A/N:
Hello, everybody—I hope you're all doing well : ) It's nice to be posting for this fandom again. After all, no matter what's going on in my life or where my interests lie, I couldn't let Christmas pass without updating this story, now could I ^_^
For anyone reading this, thank you for sticking with me as a writer even though I haven't posted HA! in a long time, I appreciate it.
The setting for this installment was inspired by the news that the Jungle Movie will soon be in production—congrats, all, we did it : )
Please enjoy and review if you can!
Helga Pataki's Christmas
December 26th
(*Set the day after the episode "Arnold's Christmas".)
Fresh winter snow was a beautiful thing; but unfortunately by the next day the glistening scape of powder could look crushed and dingy, especially in the city where white snowflakes soon became brown slush amid the bustle of traffic and the movement of people over the streets. The effect was especially noticeable and especially dreary the day after a Christmas snow when all of the holiday joy and hope seemed to deflate slightly even in the happiest of neighborhoods. But fortunately happy neighborhoods usually had happy people who could look past the changing atmosphere around them and be grateful for all of the Christmas spirit they had just experienced instead of saddened by the sudden departure of yet another yuletide season (and another yuletide snow).
Arnold Shortman was one of those happy people. And so, despite the fact that the date was December 26th and despite the fact that a light rain was falling to flatten the already old Christmas snow and despite the fact that he was walking alone through the streets of Hillwood at the moment, the nine-year-old boy had a smile hidden beneath his scarf and bright eyes set just underneath his winter hat.
Arnold paused as he finally reached his destination for the afternoon—the movie theatre. There was no line, and so he was quickly able to pay for his ticket and head inside to the theatre showing the Evil Twin holiday horror film, 'Evil Twin: The Holiday Hex', which had just come out yesterday.
Arnold knew the movie theatre would be quiet this early in the afternoon on the day after Christmas. And indeed, as he entered the specific theatre for the Evil Twin sequel, the room appeared to be empty, and so Arnold went to take a seat wherever he felt like sitting…until he spotted another person sitting alone in the dim room and recognized her.
Arnold walked down the aisle toward the row containing his familiar friend. "Helga?" He raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
Helga G. Pataki, dressed in her parka and snow hat, jumped so badly in her seat that she actually fell to the floor and had to drag herself back up again. "Arnold!" Her breaths shallow, she looked to her sudden intruder. "Sheesh, what are you doing, Football Head? It's the Christmas season, not Halloween: you could give somebody a heart attack sneaking up on them like that!" She dusted herself off and sat back down, her eyes still a little wide in surprise.
Arnold smiled slightly and rolled his eye to the side. "Sorry, Helga. I was just surprised to see you here. I thought most people would still be at home finishing up celebrating Christmas with their families."
Helga sighed and crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl. "Well, obviously some of us have different plans, otherwise I wouldn't be here and you wouldn't be here." She slouched down in her chair and looked forward at the blank screen before them. "Besides, I wanted to beat the crowds for this flick. Seeing this movie is the one final peaceful part of this holiday that I can actually enjoy."
Arnold raised an eyebrow. "Did something go wrong with your Christmas, Helga?"
Helga scowled more as she straightened up and opened her mouth to respond…but then she just sighed. Her look grew dull, and she let out a breath. "It was just a tiring Christmas, Football Head. A very long and tiring one…but good, I guess."
Arnold only raised his eyebrow higher. "Oh." He hesitated, then stepped closer and tried to smile again. "Helga, is it all right if I sit with you for the movie?"
Helga kept her eyes forward and just shrugged. "It's a free country, Arnold. Besides, you're probably going to lecture me on being 'positive' and 'optimistic' or something, and it'll be easier for me to enjoy the movie if you don't have to shout at me from across the theatre to do it."
Arnold smiled more as he took the seat next to her. "Do you want to talk about why your Christmas was tiring, Helga?"
She was quiet at first, and then Helga sighed. "No, not really. It's a little complicated. Christmas this year just…left me needing some time alone to think about some things. But in the end there was something good about it. I actually don't mind how things turned out."
Arnold nodded. "Well, I'm glad something about your Christmas made you happy, Helga. You deserve it."
Helga blinked and rolled her eyes. "O-Oh, quit sucking up, Arnold." She hesitated…and then barely glanced over at him. "So…did you have a good Christmas?"
