Chapter 9: That Would Explain
The Boarding House
Arnold stood in his room, viewing himself in the mirror. Standing in his black suit with gold decorated pants, he was beginning to feel a bit of excitement. Not only did he and Helga have their feelings out in the open at last, but they were being given the opportunity to act on them in front of the entire school.
Just as he was getting ready to leave, Arnold heard a knock on his door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Come in."
The blonde boy then looked to see his anxious grandfather standing in the doorway. "Hey there shortman! Ready for your big night?" Phil winked.
Arnold blushed, knowing Phil was thinking about the time he'd be spending with Helga. "Yeah grandpa, I am."
"Well then let's get going! If I have to sit with your grandma, I at least want a good seat." Phil informed him.
The Beeper Emporium
"Daddy, why aren't you ready? Helga's show starts soon!" Olga reminded him.
"Her what now?" Bob asked, not turning his attention away from his pyramid of beepers.
"Her show! Remember, she's doing the play Carmen with her classmates." Olga reminded him.
"Oh right. Right. So what kind of award are they giving her?" Bob stood from the couch, not excited about the way he'd be spending his Saturday night.
"No silly! It's just for fun." Olga assured him.
"Ay-yi-yi!"
Gerald's House
"Jamie O! Give that back now!" Gerald yelled as he watched his brother steal Zuniga's yellow guard hat.
"What are you going to do about it squirt? Haha!" the teenage boy laughed, waving the hat in his younger brother's face.
Gerald chased his brother into the kitchen to see his parents preparing to leave for the show. "Mom! Tell Jamio O to give me back my…."
"Gerald, there you are." Martin pointed.
The pre-teen watched his brother run off with his hat, as he halted in front of his father and listened to him say "You never said if we needed to buy tickets for this. The bank's closed and I don't have any cash."
Gerald let out a heavy sigh and a hopeless look implying how pointless he knew it was to ever ask for his parents' help.
Phoebe's House
Phoebe left her room wearing a long-sleeved red dress with yellow ruffled feathers circling the tail of the dress.
Kyo smiled at his successful child and said "Phoebe dearest! We're looking forward to your presentation."
"You look wonderful darling!" Reba smiled at her blushing daughter.
"Thank you mother, father. I'm looking forward to presenting for you."
While Phoebe was looking forward to performing for her parents, her mind was mainly on her best friend. Whether or not they planned it, the play had done an amazing job of opening up Arnold and Helga towards one another, after helping them realize their true feelings towards one another.
Harold's House
"Oh my little Harold! Performing in the play Carmen!" Marilyn sad excitedly.
Feeling his mom pinch his cheek, Harold whined "Mom! Cut it out would ya?!"
The clingy parent viewed her son's costume. Tan stretch pants and a white blouse that appeared to be a size too small.
"You look amazing Harold!" Marilyn sobbed, wiping a tear from her eye.
Harold's father viewed his son's appearance and added "Well, he could stand to wear a bigger shirt."
"JERRY!"
Waving his hands in self defense, the quiet man asked "What? A bigger shirt. That's all I'm saying. What's wrong with that?"
"Don't listen to him Harold! You look fine sweetie!"
Stinky's House
"What do ya think Pa?" Stinky asked, showing his father the purple onesie with silver glitter he had been given to wear.
"What the heck is it son?"
"It's my costume for tonight's show!" Stinky reminded him.
The elderly man took a look at his awkwardly dressed son and said "Son, you're a dang fool."
Rhonda's House
Rhonda viewed herself in the mirror wearing a blue and white threaded gown with a white bonnet to match. Looking at the work that had been put into the dress, she said out loud to herself…
"I suppose Sheena's learned a thing or two about fashion since our Romeo and Juliet play."
After getting one last look at herself, the modish girl entered the living room to see her parents awaiting her. "Darling, there you are! We can't wait for your performance!" Brooke smiled.
Finishing up a martini, Buckley said "We should get going pumpkin. That way we're sure to get a good seat."
