CHAPTER#7:SMITTHY -

THE NEXT DAY ARNOLD WAS WALKING TO HELGA'S HOUSE, MAI'S WORDS LAST NIGHT STILL ECHOED IN HIS HEAD.
IT WAS HELGA WHO FOUND HER AFTER ALL. HE KNEW HELGA STALKED HIM BEFORE THEY DATED BUT THIS SEEMED REALLY DIFFERENT ...

HELGA: You're 5 minutes late hair-boy.

SHE GREETED HIM WITH A SMILE AS SHE SAT ON THE STOOP OF HER HOUSE.

ARNOLD: ... O-oh, I'm sorry I was just uh ...

HELGA:Never mind the excuse, let's go.

_
HELGA:That was awesome Arnold, I've never had this much fun in years!.

ARNOLD:Wanna get something to eat?.

HELGA:Yeah o-

(SHE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPS INTO A GUY CARRYING SOME BOOKS.

HELGA:Oh sorry-hey what's this? Margaret Atwood? Mary frye?. You interested in modern poetry?.

SMITTHY:Yeah, I'm a sucker for poetry, I recently got interested in modern poetry.

HELGA:Me too, well just the sucker for poetry part.

SMITTHY:That's great, oh by the way, I'm Smitthy.

HELGA:I'm Helga.

(THEY BOTH SHAKE HANDS AND LOOK INTO EACH OTHER'S EYES FOR A MINUTE TILL HELGA NOTICES ARNOLD STARING AT THE BOTH OF THEM)

HELGA:Oh and this is Arnold, a good friend of mine.

(ARNOLD GASPS IN HIS HEAD AT THE WORD 'FRIEND' ... DID SHE REALLY SEE HIM THAT WAY?)

SMITTHY: (SMIRKS) Hello Arnold.

ARNOLD: Hi.

SMITTHY:Well, it was good meeting ya ... I gotta go now. See ya.

HELGA:Bye-Ok Arnold, what now?.

(ARNOLD WAS BUSY GLARING AT SMITTHY, SOMETHING WAS FISHY ABOUT HIM AND IT'S NOT HIS OVER-MOUSSED,SLICKED BACK HAIR.)

HELGA:Arnold?.

ARNOLD:Huh?.

HELGA:What do we do now?.

ARNOLD:Uh well ...

HELGA:Hmmm I'm kinda hungry, let's get something to eat.

ARNOLD:What would you like?.

_
HELGA:These are great Tacos Mr. Hyunh!

MR. HYUNH:Thank you, thank you verrry much.

HELGA:Can I have another one please?.

MR. HYUNH:But you already have 3! You're sure youh stoh-mak will not explode?.

ARNOLD: (laughs) Don't worry about her Mr. Hyunh, it's like she's got a black hole in her. (ARNOLD PAUSES REALIZING WHAT HE JUST SAID) Uh ... what I meant to say was-

HELGA:No it's ok footballhead, that's how I feel sometimes. Hey mister! cancel that order, I think I'll leave some room for dessert.

_
HAROLD:I want one Mr. fudge please.

JOLLY OLLY MAN:Just one Mr. Fudge this time? Man you were the only one who really brought in the cash for me.I missed the old tubby boy you were.

HAROLD:Well 'keep' missing him, he's never coming back.

HELGA:Hey it's the Jolly Olly man ... and his faithful customer.

HAROLD:Well whaddya know? Helga and Arnold are dating again!.

HELGA:We're NOT dating 'pink-boy'.

HAROLD:Will you stop calling me that?.

HELGA:I'll think about it, Two lollies please.

DIRECTOR:Ok people that's it for today, be sure to come a little earlier tomorrow for dress rehearsal.

OLGA: (Rummaging through her handbag) Oh no!.

SMITTHY:What's wrong Olga?.

OLGA:I think I've misplaced my car keys ... oh no, no, no, what if I accidentally dropped them?.

SMITTHY:I'll help you search for them.

(AFTER ALMOST 40 MINUTES OF FRUITLESS SEARCHING.)

OLGA:This is useless ... where could they have gone?.

SMITTHY:How about I drop you home tonight.

OLGA:But what about my car?.

SMITTHY: (AFTER FINSIHING EMPTYING ALL THE AIR FROM THE TIRES)There, so incase someone finds the carkeys they won't be able to drive your car anywhere.

OLGA:Oh thanks Smitthy, you're such a sweetheart.

SMITTHY:(OPENEING THE DOOR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR HER)Alright let's go.

_
(BIG BOB WAS WATCHING TV AND HELGA WAS JUST COMING OUT OF THE KITCHEN WHEN THE DOORBELL RINGS)

BOB:Hey Olga get the door will ya?.

HELGA:Olga's not here dad.

BOB:I was talkin' to you.

HELGA:(MUTTERING TO HERSELF)You've reminded him a million times Helga, just let it die.

OLGA:Hey little sis-ter! sorry I was late I lost my carkeys so my friend Smitthy here volunteered to drop me home.

(HELGA AND SMITTHY ARE A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE EACH OTHER)

HELGA:H-hi.

SMITTHY:Hi.

OLGA:Oh you know each other! Well that's so great, maybe you can have dinner with us Smitthy.

SMITTHY:oh no,I wouldn't want to interfere.

OLGA:Oh don't be silly, come on in!.

(AT THE DINNER TABLE)

OLGA: ... and so he punctured the tires just-in-case.

MIRIAM:Well isn't that sweet of you, here have some mashed potatoes.

SMITTHY:Thank you mrs. Pataki, I must say I'm absolutely enjoying this dinner, your 're a great cook!.

MIRIAM:Oh you're just saying that.

SMITTHY:I'm certain that I'm not, I was raised to never fib, even when you're kissing up to someone.

BOB:So Smith (TAKES A BITE OUT OF HIS STEAK) aren't you a little too young for Olga?.

OLGA:oh daddy, don't be silly. He's a good friend who's like a little brother to me. But, I'm sure he's around Helga's age.(she says in a hinting way)

HELGA JUST SCOWLS AT HER.

_
(HELGA IS DROPPING SMITTHY OFF AT THE DOOR AFTER DINNER)

SMITTHY:Tell your mom and sister I said thanks again for the dinner. I really had a gret time.

HELGA:I'm glad you did.

(THEY BOTH LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SMILE)

HELGA:Ok ... goodnight Smitthy.

SMITTHY:Uh Helga?.

HELGA:Yeah?.

SMITTHY:I was wondering if ... (Rubs the back of his neck nervously) if you wanted to come with me to the book fair downtown tomorrow morning?.

HELGA:Book fair?.

SMITTHY:Yeah, they got all these amateur writers who are publicizing their work, they got novels and books of poems ... that kinda stuff.

HELGA:(SMILES AT HIM)Sounds great.

SMITTHY:So you're coming?.

HELGA:Sure, what time?.

SMITTHY:I'll come around to pick you up at 9.30.

HELGA:a.m.?

SMITTHY:You're not a morning person?.

HELGA:No no it's cool, I'm usually up at 6 anyway.

SMITTHY:Great, so I'll see you tomorrow.

HELGA:Sure.

SMITTHY:Goodnight.

HELGA:Goodnight.