Chapter Four - Craig's New Attitude
Carol walked out from the kitchen. The young mother had an irritated look on her face as she began to bang on Kenny's door.
"Kenny, Kenny! It's Monday! Get your buns out of bed! You don't want to miss the bus for school!" She yelled.
Mrs. McCormick waited for the usual mumble and groan before hearing the rustling sound of her son getting out of bed. Confident that Kenny will be dressed and ready for school soon, Carol headed back into the kitchen. She spotted her husband glaring out of the window.
"What are you looking at?" The redheaded woman demanded.
"That black car parked across the street." He mumbled to her.
Carol leaned forward and looked out of the window to see the strange vehicle in question.
"That's weird. Wonder who owns it?" She asked.
"I don't know," Stuart responded flatly. "But doesn't it look familiar to you?"
Mrs. McCormick huffed as she forced her fists onto her hips. "No, and don't you have anything better to do then glare outside this window at strange cars parked outside?" She snapped.
"I'm not glaring, you stupid bitch!" He barked back in defence. "I just asked if it looked familiar, that's all!"
"You are glaring, and don't call me a bitch, asshole!" Carol spat back as she swung her fist into his face.
Kenny walked in as the fighting begun to get serious. He instantly rolled his eyes skyward and turned to walk back out. The young boy noticed that his brother and sister had already left, and figuring he didn't want to miss his bus, Kenny pursued without grabbing his lunch or any food stamps. As he left the rundown shack, he could hear his parents bicker loudly with each other.
Before Kenny reached the train tracks, he noticed a black Chevrolet with tinted windows. He saw two figures sitting inside, but could not see any of their faces. With a shrug, Kenny continued across the tracks towards the bus stop. The sound of more screaming, and shattering glass blared inside the McCormick home.
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Kenny just made it to the bus stop with seconds to spare before the school bus showed up. Stan, Kyle, and Cartman each say 'good morning' to him before hopping onto the bus. The second Kenny was on he heard someone calling out his name.
"Kenny over here," Craig shouted from one of the middle seats. The usual stoic boy practically leapt up in the air as he waved his hand to grab the poor boy's attention.
"Geez Craig, how much sugar did you put in your cereal this morning?" Cartman snickered as he sat down beside Butters in the seat behind the blue-clad boy. Butters giggled at Eric's joke.
"Hey Craig, what's up?" Kenny asked before accepting the seat by the raven-haired boy.
"Obviously he is," Eric Cartman muttered, loud enough for Butters to hear. This set the blond boy in another fit of giggles.
"Well, for starters, my dad got three first class seats to a big game tonight from his boss. You wanna come?" Craig asked, getting right to the point.
"Wow cool, yeah I'm in!" Kenny cheered.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa..."Eric sputtered as he leaned up against the back of the seat in front of him. He looked down directly at Craig. "You mean to tell me your dad scored tickets to the big basket ball game tonight?"
"Yes, and you aren't coming fatass!" Craig sneered
"What? That's not fair," Cartman cried in outrage. "Why does Kenny get to go?"
"Because I just asked him, idiot." Craig spat back in a matter of fact.
Kenny could not help to find Craig's comment amusing and let out a chuckle.
"Unbelievable," Cartman muttered in distaste. "The nerve of some people..." he added as he sat back down in his seat.
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By the time lunch hour came around, Kenny's stomach growled like a pair of cats in heat. At one point, it got so loud that entire class started laughing. Mr. Garrison mentioned he was not happy with the interruptions his class was getting by Kenny's noisy tummy.
Cartman began to make several 'poor' jokes at his expense, which caused more laughter from the class, all except Craig. He looked like he wanted to punch Cartman's lights out. Kenny became quite embarrassed and was relieved when the bell tone finally rung.
All the students did not hesitate to leave their seats and headed towards the cafeteria. Some of them carried their own personal lunch boxes from home.
"Hey Kinny, I don't see your regular baloney sandwich. Hope you were able to bring enough food stamps to get a slice of crusty day old pizza." Cartman asked while stifling a laugh.
"No," Kenny sighed through his orange hood. "I didn't get time to grab either this morning."
"Oh, so it'll be your usual glass of water then." Again, Eric sputtered a laugh, but he stopped abruptly by an elbow jab to the ribs. "Ow Craig, what the hell...?"
Craig walked past the arrogant heavy child, ignoring his comment completely, to start walking by Kenny's side.
"It's alright, I'll spot you lunch today." He told him.
"Wow that is really generous of you, Craig." Kyle commented.
"Yeah dude," Stan added. "I don't think I have ever seen you this nice to anyone before."
"Ah, it's nothing." Craig shrugged nonchalantly. He gave a warm smile to Kenny.
"Um thanks," Kenny said, trying to hide the sudden blush on his cheeks.
As soon as the children found a table to sit at, they all began to eat. Craig and Kenny got their food from the line and headed to the table where Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Butters, Clyde, and Token sat.
"So Craig," Cartman began as chewed through his food. "Why the sudden kindness to Kenny? I mean, first this morning you ask him to the basket ball game tonight..."
"What? You guys are going to the game tonight?" Stan interrupted with full interest in the conversation.
"Dude, how did you score the tickets to that game?" Kyle asked with perked ears.
"My dad's new job," Craig answered. "His boss gave him the tickets."
"...And you are taking Kenny - not me, or Token?" Clyde pouted.
"Yeah man, usually we go to the game together." Token added with a look of concern.
"Sorry," the stoic boy shrugged. He picked up his slice of pizza and began to bit into it.
The boys sat dumbfounded for a moment as they watched the two boys eat their pizza slices.
"Now you are buying Kenny lunch..." Cartman pointed out.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Butters asked in wonder.
"Nothing why?" Craig murmured with another shrug. He glanced over at Kenny as the orange-clad boy opened up his carton of milk, and when the poor boy noticed him, Craig smiled at him again.
"Oh, I get it..." Cartman perked up.
Everyone looked up to hear what the larger boy had to say.
"You're gay for Kinny!" He howled with laughter, banging his hand hard onto the table.
Kenny nearly choked on the milk as he tried to swallow.
"Oh yeah," Butters snickered.
"Is that true?" Clyde asked in shock.
"No!" Craig gasped.
"Oh, you totally are, don't deny it." Cartman said between snickers.
"Cartman shut the hell up. You don't know what you are talking about." Craig spat.
"Kenny?" Stan wondered.
"Dude, trust me. I am not gay." The blond boy waved his hands up in defence.
"Yeah, we're just friends, alright." Craig growled.
"Sure Craig, why don't you go suck on Kinny's balls some more." Cartman snorted.
Kenny did not say anything, except to let out a loud sigh of annoyance.
Craig groaned as he slammed his forehead onto the table surface. He crashed his head so hard that his plate and milk carton jumped slightly.
"Ow," he moaned.