Hey Arnold The Jungle Movie: Quest of the Heart

Chapter 2

"Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold! Hey-" Arnold groaned as he turned off his potato clock and rolled over. Despite a long rest, those thoughts were still fresh in his mind. He hesitated to get up as he had to prepare for another long boring day of school.

"I wish it was Saturday…" He said reluctantly as he slowly slumped out of bed and got dressed for school. He looked in the direction of his desk and saw his father's journal. He seemed puzzled.

"I though I had it on my bed with me last night." He walked over to glance at it.

"…Grandpa.." He said with a sleepy tone. He reached for the clothes he already laid out. He wore his normal light colored blue jeans with a teal shirt and his favorite red plaid shirt on the outside with rolled up sleeves. He stared into the bulletin board that was covered in photos of his parents and brochures of San Lorenzo. He lowered his head and gazed at the tattered journal again.

He reached for it and held it in his hands. The history of his parents filled this old book and he treasured it as much as his hat. 'I want to read it again, but why? Even though I feel lonely, I still want to read it again. Maybe I should take it with me today..' Shortly after, Arnold made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen with his books in tow.

"Morning Arnold! How ya feeling?" Grandpa said grabbing the other half of his herring sandwich out of the fridge. Arnold sat there staring at his grandpa.

"I still feel the same.." He said with very little emotion. Grandpa placed his wrist on Arnold's forehead.

"Still not feeling well, shortman? Maybe you should go back to bed."

Grandma appeared with a spatula of hot pancakes and plopped them onto Arnold's plate. Arnold's eyes followed the tawny pancakes as they fell in front of him.

"Pookie, watch it with that hot spatula. You could poke an eye out with that." He said as if it happened all the time.

"Thanks Grandma…" he said taking a few bites from his breakfast.

"No grandpa I'm alright. It's just that I really don't feel like going to school today."

"Why is that? You get to go and see all your friends like Gerald and your weird little friend with the one eyebrow. And who knows? Maybe you'll get extra time recess or something." Grandpa took a bite out of his fishy delight as he sat in the chair beside Arnold.

"I know. It's just.. never mind Grandpa. I feel a little better. Maybe I was just really hungry." He stopped eating and left a few remnants of the pancakes on the plate.

"Bye Grandma and Grandpa, I'll see you after school" Arnold stated as he walked out the door. Grandpa started to feel troubled by Arnold's disheartenment.

"Ok Arnold.."

Arnold left the stoops of the boarding house only to run into Gerald. It took him a minute to notice his best friend waiting for him.

"Oh. H-hi Gerald."

Gerald looked at his bland expression.

"Hey man…feeling better?" He asked.

"Yeah I guess…We need to hurry if we are going to make class before the bell." The two walked fast and entered their classroom. Arnold, as usual, grabbed a seat by the window. Gerald took the seat beside him and began to talk to Sid and Stinky to pass the time. As the rest of the kids took their seats, their old fourth grade teacher Mr. Simmons, decided to move up a grade and is now a fifth grade teacher. The balding man walks in with a rather large geography book along with a small light brown briefcase.

"Hello class!" He says cheerfully. The class was hardly responsive.

"Hello Mr. Simmons.."

"Today, we are going to start off giving out our math tests. Most of the class did really well!" He passed out the tests. Some of the student groaned while others cheered.

"I got a C! I ACTUALLY GOT A C ON MY MATH TEST!" Harold yelled.

"Yeah right pink boy and I'm Mary queen of Scotts…" Helga retaliated. She was only met with a glare.

"I really did Helga." He said grumpily into her face, "If you say that I'm dumb again, I'm gonna pound you!"

"I'd like to see you try you big oaf-" Helga willingly shouted back as she was shaking her balled up fist ready to pulverize him, only to be interrupted just in the nick of time.

"Harold and Helga please calm down. It's time for school to start." He began to ruffle through his briefcase for his lesson plan for the day.

