The Brainy Saga

by Nftnat

An introspective chapter, where we find out what made Miriam what she is. It's more intense than it sounds. Chapter 24.

21. Interlude

First, I must apologize for having taken so long. I can't explain; it was like nothing came for like one & a half month. I dunno. Anyway, I was determined to get this in before Halloween, so here it is. I also must apologize in advance for anyone I offend. I have been a regular in the Hey Arnold! chatroom long enough to know that there are three issues you would do well not to bring up: politics, religion, and Lila. So of course, I had to go and stick all three of them in here. For that matter, I've thrown in lots of other stuff --- metaphysics, existentialism, speculation on the human condition, you name it.
Like I said, I have Lila in here; but with what I've already written what do you expect? One might get the idea I'm a Lila fangirl. I've considered that, and concluded that I am not. I just feel sorry for her, especially with all the hate she's been getting. Lila haters, you might want to skip this chapter. If you do decide to read this, and come away still hating Lila, I worry about you. Mondo Brainy-Lila stuff; y'all have been warned.

And now for the reviews:
Miss Matched, thanks. I accept the adulation, whether I think I deserve it or not ;) Ayup, a Brainy fangirl. Oh, that song! I'm not really into it, although I can't say I've been completely unaffected. Believe me, I put up more as soon as I can get it up. And I do appreciate the Kudos bar; it's been so long since I've had one.
Thank you, J.T. I'm glad that you like this so much and I continue to be amazed at the compliments that come in, to which I will your 'masterpiece' line. I will continue to take time to respond to the reviewers; I figure it's only fair since they took the time to review. Besides, like you said it's part of why y'all continue to review and I'm not about to mess with a good thing. You say you're getting antsy for the end? That you're already missing it? Well, cool your jets; this fic ain't endin' until Arnold & Helga are a couple and Brainy's feelings have been resolved, and that's not happenin' any time soon, although it will happen and I'm y'all think the journey will be worth it.
TADAH, thanks. You rock too, I'm glad you love it, and I will keep on.
Helga243, wonderful as always, you're welcome.
Ami, glad posted again, afraid stopped writing, break between angst & drama, what have cooking in next chapter, tissues ready.
Mandy, another chapter of masterpiece, will be waiting.
brianaluvsfutballhead, thanks, & you're welcome. I wish it didn't take as long as it did to make this as close to perfect as I can get it, and even then I notice mistakes like grammar & such. The notes, the meetings, the elephant graveyard, all things contribute to the whole did that make any sense? You figured you-know-what out. And there has to be a reason he's known as Brainy. Like I said, thanks, & I'll take all the luck I can get it whether I need it or not.
Starry Nights, think nothing of it. So you didn't review one chapter of this; when I think of all the fics I've yet to review, *shudder* . I agree with you about Brainy, and he will find happiness before all I say & do is said & done. Thank you.
Paradox, thanks. You called it, Olga will have to harden herself, and with a little help from Lila, she will. The ELP connection I came up with when I noticed their initials being the same; it will come into play later in one of those ways that cause me to think this CAN'T be coincidence. You'll see. You've picked up on many things I wanted someone to notice; I'm glad someone did. And if I was the first to do that, I'm honored; the time had come imo. And don't we all have those feelings of inadequacy when you get down to it? It's those who don't have them of which we need to beware.
Thank you WAYAMY27NARF (hmm, by any chance could this be a fellow Pinky & the Brain fan?). I update this thing as often as rl will let me, we know how that goes, right? One of my best on-line friends is from West Virginia. I never thought of myself as a mind-reader, but like I said I don't believe in coincidence. Maybe? I dunno.
Thanks, humble. I try to make it better all the time. I added Ned because in case anyone's noticed Brainy was paired with him on Career Day. Although I've also noticed CB voices both chars. Funny how that works out, as Bullwinkle used to say. Hah, a Data ref from ST:TNG; I like. I won't make Lila evil. As to Wolfgang, I'll try to come up with something for him to do but I dunno. As to the other groups, we'll know when they get back to school, then there will be other things for which to use the other kids. I'm planning on getting the others actively involved & if it's like how I'm seeing it in my mind it'll be good, I hope. Ditto for coming together in the end.
Thank you Chachi. I've lots more in store.
Houkanno Yuuhou, thanks, I do value your reviews. I can't say that Brainy is very close to happiness, but when it happens --- and it will happen --- it will be worth it. We can see ourselves in the insecurities of others, can't we? I can try to see your point about Helga. As to asking your advice, don't think I won't, but things are going to get dicey and I can't guarantee that it won't get to you personally. I'll think about it, and I'll try to, well, whatever it is I'll try to do I'll try to do it. Did that make any sense? I just hope you won't take it personally & I'll try to explain in the chat or on IM.
Thank you, selement. That is a good song, one of my favorite songs by Garth. No, Lila won't get in the habit of hitting Olga, which is not to say someone won't hit someone. You'll see, I think. Brainy's idea is to wait until after the project; actually, according to Chapter 6, he'll want to wait until after they get Arnold & Helga together.
Thanks, zali. 'kilig', is it? Hmm, it means 'to shudder, to shiver, to chill'; I guess I can figure out the meaning. I'm glad my stories excite you. Admittedly, though, my narrations are not my best part; I've been trying to work on it and maybe it's better here I dunno. No prob; I had problems in English too. Would you believe I had a mental block with creative writing for years? Go fig. And I'm definitely a guy; I just defy all stereotypes, including those about male sensitivity, or the lack thereof. I look forward to reading your stories, should you ever get them up.
Thank you, Sleather Chonkers. I'd find devine (Andy Devine?) easier to believe than lazy; I'm just lazy. We've seen that Brainy's inclined to sacrifice for her, he loves her that much. You caught it, in fact I try to use whatever suggestions people give me, and I did use some of yours and will try to continue to do the same. Adding Ned was spur of the moment believe it or not; inspiration works that way sometimes I guess. It is interesting, though, that the both of them are voiced by CB. The musical solution was meant to be like that; and I intended it to be a means to work in ELP. We'll be seeing more on that thread as it will be conducive toward working in a key plot point. You'll see in a few chapters. Funny, I thought that Brainy was a handsome young man with glasses and curly light hair; but what do I know about what a handsome man is? Now I think of it you're right about Lila's history with Arnie, and don't think I won't use, and don't think I won't use that. I'm sorry about the confusion with the other students. I really meant to go more into those other projects, but it just never materialized. I am planning on bringing the others more into the plot as summer ends and school begins; I especially have plans for dealing with Harold and with Rhonda. You'll see. I'm glad you liked that line; I've sprinkled such things throughout my writings in hope that someone will appreciate them. And you talk of buying bulk? They should buy stock in Kimerly Clark with how they're going through the tissues, and there's more to come. Might want to keep some on hand yourself.
Brianna, thanks. I got this done as fast as I could. Really. Sorry.
Puppiescute, you needn't worry about that, and thank you.
Thanks, oneblackvoice. In some ways, your review sets the standard for the others, which is in no way disparaging the others who review. In some ways it's the kind of review I'd do. In some ways. I will take your suggestions in mind and work them in if I see an opportunity. As to the Patakis, fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a bumpy ride. But they'll get to the end of it in one piece.
And thank you, Anoriel / Nory / SummerRose. Hope you like this chapter as much.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge those who have IMed me, to interview me and otherwise. makeupchick411, australiancat, TiggieBrat03, Kitkatkidd2004, and anyone I might have left out, I thank every one of y'all.

Hey Arnold! is created by, copyright, and / or owned by Craig Bartlett, Snee-Oosh, and / or Nickelodeon, a unit of Viacom. The Corleones were from the book The Godfather by Mario Puzo. The Jedi is copyright George Lucas. Mark Twain, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Clint Black, Eric Idle, Vince Gill, the Doobie Brothers, and Jonathan Swift are copyright to themselves. D'Lectrified is copyright RCA, a unit of General Electric. The Galaxy Song was written by Eric Idle. Monty Python is copyright the British Broadcasting Corporation, I think. And so is The Secret Of Life, I think. Easy to Be Hard was written by McDermott & co. for the tribal love rock musical Hair; this version was done by Three Dog Night on the Dunhill album Suitable For Framing.

Sunday. The day after the journal entry Brainy made while calling in a request to Nashville Ned. 10 a.m. The dock overlooking the Skukumchuk River with a view of Elk Island.
At such a time, and in such a place, Lila is, having been dropped off by her father after church; they'd gotten into the habit of going to the morning service that summer so she'd have more time for the project. She is alone, which is surprising; usually, she and Phoebe waited together for the launch Brainy took from the island, on those days they met at Brainy's, of which this was one. But this time Phoebe wasn't there.
Lila wasn't alone for long, though. Even as she arrived she could make out the outline of a small boat en route from Elk Island. In due course of time it got larger, nearer. It was Brainy, of course, and as he neared the dock his face took on a mien of puzzlement.

He hit the dock almost before the boat did; Lila was quick to help him secure the craft. As they worked, they talked.
"Nice to see you, Lila, as always."
"Thank you; the feeling, of course, is mutual. But I suppose you've noticed that Phoebe isn't here?"
"I was thinking there were supposed to be three of us, yes." the troubled young man muttered. "Had she said anything to you?"
Lila shook her head. "Not a thing. You either I take it, or you wouldn't have asked me."
"Right."

As they finished, the twosome heard a high-pitched ring. Brainy recognized it as his cell phone.
Not too many people had his number. Lila & Phoebe did, of course. So did one or two choice fellow geeks. And a few members of his family. So it was with just a little bit of curiosity that Brainy answered his phone.
"Hello? -- Phoebe? Where are you? -- What?!? -- Sorry. -- Oh, no! How bad? -- Well, at least that's all it is. -- Yes, that would go without saying. -- No, don't you worry about that; we'll be fine. -- Right, twenty-four hours. -- All right. We'll check in with you tomorrow. -- I said don't worry about it. You just get better, get over that bug. -- All right. -- Catch you tomorrow. -- All right. Get well, Phoebe. -- You too. -- See you."
He hung up with a sigh.
Of course Lila was bursting with curiosity. "Well?"
"One of those unexpected complications. Phoebe's sick."
"Oh dear, I do hope it's nothing serious."
"It isn't; just one of those twenty-four hour bugs; she should be fine tomorrow."
"Oh dear." Lila said as she struck a thoughtful pose, head in one hand, elbow in other hand.
"No, really, it's nothing."
"It's not that; she's the second person that I know of who's had it this summer."
"Oh? Who else?"
"Helga."
"When was this?"
"A couple days before Arnold's birthday; that was the reason she missed school that day. Phoebe told me."
Brainy thought back to the day in question, the day he happened to be in school after hours with Helga, unbeknownst to her of course. "Right. Well, you know how it is. These things tend to go around; I'm just surprised it took this long for Phoebe to catch it. But that's neither here nor there."

