idiots in love

~ 22 ~

"Enough, Randy. You're taking this too far."

"What do you mean, Sharon?"

"Look at yourself!"

In a matter of minutes, Randy further expanded today's entertainment. The celebration's initial layout, meant to replicate a birthday party, was somehow lost in translation. The streamers, giant rainbow balloon, and birthday hats were replaced by an assortment of works sitting under a canopy. In horror, Sharon witnessed it all go down: their savings, their reputation - no, correction, she witnessed their reputation dive deeper into the seven circles of Hell. Her last straw was surprisingly not the wasted savings but the artwork's content.

Against many wooden easels sat beautifully painted canvases of her son, his best friend, and his other friends. Standing next to their artwork were an odd sighting of polar-opposite artists. She spotted sophisticated types but the snarky ones - a type who would never be seen in a run-down town like theirs but Sharon reminded herself money can change anyone's mind. Next to them were a group of Asian girls likely still in middle school. The realism painted by the sophisticated appeared incompatible next to an anime art-style yet both group of artists awed at each other's work. Randy even called in a caricature artist who was busy drawing an odd request.

She tossed a glare at her husband. "Did you order them to draw your son making out with his best friend?!"

"Uh oh, Sharon. I think you mean 'boyfriend'."

"Randy, I've lost my patience with you. You're ridiculing these poor boys." She sighed.

A reassuring hand placed itself on Sharon's shoulder. "I get it, Sharon. It was all so unexpected. Our son being gay and all...or maybe bi? I can't keep up with it sometimes. But that's fine because all Stan needs right now is some support from an ally like myself." His proud smug made his wife snort. "You gotta fix that attitude of yours, Sharon. This is good for South Park. We're cool now." He spotted his son and Kyle talking to each other in the distance and pointed their way. "Smile more. This day isn't about you. It's about them."

Left completely baffled, Sharon fought the urge to pull her hair out as she watched her husband walk away first. She detested that adamant side of Randy. Furthermore, she couldn't believe Stan told his father first! Was Sharon really reduced to the invalidating mother as opposed to Randy of all men?! Sometimes, his gaslighting was all too convincing that she found herself having to comply. After all, this fixation of his will tire him out eventually even if it has nothing to do with him. At that moment, the thought of divorce was so tempting.

She looked out in the distance, observing the interaction between the two boys only to directly meet her son's eyes. When he did, he sprinted like no tomorrow while gripping Kyle's wrist. They were completely dazed at the situation at hand. She warmly smiled as they drew closer. "Hi, boys."

"Mom!"

The aggravated shrill of her son's voice was to be expected. Her previous night was spent forcibly listening to Randy's schemes: an absurd plan she anticipated her son to reject. It never struck her strange to hear his enthusiastic speech because it was 2 A.M and she trusted it was all a sick joke. Who knew the man himself would actually play with the idea of celebrating his son's sexuality.

"You need to do something!" Stan didn't need to study his surroundings to know the crowd was building up minute by minute. As morning turned into afternoon, idle chatter followed suit. But when more and more voices collected all at once, it grew deafening. This harsh noise was a mild issue in comparison to the comments from each person that passed by. It was daunting. "I really believed I could survive this day; that I could put up with Dad's shit," Stan stared up at his mother in disbelief, "but this is beyond me. Look at Kyle, Mom! He's one ridiculing remark away from losing it."