Okay, this is my next chapter thingy. I hope you have enjoyed this so
far. I thank all of you who have been replying to me. It let me know there
was something wrong with the fourth chapter, that's why it was, like, a
paragraph long. I corrected it. I don't own anything to have to do with Hey
Arnold!
Helga awoke late in the afternoon. Her hotel room was a mess. She straightened up a bit and sat back down. So many second thoughts wedged their way into her head. She scowled at them, however, figuring "I didn't spend all that gas money on nothing."
She grabbed her bags and checked out of the hotel, not worried at all about the big stain the soda had left on the carpet. The carpet was already so messy, no one would notice anyway. She got in her car and searched around for a place to eat breakfast. She finally settled at 'Dolly's Doughnuts'. She ordered a chocolate doughnut and a glass of milk. For the first time that day, she glanced at a clock. "Oh, crimeney," she said, remarking on the time. "How long did I sleep?" It was two o'clock. Only three hours till the reunion. She bit fully into her doughnut. Only three hours.
"Claye! Claye! Where are you, boy." Gerald yelled. Claye had been missing for about an hour now. They had all the boarders looking for him outside and in the basement. Arnold met Gerald in the kitchen. "Find him?" Arnold asked. The worried look on Gerald's face was enough answer for him. "Ill keep looking." said Arnold as he walked down the hall. Suddenly he looked up. The door to his old room hung slightly open.
He climbed up the steps and into his old room. His suspicions were right. Claye sat at Arnold's old desk looking at Arnold's old school pictures. "Hey." Said Arnold as he approached Claye. "You know every body is looking for you." Claye looked up. "Why? The reunion thing isn't for another." he glanced at his watch. "Twenty-six minutes." Claye continued. Arnold laughed and shrugged.
Arnold walked toward the door. "Gerald! He's up here in my old room!" He heard the relieved sigh of Phoebe from down stairs.
"You had a pretty cool room, Uncle Arnold." "Thanks." Said Arnold as he flipped his old couch out of the wall. "Whoa.cool!" said Claye. They both had a seat on it, despite the fact that it was pretty dusty and made Arnolds nose itch.
Claye held up Arnolds fourth grade class picture. "Are all these people going to be there today?" asked Claye. "I hope so." Said Arnold as he looked at the class. "This is Helga, huh?" Said Claye, pointing to nine year old Helga. Arnold looked at her. "Yup." He said. "That's Helga." Claye studied her. "She looks diff'rent." Claye announced. Arnold opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Gerald yelling, "Claye! You ready to go?" Claye jumped up, set the picture back on Arnolds desk and bounded down the stairs yelling back, "yes!" Arnold took another glance at Helga before going back downstairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ "Finally!" Tenni exclaimed as they reached the school. Rhonda shushed her daughter as they filed out of the fancy bus-like shuttle. They had left early in the morning to go shopping and run several errands necessary to looking absolutely superior to every one else.
Herald looked up at the old School. You could tell it had just had a new paint because it looked as though it hadn't aged a day since sixth grade. They made their way up the stone steps. This took a while, however, because Tenni thought it would be fun to climb up the stone Handrail. It proved not to be fun, however, after she fell off and ripped the new pants her mother had just bought her.
Finally they reached the Auditorium. It was decorated with streamers and balloons. A snack table was set up, and the stage was empty. The whole auditorium was strangely dark. Rhonda sighed. "And I so wanted to make an entrance." She pouted. It was evident. No one was here yet.
Claye looked out the window at the buildings passing by. He could sort of see through the passengers side rearview mirror. Arnold was in his car with Lila, driving behind Gerald. Claye heard his mothers soft sigh. He looked out the window at the school that came closer and closer. It wasn't at all how he had thought it would be. It was actually pretty ancient looking to him.
By the amount of cars parked around the school, Claye estimated there to be quite a lot of people here already.