Now that their colleague was confirmed as unable for the day, the twosome was a bit uncertain. Lila broke the silence first.
"So now what?"
"I guess we go to my place and work on Project Helga."
"I guess so."
"Why? Did you have something else in mind?"
"No, not really. By the way, how far along are we?"
"Practically done; we could finish the tape today."
"So we could take the day off if we wanted to."
"I guess. Did you want to do something?"
"Nothing in particular. Um, what would you want to do?"
"I don't know; what would you want to do?"
"I'm oh so certain that I don't know, what--"
"You realize, we could go round and round with this."
"Yeah." she admitted as they afforded themselves a laugh.
"Someone should suggest something."
Lila nodded. "Agreed. So what would you suggest?"
"Me? Why should I suggest something?"
"You're more familiar with the place; I just got here two, three years ago, remember?"
"Yeah." There was a pause, a bit of a long one, as Brainy thought, and thought.

Suddenly, he looked at her.
"Wait, you don't know the town that well, do you?"
"I'm ever so certain that I just said that very thing."
"All right; what would you say if I offered to show you around, point out some places where some stuff happened?"
"I'm ever so certain I would accept."
"Okkay. But first," he handed her his cell phone, "call your father. I don't want us to go who-knows-where without him knowing."
"But--"
"Go on. I'll give you some privacy."
And with that he thrust the phone into her hand and took a walk. Not a long walk, just up to the canoe rental place where he made arrangements for his boat; he stayed close enough, though, to remain within earshot if she called him. Which she did momentarily.
"Brainy!"
He came when called. "Yes?"
She handed the phone back to him. "He wants to speak with you."
"All right." he nervously said as he accepted his phone back.
"Hello? -- Yes, Mr. Sawyer. -- Yes, sir. -- Of course sir. -- Oh, no, sir! -- Sorry, sir. -- Yes, sir. -- I understand, sir. -- Well, not really 'understand', but -- well, you know what I mean, sir. -- " And so on.

Several minutes later, minutes consisting of mostly 'yes, sir's on this end, the call apparently ended. Lila had taken in her friend's comportment with not a little bemusement.
"Brainy, you needn't bow and scrape like that; my Daddy is really a very nice man."
"I'm sure he is, but when I'm speaking with a man about his only child --- his daughter, moreover --- I take no chances."
"So what did he say to you?"
"He told you to be back here by 5:00 so he could pick you up for the evening service, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm to make sure you're here."
"Oh. All right. So what happens now?"
"We were talking about touring the town, weren't we?"
"I'm oh so certain that we were."
"So--"
"Wait, what about the boat?"
"It'll be all right. Paul will keep an eye on it."
"Paul?"
"The canoe rental guy."
Brainy pointed to Paddle Paul's Canoe Rentals, manned by its proprietor. Paul looked up from the book he was reading in time to notice the finger pointed at him, and waved to the couple.
Brainy furthered explained. "It's not often that I ask a favor of him, but when I do--"
Grinning, Lila interrupted. "I'm oh so certain that you made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"Oh, so now I'm a Corleone?"
"Sorry." Lila then extended her hands in the direction in which they were to go, indicating for Brainy to go ahead.
Which he did, after offering an arm to Lila. "M'Lady?"
Which Lila with the laughing face accepted. "Thank you, kind sir."
"Eh, fugeddaboudit."
"I thought you wanted to avoid such comparisons."
"Shall we go?" he changed the subject.
And go they did. The afternoon would see Lila's familiarity with Hillwood increase, almost geometrically.

================================================================

And now, some highlights from the guided tour of Hillwood.

================================================================

53rd St, past Livingston:

"And over there's the tire shop, and here, is Union Station."
"An interesting train station."
"More interesting than you know. There's a bit of Arnold & Helga history here."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm. Follow me. At midnight, Engine 25 comes through en route to the steel mill where relief workers board it."
"What does that have to do with Arnold & Helga?"
"I'm getting to that. Ever hear the legend of the Haunted Train?"
"I'm oh so certain that I haven't."
"There's an old tale of the engineer of Engine 25 going insane one night --- must be forty, forty-five years ago by now --- & driving the train off the tracks and straight to you-know-where."
"You mean... ?"
"Mm-hm."
*gulp!*
"And according to the story, the train comes back every year on the anniversary of that night to pick up more passengers on the Heckfire Express."
"Oh dear."
"Of course there's no proof such a thing ever happened, but once in a while someone re-tells the legend. Like Arnold's Grandpa."
"He told Arnold the legend?"
"And Gerald, and everyone else who was hanging around at the time, including yours truly. Arnold & Gerald were bored, so..."
"So Arnold's Grandpa decided to intrigue them a bit."
"And it worked. Arnold decided he'd visit this place to see if the story was true."
"Alone?"
"No, of course not. Arnold's not stupid; he knows of safety in numbers. So he challenged Helga and volunteered Gerald."
"And the three of them came down here?"
"It would seem so."
"Wait, how do you know of all of this?"
"I hung around after the other kids had left that day. I saw that Helga wasn't leaving, so I figured I'd stay and see what happened, I mean, a conversation between Arnold & Helga always has a certain amount of entertainment value."
"Hmm." Lila mused, her countenance turning thoughtful. "Rhonda did say something similar, about the Arnold & Helga Show. She compared it to that show on tv."
"Yo Ernest?"
"I believe so."
Brainy grimaced; he was reluctant to admit this, but... "Rhonda's a smart girl."
"I suppose. So, you were eavesdropping on Arnold and Helga's conversation..."
"Right. Well, when I heard him say where they'd be that night, and when, I thought I'd meet them there, so to speak. So I hotfooted it uptown and got on at the previous stop."
"Wha-? Wh-, whatever did you have in mind? What did you think you were going to do?"
"Y'know, I've been asking myself that question ever since? I don't know. I guess... I, I have no idea what I was thinking, maybe that something was going to happen and I wouldn't want to miss seeing it? I just don't know otherwise."
"So what happened then?"
"What always happens when I get close to Helga? My asthma and excitement gave me away, just about the time she was starting to lose it."
"Why was she losing it?"
"Put yourself in her place. Your head's full of an old legend, which you claim to not believe but we all know that Helga's very good at bluffing --- she should be with how much of it she does. You're on a spooky old train past midnight. The lights are going out, you're smelling sulfur, feeling heat, hearing something you don't know is an accordion, what would you think?"
"Gosh. I, I'm ever so certain I wouldn't know what to think. I probably wouldn't hold up as well as she did."
"She was a trooper all right." Brainy confirmed, a note of pride creeping into his voice. "As soon as they saw me --- in what little light there was --- they forgot all about being scared."
"And then?"
"They asked me what I was doing there, of course. And I didn't have an answer. So, they threw me out."
"What?!?"
"Well, Helga threw me out while Gerald opened the door for her. I was amazed that Helga & Gerald were actually working together."
"And Arnold didn't do anything."
"Maybe he was anxious to see me gone too, I dunno. He's not perfect, you know."
"Y- yes, I know. That is to say, I..."
Brainy gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, I know what you mean."
"Thank you." said Lila, gratefully. Then she switched to concern for her friend. "Wait, were you hurt when they threw you off the train?"
"No, I landed in a ditch. There was water in it, just a couple of feet deep. I walked away with just a few bumps and bruises. But you can tell anyway that I don't exactly have any long-term damage from that incident."
She looked him up and down. "True."
This was enough to make him a bit nervous, but he fought it. He just turned. Absently slipping his hand into hers, he said, "Come on, we have more stuff to see."
She was agreeable to his leading, among other things, and went along where he guided her.
"So did you ever find out what happened on that train after you were thrown off?"
Chuckles were heard from him. "Oh, yes. It seems that when the steel workers tried to board the train, the trio attacked them with a fire hose."
The chuckles were now joined by giggles. "Oh dear."
"And 'Grandpa' had to come pick them up; had a good laugh about it all the way back home."

================================================================

A vacant lot, one that could easily dwarf Gerald Field. As wide as several alleys placed next to each other and extending for several blocks. Some might call it a courtyard; in fact, let's call it that.
"I've been here before."
"So you have. This is the place where the neighborhood has block parties, fairs, carnivals, circuses, festivals..."
"Like the Cheese Festival."
"Right, and the food festival."
"I take it this place too has to do with the Arnold & Helga mythos."
"You don't mis-take it."
They both laughed at another of Brainy's jokes.

Brainy then pointed toward the rear of the courtyard.
"That's where the food festival usually has the eating contest booth."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I was in one once, must have been just before you came."
"How did you do?"
"Not good, not bad. I was the fourth one down, out of seven. You have to train for these things, and I didn't. The first three courses took a toll on me, and when the Caesar salad arrived the smell was all it took to lay me low. Arnold won, by the way."
"Really? I'd never heard about that!"
"Well, let me tell you..."

