Halloween Howls

Part Seven: Of Sirens and Banshees

The autumn leaves were swept across the vacant lot known to the fourth graders of P.S. 118 as Gerald Field. A light breeze blew across the chalk lines while extravagant spider webs hung in the corners of the field goals. Fall's beauty took hold of the treasured space of youth and fancy which was surrounded by all of man's cold iron and the city's discordant noises. Then admits the clatter of the busy town there arose a new and all too intriguing sound. A melody that made the passers-by stop and stare. Hypnotic, well-known lyrics filled the air…

When there's something weird,

In the neighborhood.

Who ya gonna call?

GHOSTBUSTERS!!!

"What the heck are they doin?" a middle aged lady asked the cab driver as they drove past the noisy field.

"Well ma'am, if I didn't know any better," the cab driver spoke in a thick New York accent, "I'd say they was pretending to be Ghostbusters."

The cab rolled on by as Gerald stepped away from the microphone. "Now you've got to admit Helga Baby, I've got skills."

"At what? Eating the microphone?" Helga laughed, "Careful or you'll choke on the cover Geraldo."

Just hold it all in man, Gerald told himself, remember, she's Arnold's girl now so do it for your pal. "Whatever you say Helga. So Phoebe, like my solo?"

"I'd like it if it were so low the audience couldn't hear it." Helga snickered.

"Helga…" Arnold warned.

Helga sighed, "Nobody can take constructive criticism anymore."

"I thought your performance was very inspiring Gerald." Phoebe smiled.

Helga rolled her eyes and got elbowed by Arnold. If he pulls that one more time I swear I'll deck him! Boyfriend or not!!! Helga slapped herself back into reality, Technically, he's not my boyfriend…yet.

"Thanks Phoebe." Gerald had an ear to ear grin.

"Well," Arnold began, "we've got the costumes, we've got the instruments, we've got the music-"

"We've got the talent," Gerald added, adjusting his collar and tossing Phoebe a smile.

"-yeah," Arnold continued, "so now all we need to do is make sure we rehearse a few more times before the dance."

"My afternoon's free tomorrow." Helga said carelessly.

"Mine too." Phoebe chirped.

"I guess I could work it into my schedule. I'll just have my man Fuzzy Slippers meet with me about the whole arcade gumball incident some other time." Gerald replied.

"Great." Arnold decided, "Then we'll all meet back here tomorrow after school."

Phoebe glanced down at her watch, "Oh dear, I should be getting home soon."

"I'll walk ya." Gerald offered. Naturally, Phoebe accepted.

Helga turned to go too but felt Arnold grab her arm. "So Helga, mind if I walk with you?"

Helga tried her best to hide her red cheeks but to her dismay Arnold noticed and gave her that little half-lidded smirk of his. "Sure Football Head, it's a free country."

They didn't get far before Arnold noticed that Helga was acting a little nervous about something. "Is something wrong Helga?"

"What? No. Nothing's wrong Arnold. I'm fine. Everything's just fine and dandy with me…" she was babbling, that meant something was up.

"Helga." Arnold persisted.

Helga stared down at her feet as the walked, "Okay fine, something's bugging me about--well--about you and me."

"What?"

Guy's are never good at understanding these things! she told herself. "It's just…well Arnold, what are we?"

"Huh?"

"You know, are we just friends? Are we close friends? Or are we…you know…more?" she asked.

"Oh." Arnold was looking down at his feet now, "Well, what do you think we are?"

How the heck am I supposed to know that if YOU don't even know?! Helga scoffed in frustration. "I don't know. Pretty pathetic I guess."

"What makes you say that?"

What is it with this kid and asking me dumb questions?!

"Because we're going out to a dance and all together and you know that I like you like you." Helga answered, "But we're still not officially anything."

Saying you 'like me like me' is putting it mildly, Arnold laughed, recalling all the years of torment Helga had put him through in an odd attempt to show him she cared. "Do you want us to be…more?"

"Do you?" Helga countered, HA! My turn to ask the stupid questions Hair Boy.

"I guess." Arnold admitted, now what?

Helga looked at him expectantly. Oh don't tell me I'm gonna have to spell it out for him!

You could almost hear the ding as the light bulb went off in Arnold's head, "Oh! Helga," he stopped walking and placed himself in front of her, "will you be my girlfriend?"

Ohh!!! At last my love has spoken the words that for tortured years I've longed to hear! "Yes! I will! I do!"

"You do?" Arnold questioned.

RATS! Helga panicked, I've let myself get carried away again. "I meant 'I do' agree to be your girlfriend. Doi!"

"Oh--well, good." Arnold gave her a peck on her cheek before stepping out of the way to reveal that they had stopped right in front of her house.

Helga felt her knees giving way as she dashed up the steps, before slamming the door shut she did manage to pause briefly and give Arnold one of her famous cover-up grins. Arnold smiled back at her and then the door slammed shut.

Arnold then turned and headed off towards the boarding house, smiling all the way.

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*Alright! I got another chapter finished! Whoopee! Thanks for all the reviews everyone. I just want to hug each and every one of you…But then we'd all get grossed out by the mushiness factor so I won't do that, lol. Please keep reading, there's lots more to come!*