Craig Must Fight

Chapter 3

By Shadowgate

4:15PM

Stan insisted they visit Craig.

Stan knocked at the door and was greeted by Mrs. Tucker.

"I'm Stan Marsh and I have to tell you Mrs. Tucker that what happened to your son was well excuse my language but it was fucked up."

Kyle jumped in and said "we don't usually cuss in front of adults but Goddamn it that shit was so fucked up that Cartman got off so motherfucking easy and it makes me want to puke up my fucking intestines."

Mrs. Tucker informed the two boys that her son was asleep and was so hysterical before he fell asleep she almost took him to the hospital.

"We hope he gets better soon" Stan said.

As they left Craig's house and walked down the sidewalk Kyle was ready to have a serious talk with Stan.

"I can't believe this shit Stan. Cartman is the world's biggest fucking asshole. We spent one night hanging out with Craig at that shopping mall a month ago and Cartman throws a fit."

"Kyle I agree with you it has gotten outrageous."

"Seriously Stan Cartman is no longer a friend to me whatsoever. I have saved his life on more than one occasion but he wouldn't give me a fucking kidney. You had to trick him into it. He gave me aids not long ago and the only reason he turned over his research on finding a cure and led me to Magic Johnson was because he thought he could save his X-box."

"Kyle we should stop hanging out with Cartman."

"No shit Stan and I hope Craig gets even with Cartman. I hope he beats Cartman down in front of the whole fucking school like Wendy did."

"Kyle you need to calm down and think about Craig. Is there anything we can do to help him?"

"Tweek lied to the principal and that's why she thought it was self-defense."

"Tweek and Craig hate each other ever since last year when we got them into a fight. Talk to Tweek I'm sure he'll back down easily."

Stan walked home and Kyle yelled "Goddamn it" loud enough for all South Park to hear.

It was the next morning at school when Kyle confronted Tweek just before class.

"Cartman will betray you Tweek and I'm warning you now."

Tweek turned and said "ahhggh what are you doing sneaking up on me?"

"Tweek shut up, calm your ass down and listen."

Tweek was shaking but Kyle made it clear he should get away from Cartman ASAP.

After that it was time for class. Mister Garrison returned from Arkansas and he was not in a good mood.

The minute Mister Garrison started speaking Cartman threw a paper wad and hit Craig's ear. Craig yelled "Goddamn it Cartman."

"That's it I've had enough of this bullshit" shouted Mister Garrison!

"Craig is being an asshole Mister Garrison" shouted Cartman!

"I don't want to fucking hear it. "

Craig cut him off "Mister Garrison I did nothing to provoke you like this."

Mister Garrison went off in a major tirade.

"Goddamn it I can't believe I became a teacher. You two are fucking nightmares!"

Saturday afternoon Craig was disgusted with everything that happened over the past month. His important homework disappeared. He was getting paper wads thrown at him in class. He was shoved out of the lunch line every day and at the age of nine he'd already been suspended. He had enough. He sat in his garage and closed his eyes. He thought of only revenge.

"Craig hey I got good news!"

"Kyle there's no such thing anymore."

"Yes there is Craig. Those responsible for the drive by that killed Kenny have been convicted and sentenced to death yesterday. All three will die from lethal injections for what they did to Kenny."

Tears of joy began to flow down Craig's eyes.

"Kyle"

Kyle and Craig hugged each other as tight as they could.

"Craig do you remember the night I came over because I had something to tell you but you were under the weather?"

Craig said he vaguely remembered that as he let go of Kyle.

"Craig a week ago I went into the restroom at school and I overheard Cartman bragging to Tweek how he snuck in during recess and trashed your homework assignment. You know the one you had to make up?"

"The one I had to make up! Holy shit my mom was furious about that!"

"Damn Kyle I can't believe that fat bastard did that. When I told my mom in the grocery store about losing that assignment she looked at me like she wished I was never born."

Craig fell to his knees.

"That son of a bitch did it Craig, he fucking did it!"

"Kyle I promise you I'm going to nail that fat motherfucker!"

Kyle left and Craig wiped the tears from his eyes. Then he got down and started doing pushups.

After doing eighty pushups between breaks, he got his allowance which came out to be $11.89 and he went to CVS Pharmacy.

"Excuse me I'm looking to buy a protein shake" he said to the pharmacist.

Craig got his first shake that wasn't an ice cream shake from a fast-food joint. He didn't know what else to think other than he'd be eating every vegetable his mom made at dinner time. That and how he'd love to break Cartman.

Monday morning came and Craig wouldn't ride the bus to school anymore. The bullying was bad but the real reason was so Craig could run a mile to school every morning while carrying a duffle bag full of books.

His feet hit the concrete hard and they sounded like a fucking machine gun.

As he moved in toward the school entrance the bus was pulling up. Cartman stuck his head out the window and yelled "fuck you Craig!"

Craig just made a fist at Cartman and glared.

The good news was when Craig got to class he found out that Mister Garrison would be out the whole week. The bad news was Mister Mackey would be substituting.

