Chapter One: "New Kid With a Secret!"
The bus pulled into the school grounds, and all the kids piled out into the dreary overcast Monday.
Helga: "Criminy, what slave drivers! I tell you, once off the bus, it's work work work!"
Phoebe, perky and ready as usual: "Look at it this way, Helga. The earlier you start the more you can accomplish!"
A silence from Helga: "Do I look like I care about accomplishing anything today?"
No one cared to respond to that. It was just as well, since Mr. Simmons took his place at the front of the class then. Everyone resumed their standard positions of attention. For some that meant lounging half-asleep. Sid leaned over to whisper to Stinky.
Sid: "New student. I saw him coming through the hall this morning."
Mr. Simmons: "Ok class, I have an announcement before we begin today." He waved toward the door. "This is Silas. He will be a new student in our class, and I want you all to give him a warm welcome into our class."
There was a murmur of hellos from them, and Silas simply smiled at the class. Mr. Simmons directed him to an empty seat behind Nadine, and he pulled out his supplies while Mr. Simmons started the lesson. Unfortunate for his first day, he began looking around at the other kids, and caught Helga looking at him. Immediately, she put on a mean face, and he looked away. Laughing to herself, Helga turned back to the front.
Later at lunch, Helga, Arnold, Phoebe, and Gerald were walking across the grounds as Silas came up to them.
Helga: "I can see things are going to go smoothly with Silas here."
Arnold looked up at her. "You're not going to torment him like you do everyone else, are you?"
Helga: "Of course not! He already knows about my reputation! Ha ha ha!"
Silas came walking up to them.
Silas: "Hi guys!"
Gerald: "Hey. Where'd you come from anyway?"
Silas: "Just up the freeway. I never had time to memorize the name of the school."
Arnold: "You couldn't? You mean you left early?"
Silas: "Yeah. My dad was moving between jobs a bit, but my mom convinced him to stay here permanently. He works farther in the city now."
They were all silent for a moment, more of an awkwardness to them all, so Silas broke it.
Silas: "Well, come on! I don't even know you people! Aren't you going to introduce yourselves?"
They all did.
Just then, a larger kid broke through their group, pushing past them all, and roughly shoving Silas to the ground. It wasn't a deliberate action, just as though he was in a hurry. Gerald helped him up.
Gerald: "Why doncha watch where you're going!!!!"
Silas brushed himself off and looked after the kid.
Silas: "He looked kinda familiar."
Helga: "Well, your friend almost got himself a fat lip from me!"
Silas: "Not a friend. Just someone I used to know..."
Arnold: "Let's just forget about it. I'm sure it was an accident anyway."
They remained on the grounds until the bell rang, Silas proving himself to not be the quiet one most people took him for, but a friendly outgoing person everyone could like, even Helga. On the first day!
Helga: "I'm home!"
She had just arrived at her house, dropping her stuff in the entry hall and plopping down on the couch. Her mother didn't seem to notice her arrival, but she didn't notice much of anything these days. Not since the day when the nanny left the house. Helga still felt a little bad about what she had done, but easily got over it.
Helga: "What's for dinner Miriam?"
She was in the kitchen with papers spread all over the table, poring over them... Quite unusual. At least, since she didn't give her standard sigh like normal. Helga didn't really notice it, however. She simply ignored her and went to the fridge. Just a typical day except for the arrival of Silas. Normally it is quite eventful when a new student arrives, but Silas came in gracefully, foregoing all the standard curiosity that people feel towards them. Possibly passing by any type of bullying that might have occurred.
Twas to be a boring night this one. She decided after a snack to head out to Gerald Field for a quick game before dinner.
Unexpectedly, Silas was there. Unfortunately, he was in Helga's spot! This demanded justice!
Helga: "Hey geekbate! I'm catcher! Get to the outfield!"
Silas (smiling): "I'm sure you can deal with it this once Helga."
Helga: "What? What did you say to me?"
Silas: "You heard me." He laughed and stood up. "I'm catcher this game, Miss Pataki!"
Helga made a fist: "Tell it to my friend. Once retired old Betsy!"
