These characters are from the sweat-beetled brow of Craig Bartlett... lucky stiff. Rated T cause I felt like it, and some characters might end up nude later. We'll see...
Enjoy.
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Arnold awoke for the second time that morning, but on instinct, didn't open his eyes. Lying motionless, he sought to sense the world around him. The girls were gone, or at the very least not in the futan with him. He could just make out the faint dying traces of incense Phoebe had burn in this room... sandlewood, and the delicious aroma of her on the bedding.
Phoebe...
Licking his lips, he resumed his blind exploration of his environment. Stilling himself within, he listened... Outside, the wind and snow... the city snowplow passing, as it seemed to do every four and a half hours... a deep rumble that he couldn't identify... something, possibly a cockroach rustling about in the waste basket by her computer stand... the muffled sounds of Helga and Phoebe talking in the kitchen... then... tinkling. A familiar tinkling sound, like metal gently tapped to porcelain... or...
Arnold opened his eyes and sat up, and there, sitting at Phoebe's desk was... 'Phil'. It was a near simulecra of his grandpa, but somehow... off. This time however, he had no eyes. The 'Phil' thing sat at the desk with a china cup and saucer at it's elbow, a golden spoon moving back and forth in the cup in some odd parody of stirring. He looked straight into the black, empty eye sockets of the 'Phil' thing as it opened it's mouth and wheezed, "I Never Really Investigated..." and it's mouth remained hanging open as it continued the only activity it seemed to know, stirring. He thought when he left the boarding house that these ghastly visions would stop... evidently not.
This was the forth visit from the 'Phil' thing, the other coming in his days of self imposed exile within the boarding house, and all things considered, were preferable to the visits of the 'Pookie' thing. These peculiar ghost of his grandparents were starting to reveal a pattern. Each visit, a near likeness of his grandfather would appear to him, and each time it would be maimed in a different way, much as this one was missing it's eyes, and would say four words to him.
These were unnerving enough, but the 'Pookie' things were far worse. As if to reflect his grandmothers constant dementia, the 'Pookie' things would appear as horrific constructs, almost visual puns with the sweet sanguine voice of his grandma emanating from it. Ghastly in just how inhuman these things were, it was a lot harder to deal with than the horrific simulecra of his grandpa.
With each visit he received a senseless four word message, three from the 'Phil' thing and four from the 'Pookie' thing.
I Never Read Ivanhoe
It's Not Right Inside
Ingred Noticed Raging Iris'
Imps Night Rally Invitation
I'm Not Really Inflammable
I Nourished Roscoes Irishmen
I'll Need Reinforced Insouls
I'd Never Rule Iceland
They meant something, but he had no idea what.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly the tinkling sound faded and was gone.
Looking up, he was alone again. "I thought you wanted me out of the boarding house?" he said aloud, "What is it now?" He tried to calm himself. There did indeed seem to be a vague rhythm or pattern to the visitations, but he just wasn't quite grasping it. No eyes... stirring... I Never Really Investigated... Don't force the parts, let it just bubble around in your head awhile. Standing, He grabbed his shirt and headed for the kitchen.
Helga rested against the arm of the couch, Phoebe snuggled into her arms as they watched the blizzard go through it's paces. As if realizing it was being observed, the billowing winds seemed to whip the snow around in ever more elaborate patterns for their amusement. The smaller woman felt good in her arms, almost like a part of herself, and for her part Phoebe loved the feeling of a loved one so close. Resting her head on Phoebe's shoulder, Helga whispered, "We need to have a little talk..."
They were lightly dressed due to the warmth of Phoebe's apartment, and the comfort they felt in each others presence. Both were clad only in panties and t-shirts, while Helga had taken the extra step of sliding on a pair of knee socks. The three were so close that modesty seemed to be more of an ostentatious display that nudity would be, and even that might only get polite glances...
Private girlhood moments, while half remembered were cherished and stored away for those moments when unquestioning love so needed to be brought back out into conscious thought. They'd grown into womanhood together, and shared secrets from all but each other.
"Um, okay... Helga, I... I've been thinking this morning and... I think it would be better if Arnold went to live... with you. The both of you need some privacy... to, um... catch up on the lost years. I'm really sure that would be the best for all..." Unseen by Helga, Phoebe's eyes were squeezed shut as she told one of the few lies to her friend that she could tolerate.