Several minutes later...
"...Seymour's backers from P.S. 119 made some noise about challenging the outcome, and I can see where they might have a point. I mean, the rest of us competitors were all friends of Arnold, and so were the people who supplied the food. Tacos from Mr. Hyunh's restaurant, salad from Gerald's mother, peppers from Arnold's own grandmother! Not to mention the head judge, Mr. Green? But nothing came of it. I mean, the Jolly Olly Man's not exactly inclined to be partial to anyone. He'd supplied the last course, by which time it was down to Arnold & Seymour, not to mention he'd bet on Seymour. So the 119 folks decided it wasn't worth it... Lila? Lila, am I boring you? Hello?"
Brainy turned around, to find he'd lost his audience. Lila had wondered elsewhere, to another certain spot. A spot with which Brainy also was acquainted.
"It was here, wasn't it? The Tunnel of Love?" She was fighting the urge to tear up, or do a slow burn.
From his vantage point, Brainy couldn't see Lila's face, so he couldn't see what she was going through at the time; he only knew that she wasn't happy. In jig time he had crossed over to her side, where he puzzled over how to comfort her.
Lila, for her part, was thinking. Make that thinking out loud.
"I almost drowned that night. If Arnold hadn't been there..."
"Lila?"
"It was Helga, wasn't it? Somehow, she got to our boat, 'fixed' it so it would sink."
"Um, I don't know; I was in another boat at the time."
Now she was fighting her own feelings, trying to prevent a breakdown, or worse. "To know that she hated me that much..."
"It wasn't necessarily you. She kind of did the same thing the previous year, when he was smitten with Ruth MacDougal."
"Still..."
Brainy was definitely nervous now, seeing in his mind a scenario of Lila turning on Helga & going after Arnold for herself after all. To stave off such thoughts from the girl's mind, he gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "Lila, I almost drowned that night too. Not only did Helga throw me out of the boat I was in --- I was riding solo of course --- but when I tried to get back in she whacked me over the head with a paddle. I got a concussion from that! But Lila, we can't let hard feelings from such things get to us. We have to understand..."
"We already understand. We've been hearing her pouring her heart out to Arnold."
"Yes, we have. We know of the love --- twisted as it is --- that she has for him. We know about the win at all costs mindset that has been ingrained in her from birth. We know about her passions. Consider that mixture of mixed-up emotions, what it could drive a person to."
"That sounds like ever so many excuses."
"I know. But if we allow it to get to us, do you realize what would happen? The anger, the bitterness, it can take hold inside of you or me or anywhere it finds a breeding ground. It takes root and grows, and it turns into the sort of warped, twisted, damaged person that you and I are trying to fix right now. Don't take this the wrong way, you know how I feel and have felt about Helga, but we don't need to make any more Helgas. And that's how it will be if we allow ourselves to stay angry with her, or even worse, bitter. This is a grudge we're talking about, and grudges only hurt those who hold them. We have to let it go. Lila, we have to forgive her. We have to move on."
She turned to face him, a faint smile on her face. "I know; I already had." The smile faded. "Still, it hurts, a little."
Brainy let a minute or two go by before he echoed, "Yeah."
For a while nothing was said as the two of them stood there side by side, pondering their respective histories with Helga, and whatever else came to either of their minds. Finally, Brainy broke the silence. "Well then, let the hurt die." He paused before adding, "Let it start here."
After another minute, Lila agreed. "Amen."
No more was said, as Brainy and Lila just stood there, looking and thinking. Silent mutual consent was the order of the day, er, minute as they glanced at each other, nodded, and then started to walk. They had more places to go.

================================================================

Near the intersection of Vine & 34th Streets. On one side of the street is Leo's, a soda shop. On the other is an appliance repair shop. And next door to that...
"'Madame Blanch's Love Potions'?"
Lila continued to take in the sight, then her gaze shifted to Brainy. A gaze teeming with questions.
"What are we doing here?"
"I'm not sure."
"You're not sure? I remember what happened when Phoebe said that to you."
Brainy snorted with the memory. "Yeah, so do I."
He started to pace, then stopped. He then faced Lila.
"Look, I have no idea what it was about. All I know is that one day a different Helga came to school."
"Different? How?"
"In behavior. She looked the same, answered to the same name, but it wasn't her."
"She was behaving differently, you said."
"Right."
"How?"
"That day, she wasn't mean to Arnold. No pranks, no taunts, no spitballs, nothing. Also, her poetry stunk. I was all the way across the room that day, but of course given my obsession I had long before learned how to focus on her voice. I heard what Simmons said to her, and what she wrote. It stunk up the joint."
"Because of Arnold."
"Must be. She didn't even make a fuss when the two of them collided, again. She was like she didn't care. She didn't care enough to get upset. That time as I was coming up behind her she was going on about what a regular guy he was."
"And did she notice you?"
"Enough to say hello to me & walk off."
"That was good."
"No, that was bad. Without knowing it, over the years I had inadvertently conditioned myself to anticipate my lights getting punched out when I got too close to her. When it didn't happen that time, I went into a bit of a fit. Palpitations, shortness of breath, cold sweats, I finally had to pop myself in the kisser to stop it."
"Oh, dear."
"Tell me about it."
"Phoebe would be ever so intrigued. It smacks of Pavlov."
"Doesn't it, though? But I think I'm finally over it, thanks to Dr. Bliss of course."
"Oh, yes, of course. But what does it have to do with this place?" she gestured toward the shop.
"As soon as I recovered, I followed her. I followed her to that bridge over there," he pointed down the street, "where she had a word or two with Phoebe. It seems she had an obsession she called 'ice cream'."
"'Ice cream'?" Lila was understandably puzzled.
"Yeah. I think it was code for Arnold, which she didn't even want Phoebe to know about. Apparently, she'd tried to quell her obsession, only to find out how empty her life was without it, that she needed it. Next thing I knew she was making a beeline for this place & begging the proprietor to lift the spell."
"And did she?"
"I guess; not one minute after leaving the shop she bumped into Arnold again. And again, she screamed at him. She was back to normal, and she was very happy about it."
"Very puzzling."
"Mm-hmm."
About then someone's stomach growled. Or was that more than one? Whatever the case, both of them were a bit embarrassed. After an uncomfortable silence...
"I guess it's close enough to lunchtime to start thinking about something to eat."
"I suppose so. Leo's?" Lila wondered as she glanced across the street.
Brainy shook his head. "They're closed on Sundays. But I think Ted's is open."
"Ted's?"
"A burger & shake place. And it's on our way."
"I suppose we should go, then."
And so they went.

================================================================

They were getting closer to Arnold's. If they acknowledged that fact, though, they didn't mention it. The YMAA building, the city pool, the park, anything and everything Brainy could think of that touched on Arnold or Helga or both; all were behind them by now. They were within a dozen blocks or so as they finished their lunch.
"Ah-hah! Now, this place brings back a memory or two."
"J-Mart?"
"Mm-hmm. It's where I helped Harold try to set a world record."
"Really?"
"Yeah. He was going to set a record for longest ride on one of these mechanical animal kiddie rides, and I was to get money from anyone who passed by to finance the venture."
"How did this happen?"
"It started like just about everything else remarkable starts, with Arnold. You see, one day he got hold of a copy of a book of world records. I can't explain it, but something must have clicked inside him, because after that it was like he was on a quest to get us into the book. And he could be very persuasive, got the whole neighborhood involved, even Mr. Kokoshka."
"Wow! That is ever so impressive! But you and Harold weren't part of this?"
"We were at first, but after a string of failures Harold bolted, and I went with him. I guess he figured he could do better in the world records department on his own."
"Why did you help him?"
"I dunno. Maybe I was having self-esteem problems or something."
"What? You?"
"It can happen. You see, Joey, you know who Joey is."
"Yes."
"Well, he'd been Harold's sidekick for a while. But they were coming to a parting of the ways. I guess I was curious to see if I could be someone's sidekick."
"So you chose Harold." Lila's tone had just a hint of disapproval in it.
Brainy was suitably apologetic. "The opportunity presented itself."
"Edward, that is so unlike you."
He sighed. "I know."
His gaze then returned to the mechanical pony ride at the store's front, then he frowned as his mood and his memories of the incident turned just a bit sour. "Let's go."
But as they walked away, the conversation continued.
"So did they ever finally make it into the record book?"
"Yeah, *chuckle* for most attempts to get in."
*giggle*

================================================================

They were closing in, now passing an arcade which was next to a bookstore. Suddenly, Brainy froze; he started sweating, his asthmatic condition made more obvious, his heart beat accelerating. Lila was understandably concerned.
"What is it?"
His eyes darted wildly from side to side. "Eugene and I were mugged here once."
Lila gasped. "Were you hurt?"
"The worst we got was a paper clip embedded in the side of my head. You can barely see the scar." He turned his head, exposing the appropriate side to her, and pointed. "Can you?"
She looked at his head, long and hard. "No I can't. I don't see a scar at all."
"That's a relief." he commented dryly.
Lila shook her head. "It must have been awful."
"It was." Brainy was grim. He started to recount the ordeal, with not a little bitterness. "There were three of them. All we had was a bag of cookies. 'What's in the bag?' he said. Eugene told him, macaroons and mallomars; he could see that. But he wasn't satisfied. 'Wrong answer' he said. What would have been the right answer?"
His mood was degenerating. Lila tried to head him off. "Edward..."
"It seems that some people just want to cause pain and grief to others. It wasn't for some slight, perceived or otherwise, like Patty. It wasn't loan sharking, like Torvald or Big Gino. It wasn't even incidental, like Helga or Harold. It was deliberate, sadistic violence, committed for its own sake."
He would have gone farther, but found himself cut off when he noticed Lila hugging him. It was everything he could do not to faint; as it was, he had to sit down on the curb. Lila sat with him.
"I'm sorry, Edward." She said after a bit.
He shrugged his shoulders. "No harm, no foul, as they say. The muggers didn't get away with anything as it turned out, not even their toothpicks."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Arnold showed up and saved us."
"Arnold again?"
"Yeah. See, he'd gotten mugged himself not too long before that, so his grandmother put him through some martial arts training. Next thing you know he was kicking you-know-what."
"Arnold?!? Are you oh so certain about that?"
"You can ask anyone, except Arnold. He doesn't want to talk about it. Probably because it brought out his dark side."
"I didn't know he had a dark side."
"We all do, Lila."
"Jekyll & Hyde?"
"Exactly. One day he was saving Eugene, the next day he was shoving him into a locker."
Lila gasped, again. "No! Not Arnold!"
"You can ask Billy; he had an unfortunate run-in with him."
And now Lila was shaking her head, again. "I just can't believe it."
"Well, it didn't last. Arnold can not stay bad; he was back to normal the next day, apologized to everyone he even thought he might have done anything to."
"I'm ever so happy to hear that."
Lila looked away as she spoke. When she looked back, Brainy was standing again, holding a hand out to her.
"Come on."
She took his hand and stood.
"Like I said, Lila, it's behind us."
She nodded, before resuming the walk.
"So you borrowed from Big Gino?"
"uh, Torvald, actually. A quarter."
"Why? It's not as if you need the money."
"Edward Moore Elkins V doesn't, true. I guess 'Brainy' was trying to build a credit rating. How was I to know he'd collect early?"
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"Sometimes when you're nine, you do things that don't make any sense. Come to think of it, not just when you're nine."
"That's true."

