CHAPTER 7
ARNOLD'S POV
Sorry I haven't been updating much. Life has gotten a little wierd lightly. This is the last chapter, so please review.
I sat through the rest of Mr. Simmon's social studies class with complete boredom until Helga spoke up.
"Um. . . Mr. Simmons?" She asked him. He looked up from the book he was reading.
"Yes," he replied while pouring his "special" drink-of-the-day. "What is your special question you would like to share with the class?"
"Ahem," she cleared her throat and stood up. "I was just thinking it would be ever so special if we, instead of learning from a old book about the colonies, if we instead made our ever so special own colonies. We could make our own special government, or even," she let out a fake gasp, "a jail." All the while she was saying this, she was doing the perfect impression of Lila. Everybody started laughing, but Lila. Mr. Simmons obviously didn't get this because the next two words out of his mouth were:
"How SPECIAL!" He dropped his "special" drink in his lap as he stood up in joy of Helga's idea. He ignored it. "Yes, and we will make special teams, I think. Yes, I will set up a world. We will have people . Five teams. Each special team would be doing their own colony. You will make your own economy, currency, history, location, religion. You can even trade with other's colonies for extra credit. Isn't this special?"
We all let out a grunt of approval. This was a good idea, but he always seems to choose the wrong teams for everyone.
"Oh yes," he continued. "And there will be five kids on each special team. You may chose your own teams."
As soon as those words were out of his mouth, we were already up and choosing. No one wanted to get stuck with Curly or Eugene.
"Hey, partner," Gerald said to me. Helga and Phoebe walked up to us.
"Hey, can we be in your guy's group," Phoebe asked politely.
"Yeah," Helga added. "It's either with you guys, or with Curly and Pink Boy," she jerked her thumb to both of them playing with fake throw-up.
"Oh, just make us feel special now," Gerald joked.
"Yeah, we think of you as better than a technicolor yawn," Helga said.
"A what?" I asked, confused.
"Technicolor yawn," she said it like everyone should know. "Hurling, spewing your guts. Blowing chunks. Pu-"
"Okay, okay," I said. "But, who is going to be our fifth person?"
"Duh!" Helga said. "Sid. Only a cool person could hang with us. I already promised him I would be in his group, because we haven't been hanging out a lot lightly."
"How did you know we were going to do this?" I asked.
"Oh," she said. "Well, it was his idea, too. I felt like thins would be the perfect time to restore our friendship."
I felt a stab of pain. Could I be jealous of Sid? No, she doesn't like him. They were best friends, well as best guy and girl friends you can be without actually being boyfriend and girlfriend, for all of fifth grade, and the beginning of this year. But, they stopped talking to each other when Sid went through his "I don't care what none of you say" stage. It seemed they were getting back on track. As much as I feel happy that they are friends again, I still feel they are a little bit more than friends.
"That's cool," I said. Cool and calm, no hint of jealousy in there. Really, Sid is now pretty cool. He is a lot more mature, and easy-going. And, recently, he has developed a big sense of humor. He has the funniest jokes. He doesn't say them much anymore after Helga stopped being friends with him.
"Really Arnold?" Sid was behind me. "I'm ever so grateful. I'm so happy. Everyone should know we are together on this project."
He and Helga doubled over with laughter so much, I thought they were going to cry. I didn't get what was so funny, probably a inside joke.
"Gerald?" Lila's voice came from behind us. "Do you think I could be in your group? I would ever so like it."
"Lila?" I asked her.
"Yes, Arnold?" She asked me, hopefulness in her lying eyes.
"Do you speak English? How many times do I have to tell you? Go. Away."
"You. . . you. . . idiot!" She stormed off to Curly. I guess idiot was as close to a curse word as Lila got, but it didn't hurt at all.
"Hey!" Helga said. "That's what I said!"
"My oh so special class," Mr. Simmons started class again. "Now that you have your teams, it's time to. . . to. . . well, I was going to choose a climate for your colony."
A grunt from the class. Mr. Simmons has a thing with changing the jobs to the ones we don't want a lot.
"But, I have decided that you can make that choice on your own. Your older now. Isn't it special how much we've been together?"
"Isn't this just be special?"
"Isn't this just be special?"
Helga and Mr. Simmons said it at the same time, but Mr. Simmons didn't hear, or chose not to show he heard, because there was no reaction, except the class laughing.