"Now class, we were going to start on our poem assignments, but instead we are going to continue our studies on Central America! Lately we have been learning the different countries and cultures that reside within the Central Americas. So, for the next week that's what we will focus on!" The class moaned. Arnold could only look on in silent heartache. All he could think about was the whereabouts of his parents lost in the unforgiving and hardly touched jungle that make up much of the Central Americas. By some small amount of hope, are they alive? If they are why was there no contact since his first birthday? Were they long gone along with all the answers? Did they succumb to the inescapable dangers hidden within the cryptic rainforests? These thoughts continue to plague the wistful ten year old.

"We are going to start off by exploring the deep jungles that inhabit San Lorenzo and Costa Rica. It is one of the most bio-diverse region in the world! You are going to make your own diorama showing at least three different kinds of animals and 3 different kinds of plants that are found in this region! We will work on these until lunch." Mr. Simmons's said vivaciously. Most of the class cheered over this seemingly more fun project.

"I do have a small homework assignment to get ourselves ready for the test we'll have at the end of the month."

"Oh darn, I left the homework in the folder back at home…" He said under his breath.

Arnold 's anguished state didn't go unnoticed. Helga seemed to be the only one to see that her beloved was buried deep in sorrow. 'Oh Arnold. What sorrow you must be feeling. If only I knew the poisonous arrow that has pierced my love's bleeding heart.' Helga could only stare in anguish alongside with him as she gripped the gold locket hidden within her solid pink dress glazed with a red stripe. Arnold was too deep in thought to hardly notice anyone's gaze meeting his.Heturned aiming his sights out the window.

"We will work in pairs of two! Pick your partner and we will get started!" Mr. Simmons walked to where the supplies were and placed out the treys on the extra tables in the corner of the classroom.

The class chattered as they made their way around the room picking partners. A familiar face approached Arnold.

"Like always man?" Gerald said as he offered his usual thumb shake which Arnold gladly completed.

"I'll get the paint and you can grab the glue and scissors." Arnold said in his usual tone. The two ascended to get their supplies. The class worked on the projects for the next couple hours. Ten minutes before the bell rang, Mr. Simmons stood to get the classes attention.

"Oh class, before I forget, I was handed a sheet this morning talking about the cultural studies we've been working on the passed two days. Our school has announced that it will participate in an essay contest! I thought this would be a huge opportunity since we have been studying the region for almost a week now. The sponsors of this special contest revealed their biggest grand prize yet! This year the judges will award the winner and his or her class, a round trip to Central America for a whole week!" The class gasped at the thought of going to an actual out-of-country class trip. "Can you believe that? A whole week in the jungles of Central America! It's exciting to think about! That is if one of you win!" He mumbled during his excitable laughter.

Arnold's world went silent as couldn't believe what Mr. Simmons just said. His hands lost the grip and the glue and all the trash he acquired collapsed from his hands and landed on the floor. Gerald asked for the scissors but got no response.

"Arnold..?" he asked again, but still no answer. Mr. Simmons looked in the direction of the loud noise.

"Oh my! Arnold is everything okay?" He said aloud. Some of the kids took their gaze off their projects and stared at Arnold. Arnold stood there like he was frozen in time. He had thoughts racing through his mind. As soon as that he heard his name he snapped back into reality

"Oh-ohh yeah. I was just thinking about something for the project and…it slipped out of my hands. I'm Sorry Mr. Simmons!" He responded with his normal tone voice as started to pick up the mess he just made. Gerald took notice of his quick change in attitude.

The lunch bell rings and most of the kids head out to lunch. Gerald stayed behind patiently waiting to be alone with Arnold and try to figure out why his friend was acting so strange.

"Hey Arnold. You've been acting different and now you seem like your old self again. You seem awful excited about that contest. "Gerald eagerly spoke as he watched his best friend start to pick up the materials for their project. Arnold could only look at him with a smile. "Well...I'll tell you later. Go save a table at lunch! I'll meet you there in a few minutes!" Gerald raised his brow.

"Hahaha! Okay Arnold…see you in a few." Gerald confidently walked out.

Mr. Simmons looked up to notice that Arnold was still there cleaning up the station. After Arnold finished, he sat down and lost himself in his thoughts.

"Arnold? Are you not going to lunch? I have to lock the room. I need to run back to my house to pick up my folder for the class's homework for tonight."

