Chapter Three: Dear Diary
Her heart is racing.
She is gasping for air.
Excited is the correct word. Maybe even a little scared.
Helga's feet tap as she rushes's up the stairs to her room. She with increasing anticipation and her skin tingling. Pulls out her diary out of her pack under her bed. She sits herself on her bed and open up to a fresh page, and then rubs her face to calm herself down.
"Come on old Helga girl, pull it together. Just relax and write down what happened today."
After mulling over the events between her and Arnold Helga gets her pencil and begins to write.
Dear Diary
Where do I BEGIN! That Arnold never ceases to surprise me. I had just finished destroying Harold's team at baseball and as I'm walking home here Arnold in all his glory pops out of no where, wanting to walk with me. I wanted to tell him to buzz off but I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to see what was on his mind. He asked me about my parents. Miriam and Bob, as if they deserve the title mom and dad. PARENTS. That what it was all about. He brought up his parents, I could tell it was killing him. Which explains his desperation. He NEEDED my help.
Helga pauses for a moment to think about the next big whopper Arnold had landed on her. Something that Helga had a hard time putting into words.
San Lorenzo. He wants me to help him get to San Lorenzo. An then I figured out that he planning on pulling a disappearing act on the class, to do a go on what is most likely a fruitless search for his parents. NO. Herald will grow wings and people will call him "the flying pig boy" before I let Arnold go out there on his own. I came up with these lame excuses to explain my need to watch out for him but the simple truth is. I can't allow the thought of losing that amazing football headed boy. I have to go with him, no matter crazy it sounds or how high my chances of getting myself killed. But… what if something does happen to me… or him?
These thoughts were becoming excruciatingly painful for her. And the a great fear came upon her as she pulls out her locket. Her eyes are burning.
What if I never get to tell how much I care about him? And not back out and calling it the heat of the moment. What if he always remembers me as just the girl who would bully him? The girl who shoot spitballs, and calls him Football head.
She was beginning balling now as she heard a knock at the door.
"Not NOW!" She screamed.
"Are you alright baby sister!"
"Leave me alone Olga!"
"But baby sister, you have a visitor."
"Whoever it is tell them to go." Helga says a little more calm.
"She won't go until she speaks with you."
She? Is it Phoebe? What would she want now?
Helga is curious and considers it, for a moment. But then she decides that she could use some good company.
"Alright, tell her come up."
When Olga leaves to get her visitor. She here's slow, footsteps.
"What's taking her so long?"
When the door opens she sees the last person she would expect.
Arnold's Grandma!
"What do you want Grandma?" Helga says shocked.
"I am not your Grandma, missy. The name is Gertie! And what I want is to get to the bottom of this issue with you and my Grandson." She said with an intimidating scowl.
"What issue?" Helga asks nervously.
"San Lorenzo, and Arnold's parents."
"H-how did you know about that! Did he tell you?"
"No, but as a mother or a grandmother, your instincts kick in. And trust me, I'm not that old." She smirks.
"I guess you want me to stay away from him don't you?" Whispers with clear sadness.
Grandma frowns and sits next to her. Hoping to comfort her.
"You know I'd love to, but that would make such a hypocrite considering my own childhood."
"What do you mean?" She asks confused.
"Let's say I know what it's like to deal with a crush."
"I know how you feel about Arnold, I've been there. " She tells Helga with a smile.
"When I was your age, my mother did not have a lot of money. So she raised up everything she could to buy me what's in this chest."
"What is it?" Helga asked.
"My mother called it, A mother's heart."
Grandma became very serious.
"You see, when I found out what You and Arnold had planned, I was scared. If I was in the right mind I would ban him from this contest. But I knew it was time to let him make his own decisions. I came here to make sure would not abandon him."
"I know you won't" She said with a smile. "I see myself in you. I wanted to give you a my heart. Since I have no daughter. You never know, it might give you hope."
Helga smiled back. And then Grandma walked to the door.
"Gertie, how do I tell him?"
"Well, for me the right moment just crept up on me. I can tell you know that whether or not Arnold feels the same way about you or not. He won't reject you. You know it, you just got to believe it. When it happens for you, you'll know."
They both share a moment of peace and when Grandma breaks the silence.
"Well you need to get some sleep little lady! You have a lot of work to do! And when you have a contest to win, it's war!"
Helga laughs as Grandma opens the door to leave.
"Hey Gertie! Thanks!"
Grandma smiles.
"Please, call me Grandma." And with that, she's gone.
Helga opens the chest and finds a book.
"A book?"
Helga opens it to the first page.
Dear Diary
A few days ago I met this boy. He is a little bit of a goofy character. He always makes me laugh. He is always helping the other kids, giving them advice. I can't wait to see him every day. Though I'm rude to him every day. I wish I could be normal around him. But it's so hard.
His name is Phil, I think I love him.
