Post by Mutt on May 15, 2010 0:03:57 GMT -5
Mutt’s Story
Chap 1: My Name is Mutt
My name is Jacob Duncan but never call me Jacob I prefer that only my parents call me that. You may call me Jake but to those who know me best I go by my nickname “Mutt”. To those asking why I call myself it is because I am a mix of different heritages black from my father’s side and Irish, Spanish, Swedish and Italian on my mother’s side. A “mix breed” or a “mutt” and no it’s not negative to me I proudly call myself a Mutt what better animal to be compared to then the ever unconditional, fiercely loyal and trustworthy dog. And if you ask me the mutts are one of the most interesting of dogs because you don’t always know what you’re going to get it’s like a surprise. But enough about that you want to here my story well today I live in the small town of South Park, nestled in between the mighty rocky mountains of Colorado. Though it was only four years ago me and my family were very new to this place, I can remember coming to South Park for the first time and feeling very well out of place. You see I was originally born in a small city known as Easton, Pennsylvania. And for the first few weeks of being in my new hometown I felt alone as if I just didn’t belong. If you wish I will tell you the story of how I came to South Park and how I was able to find my place in this crazy ass mountain town that I now call home.
It all began one chilly day in February when my dad announced to us that the company he had worked with for years would be moving to its new location in Denver, Colorado. Apparently their current location outside of Philadelphia wasn’t suiting their needs any longer and they wanted a new spot and settled for the middle of America. And it also seemed that this company really wanted my father to continue working with them because they told him if he would move to continue working with them they would give him a big promotion and even money to help relocate and to pay for our house in Colorado. With a few discussions with my mother it was settled that we would be leaving our old hometown for years behind and it was agreed that we would move in August. The plan was to allow me, my twin sisters Kelsey and Terra both 6, and my older sister Jesskia, age 12yrs to finish what was left of our school year and be able to start a new year at our new school, so we wouldn’t have to play catch up.
When I heard this my emotions were pretty mixed up, on one hand I was happy to learn that we were getting a new house. From birth me and my three sisters lived in a medium apartment. With six people, our Alaskan Malamute Tobias, and our two cats Magic and Picasso it was pretty cramped. Plus it didn't have a backyard so with a house came more space and hopefully a backyard with a big tree.
Yet on the other hand, it also meant that I would be leaving my old life behind. All my old favorite spots, my friends, my school, everything I had ever grown up with and known. This made me feel very hesitant about my dad’s decision, sure I wanted a new house but I always thought it would be in the same city and not a thousand miles away in another state. I would have to make new friends in a new school in a place I wasn’t familiar with. With the only people who I would know would be my mom, dad, sister, brother and two cats besides them I had no one. I would have to start all over from scratch. But it was decided we were moving and there was little I could do but complain. August seemed like a long time a ways but before we knew it the school year was over I made the most of it spending time with my friends before I would leave and never see them again. We gave each others phone numbers and e-mail addies we would keep in touch the best we could. In July I had my final birthday party in Easton and then it was the beginning of August. Our bags were packed and our car on a plane. We were flying to Colorado as the distance was too much for anyone to be driving. Then we were ready…at least physically. The day came in the form of a golden sunrise, it was early morning and our apartment was completely empty it was no longer ours. For a good 10 minutes I stood in the empty space that was my room and just spending the time before I had before the taxi would come to drive us to the airport. It was such a strange feeling it still felt as if it were my room but in truth it was destined to be somebody else’s. “Jacob it’s time to go!!” my mother’s voice announced to me. “I’m coming!” I replied as I took one last look at my used to be room and closed the door. And as I walked outside I took those last few moments from my steps to the cab to take one last look at the city that was my hometown from birth and would always remain special to me, Easton Creek ,Pennsylvania(not a real city). And then we all entered the taxi and drove to the airport and got on our plane and that was the last I saw of Pennsylvania.
It was a long ass flight from the Philadelphia airport to Denver took about 3-4 hours. I couldn't wait to get off this damn plane you can’t move much, you’re stuck in the same spot for 4 hours meaning your legs are getting cramped and your ass is getting hard, and my poor cats are stuck in a cage, luckily we were able to convince the stewards on the plane to allow us to keep the kitty carrier in an empty seat next to me instead of the cargo hold but still can you imagine 4 hours in a cage on a plane? Finally we had arrived in Denver but we were yet to be home, my father felt it best not to move to Denver he didn't like living in the big cities and so he choose a smaller place not too far away from Colorado’s capitol since he would have to commute there for work. Instead he found a town called South Park and so we gathered our luggage and met up with our car that had traveled in the cargo, and drove for a good 50 miles. It was a nice relief when we were greeted with the sign “Welcome to South Park, Colorado” I didn't felt all that welcomed but at least we were off the plane and soon we would be out of this car.
It was near late afternoon when we finally got to our destination, we pulled up into the drive way of our new house. “Well this is it family we’re home, our brand new start. “ My dad announced to us as he got out of the car with his new set of house keys. He approached the door, unlocked and opened it. My siblings piled out of the back seat while I grabbed the pets before leaving the car as well. My siblings and mother both grabbed some luggage and walk into the empty house leaving me behind with the cats and dog. As I closed my side door and began heading towards my new destiny, the carrier in tow, I noticed some curious on lookers from across the street, two local kids one with a blue & red hat, the other with a green hat. I wasn’t really in the mood for introductions yet and I turned away from them and headed to the house. I didn’t mean to be rude I was more nervous then anything, I didn’t know them and they didn’t know me and as far as they were concerned I was in their territory. I had yet to make part of it mine. I entered our new home in to a pretty big empty space that would be our living room, and sat the cat carrier down on the floor and began exploring the place. First thing was to find and establish where my room would be, so I went upstairs to check out the available rooms and was attracted to a spacious sunny part of the house. It over looked a valued prize of mine a backyard with a large tree standing in the middle of it! One of the most beautiful things in my life, the backyard was perfect just as the way I had dreamt it to be and the tree was the cherry on top of my sundae, it was large enough to climb on and the perfect spot to just sit under and relax. “This is my room!” I exclaimed to my parents “This is my room I called it first!!” I repeated myself a couple of times until my parents and siblings told me “Fine it’s your room just stop repeating yourself you sound like a broken record!!” And is if to mark my turf I drug my luggage upstairs and placed it in the middle of the room. It was clear I was already starting to make myself at home I already found my perfect room and so did my siblings and my parents. All we needed now was the furniture.
