Chapter 4
As Arnold got to his feet and wiped his knees, he looked up and saw none other than Helga G. Pataki and Phoebe Hyerdahl.
"Sorry Helga," Arnold said narrowing his eyes.
"Are you all right Arnold," Phoebe asked being more considerate.
Arnold didn't respond.
"Why don't you watch where you're going," Helga yelled as she and Phoebe walked past him.
"Helga!" Arnold yelled out to her.
Helga and Phoebe quickly turned around to face him, startled by the volume in his voice.
"What?"
Arnold stepped forward not afraid to face her.
"I've always ignored your insults, taunts, and nicknames, but today I've had it!"
"And why's that football head?"
Arnold clenched his fights tightly. He then stood on tip-toe to make sure he and Helga were face to face. As he got angrier, his face got redder and redder. Then, as he opened his mouth to say something, nothing came out. Helga was still staring at him with a glare. Arnold lowered his feet down and stared at Helga. His eyes shifted from an angry look to a sad one. He then took off running leaving Helga and Phoebe confused.
"That wasn't very nice Helga."
"What? What's today," Helga asked. She was actually curious as to why Arnold was acting this way.
"Gerald told me that today's the anniversary of when Arnold's parents left."
Helga's heart dropped. She had just hurt her beloved parentless Arnold. She thought of the time her father called him an orphan-boy. She thought of Parents Day. She thought of his grandparents, but most important she thought of apologizing.
Arnold ran down the sidewalk until he saw the boarding house. This time instead of going inside it, he went around the back. He then leaned up against the brick house to catch his breath. Suddenly, as if all of today's events and emotions hit him at full speed, his eyes began to water. He slowly slid his back down the wall and sat down. Water droplets dripped onto the pavement until his eyes were not just watering, but overflowing. He folded his arms on his knees and began to cry into them. Arnold was the type of person to never let his emotions get the better of him, but today was different. Today of all days was always different.
He didn't know if he would be able to stop crying. Which each sob, his chest and throat tightened. His heart was pounding. His face was wet. His body was shaking. "They've got to come back. They've just got to come back," Arnold thought to himself. As his head was down, he saw two brown loafers appear in front of him.
"Are you okay Shortman?"