"The Love Docter" By Anne Anime (AnneAnime@aol.com) and Cecile (CarmHelga@aol.com).
"Kimba, your food is getting cold." Grandma called from the other room. After suffering through the chili, most of which got fed to Abner under the table, Arnold heard a knock and the door, and knowing it was Helga, he didn't know if he should answer or not.
"What's the matter? Nervous about the date? Ah-ha-ha-ha" asked Mr. Kokoshka.
"It's not a date! We're going to a group session"
"Yeah, sure, call it that if you want" added Mr. Potts.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about" Suzy put in. Arnold turned red and decided it was best if he got the door, "It's a group session with Dr. Bliss, not a date, I'm going, bye everyone"
"Bye Kimba! good luck with your "group session" tonight!" called Grandma as she passed out more chili to the boarders.
"What took you so long, football head?"
"The boarders were... talkative tonight"
"Well come on, let's not be late" Arnold and Helga walked along in silence. Helga was still wondering what it was that Arnold had to tell her that was so important.
Arnold was still thinking the dream over in his head. He was trying to decide if it was true or just his mind messing with him.
"Um...Arnold?"
"Huh? What Helga?" Arnold said snapping out of his dream like state.
"I was just...um.... wondering...this meeting....is it because of that fight?"
"Well um......not really Helga." Arnold said blushing a bit.
"Okay, I was just worried that you were still mad at me."
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know, I panic in situations like this."
"Situations like what?"
"Um...nothing, nothing at all Arnold."
"Sure Helga." "Arnold is something bothering you, you seem preoccupied."
"Well yeah, it's just some dream I had."
"Really? What about?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Okay football head, be that way."
They arrived at the office and Dr. Bliss welcomed them in.
"Okay you two to break the ice, we are going to do a group activity first."
"Aw man, not like Simmons." Helga sighed.
"Arnold you sit over here, and Helga you sit there."
"Okay Arnold close your eyes and think about your favorite food."
"Um...okay."
Arnold said doing just as she said.
"Now Helga do the same."
"Fine Dr. Bliss"
"Okay on the count of three say your favorite food.....1......2.........3"
"Pepperoni Pizza" they both said.
"Good! Now everytime you get a match scoot towards the middle of the couch, everytime they don't match, scoot away"
"Ok Dr. Bliss" said Arnold, who moved towards the middle of the couch, he heard Helga doing the same.
"Now, what is your favorite sport to play?"
"Baseball!" they said simultaneously, and the moved a little towards the middle again.
Dr. Bliss held in a laugh, "What is your favorite color?"
"Green" they both said immediately, she had guess on that one, but judging from the color of Arnold sweater, and how much Helga talked and Arnold's green eyes, it was more likely than not that green was favorite to both of them.
"Ok, let's continue..."
"What's your favorite TV show."
"Yo Ernest!" The both said, and scooting towards the middle once again.
"Okay last one" Dr. Bliss said smiling, she knew they would match this one.
"What is your favorite holiday?"
"Valentine's Day" They scooted closer once again, until Arnold placed his hand on top of Helga's.
Helga opened her eyes immediately, and looked at Arnold, who had withdrawn his hand and turned away, blushing.
Dr. Bliss just smiled.
"Well you two matched everyone of the questions."
"We did?" Helga asked.
"Yes you did, do you two want to talk now?"
"Um.....Dr. Bliss I don't think I can....."
"Arnold it's all right, she needs to know Arnold, just as you might want to tell Arnold something yourself Helga."
"What?!!?! Now?!?! I'm...I'm not ready to say that" Helga said panicking.
"Helga, Helga calm down. You two just proved you have a lot in common, and I know you have dysfunctional families too. I think you two need each other, you have a very strong bond and you need to admit it."
"I will say something, if she says what she has to say."
"I will if he will."
"Ok, who wants to go first?"
"Not me!" said Arnold
"I'm not!!"
"OK, then how about you both write it down? Then give them to each other at the same time?"
"That.... might work" Arnold stated tentatively.
"Here's some paper, just write down what you feel" she said handing each a sheet of paper and a pen, "You can be brief, or you can write as much as you want"
"Thanks.." and Helga started writing. Arnold followed her example, and started to write too, both were trying to hide that they were blushing horribly. They both finished and handed the papers to Dr. Bliss. She read both and smiled.
"Since you both seem so awkward about this, perhaps I should mediate between you two."
"How?" Helga questioned. "Well I'll tell each of you what the other said, by comparing it to you own."
"Huh?" Arnold asked.
