Letters to Arnold
Prologue
Dear Arnold,
Hey, it's me again. It's been awhile since I last wrote you. Actually it hasn't. It's only been a day, but it feels like a while.
I had that test in physics; though I'm pretty sure I bombed it. I didn't study like I promised you I would; I guess I was too busy daydreaming again. Maybe I should see a doctor about that.
You came up at lunch today. Gerald, Stinky, Sid and Phoebe were all talking about that time we saved the city from those developers, do you remember that? We were telling some freshmen about it who were too young to really remember.
Gerald took a lot of credit, but he talked about you. I think everyone is afraid to. You're kind of an unspoken legend now Football Head, sometimes everyone treats you like you were the most amazing person in the world, and other times they call you a busybody brownnose, but they never speak of you unless they have to.
Sometimes I wonder if they forget about you. Once in a while when you do come into the conversation, it seems like it takes a moment or two for memories of you to enter into everyone's conscious. You aren't a main thought in their minds like you are with me. I think everyone has this bad impression that you're never going to come back…
But you are coming back right? After high school and traveling the world a bit with your parents? I know you missed them a lot when they finally came home, but you kind of left us hanging. We've always been kinda your family Football Head, I know your crazy grandparents even miss you.
Oh, by the way, your grandma's in jail again. Something about attacking the mayor…I have no idea. I'll send you a copy of the police report if I can get a copy of it.
I know I keep talking about how much I want you to come home, because I feel like you've faded from everyone's minds. I don't want you to be forgotten, I mean, criminey, you changed our lives every day when you were here.
Now I'm ranting…dammit.
Oh, I also stopped taking the pill. I figured it was a waste, considered you're the only one I'd ever want to be with that way. And all the guys refuse to try to ask me out, probably because they know I'm reserved for you. I think that's why they don't talk about you either; I think they just don't want me to get upset like I first did when you left. Don't worry, I don't cut anymore. That was a stupid idea and I hated every minute of suicide watch. I never wanted to kill myself; that would just bring me farther away from you.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the day you left. More than usual, if that was even possible. You told me to wait for you, didn't you? I think you did. How long do you plan on making me wait? I don't want to wait forever, but I know that I would, just for you. God, maybe I do need to see a shrink, this can't be normal…
Come home soon Football Head, I freaking miss you.
Love,
Helga G. Pataki
P.S. I love you Arnold.
Helga sighed as she folded the letter perfectly before placing it in a crisp white envelope. She neatly wrote his name and last known address on the front, before placing it in her desk drawer with the dozens of other letters she never sent.
TBC