Arnold's smile couldn't help but beam. "Oh, uh…yeah. I did actually," he managed to reply modestly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Helga couldn't help smiling slightly. "You know, it's okay if your Christmas was better than mine, Football Head. I don't think I could exactly hold that against you. So if you want to gush about it…"
Arnold's smile grew and warmed. "Actually…it was the best Christmas I've ever had."
Helga's smile grew considerably now. She turned her eyes forward to the blank movie screen. "Oh. Well…glad to hear that the catfish are jumping and the cotton is high."
Arnold blinked then glanced at her. He noticed her smile. He smiled more, and his eyes hazed in that familiar way they had of doing.
After a moment, Helga couldn't help noticing how he was looking at her. She glanced over at him, and her smile fell away a little as she raised part of her brow. "What?"
Arnold just kept gazing at her though.
"What?" Helga prompted again. "Take a picture, it'll last longer." She pouted and fought back the urge to blush.
"Helga, you're happy that I had a good Christmas," Arnold finally observed.
Helga blinked, then scowled again. "Oh, what are you talking about? I told you I didn't care either way."
"I think you do, Helga…" Arnold's voice grew a little teasing as his smile and gaze warmed all the more.
Helga sighed and looked forward again to slouch down in her chair once more. "No, I don't, Arnold…" And yet she could feel a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "And quit saying that before I sock you one."
Arnold just laughed. "Helga, no matter what you say, I think you're happy that I'm happy. And no matter what you say, nothing could possibly ruin my good mood right now. I got a Christmas miracle." His smile actually became just a little smug.
Helga could not help her smile beaming a little again at this news, but she quickly covered it up with a clearing of her throat and a slight smirk in his direction. "Christmas Miracle? Yeah, I'll believe it when I hear about it." She crossed her arms over her chest and straightened up to turn and face him entirely. "Shoot, Football Head."
Arnold raised an eyebrow at first, but then looked down and began. "Oh, well, it's kind of a long story, but…there was somebody I really wanted to get a special present for this year, and I realized all he wanted for Christmas was to spend it with his daughter, but he didn't know where she was. So I went around looking for her and ended up at this office of information where I asked this guy named Mr. Bailey for help. He couldn't help though unless Gerald and I did all of his Christmas shopping for him. So we did the shopping, but we couldn't find one of the presents, and he wouldn't help. But then somehow last night my friend's daughter found her way to the boarding house anyway. It was…amazing."
Arnold turned his head now to see Helga grinning away.
After a second, though, Helga blinked and tried to smile much more casually again. "Well, I guess you can file that under 'miracle'…unless of course that Mr. Bailey guy just decided to look through a few files before he left for work and got lucky finding this person for you. But whatever floats your boat, Football Head."
"I guess he must have."
Helga blinked and lost her smile as she raised part of her brow again. Rather than appearing a little disappointed or deflated or even just as passively accepting as ever at her reply, Arnold had his brow furrowed in thought and a pensive look in his eyes. "Uh, Arnold?" she prompted.
Arnold went on. "He must have had a change of heart and decided to help us. That's how Mai got here. Even after we couldn't get him the last thing he needed on his list, he must have still decided to do the right thing. I wonder what changed his mind?" His look of concentration deepened.
Helga's eyes went a little wide, and she shifted with unease. "Well, hey, the point is everything worked out, right?"
"I guess." Arnold shrugged, his look relaxing a little. "But I think I should go see Mr. Bailey again now that Christmas is over. I want to thank him, and maybe he can explain what happened and why he decided to help us. Maybe his daughter got those snow boots somehow."
"Uh, heh…hey, come on, Football Head." Helga grinned and used all of her acting and persuasive skills to not look as desperate as she suddenly felt. "Don't go overanalyzing this whole thing, and especially right away. You'll uh…you'll ruin the magic, heh." She shrugged with a sheepish smile.
Helga blinked as she was met with the sight of Arnold turning to her, a dry look on his features and an eyebrow raised. "…Ruin the magic?"
Helga glanced to the side, shrugged, and then just sighed deeply and resumed some of her usual straightforward tone. "Okay, maybe I don't really think anything that sappy about this whole thing. But I'm just saying, Arnold, a…a miracle's like a…like a…soufflé."