"Thank you mommy! Thank you daddy!"
Sid's House
"Wish me luck Sydney!" Sid kissed his frog after getting ready for the show. The small boy was wearing black tights, a white blouse, a red vest, and a black bandana.
Leaving his room, Sid saw his father ready and waiting for him. "Ready to go son?"
"Yeah! I can't wait to see Arnold kill Helga!" Sid exclaimed.
Ray gave his son a complexed look as he watched the anxious boy race out the door. Not having heard much about the class bully, he wasn't sure what could be so exciting about the idea of that.
Eugene's House
Eugene was wearing a yellow jacket and hat to match. The excited redhead stood viewing himself in the mirror, knowing everything would go well that night. Even if he did trip (or humiliate himself in some way), it was always worth participating in these fun activities with his classmates.
The perky boy left his bedroom to see his parents waiting in the living room for him. "Tonight's going to be great you guys!"
"I'm sure it will be son." Nate smiled, patting his son on the back.
"Do you know all your lines sweetie?" Mrs. Horowitz asked.
"Oh yeah! I stayed up all night practicing!"
"So that's what that noise was. I thought you left the tv on in here again Nate."
Curly's House
"Ole!" Curly shouted at his puppy, whom he was attempting to use for bull fighting practice.
After a few more waves of his cape at the small dog, Curly looked at the clock to see the play would be starting soon. Dressed in his blue tights and and sequin jacket, the dramatic pre-teen stood to find his parents for the show.
Lila's House
Wearing a red dress with layers, Lila smiled at the thought of how the performance would go that night. Not only did she like her part, but she knew the truth about Helga. After the past few weeks of performing and the reading of their English assignments, tonight would seal the deal on Arnold and Helga's affections for one another.
The sweet girl left her room to show her dad the outfit that was made for the performance.
"You look just like your mother sweetie." Mr. Sawyer smiled at his only child.
"Thank you just ever so much daddy!"
Car Ride
"Where's young Eleanor?" Pookie turned to look at her grandson sitting in the back seat.
"She's riding with her family grandma."
Phil rolled his eyes at his wife's crazy behavior and mumbled "With that attitude, I don't know what the heck makes you think she'd want to ride with us?"
P.S.118
Dressing Room
"Oh this looks lovely on you Helga!"
Sheena was putting the finishing touches on her classmates dress. Helga looked at herself in the mirror as Sheena was fixing the skirt of her dress. The top half of the costume was ruby red threaded. The skirt part of the dress was a pale red, and flowed gracefully to the floor.
The passionate girl stood staring, wondering how the night would go. Arnold now not only knew, but accepted the truth. From what the past few days had implied, he felt the same way as well.
Auditorium
"Now where are we supposed to sit? I don't want to hear too much music." Bob said, circling the auditorium for some seats.
"Daddy, it's a musical! The entire play is sung!" Olga smiled.
"Oh for crying out loud Miriam! How you could not tell me that?" Bob scowled at his wife.
"I didn't know she was performing B?" Miriam said defensively.
Back Stage
All the students had at last arrived, and Arnold was anxious to see Helga. Gerald came over to see his friend staring across the opposite side of the stage, as if he was waiting for someone to appear.
"Hey man. What's up?"
"Huh? Oh hey Gerald."
"I'd save that face for the last scene if I was you." Gerald said wittily, taking notice of the somber expression his friend was carrying.
"I was just looking for Helga." Arnold shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what the big deal was.
"Relax man. We're about to start. Then you'll get to look at her 'til death do you start."
"Gerald…"
Fifteen Minutes Later
Everyone was seated and watched Mr. Simmons appear on stage with a wide smiling forming across his face. "Good evening. I want to thank you all for joining us here tonight! Your kids have worked to make this a very special performance that I'm sure you'll all enjoy!"
The play then began, and Arnold's first viewing on Helga reminded him of all the times he thought she looked nice…
When her nanny gave her a new outfit for school.