"Like this, Helga....Arnold's is not the opposite of yours."
"So he doesn't hate me?" Helga said blushing.
"Right that's the idea. Arnold, Helga thinks the same."
"Really? She does?"
"I do? What do I think?"
Dr. Bliss smiled, "Do you two feel comfortable trying to talk now?"
"I guess I can try." Helga stated.
"I guess I can too."
"Okay Arnold, you start..."
"Dr. Bliss do I have to go first?" Arnold said tugging at his sweater again.
"Yes I think it would be better if you went first, don't worry I promise Helga won't pound you."
"Okay, I um......I....I......."
"You?"
"Really like Helga" He blurted out quickly and turned away so they wouldn't see him blush. Helga was speechless. She stared in awe at Arnold. She couldn't believe he actually liked her back.
"You....you....do?"
Helga stammered out. "Yeah I do..." Arnold said still turned away.
"Helga maybe you need to say yours now?" Dr. Bliss hinted.
"Okay Dr. Bliss. Arnold....I...I......I.....can't do it."
"Helga, it can't be anymore embarrassing than mine." Arnold mumbled.
"Yes it can..." Helga said softly. She looked at Dr. Bliss who was nudging her on.
"Arnold I need to say this, whether or not you'll ever speak to me again is questionable, but I need to say it."
"What Helga?" Arnold said turning towards her.
"I love you." she said softly as she began to cry.
"You... Love me?" asked Arnold, who was surprised beyond belief, yet oddly happy.
"Yes! I love you! I've loved you since we were was 3! The first day of preschool no one paid any attention to me, except you! I was all covered in mud, and it was raining, and you put your umbrella over me and complimented my bow! And then the graham crackers! Harold stole mine, but you gave me yours, then Harold started making fun of me and I scared him to get him to stop and I guess that's how everyone ended up thinking I was a bully, and I grew into the role!" Helga stopped to breathe, then began again, "You wouldn't know what pains I've gone to make sure you didn't find out, I've sneaked into your house more times than you need to know! For the book, and the locket, and the tape. Once I started sleep walking and ended waking up in your shower!. And then the school play! I had to knock 4 girls out of the running so I could be Juliet!! Oh! And Cecile! That was one of my most ingenious plans! And you wouldn't believe what I did to get your hat back for you. And you can't forget the snowboots! Did I forget bout the shrines?" She paused for a moment. "And I've hidden in more trash cans than I can remember!!!"
Through all this Arnold could just listen, 'Cecile? The little pink book? Shrines? Trash cans?' he thought, bewildered and amazed. Helga continued rambling,
"And then there was the parrot who memorized one of my poems, luckly the monitor ate it. The time I took a fake love potion trying to get over you. Then times I've been petty and tried to sabotage everything you did with Ruth or Lila. The time I wrote 'Arnold loves Helga' on the wall, but changed it to 'Lila' The time that...."
"Helga I think he's got the idea." Dr. Bliss said trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry Dr. Bliss, it's just I've kept it a secret so long."
"I know Helga, I know."
Arnold was still in absolute shock. He just sat there and stared at Helga.
"Arnold if you think I'm some freak or you never want to speak to me again, I'd understand."
"It's not that Helga, I just never knew how much you liked me."
"Well now you know." Helga said softly.
Dr. Bliss could see that Arnold was completely confused as to what had just happened. "Helga perhaps, you could step out for a minute?"
"Sure Dr. Bliss." Helga said walking out the door.
"Arnold are you okay?" Dr. Bliss said walking over to him.
"I think so, I just feel weird."
"You never knew did you?"
"No"
"She's had this bottled up for a long time Arnold, it must have taken a lot of guts for her to say that to you."
"Yeah I guess it did."
"And she means it Arnold."
"I just don't know what to say. I mean I really like her, but that was before I knew all this. I mean.. she's Cecile... the Cecile who's shoe I still have in my closet, she's the owner of the little pink book full of poems about me..."
"How do you feel about all this?"
"I feel...odd, like a bunch of stuff is finally making sense, and I wish she would have just told me sooner, instead of doing all that stuff to keep it from me."
"She was scared, at that time you two weren't even on friendly terms, she didn't want rejection."
"I'm really confused, I don't like people bothering me so much, sometimes I wish I hadn't started hanging out with Helga, and other times, like when she's nice, I just.... and then the dream I had confused me even more..."
"Dream?" Arnold turned red,
"I'd rather not talk about it"
"Ok, do you think we can let Helga back in now?"