Craig focused on his work even though Cartman was whispering "retard" and "douche bag" to Craig. The real chaos came when he got home.

"Where the fuck is my last candy bar?"

"Craig" his mother shouted!

"I didn't get dessert after lunch and I wanted that candy bar."

His little sister tried to apologize and struggled when she tripped over the leg of a chair. Then she started crying from all the stress.

"Goddamn it!" Craig shouted!

As luck would have it the phone rang and when Craig answered it was Tweek and he asked Craig if his refrigerator was running or not.

"Fuck off Tweek you fucking asshole!"

The next day was a bit better. School started at 8AM but Cartman didn't shove Craig until 9:30 that morning and Craig immediately shoved him back. That night there was something he desperately wanted to do.

"My sweet sister yesterday I lost my temper."

He stood in front of her and placed his left hand on her shoulder and lowered his head down to face her since he was twice her height.

"It was only a candy bar I've just been under more stress than I've ever been under in my life."

He placed his right hand on her other shoulder and she placed her right arm around his lower back. They closed their eyes and remained that way for a minute enjoying a warm tender moment.

"Let me help you into bed." Craig insisted.

That night went by nice and slow but when morning came Craig knew it was another morning of running to school in 30-degree weather for a whole mile. He did it.

When he got off school he ran two miles. When he got home his mother was concerned.

She had to ask "Craig what's going on with you? You are running constantly and this empty protein shake in the trash. I know you're not training for the Olympics."

"Mom you don't need to worry."

"Craig Goddamn it I am worried. Are you on steroids?"

"No mom I'm not taking fucking steroids."

"Young man I don't appreciate you foul mouth."

Craig's face turned angrier than ever. Soon after staring down his mother, he walked away.

His new cell phone rang and sure enough it was Kyle.

"Hey Craig hasn't it been great with Mister Garrison gone?"

"Kyle I still say Mister Mackey is worse."

"When Mister Garrison gets back I think he'll be on fucking Zoloft."

"Well the guy needs it. His father was killed in a very bloody fucking accident."

"Craig you're right it's been a shitty month. Hey um how come you're not riding the bus anymore? I hope you're not afraid of Cartman."

"No Kyle my doctor says I need to work out."

"Yeah right Craig I know you're training to fight Cartman and I hope you beat the shit out of him worse than Wendy did."

"I'm going to fuck him up Kyle."

"Hey Kyle did you hear the new joke Butters told?"

"No Craig what joke did that douche bag tell now?"

"He told the one about the Spanish Priest and the Iranian Gynecologist."

"Craig he got that from the Terrance and Phillip Movie."

"Oh yeah Kyle now that you mention it well Butters is a fucking pussy."

They both laugh.

"Craig I got to go my mom is screaming because she found pornography on my computer."

Craig got back to doing his pushups and sit ups in the garage.

Thomas got home and had a 30-minute talk with Craig about aggressive behavior. Craig did his best to keep cool but he wanted to blow up right there. He wondered if his dad had a teacher who was mentally unstable like Mister Garrison. He wondered if his dad had to deal with a bully tormenting him every five minutes which resulted in being distracted from academic lessons in school. He wondered if a kid ever stole his homework or not. He told his dad he wouldn't blow up like that with his sister again.

The next day at school Cartman shot a rubber band at Craig and Craig got really pissed off. Before he could launch a textbook at the fat tub of lard Mister Mackey told him to turn around and pay attention.

Mister Mackey continued lecturing on the life of Saddam Hussein and told the class there'd be a big test on it Friday.

Lunch Time at Noon

"Goddamn it Cartman!"

Craig got hit with Cartman's chocolate pudding right in his face and he was pissed off.

"What are you going to do about it Craig?"

Craig was allowed to go to the restroom and wash his face.

At 3:15 PM Craig's mom pulled up at the school in a taxi and she said their car was in the shop because Thomas and his sister got in a wreck after he picked her up from Kindergarten.

Craig would not be running at all that day since he and his mom had to rush to Hell's Pass Hospital.

When they got to the hallway of Hell's Pass Hospital Craig rushed up to the counter.

"Craig stop you've got to calm down" his mother yelled.

Craig stopped and they checked in. They found out Thomas was just banged up a bit and wouldn't have to stay in the hospital.

"Okay my dad can come home but what about my sister?" Craig asked the nurse.

He was led to a room where his sister was recovering.

"Craig" she said.

He asked if she was all right as he ran up to her bed and hugged her.

Thomas said to Craig that she would have to stay overnight for observation. Craig objected loudly and Thomas told him "son what did we talk about the other day? Your behavior is out of control."

"Actually you did the talking dad."

"Craig don't be a smart ass."

"She needs to come home now Goddamn it!"

Craig's mother grabbed him and spanked him.

"Craig you calm down this instant!"

"Yes mother"

Craig was told he could spend the next 45 minutes with his little sister but she would be spending the night in the hospital for observation.

When Craig got home he called Kyle.

"Oh hey Craig I'm still pissed that new lunch monitor didn't do shit to Cartman for throwing pudding in your face. What an incompetent bitch!"

