( Find me in the dark; I'll be in the stars. Find me in your heart. I'm in need of your love) (Helga's thoughts about Arnold)
The title of this chapter is named after a song by Nicki Minaj
Visiting Olga was an emotional moment for the family. Helga didn't expect to break down the way she did but she couldn't help it. She realized that the only sister she has is in the middle of critical battle for her life. For the most part, Helga remained strong. Having Phoebe and Arnold in her life was certainly a double godsend.
Later on that night, Miriam cooked a pot roast, mashed potatoes and corn for dinner in addition to baking a cake for dessert. Although the meal was scrumptious, everyone ate in almost complete silence. The only ones talking were the kids, Holly and Ollie. As brother and sister, they were facing a difficult fact that they would be all each other had if the 'unthinkable' happened to Olga. Bob was normally a tough, headstrong man but if he ever lost his firstborn daughter, he wouldn't be the same. It was times like this that Miriam craved a smoothie with a splash of rum or vodka in it but she couldn't allow herself to relapse.
After dinner, Helga headed straight to her bedroom. She briefly chatted with Phoebe and Arnold via IM and then she pulled out her pink journal. Relaxing against a pile of pillows on her bed, she poured all of her emotional thoughts into the book.
Sadness fills the night and floods the air, I want to break out yet I'm stuck here. My sister's unpredictable fate leaves me guessing, will there be bad news or will there be a blessing? There is one thing that makes me smile when life is sad, a guy I've always wanted and needed so bad. His name is Arnold; a man of many wonders; he holds me when it rains and rocks me when it thunders. How sweet would my life be if Arnold was mine? I'd hold onto him securely until the end of time.
Just as Helga completed her short yet beautiful poem, her cell phone rang. It was Miles.
"Hello?"
"Hi babe, I was missing you last night," Miles said." Do you miss me?"
"Sure I do," Helga lied, rolling her eyes.
"Great," Miles said.
"Is wifey feeling better?" Helga asked.
"Yeah, she's fine."
"That's good."
"So, do you want me to pick you up tonight?" Miles asked.
"Nah, that's okay," Helga replied.
"You sure?"
"Yup."
"Helga, you're not mad at me because I didn't pick you up yesterday when you asked me to, are you?" Miles questioned.
"No, I'm not mad," Helga told him." Your wife was sick. I'm not that selfish."
"Aw, I knew you'd understand, babe."
"Miles, I have to go," Helga said." I'm dealing with some issues right now."
"What kind of issues?"
None of your goddam beeswax, Helga thought.
But instead she offered as few details as possible." My sister was in a car wreck. She's in the hospital and things aren't looking too great."
"Wow," Miles responded." Gee, I'm sorry to hear that. So, I guess we'll hook up some other time?"
"Sure. Whatever."
"Okay, babe, I love you," Miles told her.
"Aw, aren't you sweet," Helga responded, sarcastically." Goodnight, bucko."
She hung up with Miles and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She was suddenly seeing him as a complete waste of time. The strange thing is, she didn't start feeling this way until she heard the awful news about Olga. Even though Helga was never exactly in love with Miles she did like himat the very least. However, even the like part was beginning to sour.
Helga fell asleep very late that night. Sunday morning arrived, she was still in the bed. Phoebe called her, waking her up at around 11:00AM.
"Hello?"
"Let me guess, Helga; you were sleeping and you're going to yell at me for waking you," Phoebe said, sarcastically.
"Phoebe, give me a break," Helga muttered." I'm not that bitchy in the morning….am I?"
"Yes, you are," Phoebe responded, honestly.
"Fine," Helga said." Anyway, what's up?"
"It's a beautiful day, so perhaps you, Arnold, Gerald and I can go to the park," Phoebe suggested." Arnold thinks you should bring your niece and nephew too."
"Ugh, I am not bringing those kids," Helga scoffed.
"Helga, don't be that way," Phoebe scolded her." Those poor kids are having a difficult time right now considering that their mother is in the hospital. Don't you want to be a good aunt and do something that will lift their little spirits?"
"Okay, okay," Helga muttered." Criminy!"
"Great, so we'll be there in about two hours," Phoebe said.
After hanging up with Phoebe, Helga brushed her teeth, ate a light breakfast and then took a shower. The weather can be unpredictable and funny sometimes. It was very rainy on Friday and sunny yet cold on Saturday. However, this Sunday had clear skies and comfortable seventy-degree weather. So, Helga decided to wear a red top, a denim jacket and a short, denim skirt. She also pulled her hair back into a ponytail with two bangs in the front.
Helga headed downstairs into the living room. The kids were watching a cartoon while Miriam was reading a book. Bob had gone to work that day.
"Hey brats, get dressed," Helga told them." We're going to the park and maybe for some ice cream too."
"Yay!" the kids cheered.
They hurried over and gave Helga a hug.
"Yeah, yeah, just hurry up," Helga muttered.
