Stay Together (Continued)

By Shaun Blankenship

A Hey Arnold! Fan Fiction


CHAPTER 3: Another Story

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"Well, divorce is always such a hefty issue, Missus Pataki, but can make you a LOT of money. Your soon-to-be ex owns a beeper store?"
Miriam sat uncomfortably in her lawyer's guest chair. Helga sat on the chair across from her. "Yes, that's right."
Lindsay Guilliera, attorney at law, spun around her swivel chair. "Well, then, I think you have quite a settlement. You say he cheated on you for several weeks?"
Miriam moved around trying to find some way to be comfortable in the seat. "Yeah, he did."
"That's even better. You're looking at some big figures, missy. Of course sixty-seven percent will go to my fees."
"I don't care. I just need out of this marriage."
"Well, it's as good as done!" She leans over and extends her hand in partnership. "You've got yourself a case!"
"I don't want a case, I don't want a settlement; I just want out. So what you need to do." Miriam storms out of the office. Helga follows her as she takes the elevator down to the ground level and back to the car.

"So when you two seperate, where will I go?"
Miriam drove the car down the road towards their home. "Helga, I honestly don't know. Where do you want to go?"
Helga stayed quiet. They approached their home and parked in front. "Mom, I'm gonna be outside for a while. I need some time to think to myself."
"I understand, Helga. I have some stuff to pack of Bob's. Dinner will be at seven."
"Okay, mom." Helga walked down the street. Towards the beeper store.

Bob wasn't even inside of the store. He sat on a bench outside of it sulking in misery. Helga approached him and Bob looked up. "Oh, hi, Helga." He puts his face inside of his hands.
"Dad," Helga started. "Why'd you do it?"
Bob looked at Helga teary-eyed. "You don't understand, Helga! I didn't do anything! My story sounds very unbelieveable but I swear it's true!"
Helga looked at her father confused. "Then what is the truth."
Bob took a deep breath. "Recently, I've been working a lot of overtime, regardless of what your mom thinks. I know by now she's probably told you a lot of what she pieced together. We shot a commercial for the store, and throughout the whole shoot one dancer kept flirting with me! It doesn't seem very plausible, but I swear nothing would stop this girl! At the end of the shoot before the camera stopped, it was very appearent in the commercial that she was flirting with me, so I figured since we were taping that I'd make it seem like I was flirting back to add more to the commercial. I wanted it to look like everything was planned. But after that she wouldn't leave me alone! She came by the store, she harassed me while I was working. One night she followed me home and I had to explain to her that I have a wife and children. But she tried to kiss me. I ducked my head and her lips hit right where my neck and shoulder meet and got lipstick on my collar. I swear I didn't cheat on your mother!"
"Dad, that all sounds..."
"LISTEN! That's the truth! It doesn't sound like it could really happen, but Helga, I'm not lying!"
"Mom's getting a divorce."
Bob lays silent for a while. He looks at Helga. "Helga, I love your mother. I know I don't show it much to you or her." He stops for a minute to compose him self. "I'll do anything to get her back, Helga. I honestly mean this when I say it. I love both of you, and I want... I want you to tell her."
Helga looks at her father. "I can't be in the middle of this, dad!"
Bob stares back at her. "You're still cross at me, aren't you. Well, you know what, have fun living alone with your mom. Maybe you can take time out for her." Bob gets up from the bench and towards the beeper store. He stops right before he enters. "I never meant to hurt you or your mother - ever! Not now, not ever. I tried my best, but maybe I don't know how to be a husband. Or more importantly, how to become a good father. So maybe you two are better off without me." He walks inside.
Helga just stairs at the bench where her dad had been sitting. She sat down and started talking to herself. "Well, here we are, my life is ruined. I'm caught between my mom and dad and I don't know what to do. I need someone who can give me advice, someone who's always helping people. Someone like..."

To Be Continued...


Yeah, even I can predict this part from a mile away. Keep on reading!