We couldn’t place our old couch, beds, tables etc on a plane it wasn’t allowed, though cars are, and so my dad got a large moving truck and we had beaten it to Colorado. Of course this meant we would have to wait a day for it to get to our location. Some appliances came with the house, the old kitchen combo a fridge, a gas stove, a sink and a dish washer. For the rest we were on our own, some furniture would have to be bought as they were either too large for the move or were just old and starting to show their age. For instance with my clothes dresser the drawers’ tracks were cracked, except for the tracks on the bottom which were completely broken so my drawers were sitting literally on the floor. So my parents decided to get a new dresser drawer rather then to expect it to make the thousand mile journey from Pennsylvania to Colorado. We decided to wait for the rest of the furniture to arrive first before looking for new stuff.
The moving truck also had the TV and most of our other large electronics meaning we’d have to make due with entertaining ourselves. Getting supper was a lot easier we just decided to go to the local City Wok Chinese Restaurant. It was interesting meeting the owner of the store we never got his name but he was sort of hard to forget. He greeted us with a pretty awkward welcome “Hewo welcome shitty wok can I help you?” Needless to say my parents were both confused a bit before accepting that the man had something wrong with his mouth. We got our food and headed back home it was a bit darker it seemed like we had just arrived this afternoon and already the sun was calling it a day. We had our first meal at our new house; we played a few card games ,I played a bit with my Nintendo DS, and hours went by and then we made due for sleep with two inflatable beds we brought with us, one for my parents the other for me and my sibs. It took awhile but we all finally fell asleep the first day in our new home and town came to an end.
Before we knew it the week had past. The second day our furniture arrived and we arranged it the way we wanted to and went out bought some new stuff to add to our home. Along with our electronics we were TV freaks considering the living room, my room, my bro’s room, sis’s room and parents’ rooms all had TVs. I had a PS2 connected to my TV I always needed a video game system. So I was very happy when I got to play it. The next day was nothing else but enjoying the new backyard and the rest of the house. By then our cats were also starting to adjust to their new surroundings. Magic would often be found sitting in the window watching everyone walk pass our house and Ace would be in the opposite window doing the same. The day after my parents took us to South Park Elementary for the first time to make sure the school had us on file. I was destined to go into the 4th grade. My little sister Chloe was going to kindergarten and my big brother Alex was starting 6th grade. Soon I would be in a new school forced to mix in with the other kids whom I didn’t know and vice versa. And so the first week in our new town was over. Now came the real challenge the first day of school.
It was a Tuesday since Monday was Labor Day. My father had dropped all three of us off as all parents do on the first day of school. For a few moments we stared at the door and then at each other, normally we would have dispersed and went our separate ways. But today we felt vulnerable and so decided to stick together for a bit as we entered the school and were greeted by the noises of the busy hallway. Eyes were on us as everybody noticed the new kids; hesitantly we walked down the hallway towards the principal’s office a stop for all new kids entering the school system. Everything was set our files and everything and then Mr. Mackey directed each of us to our classrooms and introduced us to our teachers. Then the bells rang signaling everyone to get to class. After getting to know my teacher Mr. Garrison he led me into the class.
He then introduced me.
“Ok children sit down. We have a new student who’ll be joining us. Please give a South Park welcome to Jacob Duncan.”
Man did I hate been put on the spotlight in front of the entire class of people I didn’t know and it was worst when everyone went silent when Garrison asked them to welcome me. But there was no turning back. Nervously I just made it quick
“Yeah hi I am Jacob but please never call me that you can call me Jake or M.. actually Jake’s fine.(they wouldn’t understand Mutt till they got to know me)I recently moved here from Easton Creek, Pennsylvania with my family and yeah that’s all I have to say.”
“How fascinating please take your seat Jake.” Garrison said as he turned to start with the days’ studies.
I then made my way over to an empty seat placed behind a fat kid and the kid with the green hat I had seen the first day I came to South Park. “WHEW!” I thought to myself as my spotlight time was over but I wondered how I did with my first impression. I hoped no one thought of me as a little timid pussy, I was in no way a push over I just had to get over this first week and I’d be back to my normally cool, mellow, confident self in no time. For now I had to get through the next few hours of lecture until lunch. Ugh if there was an absolute to anything it was that no matter where in the USA you go school was that same BORING!
Those few hours went by slowly very slowly. Mr. Garrison was still lecturing when finally the lunch bell rang and everyone crowded out of the room.
“All right children we’ll meet again after recess.” Mr. Garrison says as the other kids leave the classroom, I remained in my seat for a few minutes letting everyone else leave before me before I followed far behind my classmates to the cafeteria. I could sense I was being watched, or perhaps I was just being paranoid. Again normally I’m a very mellow, cool, no worries kind of person. If people had their own theme songs playing in the background mine would be “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Why Should I Worry” from the movie Oliver & Company, I’m cool like Dodger. There wasn’t a whole lot that would bother me and in fact most of the time it took a great deal just to get an angered reaction. My only pet peeve was racism and any other kind of hate like Anti-Semitism, oh and any abuse on the innocent likes young kids and animals. Other then that I was pretty cool but today I was paranoid, although I would find out later that there was reason behind my paranoia
Trying to blend in with the crowd I followed a line in the cafeteria to where the food was served. I hoped the food here was better then the crap they had given me in my old school though I was given my hopes up. Finally I came to the end of the line where I met a hefty, black cook wearing a white apron adorned with the word “Chef”.
In a deep, soulful voice he greeted me with a “Hello there children. Hmm I don’t think I know you and I know every face here. You must be new here.”
I was just happy to receive any kind of a welcome “Hi, yeah I just moved here a week ago. I’m Jake.”
“I thought you were new, just call me Chef. You from Colorado?” He asked as he prepared my tray.
“Nah I’m from the east coast, Pennsylvania. “ I replied. We would have talked a bit more until a few of the kids from behind me were getting a bit impatient. “Well I better take my lunch. It was nice meeting you, Chef.” I tell him as he handed me the lunch tray.
“See you around.” I heard him reply as I left the lunch line.