Arnold parked the car. "Here we are." he sighed. Lila looked up from her book by Y. Mind. "Oh. Looks like we are." She chimed as she got out also. Gerald waited, and they all walked up the stone steps together. It felt strange to Arnold walking up those steps, and being as tall as he was.
They entered the auditorium. Music played in the background and groups of people were dancing and sitting at the round tables around the auditorium.
Before Arnold could spot anyone from his old classes, a loud and nasal voice rang throughout the Auditorium. His attention was pulled to the stage, where a very skinny redhead was standing with a microphone.
"Hello." She said. "My name is Principle Pol." A loud bang from the auditorium doors interrupted her.
Helga cursed to herself. The bang she made in the hurry to get in was still echoing through the auditorium. The redhead cleared her throat and started over.
"Hello. I am Principle Polson, the current Principle at P.S. 118 Elementary School." She paused. When no applause came, she continued. "I am pleased to be here among all of you P.S. 118 graduates. Right now, without further adieu, I welcome Ex- principal Wartz."
Polite applause rang out as a very old heavy man was rolled out in a wheel chair to the center of the stage. Helga recognized him. The same bulbous nose and, surprising enough, the same looking blue pants, white shirt and tie.
She also recognized the man who had rolled Wartz out.
"Thank you, Simmons." Principle Wartz said as he took the microphone from the redhead.
"Well, students. It seems like only yesterday I was pulling detentions and situations to you all. I am glad to see so many of you have showed up. Now, if you will rise to sing the school anthem."
Helga heard the piano start up. A lot of people sang. "Funny." She said to herself. "None of you sang in fourth grade."
"Now." Said Wartz, after the anthem was completed. "We have food over there and drinks over here, so help your self. We are also having a free dinner, generously provided by Chez Pierre French restaurant. You get a free dinner if you present them with a coupon which are available right outside the side door."
The talking resumed as the music got louder again. Helga searched the room and made her way to get a drink and some thing to snack on. "Helga!" Helga turned to see Phoebe hurrying towards her. "You came after all!" Helga snorted. "Of course I came." She turned to the snack table and started chomping. "You okay?'' asked Phoebe in a meek and whispered tone. "Just dandy." Helga said, sarcastically.
Helga stood there and took a sip of her soda. "Hello, Helga!"
Helga turned to see Mr. Simmons with a copy of her book.
"Hey, Simmons." Said Helga as a chip fell out of her hand.
He smiled broadly. "I always knew you had that.that something special. Reading your fourth grade poems and the ones in this book has been a wonderful highlight of my life."
Helga smiled. "Okay. Thanks, Simmons."
"Could you sign this for me?"
"Sure." She took it and wrote on the inside cover: 'To Mr. Simmons, My fifth grade teacher. Thanks for keeping my early work confidential. A sock in the arm from H.G Pataki.' And handed the book back. Her smile lingered for a second after Mr. Simmons left.
Some one bumped into Helga as she stood there. She whipped around and glared.
"Curly?"
Curly turned around. "Hi there, Helga. Nice book. I wrote a book once. it was about my little friend, Sam." He drifted off into his own little world and chuckled to himself. Helga smiled. Curly was an okay guy.
Suddenly, the microphone resounded again through the auditorium. It was Wartz.
"Uh.students. A fellow former student has apparently, uh, got a presentation prepared for you today. so, um.here we go."
The lights on the stage went off and a piano was heard. Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard also.
"Sooooo Keeeeep Yoouuurree Chin in the air! A sprrrring in your step! Keeeep a'walkin' with Flare! Chalk full of Pep!"
Eugene, now much taller, was prancing around on stage in his familiar dorky way under the spotlight with the rest of the stage black.
Helga saw Curlys eyes widen through his glasses. "Oh my dear sweet lord." he stammered. Helga laughed as Eugene continued his song. Helga saw a very embarrassed yet proud Sheena at the side of the stage.
"Oh don't tell me they've." Helga started.