Silas leaned towards her: "Try it..." His eyes were determined. Helga stared into them, and her fist unclenched. She backed away, and scowled.
Helga: "Fine!" Then she smiled evilly. "We'll make a perfect team!" This led to her arm getting an uncanny strength to it, and she pushed Harold off the mound. "I'l take it from here big boy." Generally this wouldn't have been a big deal, but Silas' attitude sparked a chain-reaction of players changing positions at the expense of others. Not that it made much difference, though.
First pitch... Helga's best to Harold as first up... Of course, a swing and miss. Silas reeled back from the ball when it struck his hand.
Silas: "Ow! Man, what an arm!" He threw it back. "Strike!" He put his hand up when Harold turned to object. "Hey! You swung!"
Second resulted in the same thing. Silas stood and threw it back. "One more buddy," he said to Harold.
This time he hit it, straight into Helga. Her glove reacted just in time for the ball to hit her square in the gut. Rolling off the mound, she recovered the ball, and threw it to first just after Harold made it. She stood and rubbed her shoulder.
Helga (to herself): "Maybe I should take it easy..." Then she saw the laughter on Silas' face, and gritted her teeth in a growl. "Not with him like that!"
Arnold was up next.
Helga: (after he misses once) "Come on, Arnoldo! Don't tell me you've lost your skills!"
Misses again...
Helga: "Whatsamatter with you football head? You hit like a loser! Are you really a loser?" She laughed, and he glared at her... Sighing, he readied for another.
Hit. Of course. It allus hits when it's two strikes. It went out into the street, but Gerald threw it back in just as Harold was rounding third. Arnold stopped at second, and Silas braced himself as Harold came pounding in. They were both thrown to the dirt when they collided, and the ball flew away and hit Eugene in the head, knocking him flat.
Harold stood.
Harold: "Yeah! Eat that! In your face!" He pointed at Silas. "Ha ha ha!"
Silas stood looking a little dazed. Everyone turned toward Eugene.
Eugene stood shakily. "I'm okay..." Then he fell again.
Helga stood with her hands on her hips, watching from the back. Phoebe came up to her and looked on as well.
Phoebe: "Wow, Helga. You're sure pitching well today. I'm sure you'd be a much better candidate than Harold is. Despite the fact that they both got a hit off you."
Helga: "Spare me your praise please Phoebes."
"Oh, I'm sorry I missed your game today."
Helga: (scowling): "Lila."
Lila came up behind them both, watching the group over Eugene.
Lila: "Oh dear! What happened?"
Helga: "Whadaya think? Eugene took another hit!" Lila hurried over to them as Eugene was standing shakily.
Lila: "Are you okay?" Arnold came up to her.
Arnold: "Lila! Where have you been?"
Lila: "Oh my father and I had a few things to do before we went home." Harold came up between them.
Harold: "Oh you shoulda seen it! That was the best run I ever made!"
Arnold: "Yeah Harold. You really hurt Eugene though." He smiled and then started laughing. "Did you see Silas' face when you came in? That was great! He stood up pretty well though."
Harold went off to cheer with everyone else when Eugene came around to reality again, his cheery old self.
Arnold: "So Lila. Wanna stop by the park after the game today? I'll buy you an ice cream."
Lila: "Sure Arnold. I would like that ever so much."
Helga had been watching them and after what she heard, she ducked behind the nearest building.
Helga: "Lila. What a sap. How I despise her. How could she go with him after the game? Doesn't she have some sort of... other thing to do?" She smiled. "Well, we'll see about that anyway. Just 'cause that yellow-haired shrimp has a stupid crush on her... Huh! What a boob!" She pulled out her locket. "And yet, my anger is only spurred by my jealosy. How I long to hear those words from my love to me. Why must I remain tormented by a dark angel hovering about, trying to steal the affections that I deserve? Oh Arnold, someday you'll be drawn to me and me alone! Ohhh..." She heard a bit of wheezing behind her, and her hand went into a fist. It grew closer, and she instinctively backhanded in it's direction. Smiling as she heard a body slump to the floor, she started back towards Phoebe.