Now came the fun part…finding a table to sit at, that wasn’t already taken. I knew I couldn’t just sit with other kids I didn’t know, I needed to earn their respect first so I spied an empty table. Thinking it was no body else’s I sat down how lonely it felt. A whole cafeteria and here I was at an empty table that was until a few kids showed up. The one kid was handicapped walking with crutches (Jimmy), one had a tiny bit of yellow hair (Butters), one had a blue hat with a yellow puff (Craig) and the always mischievous looking fat kid (Cartman).
I remained quiet as I watched them approach; I knew the look in their eyes. “Fresh fish”
All I could think was “Oh crap here it comes.” I just watched as the small gang made there way to the table and surrounded it.
The first one to talk and act tough was the kid with the yellow tuft of hair. He didn’t appear all that tough but was fooling himself into thinking he was a tough guy “Hey kid you’re sitting in our seat!”
“Oh well..I’m sor.” And before I could finish my sentence I was met with another threat
“Y-y-yeah k-kid b-beat it!” The cripple kid yelled
“But where else am I supposed to sit??” I asked them.
”Don’t know don’t care just get lost fucker.” The fat kid followed up. Unaware that the other kid, Craig had somehow smashed some chocolate pudding on the back of my coat without me even realizing it. The kid then came in to my view.
“Yeah get lost noob!”
“Sure…fine. I can take a hint.” As I got up a felt something cold and gooey go straight down my pants. I quickly turned around to find that the fat kid had managed to pour chocolate pudding down my pants and for an added touch smeared some on the back of pants.
“UGH why you!” I yelled
The fat ass yelled as loud as he could to bring all the attention on me
“What’s wrong we scared you so much you shit yourself?!!!” All eyes in the cafeteria were on me, everyone there laughing and pointing at me. How embarrassing especially when I look over to my right to find my own older brother joining in with everyone!!!!
I was very uncomfortable but I didn’t take shit from no one and I was going to make that statement right now. The fat kid turned his back to me to face his cheering crowd. Quickly I took my box of apple juice and squirted it all down the fat ass’s pants his expression went from that of tough guy to an embarrassing shock as a nice wet spot appeared on the back and spread to the front of his pants for all to see. Soon the laughing and pointing were being shared with the fat kid. Mean while I made a straight line for the bathroom trying to clean up the pudding.
“You’re not going to take that crap from a new kid are you?!” Craig pressured the fat kid.
“Hell no! I’ll get him tomorrow….” The fat ass grumbled.
My first week of school was pretty much hell. Call it my initiation rites to my new school. Every culture has an initiation rite Christianity has baptism; Judaism has the bar mitzvah, for school it’s the pestering by your fellow schoolmates until you’ve found your place. I had plenty of that.
The next day, Wednesday, the fat kid and his gang had thought up and old but still useful prank of putting something nasty in my chair. Unaware of it I walked into the classroom with my books and sat in my chair and felt a disgusting stickiness. I quickly got up to find a big ass wad of chewed gum on my pants. URGH the stickiness of chewed gum and I just had my pants cleaned from chocolate pudding yesterday!!!!!!
I just grumbled as I left the room, laughter heard behind me. I ended up in the nurses’ office who called my parents to bring a fresh pair of pants as the gum was just going no where without a hole being cut in my pants... My mom arrived at the school and changed my pants AGAIN! I re-entered the classroom as Garrison on the third subject of the day, suspicious I checked my chair before sitting down. I just hoped to G-d the bullies wouldn’t do any more damage to my damn pants. I couldn’t just keep calling my mom for a new pair all day.
The rest of the day went without any other incidents
Yet the third day, Thursday, I again found myself in the lunchroom alone. And found a different empty table in the corner and sat there hoping the bullies would leave me alone. To no avail, the four came over I was surprised that instead of yelling at me they just sat at the table. The fat kid on my right side, the handicap on the left, and the two others in front of me.
“Listen we’re sorry for the hardship we gave you the past two days. “The fat kid said to me as he put on arm around my back and attached something to my back, the usual “Kick Me Sign” but instead it said “Gay Fuck”. Usually this tactic would go unnoticed if done by a professional, instead it was an amateur fat ass who missed the collar of my coat and instead tapped it to the back of my neck. I knew it was there, but waited.
“Oh well that’s fine. Understandable I am the new kid.” I replied.
“That’s good…well we better go.” The fat kid said as he and his gang got up and left
“W-w-hat a retard...” I heard the handicap say.
The fat kid sat down with three other kids the green hat kid, a kid in an orange parka, and a kid with a blue and red hat. His usual spot when he wasn’t with his bullying gang. When he was busy conversing with them I went in to my own action.
And I quietly pulled the sign off my back with no notice and got up and made it look as if I were just going to the bathroom which meant I had to walk by fat ass’ table. I swiftly made my way over and quickly as light as a fly tapped fat ass’s back just enough to “return” his sign and went in to the bathroom. A few minutes roll and I walked back to my lonely table. The fat kid just taken notice that the “Gay Fuck” sign was missing. His three comrades however had witnessed the whole thing and holding their laughs as the fat kid looked every where in my direction for that sign. He never found it and ended up walking with it on his back for the rest of the day.
By Friday I was starting to feel less shy and be more myself I was still lonely and getting pretty depressed. A week was coming to a close and I didn’t have a friend to connect with. Instead I was been pestered. And it seemed as if it would continue as the fat ass bully had found out where the sign. But I didn’t care I was sitting in my chair with my head laying on the desk looking half asleep. But it was pretty much my “I don’t give a shit” face. Then lunch rolled around again.
Well I was alone in the cafeteria again. At least I had Chef to talk to for a while but well he wasn’t a fellow peer. But it’s still nice to have SOME one to talk to during your first week of school. But he couldn’t sit with me and so I found myself an empty table not quite in the corner but not too far away from it either. Most of the time I watched the other kids at the other tables as at I ate and thought to myself. I tell ya it sux to sit and eat by yourself you feel pretty much desperate for some kind of company. But what could I do I knew no one here and all my friends were back in Pennsylvania, not much they could do for me. But I sucked it up and made the best of it eating lunch by myself until the recess bell rang. If anything sucks more then eating by yourself in a full cafeteria its being on a playground surrounded by people and being by yourself. A lot of new kids would try to find a spot close to the others, usually closely behind them where they could barely been seen and yet comfortable enough to not feel alone. Me…well yeah I did the same thing although I found a spot on a swing. Some kids were standing right next to the swing set; the fat kid, the green hat kid, the blue hat kid and the orange hooded kid were hanging out talking to a few others (Clyde, Timmy, Jimmy and Butters). And I was sitting on the swing pretty much behind them but close enough to get into some of the action, even if I was quite unwanted. I was quite comfortable with my spot until the fat ass spotted me and decided to stir up some trouble.
