Hi Everyone!!! I'm Ba----ck! MY CHRISTMAS STORY!!! It's here! I'm so exicited! I've got two christmas
stories in the making, but I've decided to put this one up after a little esteem boost from a friend of mine
(Thanks Roxy^_^!) Ok, so here's the 441: The kids are in Grade five now and... yeah, that's
about it! ^_~
So here we go! (:::wishes::: Please don't hate it!)
Disclaimer~ «¢ ¤ § M î ¢ D ® £ Å m ê ®» doesn't own Hey Arnold! (ohhh...look at the funky writin')
~*~A Christmas Present for Arnold~*~
Chapter One- Evil Mistakes and Angelic Plans
"I'll never forgive you."
The words rang through my ears and make my body stiffen horribly. I can't breathe.
"I can't believe you'd expect me to." he continues,
"I don--"
"You don't get it, do you, Helga?!" he inturuputs, his voice painful, stinging into my mind, "You just go around
stupidly thinking that everyone else's as heartless...as thick-skinned, as UNFEELING as you are! Did you
think I wouldn't care?! Did you think I would just ignore it?!" his face flushes an angry shade of red. I
shake my head in dismay. I feel the begining of tears, but I push the thought of crying aside. Not here, not with
his piercing green eyes burning holes into me hatefully. Snow falls on my eyelashes as I wait for his next words.
"I thought you were at least human." he chokes out, "I thought you could at least figure out that it hurts for
a person to be without...parents."
My eyes widen with smypathy and I try to reach out and touch him.
"Arnold--" I whisper guiltily.
He backs away from me like I have The Plague
"Don't!" he begins "Touch me! Don't look at me and don't talk to me! I don't ever want to be anywhere near
you again!" he concludes, and starts making his way out of the alley.
He suddenly stops and turns around to me,
"I'd appriciate it if you'd pretend you didn't know me," he orders, "because that's how I plan to treat you."
And with that, Arnold is gone. Out of the alley and out of my life. I drop to my knees, because I'm no longer
able to hold my weight up, and start to cry.
"Please...Please...I'm so sorry." I beg to the ground. As my tears fall onto the muddy snow, I think back to
what started this all...
It was all my fault, of that much I'm sure. I have no illusions of innocense, and I am not the victim in this twisted
little game. I don't really know what posessed me to hide behind a wall to listen to Arnold's and Gerald's
conversation. It was about what they wanted for Christmas, and I was interested. I didn't stay to hear what Gerald
wanted, I couldn't care less about that. It was Arnold's wish list that made me evesdrop.
"I'm telling you, Arnold man, this year I'm getting EXACLY what I want!" Gerald had gloated to his best
friend, "No socks, no Hats, no dumb-looking sweaters. We're talking video-games, movies, all the new
Purdy-Boys books, everything I asked for!"
Arnold had smiled politely at Hair-Boy's ramblings, and I had watched my love tentivly. No, I knew him, I knew
that smile. Something was not right in his world. And that meant the world as I knew it would fall apart.
Thank God Gerald knew that smile too, "Hey Man, what's wrong?"
Arnold had looked away, his averted eyes focusing on the clear late-November sky above. There was snow
on the ground already, and my Blonde-Haired Darling kicked some of the powdery-white blanket
away with his booted foot.
"Nothing, I was just thinking..." his voice fades.
"About what? You got something special in mind for Christmas?" Gerald had nudged Arnold when he'd said this.
Arnold had ignored it and sighed, "Yeah."
By now Gerald knew this was serious. Arnold was not Happy. And if Arnold isn't happy, then no one else is
allowed to be anywhere near satisfied. That's just the way it works around here.
"It's just that, at Christmas time, kids are supposed to have thier parents." Arnold had blurted out, and had
looked immediatly sorry for doing so.
Gerald had smirked sadly and put a hand on Arnold's shoulder, "I'm really sorry, Arnold."
He waved his hand dismissivly, "No, It's alright, it's not your fault." and that ended it. They had walked away.
It was then that I had heard that sickeningly stuck-up voice say in it's sing-song way,
"Why HELGA! Were you listening in on Arnold?" I remember wincing at that statement. Rhonda. Just the person
I didn't want to see me here. I needed her like I needed a knife in the back.
"No...No!" I was all I got out of my mouth before she had cut in,
"Yes, you were! Hmm...I wonder why?" She had smirked evily at this. I couldn't have gotten my body to stop
shaking if I had had all the time in the world,
"Could you perhaps have a bit of a ...crush, on him?" I could almost see her lick her lips with the prospect of some
of the juiciest gossip she'd come across in her life. My eyes widened and swung around the PS 118 schoolyard,
"Are...are you serious?!" the words had come out weak and unsure. Rhonda knew a dying victim when she saw
one, so she had taken her pounce,
"I'm right! Arn't I? You've gotta THING for Arnold!" she had cakled maliciously, "Oh, wait 'till everyone hear's this!"
I can't account for what came out of my mouth next. It was away of saving myself from the fire. I didn't
even hear the forbidden, unholy words... until it was too late,
"Oh please, Princess! CRIMINEY! Why would I EVER like some stupid Orphan?! The kid only has his looney
Granparents! Ha! Arnoldo's Mom and Dad probably left because they could stand the little yellow-haired shrimp!
Probably the Mistake they ran away from! And I don't blame 'em!"
It was then I had realized that Rhonda wasn't looking at me. She was looking off to the side where I had stood. When
I looked over, I had felt the blood drain from my face and my whole body go helplessly cold,
"Arnold!" was what I had heard myself say, but that one word, said in complete anguish, did not validate all the
others said in tormented contempt. He had glared at me in greif, and had run away. And I had chased after him,
Leaving Rhonda alone in the snow, wondering if we would miss the bus home, and where I was chasing him to.