~~~**~~~**~~~
For gym, Mr. Simmons insisted we walked their as a class, to symbolize our "togetherness in being special."
On the way, Principal Wartz stopped him in the hall.
"Robert? Please try to go all the way to the bathroom, and don't wait to the last second to go next time, okay?" He pointed to Mr. Simmons pants with "special" juice on them.
Mr. Simmons looked like he was about to say something, but Principal Wartz kept on walking.
When we got to the gym, Mr. Simmons explained what to do.
"Please get into your groups, now. We will be doing a special activity today." We all got into our groups, and he handed out, could it be laptops? "Take these laptops to record your progress, and take special care of them. You will return them after the project is over. During this, and the next two days, you will be making a web site over your project. You will be making a fake colony, where you will be from. You might want to have information on your major buisness. For extra credit, you could make up a special buisness!" He looked so happy, none of us, even Helga, had something bad to say about it.
We got straight to work. Earlier this year, he thought us how to make web sites, so we were ready. It helped that Sid was a computer expert, though.
We ended up being "Tree Rock" where we worshipped trees, because we came from a place that had none. When I asked Sid why he wanted it, he answered :
"Because, trees are the reason we are still able to breath today. They are the reason we have plants. Be one with the tree. Besides, Mr. Simmons will go crazy over it. Come on, trees?"
We still thought he was crazy, but our web site was the coolest of them all by far. He knew codes to put in, so it had a lot more stuff.
~~~**~~~**~~~
When I got home, Grandpa said to pack up and get ready, because we were going to Lansing tomorrow, and we were getting up bright and early.
"That's tomorrow?" I asked him. "The last time you said it was a month away!"
"And that it is," he said. "It's a month since I told you."
I went up the stairs to get packed, but the phone rang.
"I got it," I said. I picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Yes, can I please speak to Philip?"
"Grandpa," I yelled, "phone!"
He took the phone from me, and after waiting though a bunch of uh- huhs and grunts, Grandpa turned to me.
"Trip's canceled, Arnold. Looks like the roads going up there are under construction. The only way up there now would take us days."
"Oh, that's too bad," I said, trying to sound sad. Really, I couldn't be happier! The only thing I was looking forward too on that trip was Ernie's Bach CD by the armpit orchestra (All armpit noises) all the way there.
I went up to my room to tell Phoebe I'd be there tomorrow. She told me the oddest thing. She said to come late, at one hour after school started, and go to the stage (it's new. It has lots of seats), and sit in the back row behind her. She also said to tell no one about it. I thought she was crazy, but followed instructions.
~~~**~~~**~~~
When I got there, I saw Phoebe in the very back. I tapped her on the shoulder, but all she did was say to be quiet, and that she handled my tardiness. I was about to say something else, but Helga came up to talk about her monologue.
"Dear ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Helga's Tragedy House. That's right. Like an opera house, but for tragedies.
"Anyways, this is about this one girl, named Victoria who liked this one guy. The guy, named Victor, also liked Victoria. But, what Victor didn't know, was that Rebecca also liked him. I know, I know. Just like another Dawson's Creek. But there is a twist in this story. You see, Rebecca thought the only way to get to Victor was to be his 'secret' penpal. Then, after writing to Victor, she felt that what she was doing was wrong. She said that Victor should know who was writing him. Let's watch and see what 'special' stuff happens!"
She started her monologue, which had her zoom from one spot to the next, acting like she was talking to someone. The class laughed. Everyone, except me. Even when she illustrated dropping the guillotine on her own head, I didn't laugh. Neither did Phoebe. She and I knew what this was about. It was Helga showing me that she was my letter patron. She was the one who was so scared to tell me it was her, she had to tell me in front of the whole class even without them knowing. I swiveled my head over to Sid, who looked at me, smiled, and gave me a thumbs-up. I knew exactly what I had to do to set this straight.
~~~**~~~**~~~
The next night, I walked to Mr. Green's meat place with flowers in my hands.
"I thought you wouldn't come. We have stuff to do," Helga said.
I. . . we, left for the dance, and I couldn't be happier. I now had everything I wanted in life. The perfect girl, hair that I could have control over, and I had already had my growth spurt so was almost as tall as the perfect girl in my life.
Sequel coming soon! The ending is a little weird, I know. I was planning it on being something else, really leading into the next story, but it didn't work out. Please review!