“HEY new kid what do you think you’re doing here?!” The fat kid asked as he threateningly walked over to my swing
“Um…sitting on the swing? Do I bother you?” I asked him in mellow tone.
“Yea this is MY SWING and MY PLAYGROUND!!” The fat ass got all steamed up when his three friends interrupted,
“Your playground? Says who fat ass??” The green hat kid asked.
“Yeah you don’t own this playground...” The blue hat kid added.
“Ugh well…” He stopped as he had no answer. He turned back to me “Well it doesn’t matter GET LOST!”
“Dude he’s not bothering anyone just leave him alone.” The green hat kid actually defending my right to be here, I was quite shocked actually.
“Fuck you Jew! I’m teaching him his place!! GET LOST!” He repeated back at me.
My eye kind of twitched at fat ass’ insult towards the kid who was the only one in the school to defend me. I sat there for a while before I replied in an attempt to stand my ground.
“I’m not moving from this swing just because you don’t like me. I’m not afraid of you.” I stared him in the eyes and for a few seconds there was a bit of a stare down to see who would back off. I even added a bit of a growling effect, I didn’t call myself Mutt just because of my mix heritage. The stare down continued until the bell rang signaling the end of recess. With a huff the fat ass walked away and I was successful at holding my ground or in this case the swing. With that everyone left the playground and returned to the doldrums of school. At least it was Friday but again I was alone no friend to tag along to the arcade, to invite to a sleep over, vice versa, or just to hang with. This bother my parents, both my siblings had made friends with their classmates but me I was still a loner.
I spent my Friday night playing my PS2. Saturday came and I had intended to spend my time at home but my mother would have none of it, that afternoon would change everything.
“Jacob, there are plenty of kids your age you should play with them. I’m taking you to the playground today you are not spending a whole Saturday doing nothing.” My mother told me as she drove me towards the playground.
“But Mom no body likes me…” I argued back
“Nonsense, they just have to warm up to you, just be yourself and you’ll be fine” My mother replied, making it sound as if it were just so easy to make new friends. We pulled up to the playground and I hesitated as I looked out the window. It seemed to be a popular site most of my classmates were already there, the green hat kid, the blue hat kid, the orange hood kid, and the blond tuft kid. (he has yet to know their names so…lol)
”But mom I don’t want to.” I said putting up some resistance.
“Go Jacob, you need to be with others of your age. Go Jacob” Mom demanded as she opened my door
Grumbling I got out of the car noticing a crowd watching my entrance. “But mom…”
“No buts Jacob now I’ll see you later. Your dad and I have to go shopping you know your way back home but don’t stay out too late. And don’t go running straight back home either...” Mom replied, reading my mind. “Now see you later.” She said closing the passenger door and driving off.
I felt as if I were just thrown into a piranha tank as all eyes were on me. At least one kid was out of the picture, for whatever reason the fat ass was absent from the playground which made me drop my guard just a bit. The other kids seemed friendly enough. A few minutes of silence went by as I stood in the same spot my mother dropped me off before I finally took a deep breath and slowly edged a bit more into the play area.
I would have remained silent if it weren’t for the green hat kid whom again, whether he knew it or not, came to my rescue.
Because he was the first of all my classmates to greet me with a simple, non-judging, greeting even if all he said was
“Hey dude”
“Hey umm...” I replied, feeling myself relax a bit but realized I didn’t even know his name. “Sorry I don’t think I know anyone’s names, been harassed by this asshole too much to even get to know anybody” I said a bit embarrassed.
“Fat ass Cartman? Eh don’t worry about him too much he hates everyone but himself.” The green hat kid replied.
“Yeah he hates everyone and everyone pretty much hates him back.” The blue hat kid added on.
“My name’s Kyle by the way. I’m sorry what was your name again?” Kyle asked
“I’m Jake…well my real name’s Jacob but I prefer to be called Jake.” I replied
Kyle had opened a door because everyone else decided to open up to me as well
“I’m Stan, sorry you had to deal with fat ass your first week here but you gave him hell” Stan greeted
“Yeah well what doesn’t kill ya makes ya stronger I guess.” I nervously laughed a bit
“Tell me about” The orange hooded kid replied rolling his eyes (I wouldn’t get his comment till later on) “I’m Kenny.” Kenny greeted.
“Hey, Kenny.” I replied to him
“And I’m Butters.” The yellow tufted kid added on.
“H…hey weren’t you with Cartman?” I asked him
“Yeah Eric has a way of forcing me to join his side but I tend to hang with anyone.” Butters replied
“Yeah he tends to follow Cartman’s lead a lot as he’s very gullible.” Stan whispered to me.
“Ooh I see… So where is this Cartman anyway?” I asked
“He went with his mom to see his grandfather in Nebraska. Thank G-d he’s spending the weekend there.” Kyle replied
“Awesome.” Was all I could say “Just too bad that he can’t live there.”
“Hell yeah that’d solve all my problems.” Kyle responded
“Hey guys my dad just called me on my cell and says he’s order pizza for lunch. Want to come along?” Stan offered as he held his cell.
“Sure!” the others replied and began heading off towards Stan’s house. I staid behind not sure if I was welcomed until Kyle rescued me yet a third time.
“Coming Jake?” Kyle asked as him and the others realized I wasn’t following them.
“You don’t mind?” I asked
“Nah you seem cool enough, come on!” Stan encouraged
“Ok then.” I replied
As I caught up to the four kids my spirits grew higher then when I first moved to South Park. Though they didn’t know me well enough yet to establish me as a friend they did deem me worthy enough to give me a chance and that was enough. I trailed behind my new acquaintances; there was no looking back on my lonely depression, after being in this place for weeks South Park, Colorado was finally starting to feel like home but it was still a long ways.
