Enjoy and Review please. :)
"Talking"
Thoughts
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS OF HEY ARNOLD THEY BELONG TO CRAIG BARTLETT. HOWEVER THE LYRICS WRITTEN ARE MY ORIGINAL CREATION ALONG WITH THE PLOT IDEAS. DON'T STEAL. THANKS.
May
Arnold had gotten advanced approval for Helga to be a chaperone on their most recent trip. Usually it was just him and James keeping the pack under control.
But luckily for them, in addition to Helga they had several other Chaperones. It was actually starting to look like a real field trip. Impressive.
The kids were loaded into the Outreach bus. Helga sat towards the middle of the bus to keep watch on the boisterous children. They were various ages from eight to twelve. Arnold stood at the front of the bus with a cabbie cap on his head. He counted their heads again.
He said, "Alright settle down everyone. Helga will be joining us today. She's a more than qualified supervisor so listen to her."
One kid twisted in his seat, "Who is she?"
"My wife. But it's not-"
One of the kids raised their hand, "Does she make you listen too?"
Helga leaned back, "Yeah, all the time in fact."
The kids seemed to be in awe. All of them chiming in with their own thoughts.
"I bet she's the boss at home too."
"If she's bossy, she probably mean too."
"Women are supposed to be the boss don't you know?"
Helga shot Arnold a devious smirk, "My you're all so smart. Precocious. Are you sure Mr. Shortman's been teaching you?"
Arnold shook his head as though defeated.
"That's enough." He said halfway amused, "Sit down and we'll be there soon."
Arnold flopped down into the driver's seat. As the bus lumbered into motion, the sounds of the kids asking more questions could be heard behind him.
The questions seemed to turn to middle school and he could already hear Helga winding up to tell a whopper of a story.
He let out a loving sigh, Typical Helga...
Arnold drove the bus up to the front gates. The children cheered from the backseats.
"We're here!"
"I can't believe we're going to the zoo!"
Arnold chuckled slightly as he put the bus into park. He barely stood up before all the children started to rush towards the doors. He put his arm out to block their exit.
"Hang on. There's some rules."
A girl groaned loudly, "Come on, Mr. Shortman! Just let us go."
Another kid chirped, "Yeah, it's really exciting. We know the rules!"
Arnold said, "I know. I know. But I don't want you getting lost. Or hurt. You're under our care right now."
"Boo!" Helga smirked, "Don't be such a wet blanket."
"Anyways." He shot his wife a look.
He went over the ground rules quickly but to the children it seemed like ages. Arnold slowly cranked open the door. The children started bouncing down the stairs.
Arnold yelled after them, "Keep an eye on your watches!"
A few other chaperones bolted off trying to catch up with the wayward children. It was evident this was a special occasion to the orphanage children.
A handful of students, about four or five, were trailing at the end of the group.
Arnold raised a brow as they shuffled out the door. He glanced to his wife.
She shrugged, "I guess they missed the coffee break."
"You gave the kids coffee?!"
Helga flashed a catty smirk over her shoulder but said nothing.
He let out a sigh mixed with a chuckle, Helga...
Once they were past the front gates, all the children grouped up with their chaperones.
A couple of chaperone groups decided to walk together down the winding cobblestone roads. There was no real structure to this event. It was more about it getting the children out of the orphanage environment for a few hours.
They were allowed to go wherever they wanted as long they met back around lunchtime for a tour with a zookeeper.
Arnold and Helga stood at the zoo entry gate. The food stands off to one side. Crowds of people bubbled to the other side down a winding path.
He took out a piece of paper, "Alright, Parker? Juniper? Felicity? John? And Randy?"
He glanced up to note the kids in turn. He listed off a few more names. There were ten kids in total. Not too hard to manage for two chaperones- you would think.
"Mr. Shortman," Parker, a boy with brown hair, said, "If we don't start walking, we won't be back in time."
"We have plenty of time-"
"Approximately four hours, thirty-seven minutes and twelve seconds. But I'm just guessing-"
Helga muttered to Arnold, "Bet he's a riot at parties."
