Chapter 3:

"Phew! It was just a nightmare." She laid back down looking up at the ceiling. I need to get my rest for tomorrow. Just then another chime went off on the clock tower.

"Really?" She pulled the covers from over her head. Prayeing that the chimes would stop and she'd finally get her rest. Then silence rose in the room. She expected to gaze upon the second ghostly spirit that she was suppose to encounter on this journey, yet no one appeared.

"Well Aunt Gertrude, where is the second spirit? They're supposed to be here by now." Helga sat on her bed looking around her room, at any given chance she might see the slightest change in its appearance, which would indicate that the spirit was coming.

"Helga Pataki!" called a voice from downstairs. She got out of bed and saw a light shining through the crack of her door. She opened it slowly and saw the light was coming from downstairs in the living room.

"The second spirit." She spoke to herself. As she walked downstairs, the Christmas music from the TV seemed to be getting louder and louder. Man! Don't these spirits know how to keep quiet! She walked into the trophy and saw what had appeared to be Gerald playing a jazzy version of the song,"Jingle Bell Rock."

"Come on, Tall-hair let's get on with this. Take me where you need me to go."

"Who you calling tall-hair? I am the ghost of Christmas Present. You have never seen the likes of me before."

"Uh. Yeah I have. We've been going to the same school together since I was 5. But really Geraldo I don't have all night, take me where you need me to go. So I can learn and change myself."

"Well excuse me, for having the decency to introduce myself." He replied as he reached out his arm. Helga looked taken aback by his motive.

"What do you want me to do with that?"

"Just take my robe woman!" Helga grabbed his robe and scenery around them changed. She was standing in front of Sunset Arms Boarding house

"This is Arnold's house. Tell me why we are here?"

"How about we go inside."

"I can't go in there and intrude on the Christmas Eve party."

"Remember they can't see us or hear us." Gerald pointed to the front door which opened on its own. Helga took in a deep sigh and walked up the steps into the boarding house. She saw all the boarders, Arnold Parents and Grandparents sitting at the table.

"Happy Thanksgiving everyone!" yelled Pookie as she brought in the big turkey.

"Oh isn't it wonderful to have all of us here for dinner."

"Yes Stella it is wonderful." It was nice to Stella and Miles together back home with the son. Helga smiled to herself at the thought that Arnold finally had his parents with him for Christmas.

"Wait a minute! Where is the Shortman." cried grandpa.

"Hey Kokoschka, you bum! I see you over there trying to steal those drumsticks!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about my dear friend Ernie." Just the two drumsticks fell out Oskar pockets.

"Oskar how could you?" yelled Susie

"You are not good person! You are not good person at all!" yelled Mr. Hyunh

"Alright, Alright calm down you ninnys!" yelled grandpa phil over the table.

"He must be still up in his room." Helga followed as both Miles and Stella went up stairs to see why their son hadn't wanted to spend time with his family on Christmas. The arguments from the boarders started to fade away as they closer to his room. "Maybe that was the reason why Arnold isn't downstairs."

"Arnold… Sweetie. It's you mom."

"And Dad."

"Come in." Helga walked through the door before Arnold's parents had a chance to open it. She saw him sitting on his bed his hands covering his face. To her surprise she saw him crying. My love, why are you crying? If only I wasn't here in spirit I would take you in my arms and-

"Will you keep your thoughts to yourself please?" Helga had almost forgotten that that the spirit was standing behind her. This was even more annoying then Brainy always interrupting her intimate moments she has with Arnold. "Oh so now you're listening to my thoughts?" yelled Helga.

"Arnold, is everything ok?"said his mother walking into the room.

"No everything has gone wrong. It's horrible."

"Did something happen with you today? Are you hurt?"

"I'm ok. But something did happen today. I lost the check we raised to give to the orphanage."

"You didn't lose it your probably just misplaced it that's all."

"NO! I lost it. I've looked everywhere. It's gone."

"Don't worry son. We can write a new check for them-"

"Are you kidding? Where are we going to get that kind of money? That $50,000 dollars guaranteed their business stayed open for at least the next year. That way the workers would've been able to get back on their feet and start over. If we just write them a check now it won't be nearly enough to pay off all that debt."