================================================================

Another street, ever so much closer to the boarding house. This time the business at hand was Bill & Ron Records & Tapes. Brainy stopped in front of it and checked his watch.
"Hmm, if I had a little more time I'd go in for a minute. Probably just as well; once I go in there I tend to take up residence."
"It's that good?"
"It's not Gamma-Lot, but yes. I've found some surprises there, added some choice items to my collection. It's at the out of the way store where you're more likely to find the rare gem."
As they walked away, he cast a longing glance over his shoulder. "Yeah, it's a pretty good little music store; glad I found it...
"Wait, here's something."
Lila looked in front of her; there was nothing there, just the street. She was puzzled and it showed.
"Well? What do you think of our old ball field?"
"What? You guys played in the street?"
"It's done all the time in the big city; I'm surprised you haven't had the pleasure."
"I-, I've always played at Gerald Field."
"Oh yeah." He started walking again. "Yes, that would explain it."
As they walked, Brainy took a trip down memory lane, which he endeavored to share with Lila. "You really missed something, Lila. Oh, playing in the streets was full of inconvenience. Cars would pass all the time, constantly interrupting the game; it could take days to play one inning, and sometimes it did. And when the ball found its way into a speeding vehicle, well, that was the ballgame. But there was a whole other vibe about street ball, something a field or a park just can't capture."
"Did you see much playing time back then?"
He smiled with the memories. "Oh, yeah. So did Eugene & Sheena. And Nadine, come to think of it. Oh, Curly, Park, Iggy, Joey, Robert... sometimes it seems like what we have now is a whole different team."
"Rhonda didn't play back then?"
"Not much, no. Amazingly, she'd be more likely to be on the bowling or, or even the football team."
"Football? Rhonda?"
"I know, looking back I can hardly believe it myself, but she could get down & dirty with the best of us. I think it was because she had a thing for Harold --- maybe she still does; um, but you didn't hear that from me."
"Hmm. Come to think of it, they did take the Tunnel of Love ride together that time at the Cheese Festival."
"You don't say."
"Right, what am I thinking, you probably saw it too. I wonder if Patty knows."
"I'm not going to tell her."
"Me neither. Our plates are full as they are with Arnold & Helga's love lives."
"Exactly."

================================================================

"...and here we are, the legendary Gerald Field, home field to the students of P.S. 118, the site where--"
"Brainy, this tour guide schtick of yours is ever so adorable, but it's oh so unnecessary at Gerald Field. I've been here before." Lila started, before being stopped by a poignant question.
"Have you really?"
"Um, what?"
Brainy was now feeling around on the grass of Gerald Field. He then turned to her, fixing her in his sights.
"I was here the day after Arnold and Gerald discovered this place. We --- Harold, Eugene, Sheena, Sid, Arnold & Gerald of course, Helga & Robert came later --- we cleaned this lot. We cleared out the junk --- it was a dump when we got here. I can remember, oh, so many things about this place." His voice and his expression turned wistful. "I remember hoeing, raking, pulling weeds." He stood up, extending an arm toward the far wall. "We drew the lines on that wall." Then toward the base paths. "Arnold and Gerald drew those base lines originally, manning the Wacky Chalk." Then, facing her, he extended both arms. "We christened this place, and we played the first game here. And then the next day we lost it."
That caught her unprepared. "What?"
"We lost it, the whole place. Gerald Field. When we came here the next day the grownups had moved in and taken over."
And his arms went into action again. "Ernie Potts' tomatoes and Harvey the mailman's chickens were there at the front. The checkers table was on the pitcher's mound. A horseshoe court was there in the infield. A boccieball court in the outfield. A hammock... I forget where the hammock was." As he spoke, he illustrated every adult encroachment by indicating the appropriate site.
"We tried playing around them, but when Mrs. Vitello said 'This is no place to play baseball!', that was it. As of that moment, we were evicted."
"But that wasn't all. It wasn't enough that they forced us out of the place we'd made for ourselves, they started pushing against each other. Suzy Kokoshka wanted the croquet field where Mr. Hyunh wanted the potted plants, before ol' Phil got the idea to move the checkers table to the same place. Mr. Green wanted to put a sweat tent where Mrs. Vitello wanted philodendrons. Harvey's chickens were eating Potts' tomatoes. They were actually physically fighting each other. It was disgusting, I mean, if that's a grownup I hope I never grow up. Meanwhile, we were reduced to playing in an alley. An alley!"
Lila was moved by Brainy's account. "Well, obviously, you got the place back. What did you do?"
Brainy grinned. "Arnold came up with a gem of an idea, again. He noticed a full dumpster and he grinned at us. It took a minute, but we all caught on to what he had in mind eventually, except maybe Harold but he went along."
"Wait, are you saying you..."
"...pushed the dumpster down here and covered the place in junk again."
"Weren't the grownups furious?"
"Oh, yeah. But Arnold and Gerald spoke for us kids and sent them on a guilt trip. They told them that if they wanted Gerald Field so bad they could have it the way we found it, a dump."
"And then?"
"They returned the field to us the next day, and in a better condition than ever, I might add." He sighed. "Gotta hand it to those grownups. When they want to, they can get things done. And they have the resources to do it better than we can."

================================================================

Meanwhile, a certain trio was meeting just a hop skip & jump away from Gerald Field; specifically, in the boarding house. Or I should say on the boarding house; this meeting --- for whatever reason --- was taking place on the roof.
"So she's ready."
"Oh, she's ready all right. She's going to lay down the law to him."
"And if he doesn't like it?"
"What do you mean, 'if'? Considering who we're talking about?"
"Right, my fault for asking."
"And when he doesn't like it, tough. There will be no option."
"Okkay, and when that happens, that's when Gerald comes in with the offer. It's ready too, right, Gerald?"
silence
"Gerald?"
more silence.
Arnold and Helga, until now preoccupied with their discussion, now started to look for their uncharacteristically silent partner. They didn't need long to find him; he was standing at the edge of the roof, on the side facing out over Gerald Field.
"Hey! Tall Hair Boy!" Helga barked as she and Arnold advanced on Gerald. "What's your deal? You're not supposed to go drifting off into daydreams; that's Arnoldo's job." punctuating that last part with an affectionate slap on Arnold's person, secure in Gerald's temporary oblivion covering her gesture.
"Just something you might be interested in." came from Gerald.
"What is it?" Arnold queried as he pulled alongside his best friend. "Wha-? Wonder what Brainy & Lila are doing in Gerald Field?"
Helga was nervous at Arnold catching sight of Lila, but she hid it well. "Hello, footballhead? What are the three of us doing up here? It's probably a group project meeting."
"But then why isn't Phoebe with them?"
"She's sick." Helga & Gerald inadvertantly chorused, before trading looks with each other, looks that were equal parts 'uh-oh' and 'oh-ho!' .
But Arnold was as usual oblivious to the subtleties going on around him; this time, however, he had a legitimate excuse in the couple down in front. Not to mention word of their sick friend. "Phoebe's sick? I hope it's nothing serious."
Gerald and Helga communicated with their eyes before Helga gave Arnold the info. "No, it's just one of those 24-hour things; I, I had it a couple months back, remember?"
"Oh yeah." He then returned his attention to the ground. "So what's been going on there, Gerald?"
"Brainy talking, I think. I'm not sure; I couldn't really hear anything from here."
"Talking?!? That twisted little freak?"
"I know it sounds unbelieveable, but his mouth was moving. Wait, now he's taking a phone call."
"I didn't know Brainy had a cell phone."
"Come to think of it, what do we know about Brainy?"
"Pft, what's there to know? He's a twisted little freak who always shows up in the wrong time and place. Remember those caves, or that train ride?"
"Don't remind me."
"Look, now he's going off to the side of Gerald Field. I guess he needed privacy."
"Ooh, that's brilliant, Hair Boy!" Helga catcalled with a surreptitious wink.
Just then thunder sounded.
"We'd better take this inside, Arnold."
"Ooh, Geraldo's sharp today."
" *sigh* Yeah, right. Whatever you say, Helga."
"Hey, that's Hair Boy's line!"
"Yeah, right, whatever." Gerald grumbled as he power walked away from Helga and toward the attic door.
Arnold followed, but he turned back halfway there. "You coming, Helga?"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'll be right there; criminey! Can't a girl have a moment to herself?"
"Helga."
She knew that tone. She turned around and fell once again into the searching emerald orbs. Satisfied that Gerald was well out of contact, she half-smiled at him. "I'll just be a minute, Arnold."
Satisfied for the time being, Arnold half-smiled back. Without another word he nodded, then turned and followed Gerald.

She watched him as he left. When the door closed behind him, and she could hear his feet on the steps down, she exhaled. As was her wont, she pulled the locket out of the front of her blouse and gazed at it.
*sigh* , "Arnold. How he knows me, and yet, how he doesn't. I have shared so much, and even before this summer it was like he knew my very thoughts, like he was in tune with what I was thinking. And why not? Every thought was about him. In some ways, he already owns me. And yet..." she looked up from her locket just enough to turn around to walk toward the edge of the roof, "...and yet I still hold back. As much as he knows, as much as I say, I still find myself choking on the very words, which I would fain SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!"
Whether she would have caught herself doing the very thing she said, and whether she would have stopped, are questions that will remain unanswered. For at this point she happened to look away from her locket, upon the latest scene at Gerald Field.
Brainy was still occupied off to the side. There in the middle of the front of Gerald Field, alone, was Lila. And she was looking straight up at Helga.
Helga froze; she knew that look well. Since that first Sunday, all those weeks ago, she & Lila had said nothing to each other; but every time the two were within sight of each other she got the same look from her. It was a challenge, an admonition, and always the same questions. Have you told him yet? Why not? What's wrong with you? (although in the latter case where would she start?) It was like Lila too had her number, and Helga resented it. She also resented that she kept finding herself on the losing end of these staredowns they kept having, and for which she hadn't asked.
She lost again. Her locket suddenly felt heavy in her hands; she returned it to its resting place, close to her heart; breaking the stare in the process. As she turned, she cast one last glance back down at Lila. "Hmph! Little Miss Perfect, la-di-dah! Hmph!" she grumbled as she stomped toward the entrance

================================================================

Lila frowned as she saw Helga turn away yet again. Maybe these little staring things the two adversaries had been doing could be regarded as contests, and maybe she was winning them, but she took no satisfaction from them.
" *sigh* When will you tell him, Helga? When?" she murmured as Brainy approached her.
"What was that, Lila?" he said, surprising her a little.
Lila shook her head. "Nothing that we won't take care of before all is said and done." She then focused on him, changing the subject. "So, what was that call about?"
"That was your father. You heard the thunder?" She nodded. "He wanted to make sure we had adequate preparation and cover. You know, raincoats, umbrella, whatever." Another nod. "Um, how did he get my number?"
"Brainy, I had to give it to him."
"Of course."
"Wait, I'm ever so certain we don't have any raincoats or umbrellas with us."
"They're in the boat; I just forgot to bring them along." he sheepishly admitted. "So, I guess this concludes our tour of Hillwood, unless there's any point of interest I've missed that you want to see."
Her expression turned crafty. "Well, I'm oh so certain that I've wanted to see those caves."
His eyebrows shot up. "On Elk Island? That's practically my backyard."
"I know. That's why I'd feel safer exploring them with you."
He caught her expression, he thought. "Oh. I see." He fought off another case of nerves, as well as a bit of an asthma flareup. "Well, like I said the rain stuff is with the boat; we should be getting back there anyway."
She nodded, then held her hand out for him to take. "Lead on, then."