It turned out that I had chased him to one of the allies near his house. I had begged for him to forgive me, and now
here I am, a shattered remnent of my former self. Salt-drops of liquid pain drip easily down my cheeks, freezing
in the chilled air by the time they run down my neck. No, this isn't true! This isn't right! This is some horrid nightmare!
"I didn't mean it...I didn't mean it..." I sob as I shut my eyes tightly. I had just done it. I had just destroyed any
bond I held to my only Love. I gulp in air franticly, tearing my hands through my mangled, stringy hair. My nails
dug into the back of my neck and I cried out in pain, falling forwards. I'm able to have my palms land on the
ground before I collapse totally, keeping my upper body unharmed. I look up to the sky cowardly,
"Why did it happen this way?," I whisper pathedicly to whatever higher power kept itself up there. I knew the
answer, of course. It was me, it was always me. Foolish pride! How dare it overcome me! How could
I push away thet one I love the most?
I whimpered childishly and and pushed myself up from my hands,
"No...No..I have to do something..." I murmur. I look at the palms of my hands, scraped and bleeding, skin
coloured brown from the mud and flaking off. My un-gloved hands dried and cracked in the winter-like air, and
the knuckles are a raw shade of frostbitten red. I wipe my tears away roughly, unable to move the joints in my fingers,
and begin to run home. What am I going to do? I have to make it up to him. I have to show Arnold how sorry I
Truly am. I'd sell my soul if it'd mean he could know the remorse I feel at this very moment. But I can't buy his
mercy, just as I can't buy his favor. But what power do I have? I'm just an ugly ten-year-old nothing.
Without warning, my feet skid on a patch of black ice and I'm sent flying into the warm coat of a stranger,
"Oh!" the young woman's voice exclaimed. I shake my head a little from where I've landed,
"Sorry, Miss, are you okay?" the words come out of my before my concious mind has the chance to put any
kind of sharpness on them. I look at the girl with her long, straight blonde hair and smoky grey eyes. She gets up
and holds out a hand to me, which I didn't accept, but instead forced myself up for the second time today.
"Yes, I'm fine, honey..." she looks me over and gasps, "But look at you! Oh, you're hurt!"
""I'm fine, don't worry." I say hurriedly and start off in the direction of my house,
"You ok to get home, Suge?" she calls after me, using the word 'Suge' as a texian kind of slang for 'Sugar'.
"Yeah!" I yell back, I sprint off again.
"Well, be carful!" is the last faint words I hear from the kind girl. I stop after a few more minutes of running to
catch my breath. I look up to the steely, darkening sky.
Okay, I've never been religious, Mirium and Bob never got it in me, but this is to whoever's up there:
Send me a sign! If you are there, and you do care, tell me what to do! Rest assured It'll be done! You must
know by now that I'd do anything for him!
"Take a plane!" a syrupy voice annouces from behind me. I jump and turn around, looking for the bearer of
the commercialized voice. I see that I'm standing behind an electronics shop, one with all those T.V's playing
in the window. It's playing an ad for some sort of air service right now, and I find myself unable to turn away,
"That's right, plane travel is fast, easy, convient and affordable." the voice drones on,
"You can travel all around the world in your own private jet! Visit exotic places, relax with cultural hoildays,
even reunite your family for the Christmas Season!"
Did I just hear what I thought I heard?
"Yes, that's right! Go find your family this Christmas! Be with the loved ones you've missed the most! Private
airline travel will open you to these options and more, for an incredibly low price!"
My mouth drops open as the sight of a private jet taking off engulfs all the screens at once.
Now, how's that for a Sign?
"Be sure to be with your family this year...Rent private Air travel." the thick voice finishes.
I don't need anymore encouragement! I dash off, almost home. I know what to do! Bob had taken private
jets before, when he had to get to some big communication meetings in another country. I'll talk him into it! I have to!
I'm going to find Arnold's Parents!
I don't know much about what happened to them, all I've heard have been rumours. But I know they're not dead.
They were explorers who disapered when Arnold was only little. My poor Arnold...
Get over it, Pataki, you're on a mission!
I'll find out where they are, somehow, and bring them back to him! But I'd have to hurry. Christmas
is a month away, and I want my present to be special! Better then the snowboots last year, I'm going to
give Arnold a family!
I burst through the door and run into the living room, where Bob sits in the glow of his precious TV. I don't
even bother taking my boots off. He looks at me in disbelief,
"CHRIST OLGA! What're you doing?!" He yells as I block his veiw of The Game.
"I need a private jet." I state breathlessly. There, that was simple.
He stared at me blankly.
And kept staring...
and staring...
"HAVE YOU GONE NUTS?!" he booms.
I grin distractedly and shake my head, "No, let me explian."
"You'd better." Bob retorts, surprisingly calm now.
I crack my knuckles and begin, "You see... and need to find a present for a friend."
"That Chinese girl?" he cut in boldly,
I glare at him, "Her name's Phoebe and she's JAPANESE. And no, it's not her."
He pushes his back away from the chair and turns off the TV. My eyes shoot up. Well, this was a first.
"And I don't want you thinking it's just ANY gift."
he grunted for me to go on.
"...It's nothing you can buy at a store. I mean, it's human."
Now it's was Bob's turn for his eyes to pop. And how.
"It's...They're...people a friend of mine hasn't seen in a very long time. And I want to find them for my...friend"
There, I managed to do that with the least amount of stammaring possible.