Helga's heart sank deep in her chest when she had seen the big picture of what she had done. If only she had given the check back to Arnold at that moment she wouldn't have to witnesses this sadness in her loves eyes.

"Arnold everything will be ok. I promise. Tomorrow we will go to the orphanage and give the kids a Christmas they could only dream of."

"I don't think I can do it mom. I don't think I can show my face. I don't want to go there and see the look on these kid's faces when then owners tells them they have to close down, and have them go out in the street with no shelter or food trying find ways to help themselves. I don't even think I can show my face to anyone. It's all Helga's fault. If she hadn't been rushing me to get to the school on time I would've been able to slip the envelope in their mailbox before we had rehearsal. And If she hadn't been yelling at everyone and keeping us late every single night-"

"Arnold. We can't just go through life blaming others. These things happen for a reason. Maybe the orphanage wasn't meant to stay open."

"Miles!" Stella had elbowed his chest.

"Wait. Wait. That came out the other way around. I meant that-"

"I'm staying here tomorrow. You won't be able to persuade me to go anywhere tomorrow. I don't want those kids to know that I was one that did this to them."

Oh Arnold. It's not your fault it's mine. I was the one that did this to the kids not you. Show yourself tomorrow those kids need you. "Oh please don't tell me you're starting to care for the well-being of those kids. Let alone Arnold."

"What are talking about? I always cared about him!"

"Sure you did." Just then an echo of different voices came into the room. She turned quickly to see if someone had come through the door, but no one entered. She looked at the family, then around the room…

"Could you honestly be that heartless…I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU REMEMBER JUST LEAVE ME ALONE….I guess I won't be able to make it to the play tomorrow…That will be the best day of my entire life!"

"Please tell me those kids in the orphanage will be ok. Tell me that Arnold will not blame his self for this."

"I see it, but it doesn't look well. The orphanage is deserted and everyday as he walks past, it is just gives him reminder to what he believes he has done. If theses shadows remain unaltered by the future no one will be able to tell him otherwise, not even you."

"No please this can't happen."

"We don't have much time we must leave now. Take my robe." Helga did what the spirit had commanded her. In hoping he would take her somewhere a bit more pleasant to what she had just witnessed.

They ended up inside Rhonda Lloyd's house. All her classmates were there in the living room sitting in a circle while Rhonda was in the middle.

"Ok now that we've all figured how we are going to rebuild the set tomorrow and still be able to spend Christmas morning with our families, it's time to discuss the annual Christmas Party! Everyone has gotten there secret Santa gifts?"

"Yea. Yea. We all got our gifts now what kind of food is going to be at this party."

"Harold is that all you can think about is food?"said Sid.

"Guys please settle down. This is a Christmas party at the Lloyds were planning here!"

"Ok so, Lila, Sheena, Nadine, and Phoebe will all be helping with the decorations. Gerald and Arnold couldn't make it to the meeting but they said they would bring the music-"

"Who's in charge of the food?" asked Harold.

"Not you." The other kids laughed.

"Um excuse me. I know we've talked about this before but I feel really bad not telling Helga about the Christmas Party."

"Oh no. Come on Lila haven't you've had enough of her? I mean why would I invite someone that MEAN?"

"Yeah she's nothing but, a…an Ebenezer Scrooge reincarnation!" said Stinky.

"Well maybe if we tried talking to her…"

"No there is no talking to Helga G. Pataki. She simply wasn't invited for a reason and that's her fault, and besides she hates Christmas anyway. She's better off spending it alone this year. "

"Oh I'll show you Miss Rhonda!" Helga came charging into Rhonda ready to yank out the pretty little hair of hers but she felt right through her.

"How many times do I have to tell you, they can't see us or hear us, or even FEEL US!"

"Yeah, Yeah. Just get me the heck out of here ok Geraldo!"

Helga then appeared in what looked like the school auditorium. All the set was still scattered on the stage just how they left it early that evening. "I thought I told you to take me home." She then saw what looked like an older version of Gerald. "What happened to you doing that last trip? Did you travel to far into the future and get stuck or something?"

"My life on this globe is very brief. So I now must leave you with this. Ignorance and Want. Beware them both, but most of all beware ignorance."

"What does this all mean? Ignorance and what-"

"But most of all beware ignorance…" The spirit then faded away in the shadows. Leaving Helga to contemplate over his last statement