================================================================

Things were pretty uneventful after that, unless you count it starting to rain just as the two of them reached the boat. The trip back through town to the dock, the trip across the Skukumchuk to Elk Island, the walk to the caves --- all passed with some degree of quiet, if a bit wet.
Brainy continued to play the role of the tour guide, with Lila as his charge. He hadn't exaggerated; he knew the caves like they were his own home, which in a way they were. It could be considered an interesting tour; he directed her attention to points of interest, shared with her some of his favorite parts of the cave system, expanded a bit on the legend of Billy Elkins, and tipped her off when to look away from some of the more unpleasant historical artifacts, such as skulls. At those times, she fought to keep herself from screaming and squeezing his hand, and didn't always win. When she didn't, he quickened his pace to escape the loose rocks and dirt, and he let her squeeze his hand. And if his attention had been on the latter... well, it was a good thing that it wasn't.

Finally...
"...and here's where I met the others that day."
"Like you did with the trio on the train?"
For some reason, reliving that memory for the second time that day unnerved him a bit. "Um, yeah, kind of like that. Uh, anyway, here I was in the shadows, um, care to guess which particular ones I met first?"
"Oh no, Arnold and Helga?"
"I'm afraid so. Again, Helga heard me wheezing and didn't recognize me. Instead, she jumped into Arnold's arms, and screamed."
Lila squealed, then dissolved into giggles.
Several minutes later, she was still giggling.
After several more minutes, Brainy had had enough.
"It's nice to know that that situation amuses you so."
"I'm - *hic* - sorry, Brainy. It's just that - *snicker* - the whole situation just sounds so - *teehee* - so sweet and, and, and--"
"I believe an appropriate word would be 'kawaii'. It means cute, but the connotation this side of the Pacific seems to have taken on a bit of an extra meaning which I currently don't have the words to describe."
"Yes, yes that was it, cute, but more."
"Exactly. Uh, now, are you finished, or is your gigglebox good for a while yet?"
"I'm sorry, Edward."
"Uh, yeah, um, you already apologized."
"Oh yeah. Um, I think I'll be all right now, unless you say something else to set me off."
"I'll be careful with what I say." he responded dryly. "Now, of course when Helga screamed--"
" *snort*, *giggle* "
"Lila?"
"Left over, I swear."
He decided to skip it. "Of course, when Helga screamed, it brought the others. The most prominent of them was Phoebe; there she was, swinging her flashlight about the way a Jedi knight handles a light saber. After she'd finally settled down, I stepped into the light. Of course they were surprised to see me, of course they asked me what I was doing there, and of course I didn't have an answer."
"Just like on the train."
"Yep."
"Then what? Did they try to throw you out of the cave?"
"This far in?" he stretched and waved both arms about him, indicating the cave system. He then turned thoughtful. "No, it's a funny thing. On the train they had no place to go but I did; here I had no place to go but they did. Maybe it was just different ways of getting rid of me, or getting away from me."
"So what did they do?"
"They turned around and went back in the direction they'd come from."
"And they just forgot about you?"
"They had a little help; they went through the floor over there not ten seconds after they were out of my sight."
"My goodness! They weren't any of them hurt, were they?"
"I don't think so; they walked away later on."
"Did you ever find out what happened?"
"Yeah, and my family was not happy about it. There were these two hoods who were counterfeiting pennies downstairs."
That set Lila going again. "Pennies? They were counterfeiting pennies?"
"Yeah. I never said they were smart."
"Haha, obviously." Lila tried to get it under control as she started walking and studying the cave walls. "Did you say your family wasn't happy about the situation?"
"Yeah. Illegal activity happening on our property? We've had enough to deal with what with the family reputation and all. It was justified once, but not in recent decades. Tell that to some people, though. There's probably still a few people on the force who'd love to pin something on us, anything. I for one was having daymares--"
"Daymares? Wait... Oh, like nightmares only in the day."
"Right. As I was saying I could imagine the family being hauled down for questioning, into court about our role, whether we had any or not. And I'd have to be there too; word would get out about who I am. I wasn't looking forward to any of that."
"I can imagine."
"No you can't."
"... ", she started, then stopped. "Uh... you're right. So what happened?"
"Nothing. We didn't have to do anything, no one came to the house, not even a phone call. It seems Vic & Morrie --- that was their names by the way --- copped to everything. I guess the authorities figured we weren't stupid enough to be part of counterfeiting pennies, but they were. So, we dodged a bullet, so to speak. Heheh."
"Mmm." Lila mused; she was still walking, quite interested at the walls, particularly what was drawn thereon. "Nice drawings of you."
He joined her, chuckling, again. "That's not me; that's old Billy Elkins, after he went native. I'll admit, the resemblance is a bit unnerving. Although Wheezin' Ed looked nothing like either of us."
"Genes have been known to skip a generation or two."
"True."

Silence ensued. For a while nothing was said. Lila continued to examine the cave walls, and Brainy appeared to be examining her from a distance, behind her back. Finally, he broke the silence.
"So aren't you going to ask?"
Her head whipped around as she turned to face him. "Beg pardon? Ask you what?"
"Why I was here that day."
"Well, that's oh so obvious. This is practically your back yard."
"But why was I here, in this particular place, coming out to meet them?"
"Oh. I see, I think. Why were you?"
"Because they were getting too close to finding one of the secret passages."
"There are secret passages here?"
"I told you that there are, remember?"
"Oh. Um, I think so."
"We were at the house, on the stairs, you saw the family artifacts and--"
"Yes, I'm oh so sure I remember now. So the other end of it is around here?"
He nodded. "Would you like to see it?"
"I'm oh so certain I would."
"Come on, then."

En route, Lila started thinking. "Edward?" she called from behind him.
He turned. "Yes?"
"What were you going to do once you met them? It goes without saying they would be ever so curious about your very presence here."
He crossed his arms as his eyes closed with the thought. "You're right... Sometimes I think they'll come back. Especially Arnold; he can be quite persistent."
"Yes, he can. So? What were you going to do?"
After another short silence, she heard him chuckle a bit. "I never did work that out. Since that day, I've gone over it in my mind again and again. And I really have no idea what I was thinking of doing, what I was going to do. I'm just lucky that other events interfered; within minutes they'd forgotten all about me."
"A strange kind of luck."
He turned back, and they continued their journey. "It's the kind I'm the most familiar with, Lila. It's the kind I'm the most familiar with."
"No surprise there."
"What?"
"Nothing."

================================================================

After a series of twists and turns, things grew dark. Well, they were already dark, but now they went pitch black.
"Edward? *OOF!* "
"Watch your step."
"Thanks for the warning."
"Don't mention it. Oh, here's the passage."
"I don't know if I'll be able to make it; I can't see my hand in front of my face."
"Here, take my hand.... You got it?"
"I, I think so."
"If you don't, someone's in here with us-- *OUCH!* Not so tight, Lila!"
"Well, you deserved it; are you trying to scare me?"
"Sorry... uh, Lila, would you mind doing that ag-, whup, here we are."
"Doing what ag-, we are?"
"Yeah, we just have to climb this ladder. Up we go... are you with me?"
" *pant* *pant* Right behind you."
"Not tiring you out, am I?"
"Oh, no, I grew up running and climbing."
"Okkay... wait, we've reached the top. Just let me get out, and then come on up."
"Waiting."
"Now we've been hanging around Phoebe too much. Okkay, I'm out now!"
"All right... *grunt* , *breathe*, Edward?"
"I've got you. Going up?"
"I'm up, I'm up. *bump* oops."
"I'd better get the light."
"There's a light?"
"Of course. We're inside the house now."
*click*

Lila took advantage of her now-restored sight to look about. They were in a small room, about twelve by twelve, in which the two of them almost barely fit. As in it would have been a bare fit with just a little less room.
The walls were white, at least, as much of them as she could see. As was the slanted ceiling; apparently they were under a staircase. A single light hung from the ceiling with a string attached to it. A sink was aginst one wall. And pretty much all around, except for the side with the door, were all sorts of cleaning implements. Brushes, cleaners, mops, squeegees, buckets, brooms...
"This is a broom closet."
"Correct the first time. Excuse me, please."
"Wha-? oh!"
She stepped aside, and as she did she noticed a hole in the middle of the floor. She took in the sight of Brainy closing the hinged trap door and pulling linoleum over it. He then stood and faced her.
"A souvenir of Wheezin' Ed." he explained. "If there was ever a raid --- and I'm not so sure there wasn't, no one's talking about that --- just about the last place they'd look for the hooch would be under the broom closet."
"I suppose so."
As she gazed at the floor, Brainy crossed over to and opened the door. "After you?"
"Thank you."