"Ha ha ha! Oh, that was great..."
Helga stopped. It couldn't be! Brainy never said a word, even after she normally punched him! That sounded like...
She turned around... And her face went angry again.
Helga: "Hey! What are you doing here Silas?"
Silas was leaning up against the building, rubbing his nose and laughing.
Silas: "Ha ha ha! He told me it would be worth it! Oh Helga, I never knew you would be such a poet! He he he!"
No one was around to see Helga go up to him and pull him up by the shirt.
Helga: "Listen Silas! If you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll strangle you with my bare hands!"
He stopped laughing for a moment.
Silas: (mocking) "And yet, with all that on your soul, would you still have enough room in your heart for a certain football-head's affections?" He laughed again. "Ha ha!"
Helga's fist came up to his face. Then she realized that he did have the upper hand. After a moment, she backed away.
Helga: "You won't tell anyone about this! Ever!"
Silas decided to leave the situation alone.
Silas: "About what? Oh that! Well..."
They were interrupted by Gerald coming around the corner.
Gerald: "Silas, my man! Come on! The game was just getting good!" He saw Helga in the shadows, and stopped. "Oh, I thought you left since you couldn't strike them out."
Helga remained in the shadows, her face showing a bit of fear while she looked at Silas. No one had ever stood up to her like that before, and if she couldn't control him, her life would be over! Silas looked back at her, and nodded with a smile.
Helga: "What? For your information, Geraldo, I was just warming up! You know, not used to pitching and all. Not that you'd ever get a hit offa me! Hah!" She started back to the field.
Silas: "Hey, why don't I be pitcher after you strike him out? I'm sure you're a much better pitcher than I could ever be anyway, and we need your skill to get this guy out!" He thumped Gerald on the shoulder, and laughed. "Wow, maybe you're stronger than I thought, Gerald. That's quite an arm! Think you can hit past me?"
Gerald: (smiled) "Try me. Let's get this game on!"
They continued the game for another hour, Silas losing his challenge to Gerald, and Eugene recuperating enough to watch, with coherance at least. After all, he did say he was okay.
The bus pulled into the school grounds, and all the kids piled out into the dreary overcast Monday.
Helga: "Criminy, what slave drivers! I tell you, once off the bus, it's work work work!"
Phoebe, perky and ready as usual: "Look at it this way, Helga. The earlier you start the more you can accomplish!"
A silence from Helga: "Do I look like I care about accomplishing anything today?"
No one cared to respond to that. It was just as well, since Mr. Simmons took his place at the front of the class then. Everyone resumed their standard positions of attention. For some that meant lounging half-asleep. Sid leaned over to whisper to Stinky.
Sid: "New student. I saw him coming through the hall this morning."
Mr. Simmons: "Ok class, I have an announcement before we begin today." He waved toward the door. "This is Silas. He will be a new student in our class, and I want you all to give him a warm welcome into our class."
There was a murmur of hellos from them, and Silas simply smiled at the class. Mr. Simmons directed him to an empty seat behind Nadine, and he pulled out his supplies while Mr. Simmons started the lesson. Unfortunate for his first day, he began looking around at the other kids, and caught Helga looking at him. Immediately, she put on a mean face, and he looked away. Laughing to herself, Helga turned back to the front.
Later at lunch, Helga, Arnold, Phoebe, and Gerald were walking across the grounds as Silas came up to them.
Helga: "I can see things are going to go smoothly with Silas here."
Arnold looked up at her. "You're not going to torment him like you do everyone else, are you?"
Helga: "Of course not! He already knows about my reputation! Ha ha ha!"
Silas came walking up to them.
Silas: "Hi guys!"
Gerald: "Hey. Where'd you come from anyway?"
Silas: "Just up the freeway. I never had time to memorize the name of the school."
Arnold: "You couldn't? You mean you left early?"
Silas: "Yeah. My dad was moving between jobs a bit, but my mom convinced him to stay here permanently. He works farther in the city now."
They were all silent for a moment, more of an awkwardness to them all, so Silas broke it.
Silas: "Well, come on! I don't even know you people! Aren't you going to introduce yourselves?"
