Helga's Letters
Part Five: What Are You Doing Here?
It was around ten a.m. Saturday morning when Miriam answered the telephone in her usual drunken state. "H-hello?" she murmured, placing her smoothie on the table.
"Ah yes, hello madam." Rex answered, "I was just wondering if Helga was at home."
"Oh okay," Miriam set the phone down and called to her youngest daughter, "HELGA! Honey, Rex is on the phone!"
"Who's Rex?" Bob asked on his way to the living room.
"No one Dad!" Helga shouted, "Hang up Miriam!"
"Kay." she sat the phone back down and went into the living room with her husband to watch television.
Up in her room Helga was talking with Rex, "Yeah well, I can't go anywhere right now."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm waiting for Arnie to come and take me to the zoo."
"What?!"
"You heard me." she growled, "Arnie's taking me to the zoo, so take a number bucko!"
"B-but I thought you and I were-"
"Oh please," Helga laughed, "just because I let you take me on a silly swan boat ride does NOT mean that we're an item Rex. I can still hang out with anyone I want to. Got it?!"
"Understood. Uh, Helga?"
"Huh?"
"What would I have to do to make us 'an item'?"
Helga exhaled into the phone, "You'd have to do a heck of a lot more than just float around in the park all afternoon."
Rex was about to ask her to be more specific when she hung up the phone. "Well," he exclaimed, "Rex Smyth Higgins is not so easily tossed aside, and love certainly isn't a game for the faint of heart. Helga will be mine and Arnold will be crushed. Or else my name isn't Rex Smyth Higgins III."
******
By noon Helga and Arnie were strolling through the zoo. Helga was glancing at her watch every five minutes thinking to herself, And just where the heck is Lila?!
Lila finally got there fifteen minutes later and revealed herself to Helga while Arnie was distracted by the sloth exhibit. How anyone could spend such a long time watching sloth slowly move around on a branch was beyond Helga.
"What kept you so long Cream Puff?!" Helga demanded.
"I'm just ever so sorry Helga," Lila apologized, "but I was just oh so busy helping out with the chores this morning that I-"
"Never mind," Helga interrupted, "just go over there and get Arnie's attention."
"However should I do that?"
Helga felt like pounding her braids out for being so naïve. "Lila---what's Arnie doing?"
Lila looked over Helga's shoulder and answered, "Why I believe he's looking at the sloth exhibit Helga."
"Good," Helga said in a tone that made it sound as though she were trying to explain something to a two-year-old, "now if he's so interested in those pathetically slow monkey things don't you think he'd be interested in someone else who liked them?"
"Perhaps."
"Then go over there and talk about sloth 'til you're blue in the face!" Helga shoved Lila over to where Arnie was standing.
******
Meanwhile, Arnold and Gerald were hiding behind some trees on the edge of the walkway. "Okay man, here she comes." Gerald whispered to Arnold.
"I don't know about this Gerald." Arnold muttered looking at his clothes. They looked like something Rhonda would've picked out for him. Black pants and matching jacket with an aqua shirt underneath. His black shoes were killing his feat, Arnold HATED to dress up.
"Don't chicken out on me now man!" Gerald said, shoving Arnold out onto the walkway.
Helga and Arnold collided and Gerald slapped his forehead. "Smooth man, real smooth."
Blushing uncontrollably Arnold got to his feet and offered Helga a hand up. "Sorry Helga."
"Arnold?" she looked up at him and took his hand. "What are you doing here?"
"Um, I was just walking around, you know, looking at all the animals." Arnold laughed nervously.
"Oh." Helga said in a disbelieving voice.
She brushed herself off as Arnold continued babbling about what a beautiful day it was. "So um, where's Arnie?"
"With Lila," Helga answered carelessly.
"Lila?" Arnold gasped. He couldn't believe it…Arnie had just brushed off Helga!
Helga turned to go around him but was surprised to find that he hurried over and was now walking beside her. "Gee Helga, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For what Arnie did. I can't believe he dumped you like that." Arnold spoke softly.
"Dumped me?" Helga gasped. "Geez Arnold, we were never going together in the first place."
"But I thought-"
"Arnie was just taking me to the zoo, that's all." Helga said bluntly.
"Oh," Arnold looked down at the walkway then remembered the gift he'd brought along for her, "here Helga."
Helga took the package that was wrapped in light pink paper. "What's this?"
"It's for you. I hope you like it."
Helga lifted part of her eyebrow. Opening the package she found book of poetry inside. "Oh Arnold," she couldn't contain her joy, she loved poetry.
"Yeah well," Arnold put a hand behind his head, "I like poetry and all and I was just thinking that maybe you did too so-"
"I love this!" she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Arnold's face went beet red. "Gosh Helga, you're welcome."
Helga got a grip on herself and pulled away, "Um, I mean, thanks Football Head."
Arnold gave her that trademark smirk of his. "No problem."
They both stood there a moment, Helga admiring her gift and Arnold admiring Helga. Finally she spoke, "Uh, I guess I'd better be going. Arnie seems a little too caught up in the sloth exhibit and Lila to come with me so-"
"Helga."
"Hm?"
"Would you like me to walk you home?"
Her cheeks were red, she just knew it. "Uh--sure Arnold. I mean, whatever floats your boat Hair Boy."
Gerald peeked out from his hiding place as the two walked away. Arnold glanced over his shoulder and winked, Gerald responded with a thumbs up. Finally, everything was working out. Or so they thought…
******
From behind a statue just a few yards away Rex Higgins glared at the two smitten fourth-graders as they walked down the path.
"So…Arnold thinks he can beat me at my own game eh?" he schemed aloud, "Well, it's time the Football Head learned that no one gets the better of Rex Smyth Higgins. By this time tomorrow Helga will be all mine and Arnold will be out of luck and out of love!"
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*Yeah, I've got Rex plotting to ruin things between our favorite couple now. I didn't want to make this a short fanfic. The reviews are great everyone! I hope I've still got all the kids in character. I'm having a lot of fun with this! ^_^ *