As they emerged from the broom closet, they removed their raincoats.
Brainy took Lila's in addition to his own. "I'll put these in the front room so we can get them when we leave,"
"All right."
By the time he got back, Lila was giving her clothes the onceover; she didn't like what she saw.
"Ugh, I've gotten ever so dirty down there. I'm going to need to take a shower when I get home. And Daddy's not going to like it either."
"So you'll need to get home earlier? Say half an hour?"
"I suppose so. I'm just not looking forward to what Daddy will say."
"You said he's nice."
"Oh, he's just ever so nice. But he will be disappointed that I got dirty when I knew we were going to evening service. It's not as if I didn't know; we do it every Sunday."
Lila was indeed feeling bad, and it showed. Which made Brainy feel bad too. He wanted to do something for her. And he thought of something.
"Well, you could... no, never mind."
"What?"
"No, it's probably not a good idea."
"What?"
"Well, I was just thinking if you really didn't want him to know--"
"Oh, I don't."
"...that you could shower here, but it's probably not a good idea."
"Oh. ... No, I guess not."
"I mean, if there was some other way to avoid having to face him all dirty you know I'd--"
"Oh, I know you would."
"It's not like I'd TRY anything or nothing."
"I, I know."
"Goodness knows, I mean, I realize we're friends and, and we've become a bit of what you might call close friends..."
"True."
"But you showering at my house, miles away from town, that might be..."
"Yes, I, I can see what you mean."

The two of them had been getting more & more uncomfortable with every sentence, with every word, really. If the journey around town and across the strait and through the caves hadn't made them all sweaty, the conversation would have. By now, Brainy had his phone out. He was fingering it absently.
"So..."
"So."
" *sigh* "
"Hmm."
"Yeah."
"Right."
"I, guess I should call your father and tell him?"
"I, guess."
His asthma was definitely on display as his finger shakily advanced toward the button he'd programmed on speed dial for her number. To testify to the tension, her breath could be heard from across the room as well. The finger moved in, then dipped, rose, and dipped again. His frustration was nearing its limit.
"Look, this is silly. Lila, do you trust me?"
"Of, of course."
"So there's no reason you can't..." frustrated, he trailed off in a flurry of huffing & puffing.
Lila was gentle. "Edward?"
"Do you really trust me?"
"I already said so. I trust you oh so much."
"So, so there's no reason you, you couldn't, um, sho-, uh,--"
"Shower here?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Well, I don't have a bathrobe."
"You can borrow mine."
"Thank you."
"And, and you can, you can leave your clothes outside the bathroom door and, and I could run a load while you're, you're in, in there."
"Edward? You're blushing."
"Can, can you blame me?"
"No, I guess not."
"So as soon as I get my breathing un-, under control I, I'll go get that bathrobe and, and you can go to the, to the bathroom."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Could you hit me in the face?"
"No." she answered immediately.
"Could you hold my hands to keep me from hitting myself in the face?"
"All right."
So she did, quite firmly too. She found that the more firm she was, the calmer he seemed to get. She also sensed that the firmer she was the more she liked it; it bothered her. After a moment he indicated he was ready, so they went about their respective doings, if that makes any sense.

================================================================

The moments of embarrassment and of hesitation --- real or imagined --- on both their parts are far too many to relate here, so let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene, as Mark Twain used to say. Suffice it to say that Lila took her shower while Brainy ran a load of her clothes.
He had put them in the dryer just before she came out. As she had nothing extra to wear she kept his robe on, for which he was quite thankful; his hormones were getting enough torture as it was.
They rendezvoused in the room in the house with which they were the most familiar, and consequently the room in the house where they felt the most comfortable: Brainy's planning room, which was really kind of a library.
Other than the table and chairs at which the planning for Operation Helga had been taking place, and the entertainment center, the only furniture in the room was a couch in one corner. It was on this couch that Lila was resting, pondering the books on the walls in front of her, when Brainy found her.

"Lila?"
"Hmm? Oh, hello Edward."
"You seemed comfortable there, if a bit spaced out."
"I was just looking at the books. This is quite a collection."
"Yeah, well, I wish I could take credit for it. One of the things previous generations decided is the mark of a quality family: a library in the house. I guess I'll inherit it, though."
"Mm."
"Oh, I just put your clothes in the dryer."
"Thank you. Aren't you going to shower?"
"I don't have anywhere to go tonight; other than dropping you off I'll be here all day. I can go before bed."
"Mm."
"So," he said, starting to walk around the room, "anything you want to do while we're waiting?"
"Work on Project Helga?"
"I thought we were going to wait on Phoebe for that."
"Oh yes, that's right."
"Do you want to read something? Some music, maybe?"
"More Emerson Lake and Palmer?"
He looked at her.
"Oh, right. Only with Phoebe, group music."
"Yeah. How about something, um, you like country, right?"
By now he'd crossed to the other side of the room, the 'music side'. An entire wall of cds, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, divided by musical genre. Having left the couch, Lila was now at his side as he scanned the wall of sound, so to speak. She was impressed, again.
"You have quite a collection."
"Thanks. The credit, though, must go to Ned."
"Ned?"
"The dj?"
Lila apparently hadn't heard of him; her face said as much.
"You don't listen to am radio, do you?"
"Or fm."
"Wait, my mistake, I mean radio in the am."
"Oh. No, I don't."
"Well, you missed something missing Ned. I was teamed with him for Career Day one year and that's what started my interest in music."
"Interesting."
"Yeah, I learned a lot from Ned."
"Such as?"
"Such as make yourself as invaluable as possible to wherever you work for as long as possible. And never let yourself get tied down to any one station, format, or genre."
"Really."
"Yeah. He's Nashville Ned right now, because the station he's on plays country. But it wasn't too long ago they played jazz, and he was Nocturnal Ned. He's played oldies as Nostalgia Ned, contemporary Christian as Nazareth Ned, heavy metal as Nasty Ned, latin as Noticias Ned, um, that one didn't last too long and he started to learn Spanish right after that."
"He knows Spanish, then?"
"Just enough to sound stupid to those who do know it, he says. So what's your preference?"

He'd swerved on her again. "What?"
"What music do you want? Country, I'm assuming."
"Oh. Um, do you have DeLectrified?"
"By Clint Black? Sure." He turned around and busied himself looking for the appropriate selection, which didn't take long. "Good choice, by the way. According to All Music Guide it's his best work in years. Let me guess, you like that duet he does with his wife.", he asked, a smile playing with the corners of his lips.
"Well yes, that one is ever so sweet, the two of them so much in love. I also like that galaxy song it finishes with."
Brainy chuckled over that one. "Oh yeah, the Galaxy Song. Whoda thunk it, a country treatment of a Monty Python song."
"Monty Python? What do they have to do with anything?" Lila asked, puzzled, before her brows lowered and she followed up with another question. "Why do males seem to be fascinated with Monty Python anyway? From what I've seen of it it's ever so crass and crude and perverted and..."
"And you just answered your own question, Lila. It seems to be hardwired into the male psyche to like the crass, the crude, the perverted, et cetera. Sad and sick, but true, I'm afraid."
She glared at him. "Et tu, Edward?"
"A little bit. And don't think the female is immune either. Down deep inside, with a possible exception or two, everyone's a pervert."
"Gosh, I don't think I am."
"I did say with a possible exception or two. But you're young yet; it's possible that you don't know everything that's inside of you."
This made Lila uncomfortable, considering the pleasure she'd already found at certain physical activities, so she changed the subject, or reverted it to where it was before. "So how did something from there wind up as a country song?"
"Well, it was written by one of the Python troupe, Eric Idle, for one of the Monty Python movies, The Secret Of Life. And like I said there's a bit of a pervert in just about everyone so I guess Mr. Black heard it somewhere and liked it. So he got together with Mr. Idle--"
"He knows him?"
"He does now." By now Brainy was standing before the cd player, inserting the cd. "As to before, they got in touch. It's kind of interesting, really. He explained it on that request show he did on that Arts & Bio channel."
"He must have been the first country artist to do that show."
"Second, actually. The first was Vince Gill--"
"Vince Gill?" Lila's face now underwent its best anime impression as her eyes went all starry. "That tall dreamy hunk with the ever so beautiful blue eyes and the oh so adorable dimples and the ever so yummy pearly white smile and--"
She was interrupted as Brainy addressed the ceiling. "My fault for mentioning him." As she quieted herself, Brainy's line of sight went back to her. "I forgot that most female country fans are in love with either him or Alan Jackson. Just remember, it's talk like that that broke up Gary Chapman & Amy Grant's marriage."
Lila nodded understanding. "I'll behave."
Brainy nodded too. "Right. Now, as I was saying, Black explained on that request show that he had a friend who lived in Ohio & had a brother who lived in Los Angeles and worked at a gym, and the brother's partner was fitness trainer for Mr. Idle's wife. So he practically knew the guy." Now Brainy had had enough of explaining; his finger went to the PLAY button. "But enough of this; let's just listen to the music, in the words of the Doobie Brothers."

And they did. And they thoroughly enjoyed it, though I can't honestly say that them moving the couch over to that corner of the room didn't help their enjoyment. They laughed in places, they cried in places, and generally reveled in the sounds and in each other's company. Also, Brainy had brought some Yahoos with him; that might have contributed somewhat to the situation.
The enjoyment approached its height on the last song, as should be the case. At the appropriate places they both yelled out such things as "I can't take it!" and "Side to side!". And on the bridge before the last verse they actually got up and danced with each other. Word of advice, people: you can overdose on Yahoos, and when you do you do crazy things. That's my public service announcement.
When the bridge ended and the man started singing again, they flopped back onto the couch, laughing like all get out, as the folks used to say. They even found themselves singing along at the end...
"...And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space,
" 'cause I'm afraid that we've been cheated here on Earth!"

