IN ANSWER TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS:

Hey!  I hope everyone had a happy Easter and Passover.  It seems everyone is wondering why the story is going so fast and why H/A aren't living together since they are married.  Well to answer the second question, I will translate what Stinky said in Italian during their ceremony.  "Do you take this girl to be your symbolic wife until you are old enough to really get married?" or something along those lines.  Yes, I know it is REALLY stupid, but hey, I was having fun, ya know?  In answering the first question, well I don't know what the answer is except that Arnoldo is a controlling guy and doesn't need to ask people for anything.  For instance, he didn't need to ask Helga to marry him; he just announced she was his fiancée one night at dinner.  That's why she suddenly bolted to the bathroom to recite poetry.  So, yeah, I guess Arnoldo didn't want to waste anytime ASKING Helga for her hand in marriage.  He just decided to announce it, which caught her off guard a little.  I guess she got used to the idea pretty quick though.  Well, here is the chapter!

* * *

Arnoldo's Room

"Hey Shortman!" said Grampa while coming up the attic stairs to Arnoldo's room.

"Hey Grampa."  Arnoldo sat at his desk looking over a number of various forms.  Lets see…Sid owes 3 pounds of juju bees and 30 bucks…Arnoldo thought as he mulled over the papers. Sid's days were certainly numbered.

"Listen, Arnold…o…I have sort of bad news."

"Oh great, don't tell me Arnie is coming over."

"Yep."

"Yeesh!  Just what I needed right now!  I'll have to give him over to the Irish mafia, they can watch him.  That little country hick can't even cross the street without me having to save his—"

"Whoa there Shortman!  Just promise me you won't have him killed in elaborate ways or anything like that.  Other wise you can do whatever you want to him…"

"Thanks Grampa."

"Oh, and don't be giving him any sherry or vodka…or sparkling raspberry for that matter…"  Grampa's stomach started to rumble. "Gotta go!"

***

Arnoldo's Room

The room was dimly lit, La Donna Mobile softly played in the background, and everyone sat around a large glossy table sipping drinks and speaking Italian, which Arnoldo insisted everyone know. 

"I've been thinking we should use Park's little underground retreat as our first casino location." said Arnoldo. 

"We're going into the casino business?" said Gerald curiously.  This is the first he'd heard of this.

Arnoldo nodded.  "We're still staying in candy because kids need it.  Of course, our biggest customer (Chocolate boy) is still being fed from a tube right now, but he'll be back.  He's just not aloud in the inner circle anymore.  So, anyone got that baseball game set?"

Peapod kid spoke up.  "Why yes, Don Arnoldo."

"Good, it'll give me and Helga something to do."

* * *

School

"Loooooooooooook it's Mr. Mafia man Aaaaanooooooooooold.  Is he gonna choke me with a haaaanger?"  Said Harold in his most retarded voice.

"Um Harold, I really don't think you should do that." said Mr. Simmons who had quickly learned his place when he found a severed tomato sandwich in his bed one morning. 

"MY uncle is in the REAL mafia—" Harold began.

"Now, Harold! Quiet, ok?  Class, please open your science books to page 73 were we will be learning about how a rainbow is formed!" 

***

            Harold Berman's House

*Ding-dong!*.  Harold leaped up from the couch and flung open the front door.  "Uncle Chaim!" yelled Harold with excitement. 

            "Take it easy.  Oh boy, ya got big, nephew.  Been eating to many dumplings?"

            "Naaaaaa, just 'Mr. Fudgies'."

            "Ei! Fudgies Shmudgies!  Ya gotta start eating healthy or you'll have to have a pacemaker like your uncle David!"

            "Nuh-uh! I don't need a pacemaker! Mommy!!!!!!!!"

            "Ei! That boy!"

            Mr. Berman walked into the room.  "Chaim. So..how's business."

            "It's going great, haven't had a shvarts yor yet I tell ya!"

            "Well, that's good news." he said awkwardly.

            "I tell you, there's so much opportunity in it, just come on over some time and I'll show ya around!  And ya know," Chaim nudged his brother with his elbow.  "Young Harold here needs a trade if you catch my drift."

            "Well, actually, Harold has been working at the butcher shop." Cut in Mrs. Berman.

            "Who asked you?!" Yelled Chiam with a slight bit of  humor in his voice.

            "Hey Uncle Chaim!  There's this kid in my class called Arnold, and he calls himself Arnoldo Valdini or somethin' like that.  I dunno, and—"

            "What did you say?"

            "Uh…There's this kid in my class and—"

            "No!  The name, the name."

            "Arnoldo Valdini….Uncle Chaim, you're scaring me…"

            "Valdini…Ei ei ei.  Es brent mir ahfen hartz.  I have a heartburn, get me some pills."  Chaim sat down into the soft couch.  "So Michael Valdini's got an heir huh?  Well, you better be careful, unless you got the brains to take over his business, which I don't think you do, I'd stay clear of this Valdini kid if I were you, Harold."

            "I want a Mr. Fudgie!"  Harold had been stashing them outside in a secret cooler since his mom banned them from the house.  "Uh, I think I forgot to take the garbage out."

            "Oh my little Harold is so helpful!" said Mrs. Berman proudly.

            Mr. Berman rolled his eyes.

            Harold wistled as he dumped the trash into the dumpster.  He sneakily made his way to the back of the alley between his house and his neighbor's.  He felt inside the cooler.  "Come to pappa—"  Harold felt someone strong and powerful pull him down to the ground and then cover his mouth.  "Mmmmyyyy!", he gave a muffled cry.  He never got that Mr. Fudgie.    

* * *

Metro Station

The bus roared away as Arnie stood blankly on the concrete Metro station ground.   He chewed a piece of flavorless gum, his favorite.  He blinked one eye, then the other.  His cousin would probably be here soon, oh well, it didn't matter if Arnold was late.  Arnie was pretty occupied with the texture of his gum.  It had gone through the first two stages.  Stage 1: sweet and juicy.  Stage 2: hard and rubbery.  Stage 3: Begins to disintegrate in mouth and gum particles get into teeth.  Stage three was his favorite. 

"Hey, Arnie." said Arnoldo walking up to Arnie.  There was a bunch of people with him.

"Hey."

"There's someone I want you to meet."  Everyone turned aside to reveal a bunch of street urchin type kids.  "This is the Irish mafia, Arnie.  They're gonna be your tour guides for the week."

"Oh."  Arnie listlessly followed them into the crowd.

"That takes care of that!" said Arnoldo.

---

            Ok, That chapter probably was boring, but I have big plans for the next chapter and Helga is gonna play a BIG role!  So stay tuned for…."The Game."