Bob rubs his chin thoughtfully, "This is about that Orphan boy, isn't it?"
I blink in awe. Well, whadda'ya know, he's been paying attention.
"Yes." I admit.
"Then the answer's no."
My hand curls into a fist and my face hardens into a scowl, "What?" I say.
"No, Olga, you're not going anywhere." he decree's simply. My anger rises and my teeth clench together
in distaste, "IT'S HELGA, DAMMIT!" I find myself shouting.
He gets off the couch, "Hold on there, little missy! I'm still you're father and I am NOT letting you leave the country
all alone for some no-parent brat!"
I growl, "You've never cared about what I do or where I go before! Why Start now, Bob?!"
And my father can only remain there, struck speechless,
I go on without heeding his statue-like state, "You don't know Arnold! He's the kindest boy in the WORLD! He's
helped me...he's helped everybody so much, and all he wants is his parents back! It's not his fault they went
away. He shouldn't have to live his life, wondering where they are, if they're alive! I just want to give him what
everyone should have! I want to give him a Mom and a Dad! He deseves it, He deserves it so much..."
I feel tears coming again and I turn away from Bob. A Pataki should never be seen crying,
"If you love me, Dad." I tell him, my voice hushed and breaking, "If you've ever cared about me, for even a
second, you'll let me do this. I NEED to do this. I know you can't understand, but you'll just have to trust
me when I say I know what I'm doing."
The room was absolutly silent for a moment. Nothing could be heard. Not even Mom from upstairs in the
master bedroom, if she's even there. Then, as if on some divine cue, Dad sighed and walked out of the room.
I turned around, my eyes losing their teariness. Well, that was it. I had lost. To think I had ever thought I could've
won. I'm a complete idiot. Bob, letting me travel around the world, searching for an impossible goal. Please,
as if he'd dish out the money me. For Olga, diffenitly, but not for me.
Well, to whoever's up there, I just want to tell you that your 'sign' is crap.
Suddenly, Bob re-enters. A thick, black leather address book is in his hand, and he sit's on the couch, leafing
though the pages without a word to me. A wave of dread washes over me. Who's he calling? Please don't let
it be some Mental Hospital!
"I'm calling the Pilate who flew me every time I went Privatly." he says, like he could read my mind.
I nearly fell on the floor. You're kidding, no way. A PRIVATE PILATE! But that can only mean...
"Her name's Rowenna Stevens. She's in town now. She'll take care of you while you're on your trip,
God knows she's one of the few people I trust." He finds the desired number and heads to the phone,
"Dad, I--"
He holds up his hand to me and starts dialing. We both wait wordlessly for her to pick up,
"Yeah Rowenna? It's Bob Pataki. You know, the Beeper Guy?" I almost laughed when I heard him greet
the girl like this. I'd never heard him call himself 'The Beeper Guy'! 'Beeper King' yes, but never Guy!
"Look, are you booked from the next month or so, Stevens?" I held my breath and prepared for the worst.
"No? Well then, I've gotta job for you." To my surprise, I start giggling with happiness. And to even more
of my amazment, Bob looks and me with a...fatherly smile.
"I want you to fly my daugther anywhere she wants to go, for as long as she wants...No, not Olga, my
second Daughter, Helga Geraldine Pataki." I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from choking in
unbelief. I didn't know He even KNEW my middle name!
"No..No this is not some stupid present! She wants to find her friend's Parents. They disappered a long time
ago and...yeah, it was that story on the news back then...of course she can do it, she's a Pataki, ain't she?!"
I felt a warm family pride course through my viens,
"Yeah, so anyways she wants it to be her Christmas present to the kid so do you think...you can be here in
ten minutes?...Yeah, that'd be perfect...What do you mean 'No Charge'?...hey, if you don't wanna charge me,
I'm not gonna complain...Rowenna, you gotta learn the difference between living with Christmas Spirit and
Making a profit...Alright, see you in ten, you still remember where the place is?...I'll get her ready then, Bye."
He hangs up the phone and smiles at me triumphently,
I look at him skepticly, "How does she know where we live?"
"She drives the limos for her customer's to take them to the airport. She's driven me a couple times." he explains.
"Oh, I--"
"I never want you to think I don't...care about you, Helga. You're my daughter, and I...Know I can trust you, ok?"
I smile up at him. That took a lot for him to say, his not usually the expressive type,
"Ok...Daddy." Woah, did I just say 'Daddy'? Boy am I getting caught up in the moment!
I see Dad beam proudly for a moent, before covering it up with a cough,
"Yeah well, You'd better go...you know, pack."
"Uh-Huh... Oh, and Dad?"
"Yeah?"
I go over and hug him quickly. It wasn't half as ackward as I thought it would be.
"Thanks, I'll never forget this." I say before bounding up the stairs. I cleaned myself up quickly and got to packing.
Just as I had started packing my shampoo and other bathroom, cosmetic and hair stuff, the doorbell rings.
I almost trip getting down the stair, and fling open the door. My eyes bulge, as does hers, when I meet Rowenna,
"YOU!" we both say at the same time. It was the girl I had crashed into on the street!
She giggled warmly, "Well, 'magine runnin' in'ta ya' hear, Suge." she says in a Dolly Parton drawl.
I give her an odd look. She didn't have that accent before...
she laughed louder, "I'm just playin' with you, Suge. Come's from living in Texas half your life."
I smiled back at her, "Oh..." I begin. I'm not going to tell her to stop calling me 'Suge'. She seem to used to it.
Plus, surprisingly, I actually...Like it. She thinks I'm sweet. Thank God she doesn't know me!