ARNOLD'S POV
Sorry I haven't been updating much. Life has gotten a little wierd lightly. This is the last chapter, so please review.
I sat through the rest of Mr. Simmon's social studies class with complete boredom until Helga spoke up.
"Um. . . Mr. Simmons?" She asked him. He looked up from the book he was reading.
"Yes," he replied while pouring his "special" drink-of-the-day. "What is your special question you would like to share with the class?"
"Ahem," she cleared her throat and stood up. "I was just thinking it would be ever so special if we, instead of learning from a old book about the colonies, if we instead made our ever so special own colonies. We could make our own special government, or even," she let out a fake gasp, "a jail." All the while she was saying this, she was doing the perfect impression of Lila. Everybody started laughing, but Lila. Mr. Simmons obviously didn't get this because the next two words out of his mouth were:
"How SPECIAL!" He dropped his "special" drink in his lap as he stood up in joy of Helga's idea. He ignored it. "Yes, and we will make special teams, I think. Yes, I will set up a world. We will have people . Five teams. Each special team would be doing their own colony. You will make your own economy, currency, history, location, religion. You can even trade with other's colonies for extra credit. Isn't this special?"
We all let out a grunt of approval. This was a good idea, but he always seems to choose the wrong teams for everyone.
"Oh yes," he continued. "And there will be five kids on each special team. You may chose your own teams."
As soon as those words were out of his mouth, we were already up and choosing. No one wanted to get stuck with Curly or Eugene.
"Hey, partner," Gerald said to me. Helga and Phoebe walked up to us.
"Hey, can we be in your guy's group," Phoebe asked politely.
"Yeah," Helga added. "It's either with you guys, or with Curly and Pink Boy," she jerked her thumb to both of them playing with fake throw-up.
"Oh, just make us feel special now," Gerald joked.
"Yeah, we think of you as better than a technicolor yawn," Helga said.
"A what?" I asked, confused.
"Technicolor yawn," she said it like everyone should know. "Hurling, spewing your guts. Blowing chunks. Pu-"
"Okay, okay," I said. "But, who is going to be our fifth person?"
"Duh!" Helga said. "Sid. Only a cool person could hang with us. I already promised him I would be in his group, because we haven't been hanging out a lot lightly."
"How did you know we were going to do this?" I asked.
"Oh," she said. "Well, it was his idea, too. I felt like thins would be the perfect time to restore our friendship."
I felt a stab of pain. Could I be jealous of Sid? No, she doesn't like him. They were best friends, well as best guy and girl friends you can be without actually being boyfriend and girlfriend, for all of fifth grade, and the beginning of this year. But, they stopped talking to each other when Sid went through his "I don't care what none of you say" stage. It seemed they were getting back on track. As much as I feel happy that they are friends again, I still feel they are a little bit more than friends.
"That's cool," I said. Cool and calm, no hint of jealousy in there. Really, Sid is now pretty cool. He is a lot more mature, and easy-going. And, recently, he has developed a big sense of humor. He has the funniest jokes. He doesn't say them much anymore after Helga stopped being friends with him.
"Really Arnold?" Sid was behind me. "I'm ever so grateful. I'm so happy. Everyone should know we are together on this project."
He and Helga doubled over with laughter so much, I thought they were going to cry. I didn't get what was so funny, probably a inside joke.
"Gerald?" Lila's voice came from behind us. "Do you think I could be in your group? I would ever so like it."
"Lila?" I asked her.
"Yes, Arnold?" She asked me, hopefulness in her lying eyes.
"Do you speak English? How many times do I have to tell you? Go. Away."
"You. . . you. . . idiot!" She stormed off to Curly. I guess idiot was as close to a curse word as Lila got, but it didn't hurt at all.
"Hey!" Helga said. "That's what I said!"
"My oh so special class," Mr. Simmons started class again. "Now that you have your teams, it's time to. . . to. . . well, I was going to choose a climate for your colony."
A grunt from the class. Mr. Simmons has a thing with changing the jobs to the ones we don't want a lot.
"But, I have decided that you can make that choice on your own. Your older now. Isn't it special how much we've been together?"
"Isn't this just be special?"
"Isn't this just be special?"
Helga and Mr. Simmons said it at the same time, but Mr. Simmons didn't hear, or chose not to show he heard, because there was no reaction, except the class laughing.
