Chapter 2: We'll Make The Best Of It
It was the end of the last class and the students all knew what to prepare for. "All right class! We can now head to the auditorium to begin practicing for our play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'" Mr. Simmons said excitedly.
After all but two students had left the room, Arnold turned to face Helga sitting in her desk. "Don't worry, we can still have fun doing this."
Helga cocked her brow at his optimism. "Ptss...how do you figure?"
Taking her hand in his, he replied "Just because our characters don't love each other doesn't mean we don't still have parts in the play together. For instance when Eugues insists Hermia marries Demetrius." Arnold winked.
Helga began to blush as Arnold rubbed her hand. Leaning over the desk, he pulled her in to kiss her, thinking back to their fourth grade play. As he pictured himself lying there with her lips pressed against his, the idea of someone else playing the part of Lysander began to hurt.
With their lips locked, the two began to forget where they were, until they heard…
"Mm, mm, mmm! If you plan on me kissing you like that Pataki, you got another thing coming!"
The two of them quickly parted their lips as Arnold turned to see his best friend had returned to the classroom.
"Gerald! We were just uhh…"
"Man, I don't even want to know. I just came back because I forgot one of my books." he replied, shaking his head.
After watching his best friend leave the room, Arnold turned to his girlfriend's blushing face and said "I guess we should get down there. They can't start without us."
"Guess not football head."
The two walked down the hallway holding hands when they heard a scream coming from the auditorium…
"AHHHHH!"
Arnold quickly pulled Helga along as the two entered the auditorium to see Rhonda crying on the stage.
"You have got to be kidding me! There is no way I am wearing that autrocious costume! Forest green tights and elf shoes?! Where are you people from?!" Rhonda exclaimed.
"It's not so bad Rhonda. We get to wear matching green veils made from actual leaves." Nadine pointed out as Rhonda turned up her nose in disgust.
Helga rolled her eyes at the thought of someone getting so worked up over a play. Then again, was that not how she had been acting?
As the two made it to the stage, seeing their classmates help Rhonda to her feet, they heard Mr. Simmons say "Well, it looks like we have everyone here. Now we can start practicing Act I."
Arnold turned to give Helga a regretful look as he let go of her hand, knowing the next few days would not be easy for either of them.
"Everyone take your positions! We'll start with Theseus and Hippolyta announcing their upcoming wedding! Then we… yes Stinky?" Mr. Simmons asked, looking over at his confused student.
"I still don't know how in the heck to put on my costume!" Stinky said, scratching his head.
"That's because it has two pieces and you're using the bottom half as a hat." Mr. Simmons pointed out, while turning his attention back towards the opening scene.
"Aww gee." Stinky sighed with embarrassment.
As the kids took their places, Eugene and Sheena entered the center of the stage together.
"Now fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace. Four happy days bring in another moon. But oh, methinks how slow. This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, like to a stepdame or a dowager. Long withering out a young man's revenue."
"Four days will quickly steep themselves in night. Four nights will quickly dream away the time. And then the moon like to a silver bow. New bent in heaven, shall behold the night of our solemnities."
Mr. Simmons smiled at this opening scene as the rest of the class watched from the corner of the stage, waiting for Eugene to trip. Arnold held Helga's hand as he heard a sad sigh release from her. Soon they would be entering the stage. Rather than Helga as Hermia announcing her love for Arnold as Lysander, she would be rejecting the idea of marrying him as Demetreus.
"That was wonderful! Alright, next page ple…" Mr. Simmons began to request as the class watched Eugene trip over his robe and listened to him say "OW! I'm Okay!"
"And there it is." Gerald shook his head as he and the rest of his friends took their places on stage.
Rather than commenting on his clumsiness, Helga walked out on stage wondering how difficult it would be to act as though she possessed strong feelings for anyone other than Arnold.
Glancing closely at the script, Harold whined. "Aww I can't read this word! Vexa..vexa..?"
"Vexation, you moron! It means you're angry. Sheesh!" Helga scowled as Gerald lifted an eyebrow.
"Do I really have to marry her?"
"All right, please settle down. Eugene, the scene starts with you." Mr. Simmons pointed out, hoping he wouldn't trip again.
"What's the news with thee?"
"Full of vexation come I with complaint. Against my child, my daughter, Hermia - Stand forth Demetrius - My noble lord. This man hath my consent to marry her. Stand forth Lysander and my gracious duke, this man hath bewitched the bosom of my child…"
Harold began as Helga looked over at Arnold, listening to the description of the wonderful things Lysander had done for Hermia.