Arnold raised his eyebrow even higher now. "A soufflé?"
Helga sighed and rolled her eyes. "Olga came home for the holiday, and she tends to get carried away with the gourmet food. Anyway, try to stick with me on this. Yeah, it's like a soufflé. It's not easy to stir one up, and when you do, you can't poke and prod it too much or the whole thing caves in. It's better to just let it be and enjoy it while you can." She shrugged and furrowed her brow as she continued. "Besides, you don't want to make someone like Mr. Bailey uncomfortable. He sounds kind of gruff and like this was a change of heart for him." Her eyes went forward. "He might just want to be left alone about it. Send him a card or something if you want, but don't go see him…at least not right away or anything." Helga glanced over at Arnold again: he was sitting and looking forward in thought. She swallowed and waited for how he would reply.
Finally, Arnold spoke again. "Is that how you'd like to be treated, Helga?"
Helga blinked and her eyes went very wide. Then she scowled. "Well, gee, thanks for implying I'm gruff, Football Head."
Arnold frowned and looked to her. "Helga, I didn't mean…"
She cut him off with a sigh though, her look dull as she moved her eyes back to the movie screen. "Yeah. That's how I'd want to be treated." There was a pause during which Arnold's look softened. Helga went on. "For little things I do that are impressive, I wouldn't mind attention or a parade being thrown for me. But for something as big as what Mr. Bailey did for you, if I decided to take the time for it for whatever personal reason, I'd rather you just let me do it and be done with it."
Arnold was quiet, and then he nodded, likewise turning his eyes to the screen again. "Okay. Thanks, Helga."
Helga sighed. "You're welcome, I guess."
The two kids sat in silence for a few moments. The movie screen still remained blank, yet they kept looking up at it rather than at each other.
Finally Helga let out a breath. "So…you been looking forward to this Christmas Evil Twin movie too?"
Arnold smiled and nodded. "Yeah. It's been years ever since they announced they were planning to make it."
"I know what you mean." Helga smiled too and nodded. "I was starting to think this thing would never get off the ground. It's been ridiculous: the fans have been waiting, the creator's been interested this whole time, they had a perfect lead in for it with one of the other installments, and it's such a solid story idea—you'd think the production company would have given it the green light forever ago. And meanwhile, how many bad movies and shows have come out since then?"
Arnold laughed. "I guess you're right, Helga." He hesitated, then raised an eyebrow at her. "So, you really like a movie like this?"
Helga smiled more and nodded. "Of course: what's not to like? It definitely beats out some kiddie Christmas movie or holiday family flick or yuletide romantic comedy. At least it's not boring. Give me a Christmas deathtrap over all of those sappy, cliché genres any day." Then Helga raised part of her brow and added with a slight smirk in his direction, "But I think the real question is, how is it that you really like a movie like this?"
Arnold blinked. "What do you mean?"
Helga shrugged. "Well, it just doesn't seem like you at all. You're so quiet, so Zen, so…passive and easy going and such a wet blanket about everything. You're practically a sap. Yet you like a movie series where an undead sibling returns from the grave to destroy a bunch of cheesy characters in various mildly gory and terrifying ways?" She grinned.
Arnold smiled a little. "Well, since I'm so easygoing, I think it'd be boring if I liked only easygoing things. I mean, don't you have any interests that really seem to clash with how…assertive you can be, Helga?"
Helga's eyes went a little wide. Then she cleared her throat and looked down. "Well, um…I guess you make a good point, Football Head."
Arnold's smile warmed. "You know, I'm glad we ran into each other here, Helga."
"You are?" She glanced at him again.
"Yeah." Arnold nodded. "It's always more fun seeing a movie like this with someone else. And besides, trying to watch it all alone in a dark theatre would be a little scary for anyone." He smiled sheepishly.
Helga chuckled. "Yeah, that might have even freaked me out eventually. But if the evil twin shows up here, I guess somehow we'll be safe with two fourth graders instead of one to take him down." She rolled her eyes.
Arnold and Helga shared a laugh.
And then the lights in the theatre went down.
Helga couldn't help herself—she gasped a little at the sudden change in atmosphere and moved closer to Arnold.