The rest of the lights came on. A chorus line of four red head children stood behind Eugene and helped him with the chorus.
"They have." Curly said to Helga.
Eugene finished his song to surprising applause.
"Keeeeeep your sunny siiiiiiiiide uuuuuuuuuuup!" They all took a bow as the lights faded again.
Helga laughed as Curly shook his head. He gave her a pen and thrust a paper at her. She signed. He smiled. "Thanks Pataki." She Nodded as he left in Rhondas direction. She sighed as she looked around. She felt a tug on her leg. It was Claye.
"Hi. Um, Ms. Helga.could you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Could you go out to the play ground and get me a.um.flower?"
"A flower? For what?"
Claye glanced at his mother who shrugged nervously.
"Um," he continued. "Because it would.um.flatter me? Yeah! It would flatter me." She caught Phoebes eyes. Phoebe smiled.
"Okay." said Helga as she started toward the playground.
She walked down the familiar halls. It was strangely quiet. She passed the office and her old classrooms. She even found her old locker. She turned the corner to go outside when CRASH!
"Oh- sorry I.Helga?"
Helga looked up. (It was Phil! No, I am just kidding.)
"A-Arnold?." She stammered.
"Oh, um, sorry Helga." He stood and dusted himself off. She did the same.
"No.its fine." she mumbled. She knew this moment would come, but she didn't know what to do now that it did.
"Football-head." She added briskly. He laughed.
"Where were you going?" he asked.
"I was gonna go check out the playground. To, um, yeah.the play gound."
"I just came from there. Every thing is the same. Its weird being here again."
She nodded. He stared at her. She really did look different.
"So." Said Arnold. "Congratulations on your books. I heard they have been selling pretty good."
"Thanks." She said. "You read either?"
He hesitated. "Its funny.I never thought you'd be an author.I figured you'd be a boxer or something."
Helga laughed. It was kind of sad that he didn't know how long she had been writing. What she was writing about. Who she was writing about.
"Well," said Helga. "Theres a lot of stuff you'll never know about me, I guess." She had to stop there. She didn't know what she would say if she kept going.
"That's too bad." Said Arnold. She turned to go, but he stopped her.
"I liked 'em." He called after her. "Escape to Somewhere is my favorite book."
She stood there, confused as to what to do. A tear streamed down her face. She briskly wiped it away.
"Heard you're getting married." She forced out. She couldn't stop the wavering in her voice.
"C-congratulations." She spat and quickly made her way back to the auditorium. She met Lila half way.
"Oh, hello Helga. You haven't happened to see my dear, darling Arnold have you?"
Helga scowled. "No." she said flatly.
"Oh. Well, you know, we're getting married in June."
Helga looked away. "Whoopie." She said sarcastically.
"Well," Lila continued in a tauntingly sweet voice. "Our wedding, which is being paid for by my loving father who remembers my name, is in June. I don't expect you'd want to come?"
"Can it, Lila."
"Oh, whats the matter, Helga? Not happy for us, are you?"
Arnold couldn't believe the malice in Lilas voice.
"Get out of my way." Warned Helga.
"Hmmm. Your so successful and still aren't happy. Well too bad because we are getting married in June and there is no way your little crush on Arnold is going to stop us!"
Helga snorted.
"Don't flatter yourself." She said. "What makes you think that I would try to stop you? Who do you think I am? I have my own life, and my own career to worry about. If he wants to ruin his life by marrying you, that's fine. I have helped him all secret-like for too long. I am done with hiding, and I am done with secrets. You might get a kick out of watching me try and help him and get closer to him when I have no idea how.but guess what. The show is over."
She walked briskly passed Lila, who sneered: "Know why your poems are so corny? Cuz I know there all about him."
Helgas fist met nicely with the side of Lila's face. Arnold stepped out from around the corner.
Lila saw him and whimpered. "Arnold! She attacked me!"
He gave her a half-lidded glare. "Sure Lila." He glanced at Helga who was rubbing her fist. "Sure."
