snowbound - south park's new kid

chapter 1 - tangled beginnings

Fall, Utah, Elsie's mom's crazy sister. It's always the same. Every year. Never changed, never faltered. It's a shitty routine, but at least it's something. And, at least it's hers.

But when Elsie slumps against the creaky door of the old truck, she'd be caught off guard by what the weathered Jimbo practically shoves into her palms-an almost indiscernible leaflet that reads; 'South Park'.

Elsie holds the crumpled pamphlet in front of her, shifting her gaze from Jimbo, then to the faded print on the paper.

SOUTH PARK

"...So, I'm going to South Park?" Elsie grumbles, dropping her bags to the ground to idly scour over the details. "No Lorraine this year then?"

Lorraine. Her lunatic aunt.

Jimbo shakes his head, his sunken mouth full of sour, potent beer, which Elsie would swear down does not taste good, at all, victim to her stupid curiosity. He places the half-empty-bottle down with a clink at the front porch steps, then removes his disgustingly filthy trucker hat that might've been white once, but now yellows around the hat's rim. "Nope, kid," he replies, reaching his large, clammy hand down to ruffle Elsie's head. She swats his hand away immediately, fingers carding through tangled curls, while he drags the few bags into the back of his worn-out truck. "Thought it'd be nice for ya' to celebrate your sixteenth there, hm Els?" His voice gawklingly spills, and to that, Elsie nods cautiously, crouching down to tuck a sock back into her unlaced boot.

"Hunting season's gonna be long, I reckon, and Lorri don't need no help this year," he starts, bending down to pick up another bag. "-Ain't much for a kid like you to do 'round these parts, is'there? But down in South Park, there's plenty of rascals like ya'. Plenty of excitement, too, Els." He lets out a hearty chuckle as he slams shut the cargo bed of the truck. Elsie would reply with a half-hearted 'Mhm' occasionally, tired eyes lazily scanning the details on the pamphlets' print.

"You excited, Els?" Jimbo asks, brushing some settled snow off the front of the truck. She nods absentmindedly, which she knows goes unnoticed, perhaps not paying much attention to his words at all. Truth be told, Elsie couldn't care less about where she was headed; She'd just be relieved that it wouldn't be another long season with that crazy bitch, or, here.

"Come on'in then, Elsie. We betta' get goin now," he says, pausing to swing open the passenger side of the truck. Jimbo then bends down in front of Elsie and whispers with a wide grin, "Have fun for me, 'kay?"

Elsie rolls her eyes, climbs into the truck, and settles uncomfortably into the worn-out seat. And, as Jimbo clumsily takes his place beside her, the engine rumbles to life, the familiar scent of old leather and engine oil mingling unpleasantly through the air. The truck shudders as the two pull out of the driveway, leaving behind their tiny cabin in a flurry of snow...