Chapter Text
Kenny wasn't particularly religious. He had seen heaven and hell and had met Jesus and Satan; Incidentally, despite this, he could not bring himself to worship any theological figures.
Even so, he still attended weekly church with his family.
The pastor droned on about salvation. Kenny figured this didn't apply to him, as didn't most things. He scanned the room in boredom, and at first, his eyes just landed on his mother next to him, and Karen was situated in her lap. On his other side sat Kevin, who was playing with a busted knock-off Gameboy. And finally, his dad, passed out against the back of the pew, gaining nasty looks from surrounding parishioners.
Stuart let out a tired grumble, and Kenny sank in on himself in embarrassment.
He scratched at a scab on his hand until receiving a gentle hit from his mom against his other hand, and a command to "Knock it off."
Finally, the preacher recited a prayer, and the church echoed a returning "Amen." And the worshippers were free to stand. The wealthier and well-off families boarded into their cars to go to local diners and cafes, while families like the McCormicks stayed behind and instead went to the smaller room that held food donations and coffee.
Kenny found himself sitting away from his family, at a table in the corner. He didn't mean to feel embarrassed by his family, but that didn't stop him from turning pink whenever they would bicker in public, or when the bus would drop him off at home, and one of his dad's buddies would be passed out on the lawn. He couldn't help it, it wasn't his fault they couldn't get their shit together.
"Kenny!"
A chipper voice interrupts his thoughts.
The aforementioned boy looked up at the source of the voice, and it was none other than the frail Brit who attended his school.
"Good morning, chap!" He greets.
Kenny observed him for a moment before speaking;
"Pip? What are you doing here?" He asks. "Dead parents and you're poor? Bummer, dude." He continues, now his tone turning to a mock. The other's smile seems to falter, but only momentarily, and it returned seemingly twice as bright. "I may not be a toff, but I'm rich in spirit!" Pip replied. "Mind if I sit with you?" He asks, but before Kenny can grant or deny permission, Pip had already sat across from him.
Pip sipped at a styrofoam cup of tea, cutting up a warm biscuit and some scrambled eggs. Kenny, inversely, began eating a mushy pancake drenched in syrup.
After eating in silence, save for the chatter of the others in the room, Kenny spoke up.
"Where do you live, anyways?" He asked through a mouthful of pancake. Pip hesitated before responding.
"Lots of places," he said with a smile. Kenny pondered what that meant, before coming to the conclusion he didnt understand. "What? Like your family moves a lot?" He asked. The other shook his head. "I'm afraid not, I live in a group home." He admits, avoiding eye contact with the other.
"Oh." Kenny acknowledged. He guessed his family wasnt that bad, especially when put into perspective with people like Pip.
The two sat in silence for a bit longer until Kenny spoke up again.
"Whats it like?"
"Hm?" Pip hummed, finally meeting his eyes again. Kenny didnt return his gaze, and he looked down at his plate.
"Whats it like not having parents?"
Pip's gaze also drops, mirroring the other. He takes a sip of his tea, then he responds.
"Well, I wouldnt quite know" He starts, "I havent gotten an idea of life with my folks"
"Oh." Is all the other can say.
Kenny asks another question; "Why are you here anyways? Isnt there food at the home?"
Pip responds again, feeling quite like an insect underneath a microscope.
"I havent come for the nosh, I've come to worship," he explains to him, "When I studied in England, i attended weekly sermons at the C of E."
Kenny looked at him dumbly.
"The C of E? Nosh? Are you speaking English?"
Pip just sighed, and then began to explain British slang to the other.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
They talked until Kenny saw his family by the door, and he took this as his sign to leave. He stood up, looking down at Pip.
"Hey.. I gotta go. It was nice chatting.." He confessed, then he quickly scurried through the weakening crowd to the door before Pip could say goodbye.