While the kids headed upstairs to get dressed, Helga took a seat.
"That was awfully nice of you, honey," Miriam told her.
"Well, what can I say?" Helga said, forcing a smile." Just being a good aunt."
Oh criminy, these kids bug the HELL out of me, Helga thought, But I'm sure it would have made Olga happy, at least.
By the time the children finished dressing, the doorbell rang. Helga walked over to answer it. As expected, it was Arnold, Gerald and Phoebe. She let them all into the living room and then headed upstairs to grab her purse.
"Hi, Mrs. Pataki," they all greeted her.
"Hi, everybody," Miriam responded." Phoebe, Arthur and Jerome, right?"
"Actually, it's Arnold and Gerald," Arnold politely corrected her.
"Oh, sorry about that."
"We all wanted to let you know that we wish Olga a speedy recovery," Arnold said.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
"I remember you, Arnold," Holly said.
"I remember you too, Holly," Arnold said, with a grin.
"Where's Lila?" Ollie asked.
"She's been staying with her grandma this weekend," Arnold told him." She'll be back tonight."
When Helga came downstairs, they all headed out. It was a beautiful day to walk. So, they stopped at Slausen's for some ice cream and then they headed to the park. Birds were chirping and children were laughing and running free.
"I want to go on the swings," Holly announced.
"Me too," Ollie agreed.
"Sure; let's go," Phoebe said.
"Can you push us really high?" Holly asked.
"Yeah but not too high," Gerald told her.
While Gerald and Phoebe took the kids over to the swing set, Arnold and Helga sat together on the bench. Arnold sipped his milkshake while Helga ate her chocolate/vanilla swirl ice cream.
"It's nice to see those kids smiling and laughing," Arnold commented." I can only imagine what they're going through."
Helga nodded in agreement.
"So, how are you feeling?" Arnold asked.
"I'm okay."
"That's good," Arnold said." Everything is going to be fine."
"Why are you being so nice, Arnold?" Helga asked.
"It's just the way I am," Arnold insisted." Shouldn't you know me by now?"
"I guess so," Helga shrugged." My niece and nephew really seem to like you."
"I like them too," Arnold told her." They're adorable."
"Yeah and a pain in the ass," Helga stated." But I do feel awful that they can't be with their mom right now. They're Olga's pride and joy. She loves those kids."
"Don't you love them too?" Arnold asked.
"I'm their aunt, Arnold," Helga replied." Of course I do but they're still a pain in the ass."
Arnold didn't respond; he just stared at Helga with a smile on his face.
"Why are you staring at me, Football Head?" Helga asked, blushing.
"I'm staring at a sweet, sensitive girl who hides all of her nice emotions and chooses to display all of the nasty ones instead," Arnold responded, insightfully.
"You got me all figured out, don't you, Arnoldo?" Helga smirked.
"Helga, it's just hard for me to understand how you can be this mean, when you're so beautiful," Arnold told her." Why do you act that way?"
Did Arnold just call me beautiful? Helga thought, Oh how I love him.
"I'm serious; why do you act that way?" Arnold repeated his question.
"I'm a tough girl," Helga replied, with a shrug." I always was and I probably always will be. Shouldn't you know me by now?"
"Yeah but there's a time and a place to be tough," Arnold stated." When people disrespect you then it's totally okay to be tough and even kick ass if necessary. But when you're with me, you can let your guard down…because I'll never hurt you."
"Okay, Arnold."
Helga had to maintain her composure; Arnold's naturally charming ways were making her melt faster than her ice cream.
"Do you want to taste this?" Arnold offered Helga some of his milkshake.
"Not if it's strawberry," Helga responded.
"I know; you're allergic."
Helga was stunned." How do you know?"
"Mr. Simmons brought in a fruit basket back in fourth grade and you said you were allergic to strawberries," Arnold recalled.
"You have a good memory, Football Head."
"I know," Arnold said." This is cherry and banana mixed. Taste it."
Helga took a sip from the straw.
"You like it?" Arnold asked.
"Yeah," Helga replied, smiling.
With that, they simply smiled at each other for a while. Meanwhile, Gerald and Phoebe stood a few yards away pushing Holly and Ollie on the swings.
"Phoebe?" Gerald said.
"Yes?"
"I think I was sleepwalkin' last night and in the process, I must have gotten high on crack," Gerald stated.
"Babe, what in the world are you talking about?" Phoebe asked, giggling in confusion.
"I'm just sayin', baby; look at Arnold and Helga," Gerald pointed out." They're just sitting there smilin' at each other, lookin' all goo-goo eyed and shit. But like I said, I must be high or somethin'. Arnold and Helga Pataki? I can't even picture it."
Phoebe didn't respond; she just smiled. She and Gerald both believed that a connection was slowly heating up between their best friends. The only difference was that Gerald thought that his eyes were deceiving him whereas Phoebe couldn't help but think that the whole scene was so sweet.