Arnold ate his dinner quickly that evening, anxious to call Phoebe for date-related advice. He went up to his bedroom and called Phoebe's landline.

"Hello?" asked a deep voice.

"Hi, um...are you Phoebe's dad?"

"Yes I am. Are you a friend of hers?"

Arnold was relieved that he hadn't misdialed. "Yeah, I'm Arnold. Can I talk to her?"

"Hold on." There was a pause on Mr. Heyerdahl's end. Arnold nervously played with his phone cord.

"Hello?" That was Phoebe's voice.

"Hey Phoebe, it's Arnold. Can I ask you for advice on something?"

"Sure, Arnold," Phoebe said. "Considering all the help you gave me over the years, I think it's about time I return the favor."

Arnold took a deep breath. "I wanna take Helga on a date Friday night, but I can't afford the really romantic places. I'm wondering if you have any suggestions."

There was a second, lengthier pause. Did the call disconnect? Arnold wondered.

Then Phoebe spoke. "Friday night? Isn't that when you play checkers with Gerald?"

Arnold had somehow forgotten about that. "Uh...yeah. But I'm free on Saturday night."

"Perhaps you can play a board game with Helga. She hates checkers, but I'm sure you have other games."

Arnold grinned. "Yeah, a board game! What's her favorite?"

"I'm not sure," Phoebe said. "Maybe The Game of Life?"

Arnold laughed. "That's ironic. She always tells me she hates life."

Phoebe giggled. "She certainly prefers the board game over real life."

Then a new voice came on the line. "Can you hurry up, short man? I need to call the electric company."

Arnold's face fell. "Sorry, Grandpa."

"We'll talk tomorrow at school," Phoebe said. "Bye Arnold!"

"Bye." Arnold hung up. Maybe I should save up for a cell phone. He knew Helga was eager for sales.

Helga was smiling on his doorstep Wednesday morning. "Good morning, love! You look cute today."

Arnold blushed. "Thanks, Helga. You look cute, too."

"I know." Helga messed up Arnold's hair before going inside the boarding house. As usual, she smelled like a beach; Arnold planned to ask if her perfume had a cologne version.

He returned to his bowl of cereal, which was only half-finished at that point. He saw Helga zip her backpack open.

"What's that?" Oskar asked, pointing at the folder Helga pulled out of it.

"None of your business," Helga told Oskar. She turned to Arnold. "Wanna see something?"

Arnold nodded.

She handed him a drawing that looked like an ad. "It's just a draft," Helga explained. "The printed ad will have a photograph."

Arnold grinned at Helga's sketch. "She looks like my grandma."

"She is your grandma," Helga said. "I'm gonna make her model for me."

"Modeling, huh?" Gertie posed with a bowl of cereal. "How's this, Eleanor?"

Arnold's eyes were on the cereal bowl. "Is that Helga's bowl?"

"Helga?" Gertie looked at the bowl in her hands. "Why, this is for Eleanor Roosevelt!"

Arnold was worried that Gertie would spill it. He glanced at Helga, who looked amused.

Eventually Helga got her cereal, just as Arnold was finishing his. He went to the sink to wash out his bowl.

"Arnold was hogging the phone last night," Phil was saying as Arnold returned. "Who were you calling? The girl with the glasses?"

"Her name is Phoebe." Arnold looked at Helga. "She gave me an idea for a date."

"What, a study date?" Helga snorted.

"Uh...no." Arnold shook his head. "I'm gonna play a board game with you. I mean, if you want to."

"That sounds fun," Stella chimed in.

"Can I pick which one?" Helga asked. "I've always liked The Game of Life."

Arnold smiled. "I was hoping you'd suggest that."