They all did.
Just then, a larger kid broke through their group, pushing past them all, and roughly shoving Silas to the ground. It wasn't a deliberate action, just as though he was in a hurry. Gerald helped him up.
Gerald: "Why doncha watch where you're going!!!!"
Silas brushed himself off and looked after the kid.
Silas: "He looked kinda familiar."
Helga: "Well, your friend almost got himself a fat lip from me!"
Silas: "Not a friend. Just someone I used to know..."
Arnold: "Let's just forget about it. I'm sure it was an accident anyway."
They remained on the grounds until the bell rang, Silas proving himself to not be the quiet one most people took him for, but a friendly outgoing person everyone could like, even Helga. On the first day!
Helga: "I'm home!"
She had just arrived at her house, dropping her stuff in the entry hall and plopping down on the couch. Her mother didn't seem to notice her arrival, but she didn't notice much of anything these days. Not since the day when the nanny left the house. Helga still felt a little bad about what she had done, but easily got over it.
Helga: "What's for dinner Miriam?"
She was in the kitchen with papers spread all over the table, poring over them... Quite unusual. At least, since she didn't give her standard sigh like normal. Helga didn't really notice it, however. She simply ignored her and went to the fridge. Just a typical day except for the arrival of Silas. Normally it is quite eventful when a new student arrives, but Silas came in gracefully, foregoing all the standard curiosity that people feel towards them. Possibly passing by any type of bullying that might have occurred.
Twas to be a boring night this one. She decided after a snack to head out to Gerald Field for a quick game before dinner.
Unexpectedly, Silas was there. Unfortunately, he was in Helga's spot! This demanded justice!
Helga: "Hey geekbate! I'm catcher! Get to the outfield!"
Silas (smiling): "I'm sure you can deal with it this once Helga."
Helga: "What? What did you say to me?"
Silas: "You heard me." He laughed and stood up. "I'm catcher this game, Miss Pataki!"
Helga made a fist: "Tell it to my friend. Once retired old Betsy!"
Silas leaned towards her: "Try it..." His eyes were determined. Helga stared into them, and her fist unclenched. She backed away, and scowled.
Helga: "Fine!" Then she smiled evilly. "We'll make a perfect team!" This led to her arm getting an uncanny strength to it, and she pushed Harold off the mound. "I'l take it from here big boy." Generally this wouldn't have been a big deal, but Silas' attitude sparked a chain-reaction of players changing positions at the expense of others. Not that it made much difference, though.
First pitch... Helga's best to Harold as first up... Of course, a swing and miss. Silas reeled back from the ball when it struck his hand.
Silas: "Ow! Man, what an arm!" He threw it back. "Strike!" He put his hand up when Harold turned to object. "Hey! You swung!"
Second resulted in the same thing. Silas stood and threw it back. "One more buddy," he said to Harold.
This time he hit it, straight into Helga. Her glove reacted just in time for the ball to hit her square in the gut. Rolling off the mound, she recovered the ball, and threw it to first just after Harold made it. She stood and rubbed her shoulder.
Helga (to herself): "Maybe I should take it easy..." Then she saw the laughter on Silas' face, and gritted her teeth in a growl. "Not with him like that!"
Arnold was up next.
Helga: (after he misses once) "Come on, Arnoldo! Don't tell me you've lost your skills!"
Misses again...
Helga: "Whatsamatter with you football head? You hit like a loser! Are you really a loser?" She laughed, and he glared at her... Sighing, he readied for another.
Hit. Of course. It allus hits when it's two strikes. It went out into the street, but Gerald threw it back in just as Harold was rounding third. Arnold stopped at second, and Silas braced himself as Harold came pounding in. They were both thrown to the dirt when they collided, and the ball flew away and hit Eugene in the head, knocking him flat.
Harold stood.
Harold: "Yeah! Eat that! In your face!" He pointed at Silas. "Ha ha ha!"
Silas stood looking a little dazed. Everyone turned toward Eugene.
Eugene stood shakily. "I'm okay..." Then he fell again.