Chap 1: My Name is Mutt
My name is Jacob Duncan but never call me Jacob I prefer that only my parents call me that. You may call me Jake but to those who know me best I go by my nickname “Mutt”. To those asking why I call myself it is because I am a mix of different heritages black from my father’s side and Irish, Spanish, Swedish and Italian on my mother’s side. A “mix breed” or a “mutt” and no it’s not negative to me I proudly call myself a Mutt what better animal to be compared to then the ever unconditional, fiercely loyal and trustworthy dog. And if you ask me the mutts are one of the most interesting of dogs because you don’t always know what you’re going to get it’s like a surprise. But enough about that you want to here my story well today I live in the small town of South Park, nestled in between the mighty rocky mountains of Colorado. Though it was only four years ago me and my family were very new to this place, I can remember coming to South Park for the first time and feeling very well out of place. You see I was originally born in a small city known as Easton, Pennsylvania. And for the first few weeks of being in my new hometown I felt alone as if I just didn’t belong. If you wish I will tell you the story of how I came to South Park and how I was able to find my place in this crazy ass mountain town that I now call home.
It all began one chilly day in February when my dad announced to us that the company he had worked with for years would be moving to its new location in Denver, Colorado. Apparently their current location outside of Philadelphia wasn’t suiting their needs any longer and they wanted a new spot and settled for the middle of America. And it also seemed that this company really wanted my father to continue working with them because they told him if he would move to continue working with them they would give him a big promotion and even money to help relocate and to pay for our house in Colorado. With a few discussions with my mother it was settled that we would be leaving our old hometown for years behind and it was agreed that we would move in August. The plan was to allow me, my twin sisters Kelsey and Terra both 6, and my older sister Jesskia, age 12yrs to finish what was left of our school year and be able to start a new year at our new school, so we wouldn’t have to play catch up.
When I heard this my emotions were pretty mixed up, on one hand I was happy to learn that we were getting a new house. From birth me and my three sisters lived in a medium apartment. With six people, our Alaskan Malamute Tobias, and our two cats Magic and Picasso it was pretty cramped. Plus it didn't have a backyard so with a house came more space and hopefully a backyard with a big tree.
Yet on the other hand, it also meant that I would be leaving my old life behind. All my old favorite spots, my friends, my school, everything I had ever grown up with and known. This made me feel very hesitant about my dad’s decision, sure I wanted a new house but I always thought it would be in the same city and not a thousand miles away in another state. I would have to make new friends in a new school in a place I wasn’t familiar with. With the only people who I would know would be my mom, dad, sister, brother and two cats besides them I had no one. I would have to start all over from scratch. But it was decided we were moving and there was little I could do but complain. August seemed like a long time a ways but before we knew it the school year was over I made the most of it spending time with my friends before I would leave and never see them again. We gave each others phone numbers and e-mail addies we would keep in touch the best we could. In July I had my final birthday party in Easton and then it was the beginning of August. Our bags were packed and our car on a plane. We were flying to Colorado as the distance was too much for anyone to be driving. Then we were ready…at least physically. The day came in the form of a golden sunrise, it was early morning and our apartment was completely empty it was no longer ours. For a good 10 minutes I stood in the empty space that was my room and just spending the time before I had before the taxi would come to drive us to the airport. It was such a strange feeling it still felt as if it were my room but in truth it was destined to be somebody else’s. “Jacob it’s time to go!!” my mother’s voice announced to me. “I’m coming!” I replied as I took one last look at my used to be room and closed the door. And as I walked outside I took those last few moments from my steps to the cab to take one last look at the city that was my hometown from birth and would always remain special to me, Easton Creek ,Pennsylvania(not a real city). And then we all entered the taxi and drove to the airport and got on our plane and that was the last I saw of Pennsylvania.
It was a long ass flight from the Philadelphia airport to Denver took about 3-4 hours. I couldn't wait to get off this damn plane you can’t move much, you’re stuck in the same spot for 4 hours meaning your legs are getting cramped and your ass is getting hard, and my poor cats are stuck in a cage, luckily we were able to convince the stewards on the plane to allow us to keep the kitty carrier in an empty seat next to me instead of the cargo hold but still can you imagine 4 hours in a cage on a plane? Finally we had arrived in Denver but we were yet to be home, my father felt it best not to move to Denver he didn't like living in the big cities and so he choose a smaller place not too far away from Colorado’s capitol since he would have to commute there for work. Instead he found a town called South Park and so we gathered our luggage and met up with our car that had traveled in the cargo, and drove for a good 50 miles. It was a nice relief when we were greeted with the sign “Welcome to South Park, Colorado” I didn't felt all that welcomed but at least we were off the plane and soon we would be out of this car.
It was near late afternoon when we finally got to our destination, we pulled up into the drive way of our new house. “Well this is it family we’re home, our brand new start. “ My dad announced to us as he got out of the car with his new set of house keys. He approached the door, unlocked and opened it. My siblings piled out of the back seat while I grabbed the pets before leaving the car as well. My siblings and mother both grabbed some luggage and walk into the empty house leaving me behind with the cats and dog. As I closed my side door and began heading towards my new destiny, the carrier in tow, I noticed some curious on lookers from across the street, two local kids one with a blue & red hat, the other with a green hat. I wasn’t really in the mood for introductions yet and I turned away from them and headed to the house. I didn’t mean to be rude I was more nervous then anything, I didn’t know them and they didn’t know me and as far as they were concerned I was in their territory. I had yet to make part of it mine. I entered our new home in to a pretty big empty space that would be our living room, and sat the cat carrier down on the floor and began exploring the place. First thing was to find and establish where my room would be, so I went upstairs to check out the available rooms and was attracted to a spacious sunny part of the house. It over looked a valued prize of mine a backyard with a large tree standing in the middle of it! One of the most beautiful things in my life, the backyard was perfect just as the way I had dreamt it to be and the tree was the cherry on top of my sundae, it was large enough to climb on and the perfect spot to just sit under and relax. “This is my room!” I exclaimed to my parents “This is my room I called it first!!” I repeated myself a couple of times until my parents and siblings told me “Fine it’s your room just stop repeating yourself you sound like a broken record!!” And is if to mark my turf I drug my luggage upstairs and placed it in the middle of the room. It was clear I was already starting to make myself at home I already found my perfect room and so did my siblings and my parents. All we needed now was the furniture.