All right! Tell me what you think so far, Ill install the next page tomorrow. Reply! Thanks! Tell me how I am doing.
Helga awoke late in the afternoon. Her hotel room was a mess. She straightened up a bit and sat back down. So many second thoughts wedged their way into her head. She scowled at them, however, figuring "I didn't spend all that gas money on nothing."
She grabbed her bags and checked out of the hotel, not worried at all about the big stain the soda had left on the carpet. The carpet was already so messy, no one would notice anyway. She got in her car and searched around for a place to eat breakfast. She finally settled at 'Dolly's Doughnuts'. She ordered a chocolate doughnut and a glass of milk. For the first time that day, she glanced at a clock. "Oh, crimeney," she said, remarking on the time. "How long did I sleep?" It was two o'clock. Only three hours till the reunion. She bit fully into her doughnut. Only three hours.
"Claye! Claye! Where are you, boy." Gerald yelled. Claye had been missing for about an hour now. They had all the boarders looking for him outside and in the basement. Arnold met Gerald in the kitchen. "Find him?" Arnold asked. The worried look on Gerald's face was enough answer for him. "Ill keep looking." said Arnold as he walked down the hall. Suddenly he looked up. The door to his old room hung slightly open.
He climbed up the steps and into his old room. His suspicions were right. Claye sat at Arnold's old desk looking at Arnold's old school pictures. "Hey." Said Arnold as he approached Claye. "You know every body is looking for you." Claye looked up. "Why? The reunion thing isn't for another." he glanced at his watch. "Twenty-six minutes." Claye continued. Arnold laughed and shrugged.
Arnold walked toward the door. "Gerald! He's up here in my old room!" He heard the relieved sigh of Phoebe from down stairs.
"You had a pretty cool room, Uncle Arnold." "Thanks." Said Arnold as he flipped his old couch out of the wall. "Whoa.cool!" said Claye. They both had a seat on it, despite the fact that it was pretty dusty and made Arnolds nose itch.
Claye held up Arnolds fourth grade class picture. "Are all these people going to be there today?" asked Claye. "I hope so." Said Arnold as he looked at the class. "This is Helga, huh?" Said Claye, pointing to nine year old Helga. Arnold looked at her. "Yup." He said. "That's Helga." Claye studied her. "She looks diff'rent." Claye announced. Arnold opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Gerald yelling, "Claye! You ready to go?" Claye jumped up, set the picture back on Arnolds desk and bounded down the stairs yelling back, "yes!" Arnold took another glance at Helga before going back downstairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ "Finally!" Tenni exclaimed as they reached the school. Rhonda shushed her daughter as they filed out of the fancy bus-like shuttle. They had left early in the morning to go shopping and run several errands necessary to looking absolutely superior to every one else.
Herald looked up at the old School. You could tell it had just had a new paint because it looked as though it hadn't aged a day since sixth grade. They made their way up the stone steps. This took a while, however, because Tenni thought it would be fun to climb up the stone Handrail. It proved not to be fun, however, after she fell off and ripped the new pants her mother had just bought her.
Finally they reached the Auditorium. It was decorated with streamers and balloons. A snack table was set up, and the stage was empty. The whole auditorium was strangely dark. Rhonda sighed. "And I so wanted to make an entrance." She pouted. It was evident. No one was here yet.
Claye looked out the window at the buildings passing by. He could sort of see through the passengers side rearview mirror. Arnold was in his car with Lila, driving behind Gerald. Claye heard his mothers soft sigh. He looked out the window at the school that came closer and closer. It wasn't at all how he had thought it would be. It was actually pretty ancient looking to him.
By the amount of cars parked around the school, Claye estimated there to be quite a lot of people here already.
Arnold parked the car. "Here we are." he sighed. Lila looked up from her book by Y. Mind. "Oh. Looks like we are." She chimed as she got out also. Gerald waited, and they all walked up the stone steps together. It felt strange to Arnold walking up those steps, and being as tall as he was.
