That Friday evening, Mr. Simmons had his suitcase on his bed. He was still nervous about going to Hawaii. He wasn't sure why he felt nervous, but maybe he'll have some time to have fun, but he'll find out his stress wouldn't leave him alone for this special vacation.
He wasn't the only one in his bedroom. Arnold and Helga were there trying their best to help their teacher organizing his suitcase.
"Don't worry about anything, Mr. Simmons. All you will be doing is relaxing and will get to do all sorts of things," Arnold told him.
"I don't know, Arnold. I do have a feeling something terrible might go on," Mr. Simmons replied.
"Football head has a point, Mr. Simmons. You will be busy having your special time without Sid and Harold whining every second," Helga said.
"It's going to be nice and get away from that. No more listening to any whining and spit ball fights," Mr. Simmons said.
"See, Mr. Simmons, that's nothing to worry about. You will be busy on your trip you will forget we're around you," Arnold said.
"Thank you, Arnold. I will be sure to tell you all everything when I come back from Hawaii. Before I forget, Arnold, Helga, I made a list of people on my emergency contacts. You are on the list," he told them.
"Yeah, and Dad will be too busy thinking about Olga instead of paying attention to something like this," Helga spoke up.
"How would people out in Hawaii know who I am if they contact me or Helga if anything goes wrong?" Arnold asked.
Helga saw Arnold had made another good point.
"I agree with the football head, Mr. Simmons. If they do call football head's house, they will think to themselves, 'What kind of name is this? Shortman?' They'll laugh, all right, Helga agreed.
Then she added, "Like football head just said, you have nothing to worry about. There's always something you have to stress about. At least football head here doesn't stress this much like you. He always has to think positive. Why can't you be like him for once?"
He didn't know what to say on Helga's question, so she got nothing.
"I would like it if you stop calling me football head, Helga. How would you feel if somebody called you that if you were in my shoes?"
"Sorry, football head. You scored three points tonight. I'd probably feel the same way you do," Helga said.
"Next time, don't do it," Arnold said.
"Enough," Mr. Simmons told them.
"Sorry, Mr. Simmons," they both said at the same time.
"Do you still have your airplane tickets?" Arnold asked.
He changed the subject back on organizing his former teacher's holiday.
"I think I do. It makes me get nervous when I'm flying. Like most people, I don't like flying," he said.
"That happens," Arnold said.
Helga found the tickets.
"I found your tickets, Mr. Simmons. You have to be at the airport an hour earlier so these suitcases could be in the luggage claim. Like Arnold said, you will have a lot of fun you'll notice we will be gone," she said.
"I hope you're right," he said as his hands started shaking.
He didn't want to say this aloud to Arnold and Helga he always thought of canceling the holiday. It really wouldn't make his family happy.