"Thou Lysander hast given her rhymes and interchanged love tokens with my child. Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung. With feigning voice verses of feigning love, and stolen the impression of her fantasy. With bracelets of they hair, rings, gauds, conceits, knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers, of strong prevailment in unhardened youth…"
Turning the spotlight back towards Eugene, Helga kept her eyes on Arnold as she thought about the sweet things he had done for her; buying her lunch, carrying her books, defending her in her time of need.
"Helga? Helga? Helga!" a voice called as she snapped out of her daze.
"Huh? What?"
"Helga, you'll need to be facing Eugene for this part of the play when Theseus addresses Hermia."
Turning away from her beloved, she listened to…
"What say you Hermia? Be advised you fair maid. To you, your father should be a god. Demetrius is a worthy gentleman."
Listening to these words written in the play, Helga knew Demetrius was more than a worthy gentlemen. Yet, Lysander was who her heart would belong to.
The second page of the first scene then ended as Mr. Simmons turned to Helga and said "That was very good boys and girls, although Helga, Hermia plays an important role with Theseus on the next page. Try to stay focused."
Focused? She thought to herself. How could that be possible when she was forced to act as though she wanted nothing to do with the love of her life?
"Lysander is a good man" Helga said full of despair. Her disappointed look did not match her encouraging words.
"In himself he is. But in this kind, wanting your father's voice. The other must be held the worthier."
"I beseech your grace that I may know, the worst that may befall in this case, if I refuse to wed Demetrius." Helga asked, glancing over at Arnold.
"Either to die the death or to abjure."
The idea of never seeing another man again didn't seem any worse than being wed to one who meant nothing to her. Wed to one who had never been able to look past her aggressive behavior and insecurities.
As they were finishing up the page, the depressing look in Helga's eyes began to show Arnold he meant more to her than he would ever know.
"Okay Helga, it's important to show lots of passion and enthusiasm here. You're trying to convince Theseus why you have the right to be with Lysander!" Mr. Simmons explained, while the idea of listening to a parent's demands for once didn't seem so bad to her.
"So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up. Unto his lordship whose unwished yoke. My soul consents not to give sovereignty." Hermia said as Helga thought about it's meaning… to prefer withering away than losing her virginity to someone she didn't love. All she was doing was playing a character pretending to be in love with another, yet her feelings were just as deep.
"Take time to pause, and by the next new moon, the sealing day betwixt my love and me, for everlasting bond of fellowship. Upon that day either prepare to die for disobedience or else wed Demetrius."
As Helga listened to Eugene recite these torturous lines, ones which she would more than love to give into, she listened to her love enter the scene.
"Relent, sweet Hermia and Lysander, yield. Thy crazed title to my certain right." Arnold proclaimed as Helga wanted desperately to cry out 'YES!'
As she kept her eyes on her love, she listened to his best friend play the part that was meant for him…
You have her father's love, Demetrius. Let me have Hermia's. Do you marry him."
While the other students watched from the side of the stage, Stinky asked "I'm confused, did Lysander just tell Demetrius to marry Egeus?"
The class rolled their eyes at his inability to recognize the sarcastic remark within the play as they listened to Harold step in.
"Scornful Lysander, true he hath my love. And what is mine, my love shall render him. And she is mine and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius."
Harold did his best to say to Arnold as Helga felt her heart shattering. Here her love wanted her hand in marriage and she was reduced to showing him the little care and concern she had before expressing her true feelings for him.
The group then watched Gerald turn to Eugene and speak the noble words Helga had hoped to hear Arnold say.
"I am, my lord, as well derived as he. As well possessed. My love is more than his. My fortunes every way as fairly ranked as Demetrius. And which is more than all these boasts can be, I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius I'll avouch it to his head. Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, and won her soul. And she sweet lady, dotes, dotes in idolatry. Upon this spotted and inconstant man."
"Wonderful Gerald! Lots of enthusiasm! All right, let's move onto the next page." Mr. Simmons instructed them, while Arnold stood off to the side where he watched his girlfriend give her heart to another.
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3"Come Demetrius and Egeus. You shall go with me. I have some private schooling for you both. For you fair Hermia. Look you arm yourself. To fit your fancies to your father's will, or else the law of Athens yields you up." Eugene spoke as Theseus.
After giving Helga this warning, Eugene was followed off stage by Arnold and Harold to leave Helga alone with Gerald.
"How now my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?" Gerald asked, holding a hand to Helga's face.
Helga's eyes widened at the touch of his hand, while Arnold lifted an eyebrow, watching from backstage. He seems more comfortable with his part?
A brief bit of silence occurred as Helga searched for her words. Gerald continued holding a hand to her face, as Helga glanced in Arnold's direction.
"Umm Helga. You have a line here." Mr. Simmons reminded her, as she gulped heavily.
"Belike for want of rain, which I could be well. Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes"
"Aye me! For aught that I could ever read, could ever hear by tale or history, the course of true love never did run smooth. But either it was different in blood."