They entered the auditorium. Music played in the background and groups of people were dancing and sitting at the round tables around the auditorium.
Before Arnold could spot anyone from his old classes, a loud and nasal voice rang throughout the Auditorium. His attention was pulled to the stage, where a very skinny redhead was standing with a microphone.
"Hello." She said. "My name is Principle Pol." A loud bang from the auditorium doors interrupted her.
Helga cursed to herself. The bang she made in the hurry to get in was still echoing through the auditorium. The redhead cleared her throat and started over.
"Hello. I am Principle Polson, the current Principle at P.S. 118 Elementary School." She paused. When no applause came, she continued. "I am pleased to be here among all of you P.S. 118 graduates. Right now, without further adieu, I welcome Ex- principal Wartz."
Polite applause rang out as a very old heavy man was rolled out in a wheel chair to the center of the stage. Helga recognized him. The same bulbous nose and, surprising enough, the same looking blue pants, white shirt and tie.
She also recognized the man who had rolled Wartz out.
"Thank you, Simmons." Principle Wartz said as he took the microphone from the redhead.
"Well, students. It seems like only yesterday I was pulling detentions and situations to you all. I am glad to see so many of you have showed up. Now, if you will rise to sing the school anthem."
Helga heard the piano start up. A lot of people sang. "Funny." She said to herself. "None of you sang in fourth grade."
"Now." Said Wartz, after the anthem was completed. "We have food over there and drinks over here, so help your self. We are also having a free dinner, generously provided by Chez Pierre French restaurant. You get a free dinner if you present them with a coupon which are available right outside the side door."
The talking resumed as the music got louder again. Helga searched the room and made her way to get a drink and some thing to snack on. "Helga!" Helga turned to see Phoebe hurrying towards her. "You came after all!" Helga snorted. "Of course I came." She turned to the snack table and started chomping. "You okay?'' asked Phoebe in a meek and whispered tone. "Just dandy." Helga said, sarcastically.
Helga stood there and took a sip of her soda. "Hello, Helga!"
Helga turned to see Mr. Simmons with a copy of her book.
"Hey, Simmons." Said Helga as a chip fell out of her hand.
He smiled broadly. "I always knew you had that.that something special. Reading your fourth grade poems and the ones in this book has been a wonderful highlight of my life."
Helga smiled. "Okay. Thanks, Simmons."
"Could you sign this for me?"
"Sure." She took it and wrote on the inside cover: 'To Mr. Simmons, My fifth grade teacher. Thanks for keeping my early work confidential. A sock in the arm from H.G Pataki.' And handed the book back. Her smile lingered for a second after Mr. Simmons left.
Some one bumped into Helga as she stood there. She whipped around and glared.
"Curly?"
Curly turned around. "Hi there, Helga. Nice book. I wrote a book once. it was about my little friend, Sam." He drifted off into his own little world and chuckled to himself. Helga smiled. Curly was an okay guy.
Suddenly, the microphone resounded again through the auditorium. It was Wartz.
"Uh.students. A fellow former student has apparently, uh, got a presentation prepared for you today. so, um.here we go."
The lights on the stage went off and a piano was heard. Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard also.
"Sooooo Keeeeep Yoouuurree Chin in the air! A sprrrring in your step! Keeeep a'walkin' with Flare! Chalk full of Pep!"
Eugene, now much taller, was prancing around on stage in his familiar dorky way under the spotlight with the rest of the stage black.
Helga saw Curlys eyes widen through his glasses. "Oh my dear sweet lord." he stammered. Helga laughed as Eugene continued his song. Helga saw a very embarrassed yet proud Sheena at the side of the stage.
"Oh don't tell me they've." Helga started.
The rest of the lights came on. A chorus line of four red head children stood behind Eugene and helped him with the chorus.
"They have." Curly said to Helga.
Eugene finished his song to surprising applause.
