Difficult Decision
By Cybra
A/N: I am sure that almost every Hey Arnold! fan is familiar with the episode "Casa Paradiso" in which Phil almost sells the boardinghouse and moves Arnold and Gertie to Florida. Well, this is a "filler scene" for that episode from Arnold's point of view. ^^ Enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I were the Almighty Craig Barlett, I would force Nickelodeon to make "The Jungle Movie" as soon as possible and have all sorts of cool Hey Arnold! stuff…like a Monopoly board, or maybe Clue…
This isn't happening.
I'm not standing in the living room, looking at it for the last time.
Last night was not the last night I would sleep in my room.
Today is not the day we're moving to Casa Paradiso.
We. Are. Not. Leaving!
So why am I standing next to the suitcase I was forced to pack?
Why is all my stuff in boxes?
Why are the boarders giving me these last looks of affection like we'll never see each other again?
Answer: it's because it is happening.
I'm all out of options. I don't know what to do. There's nothing I can say to change Grandpa's mind. There's nothing I can do –
Wait. Maybe…maybe there is something I can do…
All I have to do is just refuse to leave and then maybe…
No. No, Grandpa's too excited and happy about this.
…But I'm not.
I mean, sure the boarders yell a lot and there are some nights that I swear I'm not going to get any sleep when it's raining and the roof's started to leak again, but I love this place and I love these people.
I can't leave!
I don't think Grandpa understands my view on the whole thing. This is all I've ever known. I can't just leave everything behind me and not look back.
Besides, my parents said that they would be back someday.
How're they going to find me if I'm not here?
So maybe I should refuse…
As much as I want to, I can't. I've never done this: deliberately disobeyed Grandpa before. I don't think I can…
But what choice do I have left?
Is there some plan I haven't come up with yet that might save our home?
I talked to Gerald on the phone last night. I don't think I've ever let him see or hear me cry before, but I couldn't help it. I totally broke down over the phone. He offered to come over, but I told him not to. After all, I wanted to be alone and try to think.
I couldn't sleep last night. I just kept staring up through my skylight at the sky, like I was saying goodbye to it, too. The place where I am going to sleep tonight has a different sky with the constellations all rearranged.
I don't want to leave the familiar.
I want to stay here.
I love it here!
…I don't have any other ideas. Maybe I should put my foot down and tell Grandpa I'm not going…
But I'm scared.
If he finally says we won't leave, what then? I don't think he'll look at me the same way again.
And if my plan fails, what happens? I don't think he's going to be too happy with me for even trying to go against his wishes.
So what do I do?
I have two possibilities: accept my fate or try to fight it and disobey Grandpa.
Which do I choose?
"Hey, Arnold! Time to go!" Grandpa calls from outside.
I freeze for a moment.
What do I do?
What do I do?!
As I stand here, I realize that I already know what I have to do.
I walk towards the door…
I've made my decision…
…now can I do it?
I open the door and stand at the top of our stoop…
"I'm not leaving, Grandpa."