Happy

Chapter 1.

Randy was never evil, despite what the kids and even a few of the parents had said. It was an accident.

He spotted the rusted blue Volkswagen as it pulled up to the front curb and immediately found himself turning away from the window. Frizzy, sandy brown hair was all that could be seen as he tucked his head into the cushion made up by his crossed arms and prayed that he would open his eyes to find it was all a horrible dream. But, as he heard the clack of his mother's heels hurriedly approaching the office, the eleven-year-old knew that wasn't the case and thought for sure he'd get the back of his father's hand the moment he got home.

To his surprise, however, it was quite the opposite. For the first time since he could remember, his father praised him. Perhaps it was a dream after all.

"Attaboy." His grip tightened on Randy's shoulder. "It's 'bout time you stopped being a pussy and learned how to stand your ground."

That was his way of saying that he was proud and, although his father had still managed to slip an insult in there, Randy couldn't help but smile. Still confused as to whether or not he did the right thing, just this alone was convincing him that it was well worth it.

His father quickly focused his attention back to his near-empty bottle of whiskey and the bulky television set across from the worn recliner. "That little shit deserved it."

That little shit did have it coming. It was the day before Halloween and, as instructed by their teachers, the students were allowed to wear their costumes to school. Randy and his mother had gone to the party supply store just the week before for last-minute shopping and, as they browsed the clearance rack, the second Randy's eyes locked onto the latex mask he knew right away what he wanted to dress up as.

He always did have a thing for clowns after all.

It was pale white with a bald, oddly misshapen head. Thin blue slits vertically bordered the wide openings for the eyes. Instead of the traditional foam ball, a simple red dot was painted on the tip of the mask's crooked nose and a darker shade of crimson was sloppily slathered onto its wide, smirking lips. The black rounded eyebrows were raised high, making it appear as if its expression was a mixture of surprise and joy. Similar to Randy's enlivened mien as he had happily plucked the mask from the peg hook.

"Ohh, scary!" his mother said playfully as Randy tried the oversized mask on.

"It's not supposed to be scary." He turned to her, a heavy lisp underlain in his overly excited tone. "It's supposed to make you smile!"

In spite of the forced smile now plastered on her face, she couldn't help but feel uneasy as she peered down at him. Hopefully she could somehow persuade him to settle on another costume, even if it did hurt her wallet. He already got targeted enough in school as it was and the last thing she wanted was to give his peers yet another gratuitous reason to ridicule him. "Well then. What is your name, good sir?"

"I'm Happy. Happy the Clown!"