Her last performance as the It Girl.
Their Romeo and Juliet Play.
There was something about her now that stood out. Perhaps it was knowing about the sensitive side that existed beneath her rough exterior. The closer he became with her, the easier it was to see a nice person shining through that tough act she attempted to withhold it.
A smile remained on the blonde boy's face. Much like practice, whoever he was performing a scene with, Helga could see a different light shining in his eyes when he was acting his part with her. It wasn't the fake performance he put on during Romeo and Juliet, but one that read…
Words can't describe how much I'm enjoying this.
After all the times she watched him give Lila that lovesick look, being filled green with envy, it was finally hers to experience. At last the one she loved was showing her attention that wasn't required.
The Final Act
Lila, Phoebe, and Gerald are among the crowd of the upcoming bullfighting performance on stage.
As they awaited the arrival of Curly (Escamillo), he and Helga began entering the stage (showing affection for one another).
While Curly goes off to start the performance, Lila and Phoebe pull Helga aside to warn her Arnold is nearby.
It was hard pretending to be bothered by this. In Romeo and Juliet, she didn't have to act to imply how torturous it was being kept away from the one she loved. Now here she was having to act as though she didn't want to have anything to do with the one she loved.
After seeing Phoebe and Lila enter the arena, Arnold approached Helga, pleading with her to return to him.
Helga's heart melted at these words, knowing feelings for her existed within him now. He wasn't just asking Carmen to return to Jose. He was asking Helga to be with Arnold for the first time.
Doing her best to hold back her swoon, Helga lightly shook her head and demanded to be released.
After seeing her throw back the ring he gave to her, Arnold grabbed Helga's wrist, ready to end the play.
Utter silence filled the auditorium. The students were anxious just to see such a thrilling event take place, while the parents were simply touched by the performance of their kids (well most of them).
Helga turned to look at the one holding her. As she watched Arnold raise the knife, she saw the hesitant look in his eyes. It was as if he thought he was actually killing her. Moments later, he struck her, and she fell just as dramatically as she had during Romeo and Juliet.
After seeing his former love fall, Arnold (Jose) fell to his knees, full of regret. Even if it was just an act, the idea of him showing such regret over such a dreadful act formed on her behalf made Helga's heart flutter as she laid there before him.
Once Arnold's confession to her death had been made, the audience rose to clap for the students' performance.
The students stood hand in hand across the stage after the pulling of the curtain, while the parents all looked at the young performers.
"Wasn't that exciting daddy? Helga has such a lovely voice!" Olga asked anxiously.
"Eh, it was okay. It didn't cost me anything." Bob shrugged his shoulders, trying to see the bright side.
Backstage
"You did a wonderful job performing Helga!" Phoebe said to her friend.
Helga patted her supportive classmate on the back and smiled "Thanks Pheebs. You weren't half bad yourself."
Phoebe then glanced behind Helga to see someone waiting to approach her. Helga turned around after noticing where Phoebe's attention was turned towards.
A smile and dazed eyes formed on the blonde girl's face as she watched her beloved approach her.
"I'll see you soon Helga."
"Later Pheebs."
Arnold came up to his new close friend and said softly "You did a nice job out there."
Unable to hold back her swoon, Helga shook her head and said "Uhh yeah thanks. You did alright yourself bucko."
The two were exiting the stage as Arnold said "Maybe you should think of helping out with the costumes next year."
Helga cocked her brow as she turned to ask "What the heck for?"
"Well I saw all those drawings you did of me in your notebook. I just figured you might like art as much as you do poetry."
Helga began to blush after hearing this. All she had thought about when hearing he had her notebook was him reading the poem. She didn't stop to consider his thoughts of all the crazy doodling she did of him (let alone seeing them).
"Oh well uhh…"
"Plus that would explain why you didn't want to share the paints with me last year in history class." Arnold smiled.
"Oh shut up football head!"
Taking her hand in his, Arnold smiled and said "Whatever you say Helga."
THE END
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