Arnold raised an eyebrow and couldn't help smiling a lot. "Helga? Are you okay?"
Helga blinked and instantly pulled away. "Oh, of course, Football Head, doi. It's just the stupid lights, sheesh." She scowled and pouted while Arnold just sighed and shook his head, still smiling.
The previews began.
"Helga…" Arnold kept his voice low even though no one else was in the theatre, "you know, I know we don't always get along, but I'm happy you had a good holiday, no matter what happened during it that was tiring for you. Everyone deserves a nice Christmas."
Helga was quiet. Then… "Yeah, everyone does. And in a way maybe this was the best Christmas for me too." She sighed. "I was…sort of worked up about what to get somebody, and it took me until pretty late last night, but I finally found the perfect present for them. And the look on their face when they saw it was…" Suddenly she blinked and resumed her usual aloof scowl and her defensive tone. "I-I mean, I just had some last minute holiday shopping to do, but then I pulled it out of the fire. Not a big deal."
"Mmm hmm, right, Helga…" Arnold gazed at her with a warm look.
Helga glared over at him and crossed her arms over her chest as she fought back a slight blush. "Oh don't give me that look, Football Head."
Arnold smiled more. "What look, Helga?"
Helga pouted, and her scowl deepened. "That look like you've just…seen past my gruff exterior to some mushy good-hearted center I have. You're always doing that. Sheesh, so I put a little extra effort into shopping this year, big whoop."
"I'm just happy you got to experience the joy of giving, Helga," Arnold merely replied as he looked forward again and tried not to laugh. "Ow!" he rubbed he shoulder, which Helga had just given a firm little jab to.
Helga couldn't help smiling a little as she shook her head and looked to the screen again. "You're just lucky it's the holidays and I'm feeling generous, Football Head. But Christmas is technically over, so don't push your luck."
Arnold chuckled as he looked back to the screen as well. "Well, even if it's not Christmas anymore, there's still New Year's to look forward to. That's a nice time of year too."
"That's actually my favorite time of year," Helga replied.
Arnold raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Helga let out a breath and explained. "It's a fresh start, you know? Nothing complicated about that. A chance to do everything right instead of just some things right at the last minute."
Arnold nodded. "I like New Year's too, Helga. It's…hopeful." He smiled.
Helga smiled a little too. "Yeah, well, here's to a year that's hopefully a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. I'll even take slightly less complicated: just a change of some kind."
"I have a feeling it'll be a good year, Helga." Arnold smiled more.
"You know…I hate to admit it, but I do too." Helga glanced at him for a moment and considered. Then she took a breath and asked as casually as possible, "Hey Football Head? You wouldn't want to walk me home after this would you?"
Arnold glanced over at her. "Sure, Helga. But why?"
Helga's whole look brightened for just a moment (luckily the dimness of the theatre hid the response), then she just shrugged and explained simply, glancing back in his direction as well now, "Because if just watching this movie alone in a dark theatre would be scary, a walk home alone through semi-dark streets after watching it would probably be even worse. And after all the stress of the holiday, I could use just a nice peaceful stroll back to my house…" She smirked a little. "And I wouldn't want you getting too terrified either, Mr. Wet Blanket."
Arnold sighed, his smile remaining. "Whatever you say, Helga."
Helga grinned more. "Hey, if it's 'whatever I say' then I say you should hurry and go buy us a couple bags of popcorn before the previews end. Chop, chop, hair boy!"
Arnold just smiled and shook his head but did stand up from his seat. "I'll be right back, Helga." He headed down the aisle and out the theatre doors.
Alone, Helga paused and then glanced around…and then she beamed and kicked her feet in excitement! "He's watching a movie with me, and he wants to walk me home, and he's here with me, and he had the best Christmas ever!" Her huge smile remained for a moment longer…until she suddenly raised a hand and smacked it off of herself.