"Naw Phebes, he's staying right here. End of discussion." said Helga with a little squeeze. So predictable... I knew you'd be the one to try and fall on the sword for us, thought Helga wryly.
"B-But Helga, The two of you..." cried Phoebe softly, taking on blame not offered for a crisis that was there.
"...Have nothing between us as strong as the feelings that you two share. Look, I've had a LONG time to think about this, and I truly believe you two need to let your relationship play through. You both cut it short because you thought you were doing me some kind of big favor, right?" Her eyes were a sanctuary, open to her little friend with offers of solace and unquestioning love.
You can never hurt me Phebes, you just don't have it in you, she mused.
Phoebe wriggled from Helga's grasp to turn and face her, "B-But Helga, you and Arnold... all your life... I-I... " she was almost whispering, as she wrung her hands. What had she done to spoil the love between Arnold and Helga? How could she atone for this wanton behavior that selfishly crushed a love so true? She suddenly saw herself as a wicked temptress, luring poor Arnold into her grasp and mocking poor Helga in her sorrow.
Helga sighed and treated Phoebe to her best disarming smile, "Phebe's... you still love him, he still loves you... what exactly do we accomplish if Arnold gets involved with me with those feelings still in the air, hmmm? Is it some sort of great thing for me to watch as you two shoot each other sad little looks when the three of us are together? I'm suppose to be okay with it when Arnold calls out your name in his sleep... or during less appealing moments? Do you think I'm so selfish that I could just take Arnold from you without looking back? Is that what you think?" She reached out to run her fingers gently down Phoebe's cheek.
"B-But Helga... What about you?" she said, nuzzling her head against Helga's soft hand.
"I've been alright with this for months, girl. I think you two should just go back to your relationship and let it work out on it's own. Who knows, after a while you two may just decide that you're not meant to be. But I'd really feel better if we all know for sure just where we all stand, okay?" she grinned as she reached out to take Phoebe's hands.
"Are... are you sure about this? I mean, what will you... 'do' in the mean time?" as visions of Helga sitting glumly alone in a dimly lit Efficiency Apartment filled with hostile overweight cats filled Phoebe's head.
Helga threw her head back and laughed, "Why, I'll hang out with my two best friend's in the world every chance I can get. And do a little dating of my own..." she smiled slyly.
"Helga! You'd date other boys... other than Arnold!" Phoebe looked truly shocked.
Raising an eyebrow, Helga crossed her arms and cocked her head to one side, "Phoebe... you read my letters. You KNOW that I dated in high school... A LOT! I'll be alright. It's not like I'm some cringing wallflower. Hell, we can double date; it'll be fun." Phoebe nodded, but obviously wasn't sold on this.
"Helga... are you REALLY sure about this? I mean, you're not just being kind or anything..." Phoebe asked meekly, as she slowly began to accept absolution for her imagined sins.
Again the confident grin, "I'm sure. It's in everyone's best interest if we're all honest about our feelings. And I can say in all honesty that I'm really, really, REALLY okay with you and Arnold being together... really. I am... truly." and began to draw her friend back into her arms.
Returning to Helga's embrace, Phoebe hugged her furiously as she whispered, "... thank you. I... I really like being with Arnold... This means so much to me. You're really sure? I love him so much, and if you approve..."
Smiling, Helga returned the hug and gently kissed her little friend's forehead, "I know... It's painfully obvious that you two like being together... Just don't worry about me, okay? I'm fine with this and I'm fine with you two, and I'm fine with me. Alright?"
Behind them, Arnold dramatically cleared his throat, "Okay, you win. You two go have fun and I'll just move on and try to find love elsewhere... either of you have Lila's number?" he said as he playfully reached for the phone.
Laughing, Phoebe broke from Helga's grasp and ran giggling to grab Arnold in her own bear hug, "What could that airhead give you that you can't get right here? NOTHING, that's what!" she grinned, nuzzling her head into his chest.
Casting a look Helga's way, Arnold saw her grin slyly and shoot him the thumbs up...
