1:

It was four pm on the tenth of December. As Mr. Green locked up his butcher shop, grey clouds rolled in over Hillwood City. "Whoa. Looks like a storm." Said Harvey as he exited the Gamelthorpe's dry cleaning.

"Yeah," Said Mr. Green pulled on his olive colored coat in a vain attempt to be warmer. "I'm locking up early today. The weather guy on MJZZ says there's a big blizzard moving in from Canada."

"Canada, eh?" Harvey smiled wryly.

"Darn Canucks." Mr. Green put his keys in his pocket and headed towards the bus stop. "Later, Harve."

"Bye, Marty." As the mailman made his way down the street, clutching his parcel, he could be heard singing, "You'll never find…as you long live… someone who loves you tender like I do…"

"Peachy, just peachy." Helga grumbled into her arms. Her face was pressed to them as her head rested on the table, her appendages folded over her mouth and nose. She sat up. "This bites! Here I am at the library when there's a perfectly 'Yo, Ernest!' marathon on! I could be at home watching the wacky adventures of that odd headed dreamer, yet here I am, wasting my time!"

"Be serious Helga!" Phoebe said. She set aside a book, picked up another and began to flip through it. "You need an A on this project, or you'll fail science this quarter."

"Big deal. I don't need science." Helga leaned back in her chair and lifted the two front legs off the floor.

"Everyone needs science, Helga." Said Phoebe. "Now help me find a subject."

Helga sighed. "'Kay." She whipped through a magazine and pointed to a page. "Here, knock yourself out."

Phoebe picked up the magazine and read. "An offer for the Encyclopedia Britannica that expired in 1979?"

Helga looked over her shoulder and grinned sheepishly. "Oops." As Phoebe looked through the publication, Helga tapped her pencil on the table. "Hey, Pheebs?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Ernest is…you know? Cute? Not that I think that!" She said quickly. "But I, uh…know…I mean read about some girls who thought Ernest was cute. For a weird headed cartoon character I mean."

"I suppose so." Said Phoebe thoughtfully. "He does remind me of someone…"

"Really?" Said Helga. "Me too! I just can't put my finger on it though!"

"I know." The two girls were silent.

"I hope Ernest ends up with Helen." Said Helga finally. "She's my favorite character."

"She's everyone's favorite." Agreed Phoebe.

Over in the computer lab, Arnold stopped typing and pointed to the screen. "This is it, Gerald!"

His best friend turned his attention away from his game and looked at the webpage.
"A Solar Powered Hotdog Cooker?"

"Yeah," Said Arnold. "All we need is a cardboard box, tinfoil and poster board!"

"And the hotdog!" Added Gerald. "I like mine with mustard, relish, ketchup…No onions though. Bleh…"

"Focus Ger!" Arnold hit the command for print. "All we need to do is go up to the front desk and get the paper!"

"Great!" Gerald stopped and patted his pocket. "Uh, you do have change, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"The library charges a nickel per sheet." Said Gerald. "All I got are dollar bills."

"I have a few quarters." Said Arnold. "But I'm sure they give change."

"What do you mean no change?" Cried Arnold. The library, a brunette in her late thirties, put a bright red nail to her lips.

"Shhhh!"

"We need this paper for our project! It's just one sheet!"

"We even printed small!" Added Gerald.

The librarian smirked and pointed to the sign in front of her: "EXACT CHANGE ONLY!"

Arnold sighed and turned away from the counter. "I guess we'll have to print it out at home. I sure hope I can remember the address."

Gerald's attention had been diverted. "Hey, isn't that Helga and Phoebe?"

Helga had her legs on the table as she read a comic. "Oh that Jug Head!" She chuckled. "I think he eats more than Dagwood!"

Phoebe glanced up from the notes she was taking, then resumed her work.

"Hi Phoebe, hi Helga." Said a voice. Helga's chair felt over with a crash.

"Arnold?" She shrieked, looking up into the face of her classmate.

"QUIET!" Shouted the librarian, standing up, crimson coloring spreading across her face.

Arnold bent down and grasped Helga's arm. Her face became as pink her jumper. "Are you ok? Let me help you!"

Helga yanked her arm away. "I'm fine, Arnoldo! It's not like I need your help, Sheesh!" In her mind: He touched me, oh happy day!

She picked herself up, dusting herself as she did. "So, Football Head and Tall Hair Boy, what are you doing here?"

"We're looking for a science project." Replied Arnold. "What are you doing?"

"Not that it's any of your business," Said Helga haughtily. "But we're doing the same thing."

"What's your project?"

"Uh," Helga looked over her shoulder. "We haven't…that is to say…"

Phoebe supplied the answer. "Whether or not gravity affect the growth of plants."

Gerald crossed his arms. "I see your working hard as usual, Helga."

"Who asked you?" The blonde snapped. Gerald smiled at Phoebe like a knight in shining armor.

"Here, let me take some notes. I…uh…wouldn't want you to get a hand cramp." Phoebe blushed and giggled.

Helga rolled her eyes far back into her head. "Aw, geez. I can't stand this." She turned. "I'm gonna find the bathroom."

"Wait, Helga!" Called Arnold.

"Aw, let her go, Man." Said Gerald. "It's not like she's doing anything!" Arnold sighed and sat down next to his friend.