so one would be filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief to know that he would impregnate a girl at such a young age.

"Dad? Aren't you going to say something?" Sid asked, as his heart pounded nervously.

"Well….," Mr. Gifaldi could only manage to say.

"Well what, Dad?"

"I'm shocked," Mr. Gifaldi replied.

"I was too; I still am," Sid said, with a sigh.

"I just never would have expected this from you," Mr. Gifaldi admitted." Take your brother and sister for example. They're close to forty years old yet their children are all age six and under. So, I thought you'd do the same. I just can't believe you're becoming a father at eighteen."

"They are career driven people, Dad," Sid pointed out, tearfully." Sammy's an architect. Stephanie's a dentist. That's why they waited so long to get married and have kids. Oh let me guess, are you going to berate me for not filling out any college applications?"

"Watch your tone," Mr. Gifaldi told him, firmly yet calmly.

"Sorry Dad."

"All I'm saying is you don't strike me as a sexually irresponsible young man," Mr. Gifaldi explained." You're always so cautious and hesitant to take certain steps for a lack of a better word. In fact, I honestly thought you were still a virgin."

"I was," Sid responded." That was my first and only time….and…and…"

Sid started to feel a little choked up and he began to sob." And she got pregnant, Dad!"

He broke down and cried yet again. Mr. Gifaldi placed a hand on his son's shoulder as he wept.

"Sid, I am not yelling at you or expressing any fury, so all of that hysterical crying isn't necessary," Mr. Gifaldi told him.

"But Dad…" Sid began to protest.

"No buts, Sid," Mr. Gifaldi stopped him." You're eighteen. You may not be quite old enough to be bringing another life into this world, but you are legally an adult. It's time to act like one, especially if this girl has every intention on keeping this child."

"I know."

"Look, I'm here to guide you and help you but I can't do it for you," Mr. Gifaldi continued." I'm old. I'm ready to retire soon. I want you to be a man."

"My God, Nadine said the same thing," Sid groaned.

"She's right."

"I told her I'd be there for her; but I'm scared, Dad," Sid told him." What if I'm no good at this?"

"Son, there's a first time for everything and we all get scared when something happens to us for the first time, at least to an extent," Mr. Gifaldi told him." It may not be easy being a father, especially at your age; but I know you'll be fine. You're a lot stronger and braver than you think you are."

"You really think so, Dad?"

"I know so," Mr. Gifaldi nodded." We can talk more, later. I'm a little hungry now. What do you want? Pizza or Chinese?"

Sid shrugged; he really didn't care. He had so much on his mind that it affected his appetite. As his father headed into the kitchen to look for a Chinese food menu, Sid sighed with relief. He was afraid that his father was going to be extremely upset with him. The revelation of a teenager's pregnancy has been known to gain a vast variety of reactions from their parents. Some parents would be disappointed like Mr. Berman, while many others would be surprisingly calm and sympathetic like Mr. Gifaldi.

However, there was one person's affection and understanding Sid was missing when he needed it the most—his mother's. There was a framed picture of the dearly departed Sharon Gifaldi set in the center of the glass coffee table. In the photo, Sid's mother had long, black hair, small bluish-gray eyes and the most genuine smile one could ever lay eyes on. Mrs. Gifaldi was Sid's best confidant in addition to being his mother before her she fell terminally ill and died. As Sid lifted the picture up and stared at it, he felt his heart break again and tears rolled down his pale cheeks.

I wish you were still here, Mom, Sid thought, sadly. Dad's been great but life's never been the same without you. I'm facing the biggest challenge of my life….becoming a father. If I can be at least half the parent you were, I know my unborn kid will be very lucky. Watch over me, Mom. You'll never be forgotten.

October would make four years that she's been gone. Nadine(like Patty and Rhonda) were due in March of next year. It was so sad that Sid's mother would never get to meet the child he was expecting. Sid's brother had six year-old twin boys and Mrs. Gifaldi was lucky enough to see them. Sid's sister, however, had a two year old daughter that Mrs. Gifaldi didn't get to meet. It was indeed a tragic reality. Sid kissed his mother's picture and then sat it back down. He quickly dried his tears and exhaled to stop crying. He simply sat still and quietly while his father was in the kitchen making a call for pizza delivery. Sid was a little startled when his cell phone vibrated unexpectedly, alerting him to a text message from Harold.

Harold: Hey Sid. I need 2 get the hell outta this house. U wanna hang out?

Sid texted back: Sure. Dude u got any smoke? I'm all out.

Harold: Stinky does. He sed we can cum over.

Sid replied: Awesum. C u there.

Harold: K.

For about two years or so, marijuana smoking has been a frequent and favorite pastime for Sid, Harold and Stinky, in addition to jamming with their band equipment.

Sid and Harold, stressed and all, were looking forward to that blunt. So, Sid grabbed his guitar from his bedroom and quickly said goodbye to his father. Just as Mr. Gifaldi was about to ask him if he was going to stay for the pizza, Sid was out of the door. He walked through the dark, streets of Hillwood, feeling the summer night breeze blow in his direction. The weather forecaster said that there will possibly be a thunderstorm in the morning.