"Keeeeeep your sunny siiiiiiiiide uuuuuuuuuuup!" They all took a bow as the lights faded again.
Helga laughed as Curly shook his head. He gave her a pen and thrust a paper at her. She signed. He smiled. "Thanks Pataki." She Nodded as he left in Rhondas direction. She sighed as she looked around. She felt a tug on her leg. It was Claye.
"Hi. Um, Ms. Helga.could you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Could you go out to the play ground and get me a.um.flower?"
"A flower? For what?"
Claye glanced at his mother who shrugged nervously.
"Um," he continued. "Because it would.um.flatter me? Yeah! It would flatter me." She caught Phoebes eyes. Phoebe smiled.
"Okay." said Helga as she started toward the playground.
She walked down the familiar halls. It was strangely quiet. She passed the office and her old classrooms. She even found her old locker. She turned the corner to go outside when CRASH!
"Oh- sorry I.Helga?"
Helga looked up. (It was Phil! No, I am just kidding.)
"A-Arnold?." She stammered.
"Oh, um, sorry Helga." He stood and dusted himself off. She did the same.
"No.its fine." she mumbled. She knew this moment would come, but she didn't know what to do now that it did.
"Football-head." She added briskly. He laughed.
"Where were you going?" he asked.
"I was gonna go check out the playground. To, um, yeah.the play gound."
"I just came from there. Every thing is the same. Its weird being here again."
She nodded. He stared at her. She really did look different.
"So." Said Arnold. "Congratulations on your books. I heard they have been selling pretty good."
"Thanks." She said. "You read either?"
He hesitated. "Its funny.I never thought you'd be an author.I figured you'd be a boxer or something."
Helga laughed. It was kind of sad that he didn't know how long she had been writing. What she was writing about. Who she was writing about.
"Well," said Helga. "Theres a lot of stuff you'll never know about me, I guess." She had to stop there. She didn't know what she would say if she kept going.
"That's too bad." Said Arnold. She turned to go, but he stopped her.
"I liked 'em." He called after her. "Escape to Somewhere is my favorite book."
She stood there, confused as to what to do. A tear streamed down her face. She briskly wiped it away.
"Heard you're getting married." She forced out. She couldn't stop the wavering in her voice.
"C-congratulations." She spat and quickly made her way back to the auditorium. She met Lila half way.
"Oh, hello Helga. You haven't happened to see my dear, darling Arnold have you?"
Helga scowled. "No." she said flatly.
"Oh. Well, you know, we're getting married in June."
Helga looked away. "Whoopie." She said sarcastically.
"Well," Lila continued in a tauntingly sweet voice. "Our wedding, which is being paid for by my loving father who remembers my name, is in June. I don't expect you'd want to come?"
"Can it, Lila."
"Oh, whats the matter, Helga? Not happy for us, are you?"
Arnold couldn't believe the malice in Lilas voice.
"Get out of my way." Warned Helga.
"Hmmm. Your so successful and still aren't happy. Well too bad because we are getting married in June and there is no way your little crush on Arnold is going to stop us!"
Helga snorted.
"Don't flatter yourself." She said. "What makes you think that I would try to stop you? Who do you think I am? I have my own life, and my own career to worry about. If he wants to ruin his life by marrying you, that's fine. I have helped him all secret-like for too long. I am done with hiding, and I am done with secrets. You might get a kick out of watching me try and help him and get closer to him when I have no idea how.but guess what. The show is over."
She walked briskly passed Lila, who sneered: "Know why your poems are so corny? Cuz I know there all about him."
Helgas fist met nicely with the side of Lila's face. Arnold stepped out from around the corner.
Lila saw him and whimpered. "Arnold! She attacked me!"
He gave her a half-lidded glare. "Sure Lila." He glanced at Helga who was rubbing her fist. "Sure."
All right! Tell me what you think so far, Ill install the next page tomorrow. Reply! Thanks! Tell me how I am doing.