"Yes, I think so"
Helga was out in the hallway mumbling to herself. "Helga you are such an idiot, he didn't need to know all of that, he didn't need to know any of that! Why must I have such a big mouth! Why can't I just keep quiet about these things!"
"Helga, you can come back in now." Dr. Bliss called out the door.
"Okay." Helga said taking a deep breath before going back in.
Helga froze at the sight of Arnold, he had the most puzzled look on his face, and it made her nervous.
"Come on Helga, Arnold's not mad at you, he's just confused." Dr. Bliss said ushering Helga in.
Helga sat down. "I'm sorry Arnold." she mumbled.
"For what Helga?"
"For everything I've ever done to you. All the times I've tortured you and berated you. I've been such a jerk Arnold, and I'm really really sorry."
"I forgive you Helga."
"You what?" Helga said, with her eyes widening.
"I said I forgive you Helga. It's not your fault your parents hate you and the kids always tease you. You had to fight back somehow." Helga was shocked, he actually understood exactly where she was coming from.
"That's what I like about you Arnold, you are always there for me in times like this." she said quietly. Then Arnold did something surprising, he hugged her.
"Well I think that went well, now I have another group coming in, I'm sorry, but time is up."
"Okay" Helga sniffed,
"Thanks Dr. Bliss"
"Your welcome, Helga" Helga and Arnold left and started walking back to Arnold's in silence.
"So... what do you want to do now?" asked Arnold.
"I don't know. I was going to go home"
"Why don't we do something?"
"Like... like a date?"
"Yeah... I guess..."
"And why pray tell why would you want to do anything with me?"
"Because I really like you Helga."
"Even after I told you about my obsession with you?"
"It's kind of weird, flattering, but weird."
"So football head, where are we gonna go?"
"I think a nice walk in the park might be good for both of us."
"But what if someone sees us?"
"Don't worry about them Helga, who cares what they say about us?"
"But Arnold......" "Helga you really like me, and I really like you, why do their petty opinions bother you?"
"Arnold, that's what started this. They teased me when I was little, so I became Helga Pataki, the bully."
"But now you are Helga Pataki, the girl I really like."
"I guess you're right Arnold, all that matters now is us." Arnold looked at Helga strangely, where had he heard that before?
"I guess I can suck it up and bear the pain, anything for you Arnold." Arnold just smiled, this was the Helga he liked. He offered her his arm, and they headed to the park.
"Kimba, your food is getting cold." Grandma called from the other room. After suffering through the chili, most of which got fed to Abner under the table, Arnold heard a knock and the door, and knowing it was Helga, he didn't know if he should answer or not.
"What's the matter? Nervous about the date? Ah-ha-ha-ha" asked Mr. Kokoshka.
"It's not a date! We're going to a group session"
"Yeah, sure, call it that if you want" added Mr. Potts.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about" Suzy put in. Arnold turned red and decided it was best if he got the door, "It's a group session with Dr. Bliss, not a date, I'm going, bye everyone"
"Bye Kimba! good luck with your "group session" tonight!" called Grandma as she passed out more chili to the boarders.
"What took you so long, football head?"
"The boarders were... talkative tonight"
"Well come on, let's not be late" Arnold and Helga walked along in silence. Helga was still wondering what it was that Arnold had to tell her that was so important.
Arnold was still thinking the dream over in his head. He was trying to decide if it was true or just his mind messing with him.
"Um...Arnold?"
"Huh? What Helga?" Arnold said snapping out of his dream like state.
"I was just...um.... wondering...this meeting....is it because of that fight?"
"Well um......not really Helga." Arnold said blushing a bit.
"Okay, I was just worried that you were still mad at me."
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know, I panic in situations like this."
"Situations like what?"
"Um...nothing, nothing at all Arnold."
"Sure Helga." "Arnold is something bothering you, you seem preoccupied."
"Well yeah, it's just some dream I had."
"Really? What about?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Okay football head, be that way."
They arrived at the office and Dr. Bliss welcomed them in.
"Okay you two to break the ice, we are going to do a group activity first."
"Aw man, not like Simmons." Helga sighed.
"Arnold you sit over here, and Helga you sit there."
"Okay Arnold close your eyes and think about your favorite food."
"Um...okay."
Arnold said doing just as she said.
"Now Helga do the same."
"Fine Dr. Bliss"
"Okay on the count of three say your favorite food.....1......2.........3"
"Pepperoni Pizza" they both said.
"Good! Now everytime you get a match scoot towards the middle of the couch, everytime they don't match, scoot away"
"Ok Dr. Bliss" said Arnold, who moved towards the middle of the couch, he heard Helga doing the same.