Helga stood with her hands on her hips, watching from the back. Phoebe came up to her and looked on as well.
Phoebe: "Wow, Helga. You're sure pitching well today. I'm sure you'd be a much better candidate than Harold is. Despite the fact that they both got a hit off you."
Helga: "Spare me your praise please Phoebes."
"Oh, I'm sorry I missed your game today."
Helga: (scowling): "Lila."
Lila came up behind them both, watching the group over Eugene.
Lila: "Oh dear! What happened?"
Helga: "Whadaya think? Eugene took another hit!" Lila hurried over to them as Eugene was standing shakily.
Lila: "Are you okay?" Arnold came up to her.
Arnold: "Lila! Where have you been?"
Lila: "Oh my father and I had a few things to do before we went home." Harold came up between them.
Harold: "Oh you shoulda seen it! That was the best run I ever made!"
Arnold: "Yeah Harold. You really hurt Eugene though." He smiled and then started laughing. "Did you see Silas' face when you came in? That was great! He stood up pretty well though."
Harold went off to cheer with everyone else when Eugene came around to reality again, his cheery old self.
Arnold: "So Lila. Wanna stop by the park after the game today? I'll buy you an ice cream."
Lila: "Sure Arnold. I would like that ever so much."
Helga had been watching them and after what she heard, she ducked behind the nearest building.
Helga: "Lila. What a sap. How I despise her. How could she go with him after the game? Doesn't she have some sort of... other thing to do?" She smiled. "Well, we'll see about that anyway. Just 'cause that yellow-haired shrimp has a stupid crush on her... Huh! What a boob!" She pulled out her locket. "And yet, my anger is only spurred by my jealosy. How I long to hear those words from my love to me. Why must I remain tormented by a dark angel hovering about, trying to steal the affections that I deserve? Oh Arnold, someday you'll be drawn to me and me alone! Ohhh..." She heard a bit of wheezing behind her, and her hand went into a fist. It grew closer, and she instinctively backhanded in it's direction. Smiling as she heard a body slump to the floor, she started back towards Phoebe.
"Ha ha ha! Oh, that was great..."
Helga stopped. It couldn't be! Brainy never said a word, even after she normally punched him! That sounded like...
She turned around... And her face went angry again.
Helga: "Hey! What are you doing here Silas?"
Silas was leaning up against the building, rubbing his nose and laughing.
Silas: "Ha ha ha! He told me it would be worth it! Oh Helga, I never knew you would be such a poet! He he he!"
No one was around to see Helga go up to him and pull him up by the shirt.
Helga: "Listen Silas! If you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll strangle you with my bare hands!"
He stopped laughing for a moment.
Silas: (mocking) "And yet, with all that on your soul, would you still have enough room in your heart for a certain football-head's affections?" He laughed again. "Ha ha!"
Helga's fist came up to his face. Then she realized that he did have the upper hand. After a moment, she backed away.
Helga: "You won't tell anyone about this! Ever!"
Silas decided to leave the situation alone.
Silas: "About what? Oh that! Well..."
They were interrupted by Gerald coming around the corner.
Gerald: "Silas, my man! Come on! The game was just getting good!" He saw Helga in the shadows, and stopped. "Oh, I thought you left since you couldn't strike them out."
Helga remained in the shadows, her face showing a bit of fear while she looked at Silas. No one had ever stood up to her like that before, and if she couldn't control him, her life would be over! Silas looked back at her, and nodded with a smile.
Helga: "What? For your information, Geraldo, I was just warming up! You know, not used to pitching and all. Not that you'd ever get a hit offa me! Hah!" She started back to the field.
Silas: "Hey, why don't I be pitcher after you strike him out? I'm sure you're a much better pitcher than I could ever be anyway, and we need your skill to get this guy out!" He thumped Gerald on the shoulder, and laughed. "Wow, maybe you're stronger than I thought, Gerald. That's quite an arm! Think you can hit past me?"
Gerald: (smiled) "Try me. Let's get this game on!"
They continued the game for another hour, Silas losing his challenge to Gerald, and Eugene recuperating enough to watch, with coherance at least. After all, he did say he was okay.