The song ended, the two of them threw their heads back onto the couch and laughed, and laughed.
Finally...
"Oh, that was ever so silly!"
"Wasn't it though? heheheheheh, *breathe* mm, ah, but with what we've been talking about we needed a break, I know I did."
"No argument there."
They sighed contentedly, and took a bit to gather their thoughts, or just let their thoughts run wild, until Lila broke the silence.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think; is there intelligent life?"
"Not on this planet."
She playfully swatted him. "You know what I mean."
"Owie!" he commented sillily before shifting his mind back into thought gear. "Yeah, I do. Life on other planets."
"Do you think it exists?"
"Do you?"
"Well, yes. Some people call it God."
"Ah, yeah. The great debate: God or aliens."
"What are your thoughts on it?"
Silence reigned; he was thinking on this one, long and hard. "I don't know. I mean, I'd hate to think that what passes for civilization here is the absolute apex of life in all universes and dimensions. I'd like to think that there's something beyond us, something bigger than ourselves, smarter, stronger. The Unmoved Mover, or whatever. And a lot of people believe that there are aliens next to whom Planet Earth would be a backwater or an obstruction or something to be destroyed if someone decides to put a highway through this part of the cosmos. And those same people, from Sagan on down, would refuse with every fiber of their being to believe in God or a Creator; I guess it's easier for them to believe in aliens."
Now he was warming to the topic, and getting a bit carried away too. "I try to see both sides of the matter, and I think I succeed at it. I mean, on the one hand it is very easy to believe everything came from creation, but on the other hand it's equally easy to believe it didn't, depending on your mindset, your point of view. What would be a matter of faith to some would be so much hocus pocus to others. On the other hand, who's to say it wouldn't take just as much faith or more to believe the other way seeing there's no proof that things happened either way. On the other hand, maybe things did evolve just the way some say, and for which things having evolved the way they have is all the proof necessary. On the other hand, maybe there's something to be said for the appearance of age theory. On the other hand, that too takes faith. On the other hand, there's so many holes, so many missing links. On the other hand, just because they're missing doesn't mean they don't exist. On the other hand, now who's clinging to pie-in-the-sky? On the other hand, that's exactly what those who cling to the opposite point of view would be expected to say. On the other hand, that doesn't make it untrue, which is the same thing the other side was saying. So it seems both sides are clinging to faith and hokum. On the other hand, at least one side doesn't try to enforce its beliefs on the other side. On the other hand, you could have fooled some as the other side is being taught as fact, not as theory, which it is. On the other hand, there's scientific theory backing that. On the other hand, there seems to be a shutting out of any attempt to theorize on the other side. On the other hand, it's being shut out because it's strictly a matter of faith not of science. On the other hand, have they looked at any of the evidence for the other side? On the other hand--"
"Edward!" Lila had had enough. "Not even Clydesdales measure that many hands!"
For once, she had thrown him; he looked at her blankly as he tried to process what she's said. Finally, "Oh, that many HANDS!"
Now somewhat becalmed, he willed himself to come down from the fever pitch to which he'd driven himself. When he'd gotten control of himself, a question occurred to him.
"Lila, you're from the country, maybe you'd know; why do they still measure horses in hands?"
"Um, tradition? Evolution? The last vestige of the time when everything was measured with parts of the body? I don't know. And you're trying to change the subject."
"Yeah, I guess I am."
Now she was evaluating him again; now she was the one deep in thought. "Let me guess. The first of summer every year you come to this room, shut yourself in, only come out for meals and other physical needs, sleep in here, and fill the rest of your time with reading, reading, reading?"
"Huh?"
"What you've just said is something I'd expect to hear on college campuses."
"You know you're right?" He pondered, again. "Well, you know that I'm gifted."
She nodded.
"And, I don't know, I've always been that way. People used to know that too; I've had the nickname 'Brainy' for as long as I can remember. I've had it for so long, I guess that anymore, people call me that without even wondering why. And even aside from that it's not really inconceiveable that I'd know so much. We get the usual magazines, we have books, sometimes it rains or snows and we have to stay inside; there's not nearly so much reading material at the apartment in town but there is some. And if you'll do some research you'll find that about all the Founding Fathers were still in their teens when they graduated from college, Ivy League colleges! And the courses were far tougher then than they are now; I've seen some of those old readers and there's stuff eighth graders were expected to know that would stymie today's college students. So why couldn't someone know so much in his teens today? Some people make mischief; I make the reading list, in secret of course. I'll participate in group activities like sports or whatever, go to birthday parties, you know, but otherwise..." he trailed off, forgetting where he was. "What were we talking about?"
"This whole thing started when I asked if you thought there was intelligent life elsewhere."
"Right. And my answer is, whether it's God or aliens, I hope so." Here his expression noticeably sobered as he started on an angst-filled track. "Because like that song said in the original, it's bugger-off here on Earth."
He leaped to his feet and started to pace. "I mean look around, Lila. This is a terrible, horrible, spoiled rotten place filled with terrible, horrible, spoiled rotten people. Trust me, you don't want me to get started on this, but..."
But he had already started. For the next hour and change he rambled on with a blanket indictment of Earth and everyone on it, mankind and all of its many divisions. That he had indeed been reading up on a multitude of subjects came through as he brought up and dressed down both sides of all the hot button issues he could think of. Taxes, war, defense, abortion, gay rights, public education, church state separation, security, degenerating moral values, euthanasia, and so on. And no demographic escaped his scorn either, as he ripped every piece of humanity he could think of. Liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, fundamentalist or moderate, Orthodox Catholic or Protestant, Jewish Christian Muslim or other, believer or pagan, theist deist or atheist, rich or poor, big business or big government, communist or capitalist, anarchist or totalitarian, lower middle or upper class, the youth or the elderly, male or female, gay or straight, red or yellow black or white, none were worthy in his sight as he went on citing example after example --- some taken straight from recent newspapers --- to run down group after group after group.

Finally, he ran low on gas and flopped back on the couch, breathing as deeply as his asthma would allow to recover his voice.
Lila had kept quiet through the whole character assassination, but now she addressed him. "Have you had enough?"
Amid inhaling and exhaling, he nodded.
"You're quite the Jonathan Swift, aren't you? Loves people, but hates mankind?"
His breaths got short as he laughed through his nose. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Edward, if you know what's wrong with the world, why don't you do something about it?"
"Like what? No one would listen to me; there's nothing anyone hates more than being told they're wrong. And coming from 'Brainy the geek'?" He shook his head. "No Lila, the world is doomed. There's these two basic laws of the universe called the Laws of Thermodynamics. Well, I've figured out the two basic laws of planet earth: Life is unfair, and people don't care. No one cares about anyone or anything but themselves, and those who do, well, that's not of this earth. But the hate and the greed and the laziness and the stubbornness and the abuse of power and the--"
"So what are you going to do if you're so sure that all is for nothing?"
"Look for some place no one knows about, go there, and wait for the end where no one will notice me, where I won't bother anyone. I did get 'woodsperson' on that aptitude test; maybe I could make use of that."
"Maybe take to the sea?"
"No!" he answered quickly, and definitely.
"Why so strong on that? It would kind of be in line with the family."
"That's why. Maybe there's a family bent for the sea; maybe there's also a family bent for living on the wrong side of the law. I don't want to go there. I don't want to go back, only forward."
"Point taken, again. So what are you going to do? Maybe get a farm somewhere?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"Is there anyone you do believe in? Anyone at all?"
"Precious few. The ones that occupy my mind as being worthy, are Arnold, and Helga's faith in and love for him. Now, those are pure, those alone are worthy. In a way, that's why they have to get together, Lila. That's not all of it --- I've told you my other reasons --- but that is a big part of it. Those two are supposed to be together; they're the last hope humanity has I think. If they get together, his altruism, her belief in him, his dogged determination, her fiery resolve, they can change the world."

Just when she thought she'd become immune to being surprised by Brainy, Lila found herself floored again, at just how much of a cynic yet romantic he could be. And just as well, as now he flashed her a curious glance. It was his turn for questions.
"So you know Swift? Interesting; most people don't know him for anything but Gulliver in Lilliput. And of those, most wouldn't be able to tell you who wrote it."
She was silent. But he persisted.
"You're smart too, Lila. Smart enough that Phoebe once felt threatened by you. They must have a great school in Pleasantville."
She took in a sharp breath when he mentioned her hometown. Then, as the storm started in earnest outside, another storm began to well up inside her. Symptoms thereof issued from her eyes. "They didn't have a regular school there. It's in that part of the state that the Amish settled, so they educate their own children."
"And you?"
"Home school."
"Wow. I must tell you I've heard good and bad things about that too. An internet buddy of mine works at a home school. He's told me story after story of failing students who once they get their materials including the answers to the tests make hundred after hundred. Their parents are too busy or just can't be bothered with helping them learn, and the students take the easy way out; of course they're in for a rude awakening. Meanwhile, what can the school do."
"It wasn't that way with me. My parents made sure that I knew everything a girl my age was supposed to know, and then some."
"And outside activities?"
"I'd study in the mornings and be outside in the afternoons. Of course there was always work to do, but, um... And then in the evenings there was extra reading. We have all these books at home. All the classics. And Mommy..." she trailed off; this was bordering on too much.
Of course Brainy noticed. "Lila?"
"I'll be all right. As I was saying, Mommy, she, she especially would make sure. She'd have me read those books to her, she'd ask me about what I was reading, and somehow, she always managed to make it fun. I guess I didn't know better; I thought learning was fun. I still do."
She was going downhill fast. Brainy, distraught as he was, tried to do something to ease her pain at the memories. He grabbed her hand and squeezed to let her know a friend was near.
"That last week, before... there was nothing to do but wait for the end. But she wouldn't have it; she'd have me put some music on, and she'd ask me to read to her, to keep reading until..." Her head slowly swung around, until she was gazing out the window, into the storm. "It was raining then too. There was really nothing else I could do. I read everything, every book in the house to her. I..."
He put his arm around her. "I'm here, Lila. If you need to cr-"
"No!" she choked out before determinedly continuing. "When we were getting ready for the move here, we put the books in my hope chest; you know what a hope chest is, right?"
He nodded.
"I, I haven't taken them out since we got here. It's too painful, remembering, it's, it's too painful..."
It was still too painful, too much for her; she broke down under the weight of the memories. She fell onto his shoulder, crying; what could he do but hold her until the storm passed, so to speak.

Which it did, eventually. Brainy held Lila, letting her cry, letting her let out the pent-up emotions. It was the second such situation she had gone through that summer; the other one being with Phoebe at summer's beginning. It was one of the few things about the situation which Brainy didn't know.
When the flood started to subside, Brainy went into action, wielding his ever-present package of tissues. He tended her, helping her dry her eyes and blow her nose, then he excused himself so he could get her clothes out of the dryer.
All things considered, the emotional spending of herself coming on top of the rigors of the day, Lila could be excused for doing what she did next, particularly taking into account the fact that the couch was so comfortable. In short, she fell asleep.