"Kyle the six weeks have been horrible! Do you have any idea what it's like to be kicked in the nuts and not be able to move for two fucking days? Do you have any idea what it's like to have your mom look at you like she wished you were dead because some fat bastard stole your homework?"

"Craig I know it's hard."

"Kyle my dad and my sister were in a car accident today. My dad is alright but my sister is in the hospital for observation."

"SHIT" Kyle yelled and spilled his Doctor Pepper all over his pants.

"Kyle I have to go I just need time alone."

Craig hung up his cell phone and stared at the walls in his room. He was totally drained physically and emotionally. He hadn't been happy in a month. He wondered how Cartman could be such an asshole just because Craig spent some time with Stan, Kyle, and their now deceased friend Kenny. He didn't want to go on. He was so tired he could barely move.

A few days after the accident were days of torment from Cartman but the week was coming to an end and Craig got back on his schedule of working out.

3 WEEKS LATER

Craig was walking through the hallway at 2:30 PM. He saw Cartman talking to Tolkien.

"Hey Cartman the guys who killed Kenny have dropped all their appeals. All three of them will be executed in the next two years. Isn't that great?"

Tolkien indeed was excited about the news.

"Shit Tolkien I think you'd be upset since three black men are going to be executed by the state."

"Cartman I believe any killer regardless of their color should be executed."

"Well I agree there Tolkien but anyhow Kenny was just a poor piece of shit who was never going to amount to anything. He was worthless. So what if he got killed! I don't give a flying fuck. He was subhuman if that. He was garbage. He was nothing but pure worthless garbage."

Craig was so infuriated he charged up to Cartman and kicked him square in the nuts. Then he punched him in the face leaving a huge bloody nose.

Craig punched Cartman's right jaw so hard he broke it.

Then he slammed Cartman against the wall and began jump kicking him in the stomach multiple times. Then he threw Cartman on to the ground.

"I want to break your neck so fucking bad" Craig yelled!

Cartman couldn't even talk. When he got up Craig spin kicked Cartman and knocked him out cold.

The whole school began chanting.

"Craig"

"Craig"

"Craig"

"Craig"

"Craig"

"Craig"

"Craig"

Finally Craig had nailed Cartman in his fucking nuts and left him with a broken jaw. Craig had finally gotten even and the school hallway was covered in Cartman's blood along with three of his teeth to prove it.

Craig walked up to Cartman as he lay unconscious and then broke his left arm.

Mister Mackey screamed "break it up" and "where's Principal Victoria?"

Eric Cartman was taken to the hospital and later transferred to an alternative learning school after his recovery. Police were called and Craig Tucker was detained. Due to overwhelming circumstances the judge sentenced him to only 40 hours of community service.

He was able to complete it quickly working at Hell's Pass Hospital delivering food to patients. Incredibly enough he was happy to do it since they treated his sister so well.

Craig Tucker knelt at Kenny McCormick's grave.

"Kenny I did not allow the backstabber Cartman to get away with calling you a worthless piece of trash. Your killers are on death row and will soon die. I wish you were still alive. I wish we could go ice skating or hang out at the mall but that's no longer an option."

Stan came upon Craig with a pot of flowers and was happy to see him.

"Craig"

"Oh hi Stan"

"Hey that was awesome that you beat Cartman to hell and back. When his fat ass gets out of the hospital he has to go to the alternative learning center."

"Yes and after the judge sentenced me to a low penalty of just 40 hours of community service my family and I had dinner with him."

Stan was surprised.

"Well anyhow I just came by to drop off these flowers. Craig what you've done to honor Kenny and the way you've endured your personal problems has shown me one thing. You're one strong human being."

"Well I question that sometimes. Remember when the Guinea Pirate confronted us? I was like 'sir I won't do anything to you' and well as fate had it I ended up defeating him anyhow."

"Craig you may question yourself but seriously you're not just a strong human being you're my hero Craig."

Craig was shocked.

"Well Stan I don't know what to tell you."

Craig tried to catch his breath.

"I'm really happy you feel that way Stan. I've not been happy for quite some time."

"Kyle told me everything about the shit you've been through. No wonder you've been in so much pain."

"I've spent a few nights crying myself to sleep."

"I've yet to cry over the death of Kenny but I sure feel like it now Craig."

"Well Stan I must ask you do you feel like crying now? My shoulder is here for you."

Craig motioned his arms for a hug and Stan moved in. As soon as he took Stan into his arms Stan began crying on the shoulder of his new hero.

After 15 minutes Stan let up and said "I'm sorry I got your jacket all wet Craig."

"That's okay Stan. I'm honestly glad that we've become friends. I'm sorry I said I hated you, and Kyle, and Kenny on that unexpected trip to Peru."

Tears slowly began to flow down Craig's face but he had a huge smile.

"We'll never ask to borrow money for silly things again Craig."

Craig and Stan both giggled.

"Stan let's just spend our afternoon at Kenny's grave. I don't feel like doing anything else."

Stan and Craig stood with their arms around each other's shoulders and remained silent while facing the grave of Kenny McCormick.

THE END