South Park: Dragging Me Down

Unravelling

A few days had passed since Kenny and Pip had had their heart to heart and Pip was slowly making more progress in his recovery. He was eating slightly bigger portions and was finding it easier to converse with the hospital staff, even if most didn't really have the time for him.

Pip's hands cupped his sore stomach, trying to nurse the growing pain in his side which had been building up for the past few hours. Trying to forget about his sores, he found himself staring out of the room window which overlooked the bleak courtyard, catching his reflection in the glass. He noted he was still looking pale and gaunt with his face still covered with faint bruises.

His mind then drifted to other things.

An eleven-year old Pip stared at his emaciated visage in the bathroom mirror, his tired eyes giving him a sickly appearance.

Despite his fatigue, the boy was wired. His sister and her chap were having a party downstairs and had invited a bunch of strangers, so Pip thought it wise to stay upstairs out of their way, but would remain awake in case they needed him for anything.

He wouldn't be able to sleep through the racket, anyway.

Pip sat down on the toilet seat lid and shivered as the music from the party became even louder, bursting all kinds of banging rave beats through the building. The pre-teen noted the house was becoming overwhelmed by the thudding vibrations which violently shook the lampshades hanging down from the ceiling.

Earlier that evening there had been a noise complaint from one of the neighbours. On answering the door, Pip had come face to face with the burliest man on the street who had ordered the exhausted boy to do something about the music.

So Pip had slipped into the party and tried to convey the neighbours' complaints to anyone who would listen, only to get himself ignored and catcalled by some of the partygoers.

"Who are you? Wanna join the party?"

"Come dance with us, kid!"

"Hey brat! You look adorable! How about you come over here and go down on me?"

"Aww, aren't you a cutie?"

"Hey, kids aren't allowed in here! Go away!"

After picking himself up and trying to decipher who would be classed as the most responsible adult in this situation, Pip returned to the front door only to be screamed at by several more neighbours who had gathered outside in a crowd.

"Did you sort it?"

"Doesn't seem like it. The music is still too loud!"

"It's one o'clock in the god damn morning! Turn off that fucking music already!"

"Just turn it off! What's your fucking problem?"

Pip hung his head, his fear growing at their irritation. "I'm sorry." he replied tiredly, wanting to get some sleep himself. "They said they shouldn't be much longer now."

"They better not be!"

"Stupid British family." one of the angry residents hissed just before the group left, leaving Pip with an uncomfortable sensation in his throat.

...Family?

Is this what other families are like?

He looked over at the retreating figures, feeling a little disappointed. Disappointed because he couldn't go with them?

He found himself tensing up when the music shaking the living room became louder for a brief moment as the lounge door opened, allowing the tunes to seep through. It was closed and became muffled again.