One day after school, Helga and Phoebe were walking home when Helga spotted Arnold talking to Gerald in the park. Helga said she'd just see Phoebe tomorrow, because she had "some business to take care of."
Helga walked over toward Arnold trying to be unoticed. When she was finally about to approuch him, she felt something literally pull her back. But as she turned around, no one was there. She shook it off and turned back to where Arnold WAS. He had walked on with Gerald heading toward her house.
"That the heck? Arnold lives over there. What the...? Why's he heading to MY house?" Helga suspitiously followed them.
Arnold and Gerald were walking up the steps to her next-door neighbor's house.
"Huh? Isn't that, that old lady's house who always asks to borrow pickles from us? Why in the world are they going there? That lady is strange!" Helga thought. She snuck closer to get a better veiw. She could hear Arnold and Gerald talking so she tried to listen, she it failed. For before she could get close enough they had already entered the house. Which was strange because she didn't see anyone at the door. They just walked in as if they lived there.
Helga went in her house, racing up the stairs and into her bedroom to get a better look, since her window overlooked one of the windows in the house, hoping to see what was going on. The window in the house was all foggy and dirty. You couldn't see someone even if they were pressed up against that window. Helga ran into her parent's room to see if she could see anything from their window. Nothing. It was the window in the back of the house, so unless they were in the backyard, They couldn't be seen. She heard a door open. She walked cautiously to the steps. Then she heard a scream. Helga jumped and slipped down the steps. She grabbed on to the bannister and opened her stardled, shut eyes. With a sigh of releif, she saw her sister, Olga at the door. Never had she been so happy to see Olga.
Olga ran up to her and said, "Oh, my dear baby sister, how I've missed you so." Helga wasn't as irretated as usual, because of her recent scare. She greeted Olga and almost forgot about what she was doing until she remember that scream she heard.
"D-did you scream just before?" said Helga with a bit of a studder in her voice.
"Oh, that! Well, it's nothing. I thought I..." Olga coughed as if stalling "...saw a flying worm or something. Yeah. But it was only an everyday bird." Helga eyed Olga strangely.
"Yeah, Olga. Sure. Alright then. Mom and Dad are out right now." Helga mumbled, "Obviously since they would've been knocking over everything in the house just to see precious Olga. Ha!"
Helga showed Olga into the kitchen and began to close the door. She took a quick look outside for Arnold or Gerald, but didn't see them, so she shut the door and went in the kitchen with Olga.
Olga and Helga pretty much sat in silence until their parents came home. As usual, Olga was the center of attention and Helga was ignored. Helga went up to write in her diary about the strange happenings of the day.
The next day Helga kind of forgot to act like herself. In fact, she didn't pick on anybody. She spyed on Arnold and Gerald the whole day trying to figure out what was going on. She heard them talking about something at lunch, but couldn't really understand. She wanted to get closer but didn't know how to go unnoticed. She walked over to Rhonda's table.
"And WHAT are YOU doing here?" barked Rhonda.
"It's a free country! I can sit wherever i want!"
"Yeah, well, not at OUR table. You'll just HAFTA sit somewhere else." Helga picked up her lunch tray, glared at Rhonda, and left.
Helga "happened" to pass by Arnold's table. She overheard them say stuff but couldn't make it out. She could only make out something like, "The house.....Mrs. Butley....him....wonder if Helga knows..." That got Helga real suspitious, or more then she already had been.
"Wonder if I know what?" she thought. Arnold realized someone was behind them and turned around. But Helga had already ducked in back of a garbage can. Arnold and Gerald went to clean off there trays as the bell rang. Helga rushed to class eyeing them curiously.
After school, she followed Arnold again. In fact, she did this for the rest of the week, and everyday he, and sometimes Gerald, would go back to that house. By the fifth day, she decided to confront them and see what other information she could get.
"So, Football Head, the gang's planning on going out to the vacant lot to play some baseball. First time out for the season. You and Tall Hair Boy gonna come? Or do you have some other Football-headed plans?" Arnold looked at her strangely.
"Well, Gerald and I were gonna - "
"Yes....??" Helga interrupted anxiously.
"Um....we were planning on going anyway." Arnold said with uncertainy in his voice.
"Yeah, well you BETTER, football head! You of all people need practice." said Helga as Arnold sighed.
"Whatever you say, Helga." Helga marched off.
Helga went straight to the vacant lot, but didn't manage to get there. On her way there she ran into Olga.
"Why hello, baby sister. I just thought of soemthing fun for us to do."
"Yeah, that's great, Olga. Can't this wait 'til later? I have practice."
"Now, Helga. You can play with your little friends later." Olga dragged her home. Helga trying to get away the whole time.
"What's your deal?" asked Helga.
"We're going to have singing lessons. Won't that be fun?" Olga said with a smile.
"SINGING lessons?? You've GOT to be kiddng. I have to sing in school for god's sake, isn't that enough??"
"Oh, don't be silly, Helga. Believe me, singing's one of the most satisfyng gifts of life. Whatever you feel, just sing it."
"WHATEVER I feel? Well, I feel like running out of the house and escaping to the vacant lot, does that count?"
"It's a start. Here, try this. It's just scale....." Olga sings: "Doe Rey Me Fa So La Tee Do, Do Tee La So Fa Me Rey Doe."
"Oh, brother!" Helga rolls her eyes. "Doe Rey Me Fa So La Tee Do, Do Tee La So Fa Me Rey Doe." She speaks out every lyric.
"Come on, Helga. Be serious. Know what might help? My last music teacher taught me this. Think about something that you like or enjoy. Something or even someone that makes you happy. Beleive me, it works." Helga sighs. She takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, thinks about Arnold, and let's her voice do al the work. Helga has never REALY trying 2 sing before, so this felt kind of weird for her. She sang every note, and each time she'd getb this unreconizable feeling in her chest. And for the first time in the past few days, she felt relaxed. Helga opened her eyes and saw Olga and both her parents starting a her in awe. For a moment, she thought she had done something wrong. Then, Olga smiled and went to the piano. She handed Helga papers with lyrics and asked her to sing along. Helga was a little relectant, but remembered how she had just felt, so she took the papers and waited for the music.
Mariem and Bob sat down on the couch and waited anxiously to see if their ears deceived them. One note, one lyric after another, Helga sang like a bird on the first day of spring. Helga could actually sing. Really good, might I add. And for the very first time in her life, her family noticed her. And she enjoyed the attention.