After walking for ten minutes or so, Sid nearly bumped into Harold when he turned on a corner.

"What's up, dude?" Sid said, giving him a five.

"Fucking pissed," Harold responded." How about you?"

Sid shrugged." I've had better days."

The two of them held a conversation as they walked.

"I told my parents about Patty," Harold stated.

"How'd it go?"

"Not good, dude," Harold replied." My dad was being a judgmental asshole and my mom thinks I should marry Patty just because I knocked her up."

"My dad took the news well actually," Sid told him.

"So, you told him about Nadine?" Harold asked.

"Yeah."

"So, why do you look so upset?" Harold questioned.

"I don't know…..I just started thinking about my mom and…you know how that goes," Sid replied, glumly.

Harold shook his head sympathetically." I know."

The two of them walked together silently for a couple minutes, pondering their own issues. Suddenly, their thoughts were interrupted at the sound of loud singing. Sid and Harold looked over to their right to see Curly skipping across the street singing and twirling with ballet moves.

"Isn't she loooovely?" Curly sang." Isn't she loooovely?"

"Curly, what the hell?" Sid exclaimed.

Curly stopped singing and dancing; he walked over to where a puzzled Harold and Sid were standing.

"Good evening, guys," Curly spoke, with a gleeful tone.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sid asked, bewilderedly.

"Why the hell are you singing and dancing like some crazy, psycho Broadway freak?" Harold asked, loudly.

"Trust me, gentlemen, you'd be singing and dancing too if you had the grand privilege of being Rhonda Wellington-Lloyd's future baby daddy," Curly insisted, with music in his voice.

"Rhonda's pregnant?" Harold and Sid both exclaimed, shocked.

"Uh-huh," Curly proudly replied.

Sid and Harold exchanged surprised glances. They had no idea how to respond to such a shocker.

"Don't worry, boys," Curly smirked." You may not be blessed with Rhonda Lloyd as the carrier of your seed, but I must say Nadine and Big Patty aren't the most awful choices in the world. Not my type….but not awful choices either."

"Excuse me?" Sid responded, slightly offended.

"How do you know about Nadine and Patty?" Harold demanded." We don't even hang out with you. So, you didn't hear it from us, bitch."

"Nadine and Patty are the two best girlfriends of my beloved Rhonda…..duh!" Curly replied, sarcastically." That's how I know. What Rhonda knows, she shares with me. Double duh."

Harold angrily clenched his hands into fists, contemplating knocking Curly's teeth out. Sid, however, was in no mood for a fight.

"Harold, let's just go," Sid muttered." Nobody has time for this shit."

"Farewell, big poppas!" Curly crooned, teasingly." My lady awaits. She wants her pickles and ice cream."

With that, Curly twirled around in the opposite direction and skipped away, singing and dancing again.

"What a freak," Sid muttered.

"Next time, I'm gonna pound him!" Harold shouted.

Without another word, they walked for ten more minutes until they arrived at Stinky's place. Luckily, his parents had gone to Arkansas for two weeks. Stinky's garage was crowded with his guests and the band equipment. Their band was nameless, at least for the time being. Stinky and Sid were both electric guitarists, Harold played bass and a guy named Josh was the drummer. Joshua "Josh" Hacksaw has been friends with Stinky, Harold and Sid for about three years. His parents practically forced him to attend a Catholic high school but he was a rebel, nonetheless. He stood at 6'1 with a slender frame, a brown Mohawk, a lip piercing, a tongue piercing and numerous skull tattoos on his arms. Interesting enough, Josh was dating Sheena, of all people.

Stinky, Harold, Sid and Joshua jammed with their instruments for over an hour. No doubt, the four of them as a whole were extremely talented. All they were missing for their band was a good vocalist, a lyricist and most importantly, a name. The guys were accompanied by two girls, Sheena and Stinky's longtime girlfriend Gloria, both of whom were praising their performance. Once they finished jamming, they sat their instruments down and took a seat in some chairs, forming a circle.

Stinky was busy rolling a thick, blunt for them all to share.

"Are you fellers ready to get super blazed?" Stinky asked, in his signature accent." I reckon we all gonna be high as a kite, on account of I got the goooood shit right here."

"Less talking, more rolling, dude," Josh told him.

"Boy howdy, he does this every time," Sid commented, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah!" Harold exclaimed, in agreement.

Stinky simply told them all to shut up and be patient as he continued to roll the blunt. Stinky Peterson had more or less the same persona and the same lanky body type. He now stands at 6'6, making him the tallest member of the original gang. Next to Gerald Johannsen, Stinky was the star of the Hillwood High basketball team. Gloria has been his steady girlfriend since middle school. She was a sweet, well-mannered blond-haired, blue-eyed girl who physically resembled Helga Pataki, though she was much more comparable to Lila Sawyer as far as personality goes.

