CHAPTER 11
After school the next day, the kids are getting ready for dress rehearsal. A couple of the teachers are helping them with the costumes. As Helga is having the green makeup applied, Phoebe is finishing up getting ready as Glinda. After putting on her blonde wig and tiara, she goes over and talks to Helga.
"Hi, Helga!"
Helga looks over at Phoebe.
"Wow! You look good, Phoebe."
"Thanks."
The teacher helps Helga put on her wig and purple knit cap.
"What'd ya think?" Helga says as she stands up and twirls around.
"You look good, too."
They walk to the curtain and peek through. Helga sees her mom and Olga, but not her dad.
"I see Miriam and Olga, but not Bob." Helga says.
"I'm sure he's there. He probably went to the restroom or something."
"Maybe. Wait a minute."
Helga, to her surprise, sees her dad walk in and take a seat next to Olga.
"Wow. He is here."
"See? I told you."
Arnold sees Helga and is wanting to tell her how he feels. He is unsure if he should do it now or after the performance. He decides to do it now. As he approaches her, Mr. Simmons comes in and tells the students to gather round.
"Okay, students. This is just a dress rehearsal, so be relaxed. Everything will be fine. I'm very proud of how hard you worked on this, so go out there and break a leg."
As the students take their places, Arnold decides to wait until after the play to tell her.
Bob sits in the audience not wanting to be there. He feels this is a waste of time, and he should be at his store when his IPhone shipments come in.
The lights dim and music begins to play. The children playing the flying monkeys enter the stage to raise the curtain.
The children playing the citizens of Oz begin to sing:
GOOD NEWS!
SHE'S DEAD!
THE WITCH OF THE WEST IS DEAD!
THE WICKEDEST WITCH THERE EVER WAS
THE ENEMY OF ALL OF US HERE IN OZ
IS DEAD!
GOOD NEWS!
GOOD NEWS!
Bob thinks this is terrible. He sits in his seat, bored.
Then, Helga's first scene happens.
"What?! What are you all looking at? Oh. Do I have something in my teeth? Fine! We might as well get this over with! No, I am not seasick! Yes, I've always been green! No, I didn't eat grass as a child!"
Still, Bob remains unmoved.
Throughout the play, Bob doesn't want to be there.
Then, Helga's big scene at the end of Act I happens as she sings "Defying Gravity":
IT'S TIME TO TRY
DEFYING GRAVITY
I THINK I'LL TRY
DEFYING GRAVITY
AND YOU CAN'T PULL ME DOWN…
Bob begins to feel something inside. He dismisses it as indigestion. He won't admit he felt moved at the scene.
The play goes on.
Then Helga and Phoebe's duet number begins as they sing "For Good". They sing the song in such a way that everyone can feel the bittersweetness of it:
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
I DO BELIEVE I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
AND BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU…
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD
Bob felt a tear go down his cheek. He quickly wipes it before anyone can see it.
Then, when he sees the melting scene, he breaks down entirely.
Bob can't believe it. His little girl, pouring out such emotion and talent, and he was going to miss it over IPhones. He makes a promise to himself to be a better father to her.
After the play, there is a after party in the school's cafeteria.
As the parents and teachers talk inside, the kids gather outside.
Arnold decides now is the time.
He walks up to her.
"Um, Helga, there is something I've been wanting to say to you."
"What is it, Arnold?"
"I love you."
Helga is stunned.
She can't believe what she just heard. She's been wanting to hear those three little words from him a long time.
Neither can the other kids, whose jaws dropped when he said it, except for Phoebe and Gerald, who smile.
"You love me?" She asks.
"Yes."
"How..how long have you felt this way about me?"
"Ever since preschool. I always thought you were the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and I know this might seem crazy, but…" he pulls out his locket and shows it to her. "…I've been carrying your picture with me ever since."
Helga and everyone else gasps, except for Phoebe and Gerald, who are still smiling.
A tear falls down Helga's cheek. She smiles.
"That's not crazy at all. Because..." she pulls out her locket and shows it to him. "…I feel the same way about you."
They kiss. Everyone cheers.
Phoebe walks over and looks at their heart-shaped lockets. There looked like there was something off about them.
"Where did you get your lockets?" She asks.
"It was a broken one I found on the playground one day." They both said in unison.
They look at each other in shock.
Phoebe smiled as she put the lockets back together.
"Two hearts, now one. That's so beautiful."
She places it in their hands.
"Yes, it is beautiful, isn't it?" Arnold says.
"Yes it is." Helga says as they kiss one more time.
THE END