So, do you miss me? I hope so.

Arnold is not mine.

Ode to John Lennon

Chapter 10

"Are you sure Olga, or this is one of those times you say it started but it didn't?

"Baby sis, I'm so sure!!! I'm going to have the baby!!! Please help me!!??.

"Okey, Olga just laid down.

"But it hurts soooo much!!!" Olga moan.

"I know, Olga, but you have to stay calm so we can take you to the hospital again. Wait here, I'll tell Phill.

"Noooooo!!! Don't leave me!! I'm so scared.I feel like dying. Oh, how I hate being preagnant!!. The nauseas, the fatness, the big ankles!! Me, with big ankles, me, who used to have the tinyest ankles in the hole Hillwood!! Could you belive it?? I'll never have a child again. Now I know how mom felt!!! Oh, momy, where are you??!! Please come, please, someone call James, please!!

"Hey Helga, you think you can make her shut up?

"Kokochka is right, put a sock in her mouth.

"yes, and then…

"SHUT IT, ALL OF YOU!! AND YOU TOO, OLGA!! Crap, who's the adult here??. I'm only twelve, and you want me to handle all this?? What do you think am I? Oscar, stop being a bug under my shoe and go find Suzie, I'm sure she can explain whatever is hapenning to Olga. And not Earny, I'm not putting no sock in her mouth, but I can put it in yours, if you want. And Hyunh, I know you don't say anyting, so keep it the right way, that's it, silence, and go get Phill and his car, wich is more important now, would you? Any comments? No, eh? Leave us alone, NOW.

"Okey, okey, don't get all stress up.

"hey, that girl is really scary…

"Kokoscka, for your own good, be quiet.

"but she is, do you see…

"They're gone. Now, you.

"Baby sis, wha…

"Shut it you too Olga. What was that crap about mom and the suffer?!! Please, you're gong to have your child, you know, the little piece of love and all that crap, for Pete's sake!! Could you at least pretend to be happy?!!

"Hey, Pataki, the car is waiting.

"Right grandpa. Hey, you and Earny are helping Olga getting on it.

Olga was being taken, moaning very softly in case Helga start yelling again. In the meantime, Helga was collecting the already made bag and othe stuff in the room.

"That was very well said.

"What? Oh, thanks Suzie, but I don't think I'm the right one to do this. And what was that histerism? I don't know if I can handle this.

"Please, Helga, I don't see anyone else, do you?. Besides, you're pretty madure for your age. Olga behave like that because she's really scared, you know? It's normal, but she needs your support now. Be calm, you'll do fine, right?

"Right. (sigh) Now, you all listen: Phill, you'll drive, Earny, go find Jamie–O, Hyunh, could you tell the news to the Johansell's?; and Suzie, go tell my parents,… but don't hurry up, undestand? The last thing I need is Bob yelling and Miriam with her feminist spechs. Gertie, come with me, and Oscar…well… Oscar, stay as far as posible, can you do that?

"Well, I'd try.

"So, let's go…

Suddenly, the door flung open. There he was, in all his coolness, Gerald Johansell. In fact, he was all cover in sweat and breathing very hard (that's no cool, man).

"I found it, I found the exactly ice cream you ask, Olga: chocolate and mint with colombian coffes grains. I asked in all the ice-creams stores in the city and… But, what's this?

"Come on Geraldo, get in the car. It already start.

"Oh, crap. So what am I doing with the ice cream?

"Hey, this ice-cream is very tasty!!

"It is, isn't it? I belive we deserve it Helga, after all that stress.

"Of course. I'm glad it's calm now.

Suddenly, a sharp scream cut the air. It wasn't a human scream, it was terrifing.

"Hey, your sister is really a drama queen.

"You tell me. I had to stay in there until Jamie-O come. Look at my hand!! It's half its size!!

"What the doctor said?

"Another hour. I really don't care how long we have to wait, as long as my par…

"You, yes, you little nurse man, where is my daugther??!! What are you doing with her?? A Pataky deserves the best room in this hospital!!

"Me and my big mouth. Hey, Bob, could you be quiet, please??!! This is a hospital, for Pete's sake!!

"Oh, there you are. Don't yell at me, you missy. A Pataky is about to born, and he needs the best.

"He? You know Bob, Olga said she didn't want to know the sex of the baby untill it borns.

"Oh, please, it has to be a boy. It has been denying to me for quite a long time.…what are you looking at, boy?!

"Nothing, sir. I belive my mom is calling me, isn't she. I'm taking the ice-cream.

"Bob, stop scaring people, will you? Hey, Miriam. You want to came in?

Another scream was heared, as posible, a scream worst than the last one. The ecco retumbed in the halls, like a remind of all the suffer in the world.

