Behind the Hooded Mask

Something's Not Right

Butters POV

I arrive home completely stuck within my own thoughts. I mind is too preoccupied by said thoughts for me to notice my dad's car already parked in the driveway, indicating that he had come home early from work. I open the door to my house and slowly enter the doorway. I close the door weakly and absentmindedly and walk upstairs lacking the realization that the door had been left cracked open. I head towards my room and enter without any hesitation. I drop my bag into the floor and fall down into my bed lying on my back.

I stare blankly at the ceiling as floods of memory during lunch return to my mind. I just looked into his eyes and saw something I had never seen prior. It was shocking, almost horrifying to see the kind of feeling that was being reflected in his eyes. Everything that he has been keeping cooped up... every feeling of sorrow, anger, fear, and despair... In a flash I could feel it all.

This cold sharp needle prick of emotional pain, like a vile poison being injected into my blood, spreading like a snakes venom. It all happened within just a second as I felt the venomous emotional pain attack my soul. In that instance, I had never been in so much pain in my entire life. The moment our eyes broke contact, the pain was over.

The feeling I felt was so intense, so overbearing, that I could not find the words to speak. I fell mute and haven't been able to speak since. This strange phenomenon has haunted me throughout the day and it is only now that I am finally beginning to put the pieces together. I began to think about the one thing I had failed to question. "Why does Kenny always keep that hood on his face?" "Why does he never take it off?"

After seeing what I had witnessed today, it all makes sense now... Kenny is using his hood to hide. I have always noticed whenever I am around him, he's real hard to read. I can't ever tell how he's really feeling, his hood covers up way too much. Though I usually can understand what he is saying, his muffled voice does make it difficult sometimes...I wonder if he hates how he sounds as well...

I ponder for a bit before making a decision. Seeing the kind of pain he is in is real hard for me to to bear. I can't stand sitting there and doing nothing while my best friend is suffering. I have to reach out and somehow help him. But what I can I do? He's not very open at all and he's not one to answer personal questions. Even if he does, he would probably still find a way to hide something...I come to a massive realization...I quietly speak out loud for the first time today since lunch. "As long as he has the hood, he has a way to hide. That's it...I-I know what to do... I-If I-I want to help him, the hood's gotta go! I gotta try and help him in any way I can! I gotta remove that hood and"-- "BUTTERS!!"

I was interpreted by the sound of my father yelling my name and the door to my room slamming open with a loud BANG!

Oh hamburgers! What did I do this time? I stare at my father his eyes filled with rage. It almost looked as if he has just emerged from hell itself.

He storms in his face red with fury. "HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO LEAVE TO FRONT DOOR OPEN?! WE COULD HAVE BEEN ROBBED! OR KILLED!! YOU COULD HAVE HAD US ALL MURDERED!!" He screams as he leans in close and points at me furiously. "I-I'm real sorry dad! I-I just have a-a lot on my mind a-and"-- "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT LEAVING THE FRONT DOOR WIDE OPEN?! "If we all get murdered and robbed the blood is on my hands..." I replied feeling small dehumanized. "THAT'S RIGHT! LEAVING THE DOOR WIDE OPEN IS AN INVITATION FOR DISASTER! YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE SAYING COME ON IN! ALL MURDERS AND ROBBERS ARE WELCOME, PLEASE COME KILL US ALL!! We will all be DEAD if YOU keep leaving the goddamn DOOR OPEN!!

"I'm real sorry dad, I'll never leave the door open again, honest!"

"Like HELL YOU AREN'T! YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR TWO WEEKS MISTER!! That'll teach ya to not leave an invitation for murders!" He slams the door shut. I lay in silence still in shock at what just happened.

I process what had happened for a few more minutes before I let my mind wander back to the former topic. Getting grounded is not what's important to me. Kenny needs my help and I'll be darned if I sit there and do nothing.

Tomorrow, the mask will come off.