~~~**~~~**~~~
For gym, Mr. Simmons insisted we walked their as a class, to symbolize our "togetherness in being special."
On the way, Principal Wartz stopped him in the hall.
"Robert? Please try to go all the way to the bathroom, and don't wait to the last second to go next time, okay?" He pointed to Mr. Simmons pants with "special" juice on them.
Mr. Simmons looked like he was about to say something, but Principal Wartz kept on walking.
When we got to the gym, Mr. Simmons explained what to do.
"Please get into your groups, now. We will be doing a special activity today." We all got into our groups, and he handed out, could it be laptops? "Take these laptops to record your progress, and take special care of them. You will return them after the project is over. During this, and the next two days, you will be making a web site over your project. You will be making a fake colony, where you will be from. You might want to have information on your major buisness. For extra credit, you could make up a special buisness!" He looked so happy, none of us, even Helga, had something bad to say about it.
We got straight to work. Earlier this year, he thought us how to make web sites, so we were ready. It helped that Sid was a computer expert, though.
We ended up being "Tree Rock" where we worshipped trees, because we came from a place that had none. When I asked Sid why he wanted it, he answered :
"Because, trees are the reason we are still able to breath today. They are the reason we have plants. Be one with the tree. Besides, Mr. Simmons will go crazy over it. Come on, trees?"
We still thought he was crazy, but our web site was the coolest of them all by far. He knew codes to put in, so it had a lot more stuff.
~~~**~~~**~~~
When I got home, Grandpa said to pack up and get ready, because we were going to Lansing tomorrow, and we were getting up bright and early.
"That's tomorrow?" I asked him. "The last time you said it was a month away!"
"And that it is," he said. "It's a month since I told you."
I went up the stairs to get packed, but the phone rang.
"I got it," I said. I picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Yes, can I please speak to Philip?"
"Grandpa," I yelled, "phone!"
He took the phone from me, and after waiting though a bunch of uh- huhs and grunts, Grandpa turned to me.
"Trip's canceled, Arnold. Looks like the roads going up there are under construction. The only way up there now would take us days."
"Oh, that's too bad," I said, trying to sound sad. Really, I couldn't be happier! The only thing I was looking forward too on that trip was Ernie's Bach CD by the armpit orchestra (All armpit noises) all the way there.
I went up to my room to tell Phoebe I'd be there tomorrow. She told me the oddest thing. She said to come late, at one hour after school started, and go to the stage (it's new. It has lots of seats), and sit in the back row behind her. She also said to tell no one about it. I thought she was crazy, but followed instructions.
~~~**~~~**~~~
When I got there, I saw Phoebe in the very back. I tapped her on the shoulder, but all she did was say to be quiet, and that she handled my tardiness. I was about to say something else, but Helga came up to talk about her monologue.
"Dear ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Helga's Tragedy House. That's right. Like an opera house, but for tragedies.
"Anyways, this is about this one girl, named Victoria who liked this one guy. The guy, named Victor, also liked Victoria. But, what Victor didn't know, was that Rebecca also liked him. I know, I know. Just like another Dawson's Creek. But there is a twist in this story. You see, Rebecca thought the only way to get to Victor was to be his 'secret' penpal. Then, after writing to Victor, she felt that what she was doing was wrong. She said that Victor should know who was writing him. Let's watch and see what 'special' stuff happens!"
She started her monologue, which had her zoom from one spot to the next, acting like she was talking to someone. The class laughed. Everyone, except me. Even when she illustrated dropping the guillotine on her own head, I didn't laugh. Neither did Phoebe. She and I knew what this was about. It was Helga showing me that she was my letter patron. She was the one who was so scared to tell me it was her, she had to tell me in front of the whole class even without them knowing. I swiveled my head over to Sid, who looked at me, smiled, and gave me a thumbs-up. I knew exactly what I had to do to set this straight.
~~~**~~~**~~~
The next night, I walked to Mr. Green's meat place with flowers in my hands.
"I thought you wouldn't come. We have stuff to do," Helga said.
I. . . we, left for the dance, and I couldn't be happier. I now had everything I wanted in life. The perfect girl, hair that I could have control over, and I had already had my growth spurt so was almost as tall as the perfect girl in my life.
Sequel coming soon! The ending is a little weird, I know. I was planning it on being something else, really leading into the next story, but it didn't work out. Please review!