"Nno, really, I don't think she needs me. Is James with her?

"He is. You should came in, she has been asking for you.

"Weeeellllll, if she calls…

An hour later, they were all expecting. People were everywhere, nurses run to one side to another of the halls. The hospital was so crew that it was nearly imposible walk in the hallways. So they stay all togheter. The first jokes and games where slowly let aside as a unconfortable silence set between they as the hours keep passing. The birth was close.

Well, not everyone was serious. In fact, Helga can hardly stop herself in having a good laugh at all those worried faces. She was amused about the irony of the situation: it all seems like a big joke, considerinbg the date: april the first, april fools day. "I'm pretty sure that when I write the news to Arnold he will think it's a really april fools day joke". In fact, Helga never stop her "tradition" of fooling Arnold, even by letter.

Besides, they form an odd grup. There were the Patakis, the Johansell, all the "wacky boarders" from Sunset Arms, except of Oscar, because he has a paranoid attack and was in a room sedated. A hole bunch of strange people waiting for a baby. But to Helga, it was not an extraordinary situation, considering it was Olga the one in the room. "As always, she is the one who gets all the attention".

To Helga, the new baby wasn't anything else that another Pataky to compite. As Olga's son, he or she will get all the reamind attention, and her life won't seem to improve in any aspect.

The screams, which all the present were used to by now, stopped. The general attention was direct to the room's door, wich slowly oppened. First a feet, then a white robe, and then the tired but smiling face of Dr. Rhajmidalah.

"It's done.

But then his face changed from satisfaction to worry and scare as he step aside, to let the hole bunch of people who try to get to the door firstly.

Inside, Jamie-O was smiling, and Olga was holding a small packet in her arms, while Miriam,, tired from the effort of course, was sleeping in the next bed.

Big Bob was the first one coming in, follow close by Steelly Phill.

"I told you I can win you, old bunch of bones.

"Hump. Dumb Pataky.

"So, tell me, how's the litle boy, let me see he" he said as he took the baby from Olga's arms. "Well, he certaily looks like a Pataky, a little dark, but a Pataky all the same. Now, where is…?" he struggle with the clothes, trying to find something in the baby. But he didn't find what he wanted. "Wait, he don't have it".

"Of course not, Dady, he's a she.

"Oh" deception painted in Bob's face, another deception in his life (the second).

"Who cares, I want to see her. Remember, the car is mine" said Phill trying to hold the baby from Bob, who didn't opose him a lot of resist. "Well, look at her, she looked just like…just like" his eyes popped in surprise. "This is really unespected.

"Why? Let me see her, Phill.

"Came on, Grandpa, I want to see her. What she looks like?

"Came on Grandpa…

Sayind this, they were getting close to the baby, letting Helga, Gerald and Timberly behind. As one, they all supress a surprise expresion. Suddenly, they all turn to look at Helga, then the baby, then Helga again.

Tired all that game, Helga start pushing people away to reach the pink packet, still in Phill's arms. They all let her go, looking at her with amazing eyes. A little precupaid, she get close to the litle girl, who was awakening from her sleep. Helga blue eyes open wide as she looked at other blue eyes, surround by two exagerated eyebrows, in a beatiful cofee and milk skin.

"She looks… well, she looks…

"Exactly like you.

Helga's eyes went up to find the warm ones of Phill, who smiled to her, knowing how simbolic this was. Slowly, he put her in Helga's arms, and a nice smile, like the ones she has for Arnold, appered in her face.

"Yes, she looks like me, her aunt".

"How are you going to name her, guys" said Martin.

"Well, I had been choosing names for a while, and I had already choose Jenifer for a girl, and Doug if it was a boy, remembering…well, an old friend. (at this moment, Helga couldn't help but rolls her eyes). But this late days we have been thinking how busy you all have been with me and my pregnancy, and I want to honour those two who help me more: Gerald, my little brother (can I said little brother to you, dear?) and my baby sister, Helga. We have decided to put those names to the baby: Gerald for a boy, and Helga for a girl.

"Olga, as honored as I am, you're not putting my name to the baby. Besides, Helga Johansell don't suit.

"I know Helga, that's why I think of your second name.

Complete silence was heared in the room. There were people in the room who would give money to know Helga second name. Between the gang there was a bet about what the G. stay for, wich reach the number of 75 dollars thorugh the years. And now, one of the most guarded secrets of Hillwood (except of Arnold last name) was about to be know.

"Wait, Olga, don't say anything you will regret later.

"Why should I regret anything? It's a beatiful name, and a great opportinity to show my love to you two, Helga and Gerald

"Me? Why me?" Think Gerald.

"So, please, everybody, I present you my daughter:

GERALDINE JOHANSELL!!!

"What????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!