"How are you feeling, you look a lot better then you did when we bumped into eachother."
"Um...Thank you, Ms. Stevens."
Rowenna put her hand to her hips, "Lordie! Don't you go callin' me 'Miss' now! I'm not that darn old! Everyone
calls me Row, and so should you."
I laugh a little. Even when she doesn't mean to, she's got that southern accent!
"Ok Row." I say obiediently, "Do you want to come in? I havn't stared packing my clothes yet..."
She looks me over discretly, "Are all your clothes like that?" She asks.
I look at my usually pink dress, "Yes, why?"
"Then don't pack any clothes, we'll get you new stuff."
I felt my anger spark slightly with this comment. What right did she have, judging what clothes I wear?... But, I
guess she knows better. Now, I know, I know, I should be treating this woman like dirt, as I do to most strangers.
But I want to be myself with this woman, not what I usually am. After all, I am going to be with her for a while,
I might as well start off with her not hating me.
Bob choses this moment to walk into the hallway,
"Rowenna, where you said ten minutes, I didn't think you actually meant it!"
Row smirked boyishly, "You know me, Pataki, a Texian true to her word!"
She looks back down to me, "You got your personals ready, Suge?"
I nod.
"Well then, go up and get them!" and I do so.
When I come back down, duffel-bag in hand, Bob's talking to Row, and he faces me, uncertainly,
"I...uh, have a few things for you."
I look at Row questioningly and she smiles back prettily, mouthing the words 'Go Ahead'.
"What?" I ask.
The first thing he hands me is a Bank Card and about three hundred dollars worth of cash,
"That's to my own personal account, not even Olga knows about it."
I look up at him wonderingly. Me know something Olga doesn't ? I'm begining to feel dizzy. This is
all a bit to strange, too unreal. It's all moving very quickly.
"Don't be overwhelmed." Row bent down and whispers in my ear. Great, another mind-reader.
Bob takes out a pen and writes a number on my hand, "That's the code, there should be enough money to
get you around the world, since Rowenna's offered to make it a free trip for...what did you call her, Rowenna?"
She smiles widely, "A Christmas Angel with a Miracle to make Happen!" she declares. I feel my face Flush, and
Dad smiles with Fatherly joy. Next, he hand's me the piece of paper with the names of Forign Coutries on it.
"That kid Arnold's parents used to be on the news somtimes, before they settled down. These were some of
the places they helped. You never know, they might know where they are."
Funny, this is the first time Bob's ever remembered Arnold's name. But one thing's still bothering me.
"Dad, where's Mom? Is she in her room?"
He looks around nervously, "Well, no, she went to... the store." that's out little way of saying the Liquor Shop
"But I'll explain what's happened...Christ, I don't know how I'll explain, but I'll think of something."
He chuckled, a little anxiously, and turned to Rowenna,
"So, I guess you'll be going..."
"You got it, Bob, Gotta get on Ol' Lady while the getting's good."
I looked up at her, " 'Old Lady'?" I ask quizicly,
she grinned, "My plane, I named her after my dog back in Houston."
I smile and bite my lip to keep from going into hystarics, hauling my pink duffel-bag that held my 'personals' up
to my shoulder. Row opened the door and we both stepped out at the same time, but I turn back to my Dad,
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for letting me do this." I say to him, cold night air whipping hair in my face.
He puts his hands through his own hair, "To be honest, I don't know why I'm letting you do this, I must be crazy."
"Maybe it because you trust me." I try.
He looks at me and shakes his head knowingly,
Maybe, it's because I don't like to see my girl unhappy." he returns.
I feel a weak smile curve on my lips and look at him. Something strange happened in that moment, I can't explain
it. One of those father-daughter moments that the kids tell THEIR grandkids when they're gnarled and aged. I saw
him, Big Bob Pataki, the man I could usually barely put up with, take the stand as Father of the Year.
And I was eternally grateful, to MY father.
"Goodbye, Dad."
"Bye, Helga."
Row guides me to the car, and helps me in the back.
"Door Close." she says, and automaticly, the door shuts. Wow, that's something you don't see everyday, or won't
for a couple more years, at least. She takes her place in the drivers seat, and we drive away, Bob still watching us
from the door, waving to me.
When we're out of sight, I sit back in the leather seat and drift into thought.
Arnold, I know you can't hear me, but I'll find them for you. I'll find them and I'll bring them here, to you. Even if
you don't want me near anymore, I'm going to do this, just because I love you.
"How far to the airport, Row?" I ask her,
"'Bout half an houre more, Suge, you know where you wanna go yet?"
"Yeah, we're going to..." I take a look at the sheet Dad gave me and picked the first name I saw,
"India, We're going to India. Bangalore, India."
Row didn't even flinch, "You're the boss, Suge. Try to rest up now, though, the jet-lag'll kill you."
I rest my head back on the seat and watch the outdoor Christmas decorations speed past me out the window.
"I have a goal, Row." I tell her dreamily, "Bring Arnold his Parents for Christmas."
she chortles happily, "It's a good goal." she says, and then sighs,
"What?" I question,
I can feel her smile, "To think I'd end up working for a Christmas Angel."
I smile softly, and focus back on the window.
I don't expect you to forgive me, Arnold...but I want you to be happy.
~*~End of Chapter One~*~
Whoa-Oh was that long! So, what do you people out there in fanfic-land think? A little to far fecthed? Not to
great, could be better? Well I wanna hear from everyone! If nobody likes this, then I'll delete it and post my
other Christmas story (in hopes that it won't get flamed)
Chapter Two'll be coming soon!
Now...you all know my goodbye drill...say it with me now!
Wishin' u...
