Chapter 7:
January, 2013
"I invited Arnold over for lunch." I told Miriam over breakfast the next morning.
"So he's back in Hillwood?"
"Ya he comes here every weekend- renovating his old place. I mean, his grandfather's. I hope you don't mind, I'll help."
"No! It's fine Helga honey, I don't mind really! Just a keep an eye on your dad. See if he needs any help." Miriam turned to take some vegetables out of the fridge. "I just wish you'd invited him earlier." She smiled at me.
November, 2005
"So you didn't take the job huh?" Rhonda asked Sid who was still working his job at Bigal's.
"No. The hours were too long for, too bad the pay was really good though. But I did take his offer on being friends again." Sid flashed her a wide grin.
"I'm glad things are looking up between you both."
"So when are you leaving for Aspen?" Sid asked her.
"Tomorrow morning," she groaned. "I don't know why Daddy wanted to suddenly celebrate Thanksgiving at Uncle Richard's."
"How long are you going to be there for?"
"The weekend." Rhonda pouted.
"Bummer."
"How are you gonna spend your Thanksgiving?"
"Both my parents this year." Sid gave a grateful smile.
It's been almost ten years since his parents' divorce; did you think he was naturally on pins and needles all the time? I think his parents' separation damaged him in a way.
Thank Goodness for Rhonda I guess.
As for me, I couldn't have been more excited for Thanksgiving. Actually, I never was- besides the food and the house occasionally feeling like a home when Olga came around to visit, holidays weren't always my favourite time of the year here.
Arnold only recently returned to Hillwood after years of being in San Lorenzo helping out his parents, so this is officially the first ever Thanksgiving dinner I'll be spending with him.
"So guess what." Arnold told me as he walked me home from school that afternoon.
"What?" I asked, curious.
"We'll be having extra company for dinner tomorrow." He frowned and I could already tell what company he was referring to.
"Arnie?"
"And his parents."
"It's been over eight years, he still can't be the weirdo we've known him to be."
"Don't be so sure, ugh! This is gonna be so awkward." Arnold sighed and rubbed his temples.
"You're being dramatic Arnold, you've got the wackiest people living with you but you're worrying your head off about Arnie?! Unless …." I smirked knowingly. "You're feeling threatened."
"What about?" He asked, refusing to look me in the eye.
"That weirdo's probably over me by now! Criminy Arnold!"
"I never said that."
"Are you denying the truth Shortman?"
"You're so full of yourself you know that Pataki?" Arnold taunted me jokingly.
I burst out laughing and latched my arm with his, "I swear we have the weirdest last names."
"What's wrong with my last name?"
January, 2013
The doorbell rang that afternoon and it only meant one thing. I rushed towards the front door like a girl on prom night.
"Someone's excited." Olga noted to my mom.
"Hi Helga." He greeted me with a bowl of- who knows what?
"I didn't wanna come empty-handed, so I brought this dish with me. I learned how to make back in San Lorenzo."
"It's fine." I told him as I let him in.
"Oh Arnold honey you shouldn't have." Miriam said.
"How are you Mrs. Pataki?" Arnold politely asked and planted a kiss on her cheek.
He shook hands with Bob and hugged Olga before taking his seat on the table. It went fine, the lunch, Arnold's company really lit up the atmosphere at home and I loved it- and so did Miriam. More than I did I suppose …
.
misssocrates: I guess they don't.
LeDawn: Just some random guy passing by with his car. Unless you mean the guy in the party who Arnold asked about.
Author's Note: So sorry for the slow update, so much has been going on, on my end. I've been busy preparing for job interviews and getting some paperwork done at my university, how's every one of my readers? How's summer going for you? Summer hasn't always been my favorite season, the hot weather drains me physically.