Chapter 1
And The WInner Is...
Helga G. Pataki walked into Mr. Simmons fourth grade class room one week before spring
break. She was feeling unusually cheerful today. She felt something great was going
to happen. Then a pop quiz was called to order.
"Class!" The teacher Mr. Simmons announced, "I have a very important
announcment to make! Were are going to write a one page essay on 'The life cycle
of sponges!' I hope everyone does a great job because it will be turned into the
office and a prize will be given out!"
"Probably some cheap certificate." Helga whispered to her friend Phoebe
Hyerdol. She heard someone hush her from behind. Helga turned around. It was Arnold.
A blonde football headed boy who was wise beyond his years.
"Quiet Helga," Arnold began, "Why don't we listen to what the prize
is before we judge. ok?" Arnold gave Helga a smile, but Helga just scowled.
She turned back around and stared up at the ceiling in disgust. What nobody knew
about Helga, was that she secretly loved Arnold. She just spent all of her time "hating"
him so no one would know the diffrence. Which really wasn't a good idea, if she wanted
a future with him.
"Heres the papers, and lets get started!" Mr. Simmons started to hand out
papers. Helga took out her trusty purple pen and started to write about "The
life cycle of an underwater sponge."
"gee, could it get any more fun?" Helga mumbled. And started to write away.
The Next Week
Everyone was called to the schools auditorium next monday morning. Principal Wartz stood up in front of the entire student body and started to talk announcments, rearrangements and the rules of the cafeteria. Finally they got to the part where they had came for.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to make an important announcement! Last week, we had the whole school write an essay 'the life cycle of an underwater sponge.' I would like to announce the winner of the contest and give them there prize. This winner came from the fourth grade class."
Everyone groaned except for the fourth graders.
"This winner is a girl. Shes very talented. Mr. Simmons has told me it moved him to tears when he heard this."
"Gee, this dim bulb must be a real throw pillow to have the ol' Simmons in tears!" Helga smirked to Phoebe who just looked at the stage.
"The winner, I am proud to announce, is Helga G. Pataki! Congrats' Helga!" Principal Wartz announced.
Helga looked surprised. She walked up to the front of the auditorium to recive her prize. Helga got up to Principal Wartz and he handed him an envelope.
"Whats this? Money?" Helga said flipping the envelope in her hands.
"Better," Mr. Simmons said from the other side of Principal Wartz. "Its 5 tickets for a Paris cruse, for FREE!"
Helga looked at the audiance and to the teachers as if she were a scared sick deer caught in head lights.
"f-f-f-f-five? Tickets? What am I going to do with all of them?!" Helga stumbled as she tried to find the right words.
"Well, you invite an adult, of course. Then you can invite three other friends." Mr. SImmons said.
Helga thought for a moment, then a remarkable, unbleavable plan started to brew inside that wise little brain of hers. She smiled sweetly at the 2 teachers.
"Thank you, Mr. Simmons. Thank you Principal Wartz. I will use these wisely." Helga smiled an all to innocent smile and walked off stage.
"Ok, before the bell rings and everyone leaves for spring break, I would like to announce the lunch rules!" Principal Wartz could be heard on stage from Helgas position.
"hum hum hum. Now lets see who am I going to invite? Humm? hehehe. Lets see, well, Phoebe of course. And Maybe Gerald, he hasnt been very, uh, stupid lately. And Mariam, because she'll leave us alone the whole trip. Humm, that leaves one ticket. Who should I give this last, single, soitary ticket to? HA! No contest! Arnold of course! Oh Arnold! A one week vacation on a cruse ship! THEN to Paris france! The most romantic place on Earth!!! *SIGH* the most perfect place to confess, dare I say it? my love for you, my preciuos Arnold. Now all I gotta do is run into him and give him and Geraldo a ticket. But how do I do that without beong too suspicious? Lets see, I know! hehe. This is going to be sswwweet! hehehe....."
Helga gets on the bus just in time to snag a seat behind Gerald and Arnold and one next to Phoebe.
"Hey Phoebes hows it goin'?" Helga said casually, as if nothing is happening.
"I'm fine Helga." Phoebe said back.
"Oh, before I forget, heres a ticket for you Phoebe. Be at my place at 5:00am sunday morning to leave for the airport. It's going to be a hit!" Helga handed Phoebe a purple ticket and stufed the rest in her pocket.
Gerald and Arnold over heard and trned around.
"What are you going to to with the rest of the tickets, Helga?" Gerald said.
"I'm not sure, Geraldo. No one else seems to want to go." Helga said casually, but the trained eye could tell you she was acting.
"Well, could we have them, Helga?" Arnold said.
"What!? Give MY cruise tickets to you plebes? HA! But what the hey, I'm in a good mood today. I guess I can let you off with just this one little thing. But don't say I never did you any favors, Bucko!" Helga said passing out tickets leaving only two left.
"One for me and one for Mariam. perfect." Helga said.
"Wow! Thanks Helga. I didn't think you would actually GIVE them to us!" Arnold said a little surprised about the whole thing.
"Yeah, well, Arnold, you might not be so bad to be around."
Arnold looked up and Helga bit her tounge.
"I mean, you know, your not THAT horrible. or dumb. or..."
"I get the point Helga. Thanks, though!" Arnold said smiling.
"Quit smiling at me, football head! I said you were nice. I never said that
you could get all mushy on me or anything!" Helga walked off the bus at her
stop a second later. She made sure no one was looking and nearly had a heart attack
and fainted to the ground.
Arnold and Gerald were still turned around facing Phoebe.
Gerald turned to Arnold and said "Thats one weird girl, Arnold. One weird girl!"
*To Be Continued........*
