Never Too Late.
Authors Note: This is just a little story I wanted to write about Arnold and Helga. This is written in Helga's POV.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold.
"It's late, you should hit the sack," I tell my nine-year-old daughter. Today is her birthday, and she is still awake at 10:00 p.m. coloring at the kitchen table.
She groans at me, but picks up her colored pencils anyway.
I watch her. Nine years ago today, I brought her into the world. She is my life and my everything. I love her so much.
"Make sure you brush your teeth!" I call out to her as she walks to her room in our small home. "You don't want to end up with as many cavities as I did,"
She laughs and heads to the bathroom. I study the mail lying on the table.
Criminy, this is the third time this week I have received a letter from him. How he has found me, I have no idea, but I am certain I want absolutely nothing to do with him.
It has been almost 10 years since the biggest mistake of my life. I was desperate, and he showed up. God, how could I have been so stupid. As I hear the running water in the other room, I think of all the joy that lapse in judgment has brought me. Even so, I still hate him for leaving me.
Now he is trying to contact me again.
It has taken me all these years to finally get my life back in order. I am one semester away from finishing my degree, I am on track for getting my first novel published in a couple months. Moving back to Hillwood has brought Frankie to a better school, and she is actually succeeding. After such a long struggle things are actually looking up for once.
And now he wants back in.
I angrily rip up the letter and throw it into the trash. There is no way I am going to let him get involved in my daughter's life. Not now. Not ever.
The water stops running and I see the light in Frankie's room flicker off. I wander over to her room to tuck her in.
She looks up at me with her big blue eyes and says, "Mom, today was the best day ever,"
I smile, "Yep, and you'll have a great day tomorrow, at school. You need your rest,"
Her face grows more serious. "Friday is the daddy daughter dance at school," she states. "Everyone's going,"
I look at her. I know what it was like not to have a father around very much, but I don't know what it is like not to have one at all.
"But me," she adds. "I'm not going,"
My heart feels crushed. All I ever wanted is to give my little girl the world, but I can't.
"Dancing is stupid and girly. Who would want to do that kind of stuff anyway?" She says, sticking her tongue out.
As I lean down to kiss her good night, I wonder what it would actually be like to have a father around for her. A husband. Someone who actually cares for both of us.
I get up and gently close her door.
Such thoughts are fanciful and stupid, and I can only trust myself to take care of my little girl.
It is late, and for once I want to be asleep before midnight. I have to take Frankie and Phoebe's kids to school in the morning.
Brrrrriiiinnnng!
My cell phone rings. I hate when people called me at night. Either I am working, studying, writing or sleeping. Not chatting.
I answer with a gruff "Hello,"
"Helga?"
My heart thuds. I know that voice anywhere. It is…him.
"What do you want!?" I half yell.
"I-I wanted to know if…you had gotten my letters," The voice asks.
I scowl. "Of course I have, but they mean nothing to me!" I say angrily.
"Helga listen, I just want to see her! You have to understand…"
I hang up. I want nothing to do with him.
As I lay in bed tonight I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. I hate when this happened. I will relive the pain of those hard times in my mind, replaying them over and over. How dare he try to come back to us! I roll over and hug my pillow in despair.
I wish he would leave us alone.
…
It is a chilly morning in Hillwood as Frankie and I step out the door. My legs feel sore from our adventure in ice skating yesterday. It is hard to believe I am 32. I already feel old and tired.
"Aunt Helga!" I hear a voice cry out. Two voices, actually. It's Jamil and Kailani. Phoebe's kids. Right, I am giving them a ride. Yeesh, I need to keep my brain in check. Behind them walks an obviously weary Gerald.
"Well Daddy-o, how ya feeling?" I tease him. Gerald must have been working the night shift at the station. He looks beat.
"Not too great, Helga," He gives me a tired smile and adds. "Thanks for taking these crazy kids of my hands!"
I laugh "No problem. Where is Pheebs? I was hoping to talk to her this morning,"
Gerald shrugs his shoulders. "Not sure" he replies, handing the book bags to his kids, who take off chasing each other around.
"Alright everyone in the car!" I yell. "Time to get this circus on the road!"
Jamal giggles as he pushed his little sister into the car. She scowls at him before bounding into the seat next to Frankie. Those two have been friends ever since we moved here last year.
I open my car door and throw my purse inside. I am about to get in when Gerald interrupts me.
"Oh, yeah," He says, shaking his head, "I forgot to tell you! Phoebe said that she was over helping our new neighbor move in. Arnold is back in town,"
It takes everything in me to keep my jaw from dropping. "He…is?" I stutter.
"Yeah," Gerald shrugs, obviously out of it. "Well, I'll see you later," He says, heading off to catch some Z's.
I get into my car and slam the door behind me. Staring straight ahead I think about the news I just heard.
I am stunned. It has been a long time since I have heard that name.
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