Love
Life
Luck
n' Lafta'
~*~CD~*~
stories in the making, but I've decided to put this one up after a little esteem boost from a friend of mine
(Thanks Roxy^_^!) Ok, so here's the 441: The kids are in Grade five now and... yeah, that's
about it! ^_~
So here we go! (:::wishes::: Please don't hate it!)
Disclaimer~ «¢ ¤ § M î ¢ D ® £ Å m ê ®» doesn't own Hey Arnold! (ohhh...look at the funky writin')
~*~A Christmas Present for Arnold~*~
Chapter One- Evil Mistakes and Angelic Plans
"I'll never forgive you."
The words rang through my ears and make my body stiffen horribly. I can't breathe.
"I can't believe you'd expect me to." he continues,
"I don--"
"You don't get it, do you, Helga?!" he inturuputs, his voice painful, stinging into my mind, "You just go around
stupidly thinking that everyone else's as heartless...as thick-skinned, as UNFEELING as you are! Did you
think I wouldn't care?! Did you think I would just ignore it?!" his face flushes an angry shade of red. I
shake my head in dismay. I feel the begining of tears, but I push the thought of crying aside. Not here, not with
his piercing green eyes burning holes into me hatefully. Snow falls on my eyelashes as I wait for his next words.
"I thought you were at least human." he chokes out, "I thought you could at least figure out that it hurts for
a person to be without...parents."
My eyes widen with smypathy and I try to reach out and touch him.
"Arnold--" I whisper guiltily.
He backs away from me like I have The Plague
"Don't!" he begins "Touch me! Don't look at me and don't talk to me! I don't ever want to be anywhere near
you again!" he concludes, and starts making his way out of the alley.
He suddenly stops and turns around to me,
"I'd appriciate it if you'd pretend you didn't know me," he orders, "because that's how I plan to treat you."
And with that, Arnold is gone. Out of the alley and out of my life. I drop to my knees, because I'm no longer
able to hold my weight up, and start to cry.
"Please...Please...I'm so sorry." I beg to the ground. As my tears fall onto the muddy snow, I think back to
what started this all...
It was all my fault, of that much I'm sure. I have no illusions of innocense, and I am not the victim in this twisted
little game. I don't really know what posessed me to hide behind a wall to listen to Arnold's and Gerald's
conversation. It was about what they wanted for Christmas, and I was interested. I didn't stay to hear what Gerald
wanted, I couldn't care less about that. It was Arnold's wish list that made me evesdrop.
"I'm telling you, Arnold man, this year I'm getting EXACLY what I want!" Gerald had gloated to his best
friend, "No socks, no Hats, no dumb-looking sweaters. We're talking video-games, movies, all the new
Purdy-Boys books, everything I asked for!"
Arnold had smiled politely at Hair-Boy's ramblings, and I had watched my love tentivly. No, I knew him, I knew
that smile. Something was not right in his world. And that meant the world as I knew it would fall apart.
Thank God Gerald knew that smile too, "Hey Man, what's wrong?"
Arnold had looked away, his averted eyes focusing on the clear late-November sky above. There was snow
on the ground already, and my Blonde-Haired Darling kicked some of the powdery-white blanket
away with his booted foot.
"Nothing, I was just thinking..." his voice fades.
"About what? You got something special in mind for Christmas?" Gerald had nudged Arnold when he'd said this.
Arnold had ignored it and sighed, "Yeah."
By now Gerald knew this was serious. Arnold was not Happy. And if Arnold isn't happy, then no one else is
allowed to be anywhere near satisfied. That's just the way it works around here.
"It's just that, at Christmas time, kids are supposed to have thier parents." Arnold had blurted out, and had
looked immediatly sorry for doing so.
Gerald had smirked sadly and put a hand on Arnold's shoulder, "I'm really sorry, Arnold."
He waved his hand dismissivly, "No, It's alright, it's not your fault." and that ended it. They had walked away.
It was then that I had heard that sickeningly stuck-up voice say in it's sing-song way,
"Why HELGA! Were you listening in on Arnold?" I remember wincing at that statement. Rhonda. Just the person
I didn't want to see me here. I needed her like I needed a knife in the back.
"No...No!" I was all I got out of my mouth before she had cut in,
"Yes, you were! Hmm...I wonder why?" She had smirked evily at this. I couldn't have gotten my body to stop
shaking if I had had all the time in the world,
"Could you perhaps have a bit of a ...crush, on him?" I could almost see her lick her lips with the prospect of some
of the juiciest gossip she'd come across in her life. My eyes widened and swung around the PS 118 schoolyard,
"Are...are you serious?!" the words had come out weak and unsure. Rhonda knew a dying victim when she saw
one, so she had taken her pounce,
"I'm right! Arn't I? You've gotta THING for Arnold!" she had cakled maliciously, "Oh, wait 'till everyone hear's this!"
I can't account for what came out of my mouth next. It was away of saving myself from the fire. I didn't
even hear the forbidden, unholy words... until it was too late,
"Oh please, Princess! CRIMINEY! Why would I EVER like some stupid Orphan?! The kid only has his looney
Granparents! Ha! Arnoldo's Mom and Dad probably left because they could stand the little yellow-haired shrimp!
Probably the Mistake they ran away from! And I don't blame 'em!"
It was then I had realized that Rhonda wasn't looking at me. She was looking off to the side where I had stood. When
I looked over, I had felt the blood drain from my face and my whole body go helplessly cold,
"Arnold!" was what I had heard myself say, but that one word, said in complete anguish, did not validate all the
others said in tormented contempt. He had glared at me in greif, and had run away. And I had chased after him,
Leaving Rhonda alone in the snow, wondering if we would miss the bus home, and where I was chasing him to.
