Hey everyone. Sorry for the late updates and short chapters. I've had some things that needed to be taken care of. The chapter after this should be the last one, and hopefully will be good enough to make up for how short this is.
Chapter 7: Remember This?
The next morning, Phoebe and Helga were walking towards the school. Between the incidents that had taken place at school, and everything Helga had told her, Phoebe wasn't about to question Helga's troubling facial expression.
The girls continued walking their normal route until they rounded a corner. Helga bumped heads, but didn't fall to the ground. As she began to rub her sore spot, she snapped "Watch where you're going Geraldo!"
Gerald crossed his arms at the insult and said "You know Arnold's not here; you can drop the act."
While Helga began to blush, Phoebe asked "Where exactly is Arnold, Gerald?"
The Boarding House
"Howdy Tex! You're just in time for breakfast!" Pookie greeted her grandson.
Arnold stared at his helping and said "Yeah, I'm really not hungry grandma. I was hoping you could help me with something else.
Phil, who was sitting at the corner of the table, mumbled "Anything she tries would be better than cooking."
P.S.118
"So, Arnold decided to skip school today? Were you aware of the situation?" Phoebe couldn't help but wonder.
Helga was growing a bit annoyed. She knew whatever the reason, it had to do with her and Arnold. Talking about it in the hallway of their immature classmates wasn't exactly putting her mind at ease.
Flashback
Gerald was sitting on the couch watching Pop Daddy when he heard the phone ringing. His urge to ignore it arose, until he heard his father say "Grab that, would ya Gerald?"
The frustrated boy got up from the couch to grab the phone and muttered "Hello?"
"Hey Gerald, it's me."
"Hey Arnold. What's up?"
Arnold wasn't sure if he should explain his idea to Gerald now, or just surprise him along with everyone else on Friday.
"I just wanted you to know I won't be going to school tomorrow, so don't wait up for me."
Gerald lifted an eyebrow at his friend's news and asked "Not going to school? Man you remember what happened the last time we played hookey."
After sighing at his friend's memory, Arnold said "This is a little different. I'll talk to you later Gerald."
"Later man."
End of Flashback
The Boarding House
Arnold led his grandma to the room she had taught him his martial arts defense lessons in. After walking her in there, Pookie said "Ahhh grasshopper! Has something been troubling you?"
After explaining the whole situation to Pookie, Arnold said "I realized Helga and Harold both act tough, so no one will make fun of them for what they think or do."
"Lady Eleanor is a wise one!" Pookie said, as she continued to listen to her grandson.
"Well, I remembered how scared everyone was of me after you taught me those karate lessons…"
"Be as the frog in the pond Arnold. Trouble may find you, but when it does, you'll be prepared."
"Uhh yeah. That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?"
Classroom
Helga sat with an empty seat in front of her. She couldn't remember the last time Arnold wasn't there for her to torment with spit wads, spray at the fountain in the hall, cut in the lunch line in the cafeteria, or simply say 'Hey Football Head!' to, in front of the entire class.
As she sat there, no longer worried about anyone's opinion of her, she listened to Gerald say to Mr. Simmons "Arnold wanted me to tell you, he's too sick to come to school today."
Being the overly dramatic person that he is, Mr. Simmons gasped and asked "Oh, oh my! Will he be alright?"
Helga rolled her eyes as she listened from across the room and thought to herself…
No, he has small pox. He's doomed. Pttss...what an idiot!
After listening to Gerald explain it was just a bad headache, Mr. Simmons said "Well alright then. I hope he's better for the assembly tomorrow."
Helga's eyes then lit up, wondering if he was trying to get out of performing. Why would he volunteer to do it however, if he was just going to bail on them?
The Boarding House
"So you believe the key to young Eleanor's heart is through self defense?" Pookie asked, as she tried to follow Arnold's story.
"I just want them to see, you don't have to have a reputation to defend yourself. Is there anything you can teach me that might help?" Arnold asked anxiously.
"Of course I can tadpole! I am the master of martial arts."