As Phoebe set about to make breakfast for the three, Helga repeated her conversation with Arnold and got him up to speed on the situation. His deep green eyes glistened as he quietly thanked Helga for her blessings on their union, but quietly chided her for her duplicity. "You know full well that Phoebe and I are for keeps," he whispered, "What's with all this crap about seeing if we break up after a while? You don't believe we will any more than I do..." But Helga just smiled and sipped her coffee...
After a light breakfast and LOTS of coffee, Helga and Phoebe settled onto the couch to watch the Weather Channel, as Arnold grabbed up the phone.
"Hello?" asked Sid, breathlessly, as he toweled sweat from his brow.
"Running a Marathon in your bathroom?" smiled Arnold
"Arnold! DUDE, are... are you alright? Things okay over there?"
"I dunno, the boarding house burned to the ground, and Helga and I are stranded over here at Phoebe's apartment, and I have absolutely no money or clothes... yeah, couldn't be better..."Arnold grinned.
"Boy Howdy, sounds like the Life of Riley to me. Christ, the house burned down? Jeez dude, when it rains it pours. But, uh... you are okay, right? I mean... y'know..." Sid was the master subtilty.
"Guy-O, I'm alive again. It feels good. We both got out in one piece and I guess that's what counts. Thanks for bein' around when I needed it... y'know? I just needed to get that crap outta my system..." sighed Arnold.
"No sweat, dude. Anything for a bud. What's the plans now? Dj'you say Helga was there too? She's alright too, right?"
"Yeah, she's fine, but we're both kinda stuck over here til the storm eases up. I gotta find a place to crash when this is all over, come to think of it."
"Mi casa es su casa, mi amigo. I can have my mom fix up the spare bedroom, it's no problem at all. You still got your car?"
"No, the Buick went down with the ship, but Stinky still has the Packard. I might need to sell that beast off to get some living capital..." he mused.
"Sell the 'S.S. STEELY PHIL' ! No way! Let's not do anything hasty Arnoldo. That Packard should ALWAYS belong to you." said Sid dramatically. That car, though actually Arnold's, was freely shared and cherished by the three friend's and was a notorious chick magnet.
"Yeah, well we'll see. Do me a favor and give the Stink Meister a call; let him know I'm back in the land of the living. We all need to sit down once hell stops freezing over and make some plans. I got some catchin' up to do."
"Copy that. As soon as he comes up for air, I'll have him call you..." said Sid.
"Say wha- hold on now, did... did the Stinker make his move? Please tell me it's true!"
"I'm not sayin' nothing, but all I know is that Sheena's pickup truck is still parked in front of his place, and that's all I'm sayin'..." grinned Sid with no small amount of pride.
"YES!" cried Arnold, pumping his fist in the air, "I knew we'd get him laid!"
"Hey hey, what's this 'we' crap? I'm the one that put in overtime on those two." laughed Sid. To anyone who saw them for even an evening, Stinky and Sheena were the perfect couple, though the one holdout to this assessment was Stinky. Sid, and to a lesser degree Arnold worked tirelessly for the past five weeks to get the ice broken between the two, and finally there was some small hint that the seeds of a relationship had taken root.
A few more minutes of locker room chat, and Arnold made his goodbyes. With entrance into high school, new friendships and alliances formed to reflect the new world that the gang found themselves in, and as such Arnold, Sid, and Stinky had become the best of friends due in no small part to the trios unquestioned dominance of the school basketball team. In school and out, the three became closer than brothers and one of the bunch of guys to be associated with. Graduation behind them, they sought to continue their union into college.
Heading back into the living room, he said, "Well whattaya know, I finally come in and you two aren't making out. How's the weather looking?"
Giggling, Phoebe scootched over and patted the couch beside her, "It actually seems to be breaking up a bit. They say it could be diminishing by tomorrow evening." she grinned, "The weather lady advised us to snuggle up close to someone tonight..." she smiled through half lidded eyes. Arm around her, Arnold cast a quick glance to Helga who was all smiles. Okay, as long as she was cool with this, and drew Phoebe into his arms.
"Go ahead and ask Arnold, Phebes." smiled Helga, "See what he thinks..."
"Ask me about what?"
"How would you feel about you, me and Helga getting a place together? Y'know, we can live together and share expenses. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Arnold sat wide eyed and silent for a time before saying, "With or without the Web Cam, cause knowing you two, that would go along way in paying the bills..."
To Be Continued
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