Helga took a deep breath and went on in a much more normal tone. "Sheesh, get a grip before you jump into his arms the first time the evil twin pops out! Although…" She put a hand to her chin in thought but then sighed. "No, no, even someone as dense as he is would get suspicious if I just stayed clinging around his neck for two hours straight in here. But still…he's going to be sitting right next to me! Oh, to heck with the stupid snow boots, this is what's boss!" She chuckled and leaned back in her seat with a content smile as the previews went on. "Maybe this is a sign that the New Year really won't be so bad. Anything could happen…for me or for Arnold…or maybe even for me and Arnold." She blushed a little then grinned and rested her head on her hand on the armrest. "Yeah, like he's suddenly going to go all gaga over me, and next year we'll be spending most of our Christmas sipping hot chocolate from the same mug and hanging out under mistletoe." She sighed and put up her feet on the back of the chair in front of her, a pleased smile on her face. "Still, a girl can dream, can't she?"
Helga remained sitting peacefully for a moment but then couldn't help a yawn escaping her. "I really worked way too hard this Christmas. Even yesterday I couldn't catch a nap between Olga waking us up at 5 am for breakfast and presents and then all of her Christmas carol singing and cookie making and paper snowflake cutting activities from heck. And that was after staying up late Christmas Eve helping that Mr. Bailey guy with his search." She blinked a few times, her eyelids lowering. "After this I am going home, getting a big glass of leftover eggnog, and heading straight to…" she yawned again, "bed." Helga closed her eyes without even realizing it and smiled a little more. "Still though…all worth it. He believes in miracles again…that stupid Football Head…who I so adore…and…who I…"
"Helga?"
"AH!" Helga's eyes flew open, and she jumped up in her seat. Her gaze quickly found Arnold now standing right by her with a bag of popcorn in his hands and looking at her with an eyebrow raised. Helga took a few deep breaths and scowled. "Crimeny, Football Head, didn't I tell you when you got here not to sneak up on me like that! I'm liable to pound you first and ask questions later just on a reflex!"
Arnold smiled a little and took his seat beside her. "Sorry, Helga, I thought you were falling asleep, and I just wanted to check."
Helga let out a final deep breath and shifted a little. "Hey, I was just resting my eyes. I told you, tiring Christmas." She raised part of her brow at him. "And hey, where's my popcorn?"
Arnold shrugged. "Oh, sorry, Helga, I only had enough money for one bag. But I thought we could share." He put the popcorn on the armrest between them and smiled.
"Share?" Helga's eyes widened. "I…well…oh, in the spirit of the holiday, I guess I could agree to that, Football Head." She kept a smile buried as best she could under a scowl.
Arnold nodded and turned to the movie screen. "Thanks, Helga." He reached into the bag and took a handful of popcorn.
Helga glanced at him, her look softening a little, and then reached into the bag and took some popcorn herself before likewise turning back to the movie screen. As the previews came to an end now, the movie itself started…and Helga's heart nearly stopped when she and Arnold both reached into the bag at the same time and their hands brushed.
"Oh, sorry, Helga," Arnold whispered softly, still looking at the screen.
Helga blushed in the darkness though she managed to reply with just enough sarcasm in a whisper, "You should be, but I'll let it slide since you bought the popcorn." She then let out a dreamy sigh that managed to get covered up by the sound of a door creaking and a few kids screaming in the movie's opening scene.
For a moment, Helga and Arnold remained watching the movie in silence.
Then Helga, feeling a little brave, took a breath and whispered something else, her eyes not leaving the screen. "Merry Christmas, Arnold."
Beside her, Arnold blinked and glanced at Helga for a moment with an eyebrow raised, though all he saw was her looking at the screen with mild interest while she finished a handful of popcorn.
Arnold's gaze softened, and he looked back to the screen as well. "Merry Christmas to you too, Helga," he whispered in return.
Both kids smiled a little more in the darkness, though neither one of them noticed the other's response.
And so the movie played on, a long overdue event that somehow helped to bring Arnold and Helga just a little closer together.
A/N:
I hope you've all enjoyed this year's update to this story, and thank you very much for reading ^_^ I can't say I'm planning to post any new HA! stories anytime soon (other than finally finishing up "April 2nd" when I have a chance, which I assure you will happen at some point ^^). I have a feeling next year will be my last update for this story. I'm not sure why, it's just a feeling. There's been a lot going on and changing in my life, so we'll have to see what happens. Right now I'm actually working on establishing myself as an animation scriptwriter, so I hope that manages to work out.
All of you have a safe and lovely holiday. Be kind to each other, and I wish you love and happiness in the New Year. Enjoy yourselves. Take care.
Happy Reading!
~Azure129 aka Jenna