"Now, what is your favorite sport to play?"
"Baseball!" they said simultaneously, and the moved a little towards the middle again.
Dr. Bliss held in a laugh, "What is your favorite color?"
"Green" they both said immediately, she had guess on that one, but judging from the color of Arnold sweater, and how much Helga talked and Arnold's green eyes, it was more likely than not that green was favorite to both of them.
"Ok, let's continue..."
"What's your favorite TV show."
"Yo Ernest!" The both said, and scooting towards the middle once again.
"Okay last one" Dr. Bliss said smiling, she knew they would match this one.
"What is your favorite holiday?"
"Valentine's Day" They scooted closer once again, until Arnold placed his hand on top of Helga's.
Helga opened her eyes immediately, and looked at Arnold, who had withdrawn his hand and turned away, blushing.
Dr. Bliss just smiled.
"Well you two matched everyone of the questions."
"We did?" Helga asked.
"Yes you did, do you two want to talk now?"
"Um.....Dr. Bliss I don't think I can....."
"Arnold it's all right, she needs to know Arnold, just as you might want to tell Arnold something yourself Helga."
"What?!!?! Now?!?! I'm...I'm not ready to say that" Helga said panicking.
"Helga, Helga calm down. You two just proved you have a lot in common, and I know you have dysfunctional families too. I think you two need each other, you have a very strong bond and you need to admit it."
"I will say something, if she says what she has to say."
"I will if he will."
"Ok, who wants to go first?"
"Not me!" said Arnold
"I'm not!!"
"OK, then how about you both write it down? Then give them to each other at the same time?"
"That.... might work" Arnold stated tentatively.
"Here's some paper, just write down what you feel" she said handing each a sheet of paper and a pen, "You can be brief, or you can write as much as you want"
"Thanks.." and Helga started writing. Arnold followed her example, and started to write too, both were trying to hide that they were blushing horribly. They both finished and handed the papers to Dr. Bliss. She read both and smiled.
"Since you both seem so awkward about this, perhaps I should mediate between you two."
"How?" Helga questioned. "Well I'll tell each of you what the other said, by comparing it to you own."
"Huh?" Arnold asked.
"Like this, Helga....Arnold's is not the opposite of yours."
"So he doesn't hate me?" Helga said blushing.
"Right that's the idea. Arnold, Helga thinks the same."
"Really? She does?"
"I do? What do I think?"
Dr. Bliss smiled, "Do you two feel comfortable trying to talk now?"
"I guess I can try." Helga stated.
"I guess I can too."
"Okay Arnold, you start..."
"Dr. Bliss do I have to go first?" Arnold said tugging at his sweater again.
"Yes I think it would be better if you went first, don't worry I promise Helga won't pound you."
"Okay, I um......I....I......."
"You?"
"Really like Helga" He blurted out quickly and turned away so they wouldn't see him blush. Helga was speechless. She stared in awe at Arnold. She couldn't believe he actually liked her back.
"You....you....do?"
Helga stammered out. "Yeah I do..." Arnold said still turned away.
"Helga maybe you need to say yours now?" Dr. Bliss hinted.
"Okay Dr. Bliss. Arnold....I...I......I.....can't do it."
"Helga, it can't be anymore embarrassing than mine." Arnold mumbled.
"Yes it can..." Helga said softly. She looked at Dr. Bliss who was nudging her on.
"Arnold I need to say this, whether or not you'll ever speak to me again is questionable, but I need to say it."
"What Helga?" Arnold said turning towards her.
"I love you." she said softly as she began to cry.
"You... Love me?" asked Arnold, who was surprised beyond belief, yet oddly happy.
"Yes! I love you! I've loved you since we were was 3! The first day of preschool no one paid any attention to me, except you! I was all covered in mud, and it was raining, and you put your umbrella over me and complimented my bow! And then the graham crackers! Harold stole mine, but you gave me yours, then Harold started making fun of me and I scared him to get him to stop and I guess that's how everyone ended up thinking I was a bully, and I grew into the role!" Helga stopped to breathe, then began again, "You wouldn't know what pains I've gone to make sure you didn't find out, I've sneaked into your house more times than you need to know! For the book, and the locket, and the tape. Once I started sleep walking and ended waking up in your shower!. And then the school play! I had to knock 4 girls out of the running so I could be Juliet!! Oh! And Cecile! That was one of my most ingenious plans! And you wouldn't believe what I did to get your hat back for you. And you can't forget the snowboots! Did I forget bout the shrines?" She paused for a moment. "And I've hidden in more trash cans than I can remember!!!"