Gerald released his hand from Helga's face and her cheeks remained as pale as the scene made them out to be. Arnold stood backstage wondering what had gotten Gerald so 'into' it all of a sudden.
"O cross. Too High to be enthralled to low." Helga said slowly, with quivering lips. Oh what an obstacle that would be. Imagine being too high on the social ladder, and falling in love with someone beneath you.
"Or else misgraffed in respect of years! Or else it stood upon the choice of friends!" Gerald shouted, referring to one's love life being affected by their age differences or guardian approval.
"Oh hell to choose love by another's eyes!" Helga spoke these words 'to have your love life chosen by another' as she thought about the role she was being forced to play.
Gerald went on with the act, not caring who his words were being sent out to. Helga stood wide eyed, feeling as though each fake word sent out was giving away an actual piece of her heart.
"If then true lovers have been ever crossed, it stands as an edict in destiny. Then let us teach our trial patience, because it is a customary cross. As do to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs. Wishes and tears poor fancy followers."
Arnold listened to these words his girlfriend was forced to recite. Let us try to be patient as we deal with our problem. If there was one thing he was, it was patient.
"A good persuasion. Therefore, hear me Hermia. I have a widow aunt. A dowager of great revenue. From Athens is her house remote seven leagues, and she respects me as her only son. There gentle Hermia may I marry thee. And to that place the sharp Athenian law cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night. And in the wood, a league without the town. Where I did meet thee once with Helena"
Gerald finished the page as a wide smile came to Mr. Simmons' face and Helga again glanced over at Arnold.
"Wonderful job Gerald! Helga, you seem a bit distracted. Is anything wrong?"
"N-n-no?" she stuttered as her teacher gave her a puzzling look.
"Hmm, well alright then. We can move onto the next page.
"My good Lysander, I swear to thee, in that same place thou hast appointed me, tomorrow truly will I meet thee!"
Arnold and the rest of the class continued to watch from backstage as they saw it was time for Phoebe to enter.
"Keep your promise my love. Look, here comes Helena!"
Phoebe then approached what she could see to be her uncomfortable friend.
"Godspeed for Helena! Wither away?" Helga managed to say.
"Call you me fair? That 'fair' again unsay. Demetrius love your fair. O happy fair! Your eyes are lodestars and your tongue's sweet air."
As Helga listened to Phoebe speak the words of Helena's unrequited love for Demetrius, Arnold listened to the description Helena gave of Hermia.
Her eyes are like stars and her voice is more musical than a lark's song is to a shepherd in springtime.
Arnold stood there thinking to himself how Helga's eyes really were like two sparkling stars. Ones he never noticed until their kiss in the jungle.
Helga's performance was becoming more steady now that she was speaking to her best friend; both in the play and real life.
"Oh teach me how you look and with what art you sway the motion of Demetrius' heart." Phoebe calmly chirped, not worried about her part. Although she had feelings for Gerald, she knew he didn't have feelings for Helga.
While Helga didn't possess feelings for Gerald, just the thought of expressing them to anyone other than Arnold was overbearing.
"I frown upon him, yet he loves me still."
"Oh that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!" Phoebe continued to smile, while Helga remained calm yet lifeless.
"I give him curses, yet he gives me love. The more I hate, them more he follows."
"The more I love, the more he hateth me."
"Helena, is no fault of mine."
"None but your beauty."
"Take comfort. He no more shall see my face, Helena."
Helga and Phoebe recited their parts, forgetting about the error of the play until Helga heard...
"Helena, tomorrow night, through Athens gates have we devised a steal!" Gerald proudly said, referring to the marriage Helga had fantasized about having Arnold by her side at.
Faceing her best friend with crestfallen eyes, Helga continued "There my Lysander and I shall meet. To seek new friends and stranger companies. Good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight. From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight."
"I will Hermia!" Gerald says proudly to Helga as she thinks to herself what a buffoon! Anxiously exiting the stage.
Gerald stands alone with Phoebe, wishing her the best of luck with Demetrius (Arnold), before he himself exits the stage.
As Helga happily stands beside her beloved backstage, she listens to her best friend recite these words…
"How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so. He will not know what all but he do know. And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes. So, I, admiring of his qualities. Things base and vile, holding no quantity. Love can transpose to form and dignity. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind."
Helga stood there listening to the speech Phoebe's character gave about obsession. Be it a mistake or not, love can make worthless things beautiful. Demetrius was meant to be an untrustworthy character, yet that was the last thing Helga would ever see him as, as long as Arnold was playing him.
Arnold began to rub Helga's hand as he watched the disconcerting look on her face. Feeling the touch of his hand on hers, she looked over at his sweet, loving eyes. Wanting more than anything to kiss him, she knew it would have to wait.