Arnold nudged her and motioned for the kids to follow him. The group went down the winding paths after the others. Every so often they passed to look at the animals. Some animals garnered more attention than others.
They walked under a sweeping stone archway. It lead into the boreal forest animal exhibits. Parker and Juniper stood in front of the Moose exhibit. Helga walked up behind them.
Juniper was practically jumping over the fence, "It's so cool! I love MOOSES!"
Parker dodged her, "Actually it's "moose", even if there's a hundred of them."
"I don't care! They're ADORABLE!" She started climbing over the wooden barrier post, intent on going over the glass wall.
Helga swooped an arm around the girl and tugged her back. She raised the little redhead to eye-level, "Intent on being maimed, are we?"
"Psh," Juniper folded her arms, "Moose are kind creatures. And I love them."
Parker said, eyes wide, "Moose can be very aggressive, actually. In fact, that one has a baby, and probably would kill you on sight."
Helga shot the boy a look, "Fantastic." Before shifting her gaze to the girl, "The point is, stay on this side of the glass. Capeesh?"
Juniper let out a snort of begrudging acceptance before Helga let her jump to the ground again.
Ten minutes in the park and one's already trying to yeet themselves... Helga rolled her eyes, I wonder if Arnold is doing better...
Arnold had split off with the other group of kids towards another exhibit. The boys were hanging off the railing pointing at the brown bears down below. A few of the girls were off to the side chatting. There were crowds of people all around them caging them in.
Arnold kept a sharp eye on the group. Even though they knew him well and were generally good kids, he didn't trust that they would make the right decisions in a new environment. Plus he didn't really trust them not to get lost in such a big crowd.
A shorter little girl tugged on his shorts. A small frown on her brow as her wide brown eyes looked up at him, "Lift me."
Felicity... he swooped downward to lift her onto his shoulders. A small grin formed on his lips as her sounds of joy could soon be heard.
A warm fire kindled in his heart at such a simple action causing so much joy in another. He glanced behind him to see Helga's group of strays rejoin them at the glass. They shared a small look.
She chuckled motioning to the young girl on his shoulders, "You know you're going to be stuck with her now."
"Eh, I've been stuck with worse people." He gave her a pointed look, "I think I'll manage."
She sputtered for a moment, "Real cute. You think because there's witnesses, I won't kick your ass Shortman?"
He motioned for her to calm, "Language, Helga. Besides, you assume I was talking about you-"
"With a look like that, who else could it be?"
"I was very obviously talking about Rhonda."
"Oh?" She settled slightly.
A smirk grew on his lips, "Or Lila-"
"Now I know you're lying." Her face red as she gave him a playful bat.
"Ah, you're right. It was Helga that bully from school- do you remember her?"
"Seriously-"
"Yeah, she's nothing like you Olga. Perfect and beautiful-"
Helga practically snorted fire, "Criminy, you've done it now!"
He dodged her swipes and the calls of the children distracted them from their dumb little game.
"Over here you're missing it!" Called one.
"Its so cool!" Shouted another.
Felicity patted Arnold's head as though to urge him faster. He glanced up at her expectant face for a moment before taking off in a run. Helga sputtered at the sudden distance between them. Shaking her head, she caught up to the group.
She'd make him pay later.
But watching him with that little girl perched on his shoulders, it made her heart ache. He was going to be such a good father.
He flashed her a peppermint grin and his eyes seemed to glow in the midday sunlight. He mouthed the words, "I love you, Helga Pataki".
A stubborn flutter invaded her chest.
Maybe she'd let him live for one more day.
After a mostly uneventful lunch, the group was met by one of the zookeepers. There was a quick headcount before they were off again. The zookeeper droned on about his special responsibilities to keep the place running.
They followed him down the main pathways and into a restricted section. They walked down metal hallways that led to different rooms. Each room had a glass window and contained workers and baby animals they were trying to rehabilitate or were sick.
There were coos of excitement as they passed each window. Some of the kids pressed their faces against the glass leaving fog prints. As they neared the end of the tour, some of the children seemed depressed.
A few of them started dragging their feet. The other chaperones urged them onwards and finally the group made it back outside to the main pathway.
The zookeeper started to bid them ado whenever some of the kids piped up.
"Mr. Shortman," Parker said, "Felicity is gone."
"Juniper too!" Another kid squeaked.
Arnold's brow creased. He scanned the group once over, Oh no...they really are gone. Where could we have lost them?
The blonde caught the eye of the other chaperones and they started herding the group of children towards the buses.
James sauntered up to Arnold, "We'll keep them under control, go find the others."
"Right."
Helga walked closer to James, "You should tell the staff when you walk out to look for missing kids."
James nodded as he sprinted off.
Arnold glanced at his wife with some confusion.
"What- you think I'd let you do this alone?"
"Any ideas where they might be?"
"We better split up. They could be anywhere."
Arnold headed back through the hallways that the tour was in. He stopped and asked all the staff as he passed but no one seemed to know anything. Still he ran and checked every corner for the kids.
Girls be okay... he huffed around a corner, a shred of guilt in his gut, Felicity is so young to be alone. Why would she wander off?
Meanwhile Helga sprinted along the crowded pathways. The crowds had reduced some as the day was nearing a close but still no signs of the girls.
Her heart was pounding out of her chest and she couldn't help but wonder how anyone could bear the stress. It was bad enough to lose children- she couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose her own children in a crowd.
But just as she started to lose hope, there was a commotion up ahead. So many people had made a pocket around the area. Pleas and cries could be heard from around the group.
Helga broke through the mess to see that Juniper was cornered by a moose...with a baby moose at her side. How she managed to get the baby moose was anyone's guess.
The mother moose snorted ready to charge the young girl. Helga stood frozen in place trying to think of what to do. The creature pawed the ground and seemed unwilling to move for the moment. Perhaps it was worried about injuring it's own young?
This is bad! Where are the zookeepers when you need them?
Arnold made his way back through the winding paths. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon. He'd checked every place he could think of and still no Felicity.
As he came to the top of the hill, he saw the kids play ground was in sight. He'd already checked there once but with so many kids around it wasn't feasible to check every possible place.
He'd spent plenty of time on the playground to know there are plenty of places to hide if you know where to look. He lumbered up to the plastic slide. Glancing under it, and still nothing.
He climbed over the whole structure before tucking down into a space he knew he wouldn't fit. It was practically a tiny cave.
"Felicity?" He called, "Please come out."
It was silent for a moment.
Then a little girl came crawling out of the darkness. A small pout on her face. Fresh tears still wetting her cheeks.
His brows tilted, "Thank goodness I found you. I've been worried sick."
Felicity looked up. Her eyes wide as saucers, "You were worried?"
"Of course I was. We all were." He sighed, "Did you think we'd forget about you?"
Felicity didn't seem to know how to answer that question.
Arnold reached his arms out to her. In a startled leap, she met his embrace. Her tiny fingers clutched at his shirt. More wetness soaked his shoulder.
"We could never forget about you."
He took a few awkward steps to get out from under the equipment. He stopped to stretch his back before settling the girl on his hip.
He gave her a stern look, "Promise me you won't ever do that again."
"I just didn't want the trip to end. You're my favorite." She couldn't hold his gaze.
Arnold's heart was like jelly, No focus. She has to understand.
He let out another breath as she looked up at him, "I get that. But why did you run off? The orphanage isn't that bad, right?"
Felicity shrugged and buried her face into his neck.
Her lack of answer made him pause. It could mean many things. After all having personal one on one care would always be better than a group situation. Or was there something wrong with the caretakers?
He couldn't spend too much time thinking about it. He had to find Helga and get them going. And hope that she'd found Juniper.
Helga kicked off her shoes and pushed up her sleeves. The moose drew closer still. Helga knew she only had one shot at this and she was miles away as far as any normal human was concerned.
Juniper still seemed stubbornly intent on hugging the baby moose to her chest despite its bleating pleas. It enraged the mother and she charged towards the pair.
Helga managed to tuck and roll the girl out of the way. They scrambled to their feet and started running the other way. The mama moose hot on their tail.
What was it that Parker kids said about moose again?
Helga begrudgingly dug through her memories from the morning. Unfortunately one fact about moose wasn't enough for the poindexter. He'd rattled off many facts to which Helga was content to ignore.
But one piece of important information came back at the right moment.
"Hang on kid." With a swoop of her arm, Helga hoisted the young girl into a low tree branch.
In the next moment, Helga had pulled herself to sit in the nearby branch. The moose mama smashed her head into the tree seconds later. The girls clutched the rough bark. Cries of protest came from them.
The crowd below scattered as the moose dove at them next. The moose doubled back towards the lone tree and bashed it again seemingly intent on blood.
The tree shook violently.
Helga barked, "What were you thinking!?"
Juniper shrunk against the tree, "I dunno."
"I told you it was dangerous and you did it anyway."
"I'm sorry. It was cool-"
The moose hit the tree particularly hard. The girls lost their grip for a moment before clinging tighter.
"It's cool to get trampled?!"
"I didn't know!"
"Really!?"
"Please don't hate me." The tears were in full force. Large gobs of water fell down the redhead's cheeks.
The sight of it all softened Helga's aggressive stance.
She sucked in a deep breath, "I'd never hate you. If I didn't care, I wouldn't have saved you."
"But it's your job, you'll get fired." She rubbed more violent tears away.
"Hello," she motioned to her badge, "Volunteer."
Juniper sucked up her tears, "Oh. Cause you're my favorite, you know?"
"Really?" She felt lighter, After one day? And I'm the favorite?
Juniper nodded. The moose thumped against the tree. More leaves fell.
Helga glared down below, Crisis adverted. Now what to do about you?
Arnold walked over another hill with Felicity high on his shoulders. A group of people went blistering past them. He almost toppled over and for once cursed about their lack of concern.
Felicity patted his head and motioned towards the path ahead.
He almost jumped out of his skin when he saw the moose bashing the tree ahead. And then that dread only grew as he realized the two people he was looking for were at the top of that tree.
Most of the people had cleared out and yet still no zookeepers were in sight.
He pinched his brow, What would Mom and Dad do? Can't bring Felicity into the middle of this...but if I leave her she might run off again...
Felicity patted his head, "We need to hurry. Look!"
It seemed they were starting to loose their grip.
He had to chance it.
He swooped the girl off his shoulders and set her down on a bench far from the danger, but not too far out of sight.
He knelt down, "Promise me you'll stay here."
She patted his hand, "Yup."
He nodded curtly before dashing towards the danger. He'd only heard about things like this before from his parents' stories and he just hoped that it would prove true.
He grabbed a trash can lid and took a nearby stick. As he ran towards the moose, he clanged the objects together. It was distracting to the creature.
Unsettled it receded backwards towards it's young. Arnold clanged it long enough to make sure the moose would stay back. Quickly he reached up to help the girls down.
Helga said, "My hero. Where were you?"
"Was a little busy, thank you."
As the girls hit the ground, a few newcomers showed up behind them. A group of zookeepers were led by none other than his parents.
Miles said, "You got him subdued. Great job son."
Arnold raised a brow, "Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"
Stella said, "Heh, it's a funny story."
"The short of it is-" Miles said, "Your mom likes animals and we heard someone was in danger."
Helga folded her arms, "Running towards danger? Story checks out."
The zookeepers all shifted around them to slowly herd the distressed mama and baby back to their enclosure.
Arnold turned towards Juniper, "How on Earth did you let the moose out?!"
"Well, no one was looking so I went for it. I didn't mean for them to get out."
Stella looked ready to laugh, "Solid answer."
"Don't encourage her." Arnold gave his mother a stern look for once.
"Oh Arnold, you're going to be such a great father one day. Just like your dad."
Arnold blushed slightly, "Yeah, well. Someone had to do something."
Miles piped up, "Ah, these must be the kids from the Sunny Days?"
Helga started pushing the group apart, "Yes, and they are very late to the bus."