We couldn’t place our old couch, beds, tables etc on a plane it wasn’t allowed, though cars are, and so my dad got a large moving truck and we had beaten it to Colorado. Of course this meant we would have to wait a day for it to get to our location. Some appliances came with the house, the old kitchen combo a fridge, a gas stove, a sink and a dish washer. For the rest we were on our own, some furniture would have to be bought as they were either too large for the move or were just old and starting to show their age. For instance with my clothes dresser the drawers’ tracks were cracked, except for the tracks on the bottom which were completely broken so my drawers were sitting literally on the floor. So my parents decided to get a new dresser drawer rather then to expect it to make the thousand mile journey from Pennsylvania to Colorado. We decided to wait for the rest of the furniture to arrive first before looking for new stuff.
The moving truck also had the TV and most of our other large electronics meaning we’d have to make due with entertaining ourselves. Getting supper was a lot easier we just decided to go to the local City Wok Chinese Restaurant. It was interesting meeting the owner of the store we never got his name but he was sort of hard to forget. He greeted us with a pretty awkward welcome “Hewo welcome shitty wok can I help you?” Needless to say my parents were both confused a bit before accepting that the man had something wrong with his mouth. We got our food and headed back home it was a bit darker it seemed like we had just arrived this afternoon and already the sun was calling it a day. We had our first meal at our new house; we played a few card games ,I played a bit with my Nintendo DS, and hours went by and then we made due for sleep with two inflatable beds we brought with us, one for my parents the other for me and my sibs. It took awhile but we all finally fell asleep the first day in our new home and town came to an end.
Before we knew it the week had past. The second day our furniture arrived and we arranged it the way we wanted to and went out bought some new stuff to add to our home. Along with our electronics we were TV freaks considering the living room, my room, my bro’s room, sis’s room and parents’ rooms all had TVs. I had a PS2 connected to my TV I always needed a video game system. So I was very happy when I got to play it. The next day was nothing else but enjoying the new backyard and the rest of the house. By then our cats were also starting to adjust to their new surroundings. Magic would often be found sitting in the window watching everyone walk pass our house and Ace would be in the opposite window doing the same. The day after my parents took us to South Park Elementary for the first time to make sure the school had us on file. I was destined to go into the 4th grade. My little sister Chloe was going to kindergarten and my big brother Alex was starting 6th grade. Soon I would be in a new school forced to mix in with the other kids whom I didn’t know and vice versa. And so the first week in our new town was over. Now came the real challenge the first day of school.
It was a Tuesday since Monday was Labor Day. My father had dropped all three of us off as all parents do on the first day of school. For a few moments we stared at the door and then at each other, normally we would have dispersed and went our separate ways. But today we felt vulnerable and so decided to stick together for a bit as we entered the school and were greeted by the noises of the busy hallway. Eyes were on us as everybody noticed the new kids; hesitantly we walked down the hallway towards the principal’s office a stop for all new kids entering the school system. Everything was set our files and everything and then Mr. Mackey directed each of us to our classrooms and introduced us to our teachers. Then the bells rang signaling everyone to get to class. After getting to know my teacher Mr. Garrison he led me into the class.
He then introduced me.
“Ok children sit down. We have a new student who’ll be joining us. Please give a South Park welcome to Jacob Duncan.”
Man did I hate been put on the spotlight in front of the entire class of people I didn’t know and it was worst when everyone went silent when Garrison asked them to welcome me. But there was no turning back. Nervously I just made it quick
“Yeah hi I am Jacob but please never call me that you can call me Jake or M.. actually Jake’s fine.(they wouldn’t understand Mutt till they got to know me)I recently moved here from Easton Creek, Pennsylvania with my family and yeah that’s all I have to say.”
“How fascinating please take your seat Jake.” Garrison said as he turned to start with the days’ studies.
I then made my way over to an empty seat placed behind a fat kid and the kid with the green hat I had seen the first day I came to South Park. “WHEW!” I thought to myself as my spotlight time was over but I wondered how I did with my first impression. I hoped no one thought of me as a little timid pussy, I was in no way a push over I just had to get over this first week and I’d be back to my normally cool, mellow, confident self in no time. For now I had to get through the next few hours of lecture until lunch. Ugh if there was an absolute to anything it was that no matter where in the USA you go school was that same BORING!
Those few hours went by slowly very slowly. Mr. Garrison was still lecturing when finally the lunch bell rang and everyone crowded out of the room.
“All right children we’ll meet again after recess.” Mr. Garrison says as the other kids leave the classroom, I remained in my seat for a few minutes letting everyone else leave before me before I followed far behind my classmates to the cafeteria. I could sense I was being watched, or perhaps I was just being paranoid. Again normally I’m a very mellow, cool, no worries kind of person. If people had their own theme songs playing in the background mine would be “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Why Should I Worry” from the movie Oliver & Company, I’m cool like Dodger. There wasn’t a whole lot that would bother me and in fact most of the time it took a great deal just to get an angered reaction. My only pet peeve was racism and any other kind of hate like Anti-Semitism, oh and any abuse on the innocent likes young kids and animals. Other then that I was pretty cool but today I was paranoid, although I would find out later that there was reason behind my paranoia
Trying to blend in with the crowd I followed a line in the cafeteria to where the food was served. I hoped the food here was better then the crap they had given me in my old school though I was given my hopes up. Finally I came to the end of the line where I met a hefty, black cook wearing a white apron adorned with the word “Chef”.
In a deep, soulful voice he greeted me with a “Hello there children. Hmm I don’t think I know you and I know every face here. You must be new here.”
I was just happy to receive any kind of a welcome “Hi, yeah I just moved here a week ago. I’m Jake.”
“I thought you were new, just call me Chef. You from Colorado?” He asked as he prepared my tray.
“Nah I’m from the east coast, Pennsylvania. “ I replied. We would have talked a bit more until a few of the kids from behind me were getting a bit impatient. “Well I better take my lunch. It was nice meeting you, Chef.” I tell him as he handed me the lunch tray.
“See you around.” I heard him reply as I left the lunch line.