Through all this Arnold could just listen, 'Cecile? The little pink book? Shrines? Trash cans?' he thought, bewildered and amazed. Helga continued rambling,
"And then there was the parrot who memorized one of my poems, luckly the monitor ate it. The time I took a fake love potion trying to get over you. Then times I've been petty and tried to sabotage everything you did with Ruth or Lila. The time I wrote 'Arnold loves Helga' on the wall, but changed it to 'Lila' The time that...."
"Helga I think he's got the idea." Dr. Bliss said trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry Dr. Bliss, it's just I've kept it a secret so long."
"I know Helga, I know."
Arnold was still in absolute shock. He just sat there and stared at Helga.
"Arnold if you think I'm some freak or you never want to speak to me again, I'd understand."
"It's not that Helga, I just never knew how much you liked me."
"Well now you know." Helga said softly.
Dr. Bliss could see that Arnold was completely confused as to what had just happened. "Helga perhaps, you could step out for a minute?"
"Sure Dr. Bliss." Helga said walking out the door.
"Arnold are you okay?" Dr. Bliss said walking over to him.
"I think so, I just feel weird."
"You never knew did you?"
"No"
"She's had this bottled up for a long time Arnold, it must have taken a lot of guts for her to say that to you."
"Yeah I guess it did."
"And she means it Arnold."
"I just don't know what to say. I mean I really like her, but that was before I knew all this. I mean.. she's Cecile... the Cecile who's shoe I still have in my closet, she's the owner of the little pink book full of poems about me..."
"How do you feel about all this?"
"I feel...odd, like a bunch of stuff is finally making sense, and I wish she would have just told me sooner, instead of doing all that stuff to keep it from me."
"She was scared, at that time you two weren't even on friendly terms, she didn't want rejection."
"I'm really confused, I don't like people bothering me so much, sometimes I wish I hadn't started hanging out with Helga, and other times, like when she's nice, I just.... and then the dream I had confused me even more..."
"Dream?" Arnold turned red,
"I'd rather not talk about it"
"Ok, do you think we can let Helga back in now?"
"Yes, I think so"
Helga was out in the hallway mumbling to herself. "Helga you are such an idiot, he didn't need to know all of that, he didn't need to know any of that! Why must I have such a big mouth! Why can't I just keep quiet about these things!"
"Helga, you can come back in now." Dr. Bliss called out the door.
"Okay." Helga said taking a deep breath before going back in.
Helga froze at the sight of Arnold, he had the most puzzled look on his face, and it made her nervous.
"Come on Helga, Arnold's not mad at you, he's just confused." Dr. Bliss said ushering Helga in.
Helga sat down. "I'm sorry Arnold." she mumbled.
"For what Helga?"
"For everything I've ever done to you. All the times I've tortured you and berated you. I've been such a jerk Arnold, and I'm really really sorry."
"I forgive you Helga."
"You what?" Helga said, with her eyes widening.
"I said I forgive you Helga. It's not your fault your parents hate you and the kids always tease you. You had to fight back somehow." Helga was shocked, he actually understood exactly where she was coming from.
"That's what I like about you Arnold, you are always there for me in times like this." she said quietly. Then Arnold did something surprising, he hugged her.
"Well I think that went well, now I have another group coming in, I'm sorry, but time is up."
"Okay" Helga sniffed,
"Thanks Dr. Bliss"
"Your welcome, Helga" Helga and Arnold left and started walking back to Arnold's in silence.
"So... what do you want to do now?" asked Arnold.
"I don't know. I was going to go home"
"Why don't we do something?"
"Like... like a date?"
"Yeah... I guess..."
"And why pray tell why would you want to do anything with me?"
"Because I really like you Helga."
"Even after I told you about my obsession with you?"
"It's kind of weird, flattering, but weird."
"So football head, where are we gonna go?"
"I think a nice walk in the park might be good for both of us."
"But what if someone sees us?"
"Don't worry about them Helga, who cares what they say about us?"
"But Arnold......" "Helga you really like me, and I really like you, why do their petty opinions bother you?"
"Arnold, that's what started this. They teased me when I was little, so I became Helga Pataki, the bully."
"But now you are Helga Pataki, the girl I really like."
"I guess you're right Arnold, all that matters now is us." Arnold looked at Helga strangely, where had he heard that before?
"I guess I can suck it up and bear the pain, anything for you Arnold." Arnold just smiled, this was the Helga he liked. He offered her his arm, and they headed to the park.