Sheena, the timid, somewhat "geeky" girl, has physically matured quite beautifully. She was very tall for a female, nearly six feet. Her brown hair grew even longer and her thin figure developed some gorgeous curves. Sheena and Josh defined the saying "opposites attract".

They have been dating for less than a month but their chemistry was indubitable. Prior to dating Josh, Sheena's first boyfriend was a slightly older guy who eventually went overseas in the military. Before that, Sheena held a hopeless crush on Eugene for a very long time until he finally came out of the closet. Still and all, they ended being each other's prom date. For the most part, Sheena was still a "goody-two-shoes", except for the fact that she recently picked up a marijuana habit. Luckily, Gloria was the only one who didn't.

When Stinky finished rolling the blunt, he lit it and took three drags or so. As the smoke filled his lungs, he coughed a few times and nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Gee Wilikers!" he shouted.

"Pass that shit," Harold said, eagerly.

Stinky took another pull of the blunt and then passed it to Harold.

"I must say that Sid and Harold seem a little moody," Sheena pointed out." Are you guys okay?"

Harold took a couple of drags of the blunt and replied." I don't know if Josh or Stinky told you yet but Patty's pregnant."

"And so is Nadine," Sid added.

"Aaaaw, that's so sweet," Sheena responded, touched.

"Congratulations, guys, that is so amazing," Gloria added.

"Baby, I don't reckon they find it very amazing," Stinky insisted.

"Don't be silly, honey," Gloria told him." Babies are always a blessing."

Harold just sighed with gloom as he passed the blunt to an equally gloomy Sid. After Sid took three pulls of the blunt, he handed it to Sheena.

She took a few pulls and said. "Well, I for one, think that Sid and Harold will be magnificent fathers. Don't you think so, sweetie?"

"Sure, babe," Josh said, with a nonchalant shrug." I guess."

When Sheena finished, she handed the blunt to Josh and he began to smoke it. When he finished with his turn, he reached past Gloria and handed the blunt to Stinky.

Feeling high beyond belief, Stinky laughed obnoxiously." You all need to stop bein' so damn nice and tell Harold and Sid the plain ole, ugly truth….they ain't fit to be nobody's daddy right now."

"Gee thanks, Stinky," Sid muttered, sarcastically.

"Dude, that was cold," Josh mumbled.

"Come on, Josh," Stinky debated, taking puffs of the blunt." You know as well as I do that the moment them babies pop out of their mommas twats, Sid is gonna freak out and cry like a damn baby himself!"

"Stinky, you're a real asshole," Sid snapped.

"And let's not even talk about Harold!" Stinky continued, with a laugh." I reckon his fat ass is liable to run 'round in circles screaming 'Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!'"

Stinky threw his head back and cackled like a hyena. Harold gritted his teeth irritably as he took the blunt from him.

"Gee Wilikers; y'all done fucked up big time!" Stinky taunted them.

"Shut up, Stinky, or I'll kick your ass!" Harold roared, furiously.

Stinky simply threw his hands in the air as if to say 'okay sorry', although he still could barely control his laughter. Gloria loved Stinky but she didn't like that he was being so insensitive to his two best friends. So, she winked at both Harold and Sid as if to say 'watch this'.

"Stinky, how dare you be so rude and cruel to Sid and Harold!" Gloria pretended to be angry.

"Oh relax, baby," Stinky told her." These guys are my buddies. They know I don't mean no harm."

"Well, I sure hope not," Gloria insisted, looking down.

"And why is that?" Stinky asked.

"Because…I'm pregnant too!" Gloria blurted out, with tears in her eyes.

"Gee Wilikers! Not you too!" Stinky panicked.

Gloria was only joking but she continued to alarm him." I'm sorry, but it's true."

"Oh noooooo!" Stinky cried, loudly.

He jumped up from his chair, bolted out of the garage and locked himself in the bathroom where he proceeded to cry even more hysterically than Sid did. Meanwhile, Harold, Sid, Gloria, Sheena and Josh were roaring with laughter. They cackled so hard that tears formed in their eyes and their guts nearly split in two.

"Good one, Gloria!" Harold cheered.

"Boy Howdy! Stinky's a total wreck right now!" Sid cackled.

"Okay, I'm going to let him know that I was only kidding before he has a heart attack," Gloria stated, giggling.

She headed out of the garage and made her way to the bathroom door. On the other side of the door, she can hear Stinky sobbing uncontrollably.

"Babe, are you okay in there?" Gloria asked.

Stinky continued to cry his eyes out, totally unaware that his girlfriend was only joking.

"This really bites!"

(I'm walking down the line that divides me somewhere in my mind. On the borderline, off the edge is where I walk alone) (Harold's thoughts)

(Read between the lines. What's fucked up and everything's alright. Check my vital signs and know I'm still alive and I walk alone) (Sid's thoughts)

Author's Note: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I only had time to update one of my fics today, unfortunately. Can you believe I actually flipped a coin? LOL Please Review. Thanks again!