Now came the fun part…finding a table to sit at, that wasn’t already taken. I knew I couldn’t just sit with other kids I didn’t know, I needed to earn their respect first so I spied an empty table. Thinking it was no body else’s I sat down how lonely it felt. A whole cafeteria and here I was at an empty table that was until a few kids showed up. The one kid was handicapped walking with crutches (Jimmy), one had a tiny bit of yellow hair (Butters), one had a blue hat with a yellow puff (Craig) and the always mischievous looking fat kid (Cartman).
I remained quiet as I watched them approach; I knew the look in their eyes. “Fresh fish”
All I could think was “Oh crap here it comes.” I just watched as the small gang made there way to the table and surrounded it.
The first one to talk and act tough was the kid with the yellow tuft of hair. He didn’t appear all that tough but was fooling himself into thinking he was a tough guy “Hey kid you’re sitting in our seat!”
“Oh well..I’m sor.” And before I could finish my sentence I was met with another threat
“Y-y-yeah k-kid b-beat it!” The cripple kid yelled
“But where else am I supposed to sit??” I asked them.
”Don’t know don’t care just get lost fucker.” The fat kid followed up. Unaware that the other kid, Craig had somehow smashed some chocolate pudding on the back of my coat without me even realizing it. The kid then came in to my view.
“Yeah get lost noob!”
“Sure…fine. I can take a hint.” As I got up a felt something cold and gooey go straight down my pants. I quickly turned around to find that the fat kid had managed to pour chocolate pudding down my pants and for an added touch smeared some on the back of pants.
“UGH why you!” I yelled
The fat ass yelled as loud as he could to bring all the attention on me
“What’s wrong we scared you so much you shit yourself?!!!” All eyes in the cafeteria were on me, everyone there laughing and pointing at me. How embarrassing especially when I look over to my right to find my own older brother joining in with everyone!!!!
I was very uncomfortable but I didn’t take shit from no one and I was going to make that statement right now. The fat kid turned his back to me to face his cheering crowd. Quickly I took my box of apple juice and squirted it all down the fat ass’s pants his expression went from that of tough guy to an embarrassing shock as a nice wet spot appeared on the back and spread to the front of his pants for all to see. Soon the laughing and pointing were being shared with the fat kid. Mean while I made a straight line for the bathroom trying to clean up the pudding.
“You’re not going to take that crap from a new kid are you?!” Craig pressured the fat kid.
“Hell no! I’ll get him tomorrow….” The fat ass grumbled.
My first week of school was pretty much hell. Call it my initiation rites to my new school. Every culture has an initiation rite Christianity has baptism; Judaism has the bar mitzvah, for school it’s the pestering by your fellow schoolmates until you’ve found your place. I had plenty of that.
The next day, Wednesday, the fat kid and his gang had thought up and old but still useful prank of putting something nasty in my chair. Unaware of it I walked into the classroom with my books and sat in my chair and felt a disgusting stickiness. I quickly got up to find a big ass wad of chewed gum on my pants. URGH the stickiness of chewed gum and I just had my pants cleaned from chocolate pudding yesterday!!!!!!
I just grumbled as I left the room, laughter heard behind me. I ended up in the nurses’ office who called my parents to bring a fresh pair of pants as the gum was just going no where without a hole being cut in my pants... My mom arrived at the school and changed my pants AGAIN! I re-entered the classroom as Garrison on the third subject of the day, suspicious I checked my chair before sitting down. I just hoped to G-d the bullies wouldn’t do any more damage to my damn pants. I couldn’t just keep calling my mom for a new pair all day.
The rest of the day went without any other incidents
Yet the third day, Thursday, I again found myself in the lunchroom alone. And found a different empty table in the corner and sat there hoping the bullies would leave me alone. To no avail, the four came over I was surprised that instead of yelling at me they just sat at the table. The fat kid on my right side, the handicap on the left, and the two others in front of me.
“Listen we’re sorry for the hardship we gave you the past two days. “The fat kid said to me as he put on arm around my back and attached something to my back, the usual “Kick Me Sign” but instead it said “Gay Fuck”. Usually this tactic would go unnoticed if done by a professional, instead it was an amateur fat ass who missed the collar of my coat and instead tapped it to the back of my neck. I knew it was there, but waited.
“Oh well that’s fine. Understandable I am the new kid.” I replied.
“That’s good…well we better go.” The fat kid said as he and his gang got up and left
“W-w-hat a retard...” I heard the handicap say.
The fat kid sat down with three other kids the green hat kid, a kid in an orange parka, and a kid with a blue and red hat. His usual spot when he wasn’t with his bullying gang. When he was busy conversing with them I went in to my own action.
And I quietly pulled the sign off my back with no notice and got up and made it look as if I were just going to the bathroom which meant I had to walk by fat ass’ table. I swiftly made my way over and quickly as light as a fly tapped fat ass’s back just enough to “return” his sign and went in to the bathroom. A few minutes roll and I walked back to my lonely table. The fat kid just taken notice that the “Gay Fuck” sign was missing. His three comrades however had witnessed the whole thing and holding their laughs as the fat kid looked every where in my direction for that sign. He never found it and ended up walking with it on his back for the rest of the day.
By Friday I was starting to feel less shy and be more myself I was still lonely and getting pretty depressed. A week was coming to a close and I didn’t have a friend to connect with. Instead I was been pestered. And it seemed as if it would continue as the fat ass bully had found out where the sign. But I didn’t care I was sitting in my chair with my head laying on the desk looking half asleep. But it was pretty much my “I don’t give a shit” face. Then lunch rolled around again.
Well I was alone in the cafeteria again. At least I had Chef to talk to for a while but well he wasn’t a fellow peer. But it’s still nice to have SOME one to talk to during your first week of school. But he couldn’t sit with me and so I found myself an empty table not quite in the corner but not too far away from it either. Most of the time I watched the other kids at the other tables as at I ate and thought to myself. I tell ya it sux to sit and eat by yourself you feel pretty much desperate for some kind of company. But what could I do I knew no one here and all my friends were back in Pennsylvania, not much they could do for me. But I sucked it up and made the best of it eating lunch by myself until the recess bell rang. If anything sucks more then eating by yourself in a full cafeteria its being on a playground surrounded by people and being by yourself. A lot of new kids would try to find a spot close to the others, usually closely behind them where they could barely been seen and yet comfortable enough to not feel alone. Me…well yeah I did the same thing although I found a spot on a swing. Some kids were standing right next to the swing set; the fat kid, the green hat kid, the blue hat kid and the orange hooded kid were hanging out talking to a few others (Clyde, Timmy, Jimmy and Butters). And I was sitting on the swing pretty much behind them but close enough to get into some of the action, even if I was quite unwanted. I was quite comfortable with my spot until the fat ass spotted me and decided to stir up some trouble.