"I'm fine Mr. Simmons. Is it ok If I stay here just for a minute?" He asked politely. Mr. Simmons grabbed his keys and nodded.

"Yes, it's fine "I-I'll lock the door so when you leave shut it on the way out. Okay?" He gave a smile and went out in a hurry.

For Arnold it was nice to have it silent. For those few minutes he thought about his parents. He grabbed the familiar brown book that contained his father's adventures. He thought deeply about the contest. Could it really be this easy? Is this the chance he's been waiting for so long? Could he finally have the chance of him finding out about his parents? Though exuberant of this unbelievable opportunity, he still had a big obstacle, winning the essay contest. It wasn't long before the one who was always on the bright side became roused with bright thoughts.

"I have to enter that contest! I will enter the contest! If I ever have a chance to finding out what happened to my parents, this is it! I can't believe it." He smiled. He stared at the journal for just a little while longer. A few minutes pass and with his stomach starting to gurgle, Arnold placed the journal back under the desk with his other books and headed to the lunch room.

"Hahaha! Unbelievable!" Gerald, Sid and Stinky didn't refrain from laughter until Arnold appeared. Arnold seated himself next to Gerald.

"Hey guys. Sorry I ran a little late." Arnold gave the kids a lame excuse.

"It's okay. It's only been a few minutes." Gerald uttered as he took another bite of his mystery meat.

"Everything's fine Gerald. I just got really excited about that essay contest. I'm going to enter it. Somehow I'm going to try to win that contest!" Arnold's reaction prompted Sid, Stinky, and Gerald to give him a confused look.

"Arnold, many kids and many schools enter that contest. Do you have any idea how hard It'll will be? Many kids enter. and usually someone else wins. Even Phoebe lost. You are going to need a miracle, Arnold." Gerald said rather bluntly. Sid replied.

"Yeah, If Phoebe couldn't win, what makes you think you could?"

"Face it Arnold, it's darn near impossible to win those types of contests. I'd be easier to plant a garden on the playground." Stinky took a big bite out of his deli sandwich.

Arnold gave somewhat of an angry look. "I'm going to enter that essay contest. I don't know how, but I have to win, no matter what happens. I'll do whatever it takes!" His gaze stayed on the boys. Sid, Stinky, Gerald gave him puzzled looks and didn't respond back to Arnold's unruly outburst.

'I will find out what happened to my parents. The answers I've been waiting so long for will tell me.' he thought to himself.

After lunch was over, everyone returned to class.

"Alright class! For the rest of today we will start our book reports!" On cue, the class objected. Mr. Simmons bright mood sticks the landing and he proceeds to pass out the book report information sheet.

"Before the bell rings I will also hand out the info for the essay contest!" He retorted returning to his desk and sat down in his brown teacher's chair. He started to sort out papers and organize his desk.

Mr. Simmons stood back up grabbing a bundle of packets. Right before the bell rang for dismissal, waved his hands in an attempt to gain control of the classes attention.

"Class. Class! I have the handout for the essay contest! I hope you all will enter! Imagine, the whole class will get to take an exciting trip to the jungles of Central America! First, I will mention that the essay will be a short story! You have to make it a tale of adventure!" Arnold listened intently.

"So we just make up our own story?" Stinky answered back. Mr. Simmons let out a chuckle.

"Yes Stinky. Be creative with it!" He responded.

"Second, it has to be 3-10 pages long." Quite a few of the students didn't react kindly to the page limit they were given. Mr. Simmons took a another look at the packet.

"And last, it has to be written in pen when doing the final draft."

"It's due by the end of next week! And remember to read the packet carefully! You are more than welcome to ask me for any ideas and suggestions! There are plenty of books at the library to help you. Good luck to all of you!" Mr. Simmons headed back to his desk. The bell rang shortly after and the class got up to leave.

"The guys were going to head to the park to play some Frisbee. Want to come Arnold?" Gerald gestured toward the direction of the park. Arnold thought for a moment before he answered.

"No can do Gerald! I have a lot of work to do!" Arnold smiled as he picked up the pace and headed back to his home. Gerald only shook his head as the football headed kid ran swiftly out of the classroom.

The rest of the boys shrugged it off as they trotted out of school and headed to the park.