The Duckman: A Duckie Dale Fanfiction

Chapter 2

     The date was September 3, 1986. my family and I had just moved into our new home in Elgin, Illinois all the way from Santa Barbara, California. Even though I had what my mother called a "way with new faces," I stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone here is middle-class suburbanites who live inside their own white picket fence and a mailbox identical to their neighbors' to go with it. Everything seems in order when you look at each home, but it's what happens inside that you truly wonder about...
When we arrived at our new house, I began to help my father unload the boxes while my mother and little brother Matt unpacked them inside.
"Hey dad," I say between short breaths, exhausted from the work,"where does this box go? It says 'Garage- Miscellaneous' but we don't have any room in here right now."
"Just go set it on the lawn we'll move it in later."
I struggled through the stacks of boxes and random furniture, but eventually made it to the grass. That's one of the only things I like about it here. Back in California, our home was right on the beach, so we didn't have much of a lawn. Here, it's like your own little green field, except you have to take care of it more than you actually want to.
We continued to unload the truck when a woman I've never seen before comes walking up to the two of us.
     "Well hey there new neighbors! So glad you could become a part of our street and on behalf of us all, I baked you a plate of fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. I'm not one to brag or anything, but we can all agree that these are some of the best in the whole neighborhood." She shoves the plate of baked goods in my hands and continues to ramble on about whatever she was saying. I sat them on a stack of boxes when my mom luckily walked out with my brother, and she made eye contact with the woman.
     My brother took the plate, grabbed a handful, and chowed down on our new treats.
"So how are they?"
     He tried to reply back but I couldn't understand him since his mouth was full.
"Don't talk with your mouthful, that's not only gross but rude. Wait till you're done, and then say what you have to say." He managed to get more chocolate on his face than in his mouth.
"They're just regular cookies. She probably didn't even bake them and went to the store to buy them."
     He took the nearly empty plate in the house and left me with nothing but disappointment and an empty stomach.
     About twenty minutes later, the woman finally left, and I could get as much information about her from my mom as possible. We found out that her name was Mrs. Peterson, she lived in the brick home two houses down, and she didn't have any children with her husband. Well, there goes my first change of making friends.
...
     The sun was starting to go down and my mother had began to make dinner for our family. My father had gone in to take a nap since moving is one of the most tiring things you can do according to him. Really he was just looking for a way out of doing work. He's where I get most of my procrastination from. There were about four or five boxes left, and I went through each one to see what was in it. One box said "Fragile" so I tried to handle with the most care I had. There was a rectangular vase, probably eight or nine inches tall, with a floral design on the side. It was one of the most beautiful vases I'd ever seen. While I was putting it back in the box, I managed to, of course, knock it off of the stack of boxes next to me, causing glass to go everywhere. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it of course does.
I began to pick up the bigger shards of glass and place them in the trash can from the garage.
"Do you need any help?"
      My head shot up in fear. I'd never heard that voice before, and I sure as hell don't know where it's coming from. Maybe I'm dead. Maybe it's all just a dream and that's actually god talking to me. I looked up to see that before me was a pair of ratty, beat-up converse. I continued to look up to find who they belonged to, until I saw a boy about my age standing above me. It was more of a dark shadow that was cast across his face, resulting in me being even more startled than before.
"Sorry to scare you, I probably should introduce myself."
     I stood up from where I was, threw away the glass shards and wiped my hands on my pair of faded jeans. Thank god I'm not dead at least or else this wouldn't be the right outfit for the occasion.
"I'm Phil, Phil Dale, better known as 'Duckie'. Do you need a hand with that?"
"No I'm good, but thanks for the offer." I say as I continue to clean up the giant mess I made. I've only been here five hours and I already manage to look like a moron in front of someone new. Good job, Sam. He continued to stand there then got on his knees to help me.
"I can't stand here and watch you clean this when you've already done enough work for today."
How does he know what all I've been doing today?
"Oh thanks," I say, not paying much attention to him," I'm Samantha by the way, but I go by Sam."
"That's a nice name. I've always liked people that I've met who are name Sam. Sam's tend to be smart and funny, but none of them as beautiful as yourself."
I could feel my face turning bright red. Just who does this guy think he is? First he comes on my property like its his own and now he tries to be smooth and pull a fast one on me? Perhaps I'm being too harsh on this guy. Sure he did come her uninvited, but only with good intentions, plus he's only helping his new neighbor out...
We awkwardly cleaned up the mess I made when he says out of nowhere, "Sorry that I've probably made you feel uncomfortable because it feels unusually awkward right now."
I paused then looked at him, "No it's ok I wa-" when I was suddenly interrupted by my mother from the front door.
"Sam! Time for dinner! Sam?"
"I'm coming mom, I'm just picking up something."
She looks through the screen door and says,"Who's that with you? Is that a new friend?"
"Mom, it's just," I guiltily look back at him. "I'm sorry I forgot your name." He gives a slight laugh and says,"it's Phil."
"It's just Phil mom! He's one of our neighbors!"
"Well hello Phil! Hopefully Sam has introduced herself and-" I cut her off when I turned around and have her the 'you're not helping you're only making me look bad' look, when she understands that's her cue to leave.
"Sorry about that, moms are embarrassing. Well, you probably know that. Anyways I've gotta go but thanks for helping me."
     We both stood up as he reaches out for a handshake. A handshake? Just who is this guy?
"No problem. Just remember that the names Duckie, and when you need me, just look for the yard with the rusty banana-seat bike that's probably older than this whole neighborhood."
     I begin to walk towards the door when I turn back and say,"Duckie? I thought your name was Phil." He looks back over his shoulder.
"Oh it is Phil, but no parent would let their kid befriend someone with the same name as an animal you'd see at the zoo." He hops on his bike and makes his way towards his home.
      Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought...