Chapter Eight

"BRAINY? What are you DOING? You scared me to death! Are you following me again!"

He tilted his head around the corner to see if anyone was coming. "I...uh...know what you're doing."

"Did you just SPEAK to me!" she said, stunned, but he grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her into a back alley.

"I...um..."--snork--"...know what they're up to." His voice was extremely dull and Helga thought she hadn't heard one like it in her life.

"Pssh, what, were you spying on them, just like you do me?"

He nodded.

Then her sarcastic look faded and she asked seriously, "What are we going to do? I already tried breaking into his room...the security's too high!"

He shook his head and snorked again. "Not if you know the right techniques."

Helga followed Brainy back to the boarding house and the front door creaked quietly. The two tiptoed up the stairs, this time Helga in the lead, and Brainy followed, watching her dreamily. She was so brave and if she wanted something, she wasn't afraid to go out and get it. He knew how much she loved Arnold and he knew it was only the right thing to do to help her save his parents.

"This is his room," she said as they approached door #16. Suddenly, they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Hide!" she exclaimed, and the two charged into Helga's bedroom and opened the door a few inches to watch.

Mr. Smith was heading toward his room. "Shh, shh, shh," Helga warned and Brainy held his breath. They watched and it was so quiet a pin could be heard miles away. He meant to drop the key back into the deep pocket, but instead, it fell on the floor by his feet.

Sweat trickled down Helga's forehead as she watched nervously, hoping he would not notice. Mr. Smith opened the door just a crack and slipped into his bedroom in such a way no one could see around him even if there was anyone still awake...which there was, but he didn't know that. He closed the door behind him and it made the faintest click...and then...nothing.

"Go for it!" Helga whisper-shouted, but Brainy held her back.

"No. Wait." He looked both ways down the hall and then, slowly and steadily, they may their way toward the door. Brainy listened carefully, and, when he heard a quiet snoring sound, he nodded at Helga. She picked up the key, impressed at his cautiousness.

"But if we try to unlock it the sirens will go off," she insisted, but he just shook his head. Brainy got on his hands and knees and groped for something.

"Why are you sniffing the floor?" Helga huffed, rolling her eyes. "Shouldn't you be doing something productive?"

Suddenly, his hand rolled over a bump. "Give me the key," he mumbled, and she wasn't sure exactly what he was doing but handed it to him anyway. Carefully, he put the key into a keyhole on the floor and lifted a... "Floorboard! Well where does it lead to?"

"Under the floor," he answered, and she suddenly felt stupid. "We can cut the wires and turn off the security."

"He built wires under the floor?" Helga was astonished, dismayed at Brainy's abilities. "How did you figure that out! Brainy, you are a true genius."

He smiled and his stomach swarmed with butterflies.

"Now I know why they call you Brainy. What is your real name, anyway?"

"Um..."--snork--"...I don't know..."

Helga frowned. "You don't know your own name?"

"You're the first person that's ever asked that, actually...no one ever really cared. Even Arnold, the guy that helps and notices everybody, I don't think even knows I exist."

Then something dawned on Helga. This kid wasn't just a walking dummy--he really had feelings. And he was willing to help people that never lifted a finger for him...or lifted five fingers and whacked him in the nose...

"But didn't your parents ever tell you your name...or something?"

He shook his head. "They don't care. The only person they care about is my older brother."

"Wow. You and I have been living the same life."

"I know. But you're not afraid to defend yourself. I don't even like to talk to people cause I'm afraid of what they'll think of me. I wish I was more like you."

Another realization hit her. All her life she had wanted to be like Olga, or Lila, or Arnold...but here someone was, someone who all her life she had thought nothing of, wanting to be...her? And as much as she got ignored at home, no one ignored her at school...who could ignore Helga G. Pataki? But Brainy never had anyone to talk to.

"I need some scissors," he said, changing the subject. "Some wire-cutter scissors. Do you have any?"

"There are some out in the garage. I'll go get them."

Helga brought back the wire-cutters and Brainy carefully snipped all the wires in half and placed the floorboard back. Then he handed the key back to her and she unlocked the door. The two silently crept into the dark room and accidentally slammed it. Mr. Smith stirred and mumbled to himself, and Helga gasped and pulled Brainy to the floor. When all was quiet again, Helga whispered, "What are we supposed to do? We have to get Mr. Smith out of here."

"We'll hide and then wait until morning when he leaves for the day's agenda. I'll follow him and see if I can get more information, and you search the room."

"Oh..." she moaned under her breath. "Mr. Simmons isn't going to like us not showing up for school."

"We don't have a choice. Lives are at stake here."

"You know, in a weird way you kind of sound like Arnold."

They crawled into a corner and slipped under a desk, where they waited until morning.