It turned out that I had chased him to one of the allies near his house. I had begged for him to forgive me, and now
here I am, a shattered remnent of my former self. Salt-drops of liquid pain drip easily down my cheeks, freezing
in the chilled air by the time they run down my neck. No, this isn't true! This isn't right! This is some horrid nightmare!
"I didn't mean it...I didn't mean it..." I sob as I shut my eyes tightly. I had just done it. I had just destroyed any
bond I held to my only Love. I gulp in air franticly, tearing my hands through my mangled, stringy hair. My nails
dug into the back of my neck and I cried out in pain, falling forwards. I'm able to have my palms land on the
ground before I collapse totally, keeping my upper body unharmed. I look up to the sky cowardly,
"Why did it happen this way?," I whisper pathedicly to whatever higher power kept itself up there. I knew the
answer, of course. It was me, it was always me. Foolish pride! How dare it overcome me! How could
I push away thet one I love the most?
I whimpered childishly and and pushed myself up from my hands,
"No...No..I have to do something..." I murmur. I look at the palms of my hands, scraped and bleeding, skin
coloured brown from the mud and flaking off. My un-gloved hands dried and cracked in the winter-like air, and
the knuckles are a raw shade of frostbitten red. I wipe my tears away roughly, unable to move the joints in my fingers,
and begin to run home. What am I going to do? I have to make it up to him. I have to show Arnold how sorry I
Truly am. I'd sell my soul if it'd mean he could know the remorse I feel at this very moment. But I can't buy his
mercy, just as I can't buy his favor. But what power do I have? I'm just an ugly ten-year-old nothing.
Without warning, my feet skid on a patch of black ice and I'm sent flying into the warm coat of a stranger,
"Oh!" the young woman's voice exclaimed. I shake my head a little from where I've landed,
"Sorry, Miss, are you okay?" the words come out of my before my concious mind has the chance to put any
kind of sharpness on them. I look at the girl with her long, straight blonde hair and smoky grey eyes. She gets up
and holds out a hand to me, which I didn't accept, but instead forced myself up for the second time today.
"Yes, I'm fine, honey..." she looks me over and gasps, "But look at you! Oh, you're hurt!"
""I'm fine, don't worry." I say hurriedly and start off in the direction of my house,
"You ok to get home, Suge?" she calls after me, using the word 'Suge' as a texian kind of slang for 'Sugar'.
"Yeah!" I yell back, I sprint off again.
"Well, be carful!" is the last faint words I hear from the kind girl. I stop after a few more minutes of running to
catch my breath. I look up to the steely, darkening sky.
Okay, I've never been religious, Mirium and Bob never got it in me, but this is to whoever's up there:
Send me a sign! If you are there, and you do care, tell me what to do! Rest assured It'll be done! You must
know by now that I'd do anything for him!
"Take a plane!" a syrupy voice annouces from behind me. I jump and turn around, looking for the bearer of
the commercialized voice. I see that I'm standing behind an electronics shop, one with all those T.V's playing
in the window. It's playing an ad for some sort of air service right now, and I find myself unable to turn away,
"That's right, plane travel is fast, easy, convient and affordable." the voice drones on,
"You can travel all around the world in your own private jet! Visit exotic places, relax with cultural hoildays,
even reunite your family for the Christmas Season!"
Did I just hear what I thought I heard?
"Yes, that's right! Go find your family this Christmas! Be with the loved ones you've missed the most! Private
airline travel will open you to these options and more, for an incredibly low price!"
My mouth drops open as the sight of a private jet taking off engulfs all the screens at once.
Now, how's that for a Sign?
"Be sure to be with your family this year...Rent private Air travel." the thick voice finishes.
I don't need anymore encouragement! I dash off, almost home. I know what to do! Bob had taken private
jets before, when he had to get to some big communication meetings in another country. I'll talk him into it! I have to!
I'm going to find Arnold's Parents!
I don't know much about what happened to them, all I've heard have been rumours. But I know they're not dead.
They were explorers who disapered when Arnold was only little. My poor Arnold...
Get over it, Pataki, you're on a mission!
I'll find out where they are, somehow, and bring them back to him! But I'd have to hurry. Christmas
is a month away, and I want my present to be special! Better then the snowboots last year, I'm going to
give Arnold a family!
I burst through the door and run into the living room, where Bob sits in the glow of his precious TV. I don't
even bother taking my boots off. He looks at me in disbelief,
"CHRIST OLGA! What're you doing?!" He yells as I block his veiw of The Game.
"I need a private jet." I state breathlessly. There, that was simple.
He stared at me blankly.
And kept staring...
and staring...
"HAVE YOU GONE NUTS?!" he booms.
I grin distractedly and shake my head, "No, let me explian."
"You'd better." Bob retorts, surprisingly calm now.
I crack my knuckles and begin, "You see... and need to find a present for a friend."
"That Chinese girl?" he cut in boldly,
I glare at him, "Her name's Phoebe and she's JAPANESE. And no, it's not her."
He pushes his back away from the chair and turns off the TV. My eyes shoot up. Well, this was a first.
"And I don't want you thinking it's just ANY gift."
he grunted for me to go on.
"...It's nothing you can buy at a store. I mean, it's human."
Now it's was Bob's turn for his eyes to pop. And how.
"It's...They're...people a friend of mine hasn't seen in a very long time. And I want to find them for my...friend"
There, I managed to do that with the least amount of stammaring possible.
Bob rubs his chin thoughtfully, "This is about that Orphan boy, isn't it?"
