Helga dropped her bookbag on the floor of her lair and sighed while pulling her journal out and speedily grabbing the nearby pink pen and flipping the book open to the nearest blank page.

Hidey ho, Journal.

You'd never believe the day I just had.

As you know, parent teacher conferences were today and let me tell you, they were something to talk about. First of all, not only did we leave the house late, but the car didn't start so we were even later than usual. Now you might think that this was a good thing because you'd think hey, maybe we wouldn't run into Arnold's parents, but you would be wrong, dear journal