After a few more shared words, the groups parted ways. His parents made plans to see him again soon under not such dire consequences.
Helga and Arnold loaded the last two kids on the bus. She settled into the seats with the two and he reclaimed the driver seat. He glanced at James for confirmation and he returned a simple nod.
It was later than it should've been when they pulled up to the orphanage. Arnold knew Ms. Fletcher would probably ream him for it, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to leave any kids behind.
It had been very quiet on the bus ride home. The sun long since left the sky. The first twinkling of starlight on the misty horizon. The children slowly filed out as Arnold passed the rows.
They talked with each other and told their favorite chaperones goodbye. Finally he reached the back of the bus. A small grin played on his lips. He took out his phone and zoomed in close.
He snapped a picture of Helga with Juniper and Felicity snuggled into her side- which would be cute if they weren't all snoring and drooling all over each other.
He gently put his hand on her shoulder.
She startled awake and slapped it, eyes droopy, "Wha-?"
He chuckled, and motioned to the girls.
She blushed slightly before rousing her leeches. The girls clung to her tighter with happy smirks on their faces.
"Come on now-" Helga gave them a playful push, "You're not fooling anyone."
Arnold swooped down to pick up Felicity and started carrying her towards the front of the bus ignoring her protests. Juniper was roused to her feet and took long steps towards the door.
Arnold and Helga ignored the hateful looks Ms. Fletcher was giving them as they placed the girls on the ground once more.
Arnold kneeled before them, "Don't worry we'll have more trips to take."
Helga mirrored his stance, "Yes, less threatening ones."
Ms. Fletcher shot Arnold a look to which he waved that Helga was kidding before elbowing his wife. She gave him a sour look as they stood up.
"Hey," Juniper said, "You guys are good parents. Your kids are lucky."
"Well actually," Arnold rubbed the back of his head, "We don't yet."
"Why not? You want two?" she motioned to Felicity who was quick to grin as well.
Helga cackled, "Nice try, shortstack."
The girls looked downtrodden so Helga leaned down closer. She patted Juniper's head, "Hey kid, you're going places. Okay? Just not my place."
Arnold shook his head, "She means— you'll get adopted by the right family. I just know it."
The girls passed a look towards each other before gleeful heading towards the steps. They passed one more look at their caretakers and waved as they bounded into the orphanage.
Arnold and Helga made it home late that night but for once Arnold wasn't exhausted. In fact, he was wide awake. His brain still buzzing about the events of the day.
Having personal moments with those two girls had gripped him. It was like a knife stuck in thick cheesecake- it wasn't going anywhere on it's own.
Since they were still wide awake, they both headed into their tiny backyard. Throwing down a blanket, they decided to stargaze like they hadn't done in forever.
The pair of them lay flat against the crisp grass. A cool breeze blew through the trees. A small airplane floated by.
Tenderly he clasped his wife's hand.
She drew a finger though her hair, gaze entranced on the navy sky.
He said, "So?"
"Busy day, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Shit, if that happens everyday no wonder you're exhausted all the time."
"It's not all the time." He leaned up on his arm.
She glanced over at his face. His eyes seemed flashy and expectant.
She chuckled lightly, "I was giving you an out. Now you have no excuses.
"True." He drew his fingers through her hair leaning closer.
"I never thought I'd be able to react so fast," she threw her arms wide, "But that kid being in danger- it was like a superhero. Woosh!"
He laughed, "I bet."
"And sheesh, throwing Juniper up and climbing a tree. Now I've done it all."
"I wish I could've seen it." His face a breath from hers.
Her fingers gripped his shoulders, "If you wouldn't have been daydreaming, Hair boy maybe you would have."
"You know, you could just climb me." He wiggled his brows, "Since I missed it and all."
She shoved him playfully, "It's late."
"When has that ever stopped you before? Mrs. two am PB and J?"
She scoffed at his accurate deduction.
"M'am I believe I gave you an out-"
"Oh shut up and come here." She pulled him down hard. Her lips locked onto his.
He quietly followed her lead.
The stars the only witness to their rekindled flame. Restrictions be damned.
Reviews please. :)