I blink in awe. Well, whadda'ya know, he's been paying attention.
"Yes." I admit.
"Then the answer's no."
My hand curls into a fist and my face hardens into a scowl, "What?" I say.
"No, Olga, you're not going anywhere." he decree's simply. My anger rises and my teeth clench together
in distaste, "IT'S HELGA, DAMMIT!" I find myself shouting.
He gets off the couch, "Hold on there, little missy! I'm still you're father and I am NOT letting you leave the country
all alone for some no-parent brat!"
I growl, "You've never cared about what I do or where I go before! Why Start now, Bob?!"
And my father can only remain there, struck speechless,
I go on without heeding his statue-like state, "You don't know Arnold! He's the kindest boy in the WORLD! He's
helped me...he's helped everybody so much, and all he wants is his parents back! It's not his fault they went
away. He shouldn't have to live his life, wondering where they are, if they're alive! I just want to give him what
everyone should have! I want to give him a Mom and a Dad! He deseves it, He deserves it so much..."
I feel tears coming again and I turn away from Bob. A Pataki should never be seen crying,
"If you love me, Dad." I tell him, my voice hushed and breaking, "If you've ever cared about me, for even a
second, you'll let me do this. I NEED to do this. I know you can't understand, but you'll just have to trust
me when I say I know what I'm doing."
The room was absolutly silent for a moment. Nothing could be heard. Not even Mom from upstairs in the
master bedroom, if she's even there. Then, as if on some divine cue, Dad sighed and walked out of the room.
I turned around, my eyes losing their teariness. Well, that was it. I had lost. To think I had ever thought I could've
won. I'm a complete idiot. Bob, letting me travel around the world, searching for an impossible goal. Please,
as if he'd dish out the money me. For Olga, diffenitly, but not for me.
Well, to whoever's up there, I just want to tell you that your 'sign' is crap.
Suddenly, Bob re-enters. A thick, black leather address book is in his hand, and he sit's on the couch, leafing
though the pages without a word to me. A wave of dread washes over me. Who's he calling? Please don't let
it be some Mental Hospital!
"I'm calling the Pilate who flew me every time I went Privatly." he says, like he could read my mind.
I nearly fell on the floor. You're kidding, no way. A PRIVATE PILATE! But that can only mean...
"Her name's Rowenna Stevens. She's in town now. She'll take care of you while you're on your trip,
God knows she's one of the few people I trust." He finds the desired number and heads to the phone,
"Dad, I--"
He holds up his hand to me and starts dialing. We both wait wordlessly for her to pick up,
"Yeah Rowenna? It's Bob Pataki. You know, the Beeper Guy?" I almost laughed when I heard him greet
the girl like this. I'd never heard him call himself 'The Beeper Guy'! 'Beeper King' yes, but never Guy!
"Look, are you booked from the next month or so, Stevens?" I held my breath and prepared for the worst.
"No? Well then, I've gotta job for you." To my surprise, I start giggling with happiness. And to even more
of my amazment, Bob looks and me with a...fatherly smile.
"I want you to fly my daugther anywhere she wants to go, for as long as she wants...No, not Olga, my
second Daughter, Helga Geraldine Pataki." I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from choking in
unbelief. I didn't know He even KNEW my middle name!
"No..No this is not some stupid present! She wants to find her friend's Parents. They disappered a long time
ago and...yeah, it was that story on the news back then...of course she can do it, she's a Pataki, ain't she?!"
I felt a warm family pride course through my viens,
"Yeah, so anyways she wants it to be her Christmas present to the kid so do you think...you can be here in
ten minutes?...Yeah, that'd be perfect...What do you mean 'No Charge'?...hey, if you don't wanna charge me,
I'm not gonna complain...Rowenna, you gotta learn the difference between living with Christmas Spirit and
Making a profit...Alright, see you in ten, you still remember where the place is?...I'll get her ready then, Bye."
He hangs up the phone and smiles at me triumphently,
I look at him skepticly, "How does she know where we live?"
"She drives the limos for her customer's to take them to the airport. She's driven me a couple times." he explains.
"Oh, I--"
"I never want you to think I don't...care about you, Helga. You're my daughter, and I...Know I can trust you, ok?"
I smile up at him. That took a lot for him to say, his not usually the expressive type,
"Ok...Daddy." Woah, did I just say 'Daddy'? Boy am I getting caught up in the moment!
I see Dad beam proudly for a moent, before covering it up with a cough,
"Yeah well, You'd better go...you know, pack."
"Uh-Huh... Oh, and Dad?"
"Yeah?"
I go over and hug him quickly. It wasn't half as ackward as I thought it would be.
"Thanks, I'll never forget this." I say before bounding up the stairs. I cleaned myself up quickly and got to packing.
Just as I had started packing my shampoo and other bathroom, cosmetic and hair stuff, the doorbell rings.
I almost trip getting down the stair, and fling open the door. My eyes bulge, as does hers, when I meet Rowenna,
"YOU!" we both say at the same time. It was the girl I had crashed into on the street!
She giggled warmly, "Well, 'magine runnin' in'ta ya' hear, Suge." she says in a Dolly Parton drawl.
I give her an odd look. She didn't have that accent before...
she laughed louder, "I'm just playin' with you, Suge. Come's from living in Texas half your life."
I smiled back at her, "Oh..." I begin. I'm not going to tell her to stop calling me 'Suge'. She seem to used to it.
Plus, surprisingly, I actually...Like it. She thinks I'm sweet. Thank God she doesn't know me!
"How are you feeling, you look a lot better then you did when we bumped into eachother."
