AN: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm happy to know the chapters aren't too short… It didn't seem like I had been writing that much, but as long as they aren't too short then I'm glad. I'm still going to try and make the chps longer.. :.P just because. :)

Arnold opened the door of the Boarding House and headed up to his room. He was planning on playing baseball with everyone else, but his Grandpa stopped him halfway up the stairs.

"How was school, Short-man?" his Grandpa asked him.

"It was alright," Arnold replied, "I'm heading out to play some baseball. See you at dinner!'

"Whoa now, hold on there Arnold! I received a call from your principal today."

Arnold stopped in his tracks again, "What? Why?"

"He-He-He, don't worry, you aren't in any trouble. Just some girl in your class's gone missing or something."

"Oh yeah, Mr. Simmons thought it was odd how Helga didn't show up today or yesterday with no call from her parents."

"Helga? That girl in the pink that calls you Football Head all the time?"

Arnold sighed, knowing his Grandpa was just jokingly trying to pick on him, "Yeah Grandpa, that's Helga."

He chuckled again, "I'm just messin' with you. Anywho, I'm heading to the farmer's market downtown, want to come along?"

"Well… I was going to play baseball with the guys," Arnold replied, "but what the heck, why not."

"That's the spirit!"

After Arnold went to tell Gerald he wouldn't be playing baseball with them, he and his grandfather got in the car and on their way to the farmer's market. It turned out to be a pretty long trip. With all the rush hour traffic, it took them nearly an hour to get there. It was worth it though; Arnold loved looking at all the neat things people were selling there.

"Hey Grandpa, mind if I go around and look on my own?"

"Sure thing, kiddo. Meet back here in half an hour."

"Okay, see you then." And with that, Arnold started making his way around all the tables people had set up.

He knew what he was looking for. There was a guy that always came here that sold records and cassettes. This guy had the best stuff, from classical to jazz to big band and swing; some of Arnold's favorites. As soon as Arnold found him, he started going through the albums, trying to find ones he didn't have already.

After looking for music, Arnold came across someone selling all kinds of baseball merchandise. He bought baseball cards for only seventy-five cents. He also got a new glove, which he had been needing for a while since his was so worn out.

He browsed around for a while, finding some interesting things here and there. Arnold even ran into a few people he recognized.

"Hi Mr. Pataki," Arnold said as he saw Helga's dad behind a table that read: "Beeper Sale: Ask for Details."

Mr. Pataki looked around and then finally saw Arnold off to his side, "Oh, Hi, you're uhh… someone from Helga's class right?"

"Yeah, I'm Arnold. Did Helga come home yet?"

"No," Mr. Pataki replied and Arnold couldn't really hear any worry in his voice, "But if you know where she is… you'd better tell her to come home right now. Her mother doesn't need anymore stress from worrying!"

Arnold, now regretting saying anything to Helga's dad, replied, "Yeah, sure, if I see her I'll tell her. I have to go meet my Grandpa, bye Mr. Pataki."

Mr. Pataki half waved and let Arnold get on his way. He actually didn't have to meet his Grandpa just yet, so he kept walking along the rows and rows of tables.

After looking around for a while more, Arnold didn't really see that much that caught his eye. He did buy a trinket for his grandma, but that was about it. Eventually, he decided to start making his way back to where he was supposed to meet his grandpa. As he turned around to head back, he finally saw something that caught his eye.

Or, rather, it was a someone that caught his eye. He could have sworn he saw a girl walk by wearing pink and a bow in her hair.

Weird. Why would I imagine seeing someone who looks like Helga? Maybe I'm just concerned about her being missing and all, Arnold thought.

But then he thought he saw her again. Yes, there was definitely a real, actual girl who just turned around the corner into the next aisle over. So, logically, Arnold followed her.

He watched her walk down the row of tables. He noticed that her dress was torn on the bottom and that her stockings had dirt on them. Hurrying after her, he called out her name.

AN: woops, this took way longer to finish than I thought. Sorry for the wait!