Boarder By the Minute
NOTE: THIS WAS WRITTEN AS IF THE MOVIE HAD NEVER HAPPENED.
Helga stood in the rain as she waited for her dad to load all his things. She wished her dad hadn't lost his beeper job. Otherwise she still might be with Arnold. If she had known she was going to leave, she would have told Arnold her secret. It's not like she'd hear from him again.
Wet, cold, and dirty, Helga finally climbed in the back of her dad's car. She buckled her seatbelt, and off they went. I can't just leave everything I love behind, Helga thought. And finally, it came down to this...her family...or Arnold.
I've got to jump out, Helga decided; it's not like they'll ever care about anyone but Olga. But then again, I still love my parents. But how can I leave Arnold behind?
Helga stared out the window at the long road behind her, as if looking back on her past. Why couldn't she just have been nice to him? Then maybe he'd like her, and they could visit each other sometimes...or at least call each other once in a while.
Trees and bushes whizzed by. There was nothing interesting to see. She sighed. Who did she need more? Arnold, or her parents? Her parents could feed her food and give her something to wear...but Arnold was the only true person that could feed her hunger for love.
When they reached a rest stop, Big Bob and Miriam went in to use the restroom. Helga, too desperate to think straight, jumped out of the car and raced back down the road, anxious to keep her old life.
Helga wandered about, struggling to locate where she was. She looked around, trying to spot a nearby store. She realized she was in the middle of nowhere, walking along an empty dirt road. After what seemed like a few minutes, she realized that, to her surprise, she had lost track of time and it had been hours. Now she didn't even know which way to go.
Helga immediately realized what she'd done. "What was I thinking, ditching my parents like that? Did I think someone would offer me a home?" she said sarcastically. "Okay, get a grip, Helga. I'm sure they'll come looking for me. I'll just wait right here."
She sat down on the side of the road and tried to think straight. After hours of the sun beating down on her, she gave up and headed the opposite direction of her parents. "They obviously don't know where I am. I'll just try to find my way back home and get someone to help me. But how? How?"
She trotted aimlessly on. A few trucks passed, and, just as Helga was about to give up and try asking a stranger for a ride, she saw a store up ahead. "Maybe there's a map there!" she cried hopefully, picking up pace.
The bell rang as she opened the door and walked in. It was a little Mini-Mart. She made her way to the counter and asked the clerk if he knew the way to the nearest town.
"You lost, kid?" he said, taking a toothpick from his mouth.
"No, I'm just looking for the Easter bunny. Yes, I'm lost! Do you have a map or something?" she said impatiently.
"You can use a phone 'n' call ya par'nts."
"They're in their car right now, and they don't have a cell phone. Look, I'll handle this, ok?" she insisted, crossing her arms. "Just give me a map."
"Yeesh, talk about rude," she heard him mutter under his breath. He happened to have a desk behind the counter and opened one of the drawers. "Here's a map o' the surroundin' area."
She took it gratefully and left the store. "I must be here," she read aloud as she looked at the "YOU ARE HERE" sign on the map. "Which must mean civilization is that way."
Night approached, and it started to rain. At first it was a light, refreshing rain, but soon it became a heavy one, still increasing even more to nearly a downpour. Lightning flashed and thunder roared fiercely, piercing the sky in fury.
Helga, not wanting to get her map soaked, tucked it into her sleeve and searched for shelter. All she could see were trees. Lots and lots of trees. They weren't much of a protection against the lightning, but there was nothing else to keep her out of the rain. She sat beside its trunk and looked at her dress. She was drenched. She pulled out her map and hoped it wasn't too wet. Relieved, she discovered it was still possible to read.
She waited in the dark as the rain finally died down. Then she began walking further. Surely her parents would turn around and come back for her...right?
After what seemed like weeks and months and years, but was really only a few hours, Helga decided her parents weren't going to find her.
The time passed, and midnight approached. The stars were shining brightly in the sky, but other than that, it was pitch black and a little hard to see. After a while of joging, strolling, and running, she could see lights in the distance. They were city lights (cars, houses, street lamps, etc.).
Helga sighed with relief. "At leasst I wasn't going the wrong direction. But yet, how do I know it's my city?" She shrugged. "Oh well. At least it's something."
She made her way further along the sidewalk and now the restaurants and stores came into view. It was her home. She could tell by the houses and restaurants and the way they were lined up.
It was challenging to find her way back to her house in the dark. But finally, she rounded a corner and saw her home. She stepped up to the porch and hoped her parents had forgotten, in their wild rush, to lock the door. But there was no luck. It was locked.
She sighed and strided down the street, wondering why she'd been so stupid. She sat down next to a garbage can on the corner of the block and tried to fall asleep. But she just couldn't go to sleep at a time like this.
Finally, the street lights went out and the noises of cars passing became less and less. There was silence.
She glanced around, hoping there was a house with a light on. But there wasn't. Everyone was asleep. What was she going to do? She figured she'd think of something in the morning.
Helga blinked. The sun was shining brightly. She thought she must have drifted off, but wasn't quite sure. She was pretty well-rested, so she hopped to her feet and looked around. She was happy that everyone was awake again.
All the stores were open. It must be nearly ten o'clock, Helga thought. "Maybe my parents are at their new house now," she said out loud. "I'll just go to a store, and ask for help."
Then she changed her mind. "Ah, what's the use? They can't help me. I'm sure my parents will come back here and find me eventually... How long it will take is the question..."
She sat down beside the trash can again and thought. The minutes rolled by. It became hotter and hotter the more the day dragged on.
Suddenly, she heard some familiar voices on the other side of the street. Two anxious boys rounded the corner.