"Um...Thank you, Ms. Stevens."
Rowenna put her hand to her hips, "Lordie! Don't you go callin' me 'Miss' now! I'm not that darn old! Everyone
calls me Row, and so should you."
I laugh a little. Even when she doesn't mean to, she's got that southern accent!
"Ok Row." I say obiediently, "Do you want to come in? I havn't stared packing my clothes yet..."
She looks me over discretly, "Are all your clothes like that?" She asks.
I look at my usually pink dress, "Yes, why?"
"Then don't pack any clothes, we'll get you new stuff."
I felt my anger spark slightly with this comment. What right did she have, judging what clothes I wear?... But, I
guess she knows better. Now, I know, I know, I should be treating this woman like dirt, as I do to most strangers.
But I want to be myself with this woman, not what I usually am. After all, I am going to be with her for a while,
I might as well start off with her not hating me.
Bob choses this moment to walk into the hallway,
"Rowenna, where you said ten minutes, I didn't think you actually meant it!"
Row smirked boyishly, "You know me, Pataki, a Texian true to her word!"
She looks back down to me, "You got your personals ready, Suge?"
I nod.
"Well then, go up and get them!" and I do so.
When I come back down, duffel-bag in hand, Bob's talking to Row, and he faces me, uncertainly,
"I...uh, have a few things for you."
I look at Row questioningly and she smiles back prettily, mouthing the words 'Go Ahead'.
"What?" I ask.
The first thing he hands me is a Bank Card and about three hundred dollars worth of cash,
"That's to my own personal account, not even Olga knows about it."
I look up at him wonderingly. Me know something Olga doesn't ? I'm begining to feel dizzy. This is
all a bit to strange, too unreal. It's all moving very quickly.
"Don't be overwhelmed." Row bent down and whispers in my ear. Great, another mind-reader.
Bob takes out a pen and writes a number on my hand, "That's the code, there should be enough money to
get you around the world, since Rowenna's offered to make it a free trip for...what did you call her, Rowenna?"
She smiles widely, "A Christmas Angel with a Miracle to make Happen!" she declares. I feel my face Flush, and
Dad smiles with Fatherly joy. Next, he hand's me the piece of paper with the names of Forign Coutries on it.
"That kid Arnold's parents used to be on the news somtimes, before they settled down. These were some of
the places they helped. You never know, they might know where they are."
Funny, this is the first time Bob's ever remembered Arnold's name. But one thing's still bothering me.
"Dad, where's Mom? Is she in her room?"
He looks around nervously, "Well, no, she went to... the store." that's out little way of saying the Liquor Shop
"But I'll explain what's happened...Christ, I don't know how I'll explain, but I'll think of something."
He chuckled, a little anxiously, and turned to Rowenna,
"So, I guess you'll be going..."
"You got it, Bob, Gotta get on Ol' Lady while the getting's good."
I looked up at her, " 'Old Lady'?" I ask quizicly,
she grinned, "My plane, I named her after my dog back in Houston."
I smile and bite my lip to keep from going into hystarics, hauling my pink duffel-bag that held my 'personals' up
to my shoulder. Row opened the door and we both stepped out at the same time, but I turn back to my Dad,
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for letting me do this." I say to him, cold night air whipping hair in my face.
He puts his hands through his own hair, "To be honest, I don't know why I'm letting you do this, I must be crazy."
"Maybe it because you trust me." I try.
He looks at me and shakes his head knowingly,
Maybe, it's because I don't like to see my girl unhappy." he returns.
I feel a weak smile curve on my lips and look at him. Something strange happened in that moment, I can't explain
it. One of those father-daughter moments that the kids tell THEIR grandkids when they're gnarled and aged. I saw
him, Big Bob Pataki, the man I could usually barely put up with, take the stand as Father of the Year.
And I was eternally grateful, to MY father.
"Goodbye, Dad."
"Bye, Helga."
Row guides me to the car, and helps me in the back.
"Door Close." she says, and automaticly, the door shuts. Wow, that's something you don't see everyday, or won't
for a couple more years, at least. She takes her place in the drivers seat, and we drive away, Bob still watching us
from the door, waving to me.
When we're out of sight, I sit back in the leather seat and drift into thought.
Arnold, I know you can't hear me, but I'll find them for you. I'll find them and I'll bring them here, to you. Even if
you don't want me near anymore, I'm going to do this, just because I love you.
"How far to the airport, Row?" I ask her,
"'Bout half an houre more, Suge, you know where you wanna go yet?"
"Yeah, we're going to..." I take a look at the sheet Dad gave me and picked the first name I saw,
"India, We're going to India. Bangalore, India."
Row didn't even flinch, "You're the boss, Suge. Try to rest up now, though, the jet-lag'll kill you."
I rest my head back on the seat and watch the outdoor Christmas decorations speed past me out the window.
"I have a goal, Row." I tell her dreamily, "Bring Arnold his Parents for Christmas."
she chortles happily, "It's a good goal." she says, and then sighs,
"What?" I question,
I can feel her smile, "To think I'd end up working for a Christmas Angel."
I smile softly, and focus back on the window.
I don't expect you to forgive me, Arnold...but I want you to be happy.
~*~End of Chapter One~*~
Whoa-Oh was that long! So, what do you people out there in fanfic-land think? A little to far fecthed? Not to
great, could be better? Well I wanna hear from everyone! If nobody likes this, then I'll delete it and post my
other Christmas story (in hopes that it won't get flamed)
Chapter Two'll be coming soon!
Now...you all know my goodbye drill...say it with me now!
Wishin' u...
Love
Life
Luck
n' Lafta'
~*~CD~*~