"I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight. Then to the wood will he tomorrow night. Pursue her. And for this intelligence. If I have thanks, it is a dear expense. But herein mean I to enrich my pain. To have his sight thither and back again." Phoebe finished.
"Oh that was beautiful Phoebe! All of you, wonderful job! All right class, tomorrow we'll start Scene II of Act I. We end here with Helena telling Demetrius that Hermia is running away the next night, thinking he'll be grateful to her."
All the students began leaving the auditorium as Arnold turned to Helga. "Well, would you like to see if Gerald and Phoebe want to get some ice cream?"
Helga felt they had spent more than enough time with their friends that day. She didn't want to make herself appear as weak as she had felt on stage however. "Eh, why not?"
"I'll go tell Gerald if you want to wait for Phoebe?" Arnold suggested.
"Whatever floats your boat football head." Helga smirked, watching her beloved leave her once again.
As Helga stood there, thinking about how painful that one practice had been, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Ready to go Helga?"
Helga quickly whipped her head around to see her best friend beside her.
"Phoebe! Sheesh! Don't scare me like that!"
"Are you alright Helga? I could tell by the disconcerting look in your eyes on stage, you weren't enjoying the rehearsal." Phoebe couldn't help but point out.
Sighing deeply at her friend's observation, Helga replied "Yeah Pheebs, I'm fine. You wanna get some ice cream?"
"Why certainly Helga."
SLAUCENS
"Man, can you believe everything we did today was just one scene?" Gerald asked in disbelief as the four friends sat in the ice cream parlor.
"Well Gerald, Shakespeare plays are often great in length due to their substantial amount of detail and ability to rephrase simple sentences." Phoebe explained seeing him shake his head.
"Mm, mm, mmm! Speaking of simple sentences, I noticed you barely having to speak two words out there." Gerald said, pointing to Arnold.
Setting aside his ice cream, Arnold said "Yeah, I guess my part won't start to pick up until the middle of the play."
"Pttss...try not to cry too hard." Helga smirked, taking a sip of her shake.
"What about you Pataki? You seemed pretty nervous out there considering how dumb you thought this was to begin with." Gerald pointed out as her face turned pale.
Arnold looked to see her eyes widening as well as her hands shaking in her lap. Before she could respond, he said "I was shocked to see you so comfortable Gerald. You really seemed to be enjoying your part."
"Man it was just acting. Plus, Simmons loved my 'enthusiasm.'" Gerald boasted as Helga's nervous face turned to a scowl. "Whose heart were you after? His or Hermia's?
After the four of them finished their ice cream, they stood outside of Slaucens a moment.
"It appears to be getting late. I feel I should be getting home soon." Phoebe informed them.
"I'll walk with ya babe! See ya later Arnold." Gerald said, giving his best friend their secret handshake.
As they watched their friends head for home, Arnold took Helga's hand in his and asked "It is getting late. Would you like me to walk you home...Hermia?"
Helga swooned at his half lidded eyes and signature smile as she felt him caress her hand with his thumb.
"Uhh sure."
The two walked down the street under the night sky that had been lightly painted with stars. After seeing the quiet mood his girlfriend was still in, Arnold turned to her and said "I'm sorry I won't be playing Lysander. I know how much this meant to you."
Helga began to blush as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, well it's just a dumb play I guess."
"I saw how nervous you were out there. I hope you don't think how you perform will affect our relationship." Arnold said, hoping she wouldn't take offense to it.
Helga gulped at his accuracy. How humiliating would it be to tell him how uncomfortable she felt just by playing a pretend character?
"Well, I…."
"Yeah?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"I mean, I think you'd be getting the creeps too if you had tall hair boy's hand all over your face! Sheesh!" she scowled.
Making it to her porch, Arnold turned to her and said "I think I may have been more uncomfortable than you were."
"Really?" she asked, widening her eyes.
Rubbing her hands, leaning his head against hers, he replied "I should be the only one who gets to hold your sweet face in their hands."
Helga let out a swoon that was quickly interrupted by her love's sweet lips. Holding her face in his hands, he listened to her let out a soft, sweet sigh. As he began to pull away, he felt himself being pulled back quickly, as she tightly gripped his shirt, and firmly pressed her lips against his.
After feeling he deserved a breath, she released his lips just enough to whisper "Tell Helena to keep her hands off you."
"Uhh...I don't think Phoebe feels that way about me." Arnold laughed as Helga rolled her eyes.
"Shut up football head!" she scoffed, kissing him once more.
"Good night Hermia. See you tomorrow my love." Arnold whispered, kissing her hand.
As she swooned deeply, holding her sweetly touched hand close to her heart, she replied "Good night Demetrius."