A/N and Disclaimer: I don't really have anything to say in either of these areas. So hello everyone… I have 14 pairs of flip flops, get completely confused by daylight savings time, regardless of how simple the concept is, and I hate Jello. How are you?
Part 8: A Life in the Clouds
From the perspective of Gerald Johannsen
Arnold is the only one of us that can see the sky from his bedroom. I guess maybe if you see the clouds that close, they turn out to be so beautiful that you never want to take your head out of them, because sometimes I wonder if Arnold's head is permanently stuck up there with the clouds and the pigeons. Don't get me wrong- my man is true blue, but more than that, he always knows exactly how to solve a problem. Because although sometimes his solutions may seem a little crazy, they always seem to work out, somehow. Arnold never makes fun of anyone- instead; he stands up for every person he's ever met. He never gives up, he never stops looking for the good side in people, he never lets the rest of us sway him from what he believes in. You can call that crazy or you can call that a pretty awesome person and best friend. Or you can pick both.
There are no exceptions to Arnold's rules, even when it comes to people like Helga G. Pataki. (I've always wondered what the G. stood for!) You'd think if he saw her angry and everyone staying at least ten feet away from her, he'd stay away too. But no. This is where both the crazy and great guy aspects come into play. But honestly, even I always thought Helga was more talk than anything else, so her throwing tapioca at Arnold was kind of a surprise to me. Of course, Arnold didn't give up there- he had to follow her around all recess, trying to make her talk to him- and believe me, if Helga does not want to talk, there's no point in trying. But somehow, Arnold did get her to listen to him, and knowing him, he would have had her opening up any second. Unfortunately, the bell rang then, but I know Arnold won't stop the conversation there. Everyone is meeting at the arcade later, and I know he won't let Helga off the hook just yet. Although he seems satisfied for now- he's been glancing at Helga out of the corner of his eye all day, but now he is just listening to Mr. Simmons and looking content.
Why am I following this so closely? Well, obviously I am concerned about my best friend's well being. That aside, I am really curious- mostly about what goes on between those two and what will happen now. Ever since she showed up on the FTi building when we were saving the neighborhood (I never did get a good explanation on that!), I began to wonder just who Helga Pataki is. If she is really who she appeared to be, would she have helped out Arnold? But I think Arnold sees something in her that the rest of us don't see, except for maybe Phoebe- who had enough patience to get to know Helga (assuming there's something to know!) and enough intelligence to see through her. I don't mean to sound so down on Helga, but I guess I just don't know her- or what I do know of her, I don't particularly like. As for Phoebe… well, she's…
"Earth to Geraldo! Here you go tall hair boy- could you take these while we're young?" Helga's shout interrupts my thoughts. She is waving a stack of papers in front of my face that Mr. Simmons told us to pass around, I guess. I have to start paying more attention. Helga slaps the papers down on my desk, sending a few flying off the stack and floating to the ground, then she turns around again. I wonder what Arnold sees in her. I think that she seems a little less angry than she did before she and Arnold talked, if that's what you call those half-dozen words and a promise to finish the conversation later. I still wouldn't call her cheerful, but she seems almost… hopeful? She's always treated Arnold differently than the rest of us. Worse… but better at the same time. I wonder what she thinks about him.
I tell urban legends and stories about things that happened in the grades before us. And if there are ever urban legends about our grade, I feel bad for the guy that tells them- they will be so much more complicated than Stoop Kid or Pigeon Man ever were!