================================================================

When Brainy arrived with her clothes a moment later, he found Lila in a fitful sleep. Fitful? Actually, it was a bit chaotic; she was literally tossing and turning, and screaming.
"Lila?"
"WHY? WHAT HAVE I DONE? COULD SOMEONE AT LEAST TELL ME WHAT IT WAS I DID? PLEASE!?!"
He dropped the laundry. "Oh my God. Lila?" Was all he said as he ran as well as he could considering it was just a matter of feet between the door and the couch. "Lila!"
"NO, PLEASE! I DON'T WANNA GO! I'VE BEEN GOOD, HAVEN'T I? HAVEN'T I BEEN GOOD? WHAT DID I DO WRONG?"
"LILA!!" Now he was shaking her, desperately trying to get her to wake up. "LILA, WAKE UP!!!"
"Don't send me down there, don't, I can't, you can't, y-" And as the old line goes, then she woke up.
But the waking was no more serene than the sleeping had been. She was sniffling, whimpering; in fact as far as Brainy could tell she was on the verge of panic.
"Lila?"
" *snif*, *snif*, *sob*, *whine*, uh? Ed- Edward?"
"I'm here, Lila. You were having a dream, that's all it was, just a dream. You're all right, Lila; you're safe here."
Her breath staggered as she slowly adjusted to the reality she had known just before her nap. She seemed to freeze for a time, and then she let loose anew, breaking down as she fell on top of him, seizing him in a death grip.
He found himself having deja vu, but he didn't think of complaining; all he could think about was comforting the fragile girl in his arms. Not knowing what else to do, he rubbed her arms and whispered, "Shh-sh-sh-sh-sh. It's all right, Lila. It was just a dream."
"It, it was horrible!"
"Tell me about it, Lila. I've heard that if you tell about your dream you won't have it again; it's worth a try."
"I was, *sob*, before the Judgment Seat. I was ready to go to Heaven, but there, *sob*, were dozens of Helgas demanding that I go to, to.."
"The other place?"
She nodded. " *snif*, and I wasn't really scared, until He made his pronouncement."
"He? You mean... And he agreed with the Helgas?"
Another nod. "He said, he said, he said I was conniving and, and manipulative, *snork*, and, and the incarnation of evil. A-, and then the ground opened under me and I, I saw it, Edward! The fire, the heat, the smell, it was all so, so..."
He could see she was about to blubber again, so he tried to head it off. "It didn't happen, Lila. None of it was real. Just keep telling yourself that." When he was met with silence he thought he'd succeeded. He looked, and found her thinking. "What?"
"I was just wondering why He had 'C.B.' embroidered on His robe."
That stymied him. After giving it a deal of thought, if not a great deal, he shrugged it off. "Ah, forget it; strange things happen in dreams."

A few more tissues later, they'd settled down somewhat on the couch, the clothes in the doorway forgotten for the moment.
"'Miss Perfect'. That's what they call me."
Brainy was uncomfortable at that turn of the conversation. "Well..."
"It's not as if you don't know; you mentioned it that first day."
He sighed. "Yeah, people do call you that."
"It's as if something's wrong with being nice, with wanting to be a good person."
He said nothing.
"I can't help it; it's the way I was raised. All my life my parents have believed, and have taught me, that I should always be nice and, just try to always do right. Are some people so cynical that they cannot accept that?"
"I guess. To some people, there is no such thing as really being good, really being kind and nice and sweet to everyone; you have to have a hidden agenda, an ulterior motive."
She let that sink in. "When, Edward? When did it become bad to be good?"
He shifted his position. "I don't know; probably some time after the 'God is Dead' movement. Rejection of religion, no moral center, no absolute right or wrong, it was just a matter of time until some started thinking that the only wrong was right. Ergo, you're a target, unjust as it is. *sigh* But maybe all of this is just the Yahoo talking, *urp*, uh, excuse me."
"You're excused," she mumbled, otherwise not moving from where she was.

*BEEP BEEP*
Brainy let out a groan at the sound; he recognized it of course. Then, with a heavy heart, he checked his watch.
4:30. Time to start getting ready for the trip back to Hillwood.
*sigh*, "It's time."
*sigh*
"I know, but what can we do; time waits for no one."
So saying, he got up. Facing the doorway, he saw her clothes which he had dropped. He strode to the doorway, picked them up, and returned. "Here's your clothes. I'll, uh, go get the boat ready. You know the, way out, uh, and uh, don't, worry about the bathrobe, you can leave it where it, where it is."
Her mind was on him, but her eyes weren't. Appearing to daydream, she nevertheless heard him as she nodded absently. He then left again.
He walked, and puttered; she dressed, and walked; both in utter silence.
"Darned training bra."
Well, pretty much.

How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
Easy to be hard, easy to be cold.

================================================================

Meanwhile, at 4040 Vine Street...
"So I'll see you in a while, Gerald."
"All right. Later, man."
"And you be careful out in that storm."
*click*
"So, Hair Boy go home?"
Arnold turned from the back door to face the one who was becoming his other best friend. "Helga, I am home."
"Huh?" Then she got it; slight frustration was duly added. "Not you, Hair Boy, I meant the other Hair Boy! Doi!"
She crossed her arms and turned away, trying to avoid his famous half-smile.
"Yeah. He had to get home a little earlier today. Aside from the weather, there's something special going on for his family at their church tonight. Jamie O. goes up to the U. tomorrow, so this is his last day here. There's some sort of sendoff planned at church, one of their young men going on, you get the picture."
"Yeah, I do. And you're going, too?"
"Sure."
"Strange, I'd peg you to be more likely to want to escape from church."
"I am, but it's more a family thing. And where Gerald's family goes to church is cool. Oh, plus a potluck at these things is standard after the service."
"Ooh, never pass up free food, right?"
"Why not, I am a teenager now."
"Mm."
"I guess they'd accept an extra if you wanted to come."
"For Geraldo's brother? Talk about a double negative. Nah, it's not enough notice, raining, give me some time I'll come up with some more excuses."
"No, you made your point. Anyway, ready for this week?"
"We've gone over and over that, footballhead."
"Oh yeah."
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
"So," Helga started, "I guess I'd better be getting home."
"Bad weather for walking."
"I brought a raincoat."
"True. Did you bring an umbrella?"
"Um, no."
"Then I'll walk with you."
"You don't have to do that, most of the way is by bus anyway."
"I know I don't have to do it, I want to do it."
"Well, thanks, I guess."
Arnold smiled, but the smile soon faded as he started thinking. "Have we done this before?"
"What?"
"I was just having this feeling of deja vu."
"Hmm, there's a lot of that going around." she muttered, before saying, "Um, I don't know. If we have I've forgotten."
Arnold processed this bit of non-information, shrugged, then flashed one of his famous half-smiles. Turning, he said to Helga, "Just let me find my raincoat and umbrella, and I'll be right back."
"Okkay, don't take too long, footballhead."
By now he was sprinting for the stairs. "I won't. Don't go anywhere without me!"
And now he was out of earshot. So, Helga turned over in her mind all the meanings of his last sentence. "Oh you footballhead, if I could I'd never go anywhere without you, for life. *sigh* " She then caught herself, but this time she didn't slap herself. Arnold wouldn't like it if she did. She waited for him. And his umbrella. The more things change...

How can people have no feelings?
How can they ignore their friends?
Easy to be proud, easy to say 'no'.

================================================================

Not much was said on the boat ride, but Lila wanted to. So did Brainy, really. But neither one did; they couldn't, or so they thought.
Finally, when they were almost there...
"Edward?"
"Huh?"
"There's something I've been thinking about..."
*HONK HONK*
Brainy's attention was arrested. "That would be your father." He checked his watch. "4:55 by me; guess he wanted to get here early, and who can blame him."
"Mm." Lila sighed, her chance having passed. But now Brainy had pulled up to the dock. As if he was running from something, he bounded up the ladder and tied the boat to the dock. He then reached down for her hand. She reached up for his hand, and in due course was also on solid ground, so to speak.

Especially people who care about strangers,
Who care about evil and social injustice.
Do you only care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend.

Neither Arnold nor Helga had much to say on the bus, really. If one was to scan their minds, one would find pretty much the same opinion, that anything said would in some way damage whatever it was they were experiencing. So they didn't dare.
But that had to have an end, if only the end of the bus line. But before that happened...
"Here's my stop."
"Let me get off first, so I can have the umbrella ready."
She nodded, and he was as good as his word. From the time she left the shelter of the bus roof, to the time they were at her door, not one drop fell on her. She beamed, basking in the warmth and security she felt from Arnold and his umbrella, warmth and security a decade in the making.

How can people be so heartless?
You know I'm hung up on you.
Easy to be proud, easy to say 'no'.

The Sawyer's car drove off into the night, toward their house, and thence to church. Lila chose to sit in the back seat. She practically plastered herself against the rear window, watching until Brainy was out of sight.

Especially people who care about strangers,
Who care about evil & social injustice.
Do you only care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
We all need a friend.

"Here we are."
"I can see that, Arnold."
"Helga, no one else here? It's all right?"
*sigh* "I'm sorry, Arnold. You've been wonderful, and you don't deserve that."
"It must be hard to keep being tough, when you're really so much more than that."
"Yeah, well, I'm still tough, Arnoldo, don't you ever doubt that..."
"I believe you."
"...but I do appreciate what you're saying."
"Um, yeah."
"Yeah."
silence
"I guess I should get inside. And you'd better get going if you don't want to be late for that service whatever."
"I guess."
"It's just too bad I never got a crack at Geraldo's brother; it might have been interesting."
"Helga..."
"Hey, I'm kidding, Arnoldo. Give'em my regards."
"Okkay. See you."
"Bye, Arnold."
"Bye, Helga."
*click*

How can people be so heartless?
How can people be so cruel?
Easy to be proud, easy to say 'no'.
Easy to be cold, easy to say 'no'.

That evening, at two houses several miles apart, Brainy and Helga went through the motions with their respective families.
At the same time, in two churches, Arnold and Lila were also engaged in activities. They were trying to fully participate, but their hearts just weren't in it.
Four people with their heads somewhere else, four hearts at crises.

Come on, easy to give in, easy to say 'no'.
Easy to be cold, easy to say 'no'.

There was much to think about that night. Arnold in the boarding house, Helga in the brownstone, Lila in the apartment, Brainy in the mansion, all had trouble getting to sleep that night.
Something was coming. None of them had full knowledge of the events that were soon to unfold, but all felt them coming, and all were grieved at the aches the knowledge of the uncertainties caused. And at their feelings toward their close friends.
Arnold and Helga. Brainy and Lila.
Four heads finally fell to sleep.
Four troubled sleeps.

Much too easy to say 'no'.