“HEY new kid what do you think you’re doing here?!” The fat kid asked as he threateningly walked over to my swing
“Um…sitting on the swing? Do I bother you?” I asked him in mellow tone.
“Yea this is MY SWING and MY PLAYGROUND!!” The fat ass got all steamed up when his three friends interrupted,
“Your playground? Says who fat ass??” The green hat kid asked.
“Yeah you don’t own this playground...” The blue hat kid added.
“Ugh well…” He stopped as he had no answer. He turned back to me “Well it doesn’t matter GET LOST!”
“Dude he’s not bothering anyone just leave him alone.” The green hat kid actually defending my right to be here, I was quite shocked actually.
“Fuck you Jew! I’m teaching him his place!! GET LOST!” He repeated back at me.
My eye kind of twitched at fat ass’ insult towards the kid who was the only one in the school to defend me. I sat there for a while before I replied in an attempt to stand my ground.
“I’m not moving from this swing just because you don’t like me. I’m not afraid of you.” I stared him in the eyes and for a few seconds there was a bit of a stare down to see who would back off. I even added a bit of a growling effect, I didn’t call myself Mutt just because of my mix heritage. The stare down continued until the bell rang signaling the end of recess. With a huff the fat ass walked away and I was successful at holding my ground or in this case the swing. With that everyone left the playground and returned to the doldrums of school. At least it was Friday but again I was alone no friend to tag along to the arcade, to invite to a sleep over, vice versa, or just to hang with. This bother my parents, both my siblings had made friends with their classmates but me I was still a loner.
I spent my Friday night playing my PS2. Saturday came and I had intended to spend my time at home but my mother would have none of it, that afternoon would change everything.
“Jacob, there are plenty of kids your age you should play with them. I’m taking you to the playground today you are not spending a whole Saturday doing nothing.” My mother told me as she drove me towards the playground.
“But Mom no body likes me…” I argued back
“Nonsense, they just have to warm up to you, just be yourself and you’ll be fine” My mother replied, making it sound as if it were just so easy to make new friends. We pulled up to the playground and I hesitated as I looked out the window. It seemed to be a popular site most of my classmates were already there, the green hat kid, the blue hat kid, the orange hood kid, and the blond tuft kid. (he has yet to know their names so…lol)
”But mom I don’t want to.” I said putting up some resistance.
“Go Jacob, you need to be with others of your age. Go Jacob” Mom demanded as she opened my door
Grumbling I got out of the car noticing a crowd watching my entrance. “But mom…”
“No buts Jacob now I’ll see you later. Your dad and I have to go shopping you know your way back home but don’t stay out too late. And don’t go running straight back home either...” Mom replied, reading my mind. “Now see you later.” She said closing the passenger door and driving off.
I felt as if I were just thrown into a piranha tank as all eyes were on me. At least one kid was out of the picture, for whatever reason the fat ass was absent from the playground which made me drop my guard just a bit. The other kids seemed friendly enough. A few minutes of silence went by as I stood in the same spot my mother dropped me off before I finally took a deep breath and slowly edged a bit more into the play area.
I would have remained silent if it weren’t for the green hat kid whom again, whether he knew it or not, came to my rescue.
Because he was the first of all my classmates to greet me with a simple, non-judging, greeting even if all he said was
“Hey dude”
“Hey umm...” I replied, feeling myself relax a bit but realized I didn’t even know his name. “Sorry I don’t think I know anyone’s names, been harassed by this asshole too much to even get to know anybody” I said a bit embarrassed.
“Fat ass Cartman? Eh don’t worry about him too much he hates everyone but himself.” The green hat kid replied.
“Yeah he hates everyone and everyone pretty much hates him back.” The blue hat kid added on.
“My name’s Kyle by the way. I’m sorry what was your name again?” Kyle asked
“I’m Jake…well my real name’s Jacob but I prefer to be called Jake.” I replied
Kyle had opened a door because everyone else decided to open up to me as well
“I’m Stan, sorry you had to deal with fat ass your first week here but you gave him hell” Stan greeted
“Yeah well what doesn’t kill ya makes ya stronger I guess.” I nervously laughed a bit
“Tell me about” The orange hooded kid replied rolling his eyes (I wouldn’t get his comment till later on) “I’m Kenny.” Kenny greeted.
“Hey, Kenny.” I replied to him
“And I’m Butters.” The yellow tufted kid added on.
“H…hey weren’t you with Cartman?” I asked him
“Yeah Eric has a way of forcing me to join his side but I tend to hang with anyone.” Butters replied
“Yeah he tends to follow Cartman’s lead a lot as he’s very gullible.” Stan whispered to me.
“Ooh I see… So where is this Cartman anyway?” I asked
“He went with his mom to see his grandfather in Nebraska. Thank G-d he’s spending the weekend there.” Kyle replied
“Awesome.” Was all I could say “Just too bad that he can’t live there.”
“Hell yeah that’d solve all my problems.” Kyle responded
“Hey guys my dad just called me on my cell and says he’s order pizza for lunch. Want to come along?” Stan offered as he held his cell.
“Sure!” the others replied and began heading off towards Stan’s house. I staid behind not sure if I was welcomed until Kyle rescued me yet a third time.
“Coming Jake?” Kyle asked as him and the others realized I wasn’t following them.
“You don’t mind?” I asked
“Nah you seem cool enough, come on!” Stan encouraged
“Ok then.” I replied
As I caught up to the four kids my spirits grew higher then when I first moved to South Park. Though they didn’t know me well enough yet to establish me as a friend they did deem me worthy enough to give me a chance and that was enough. I trailed behind my new acquaintances; there was no looking back on my lonely depression, after being in this place for weeks South Park, Colorado was finally starting to feel like home but it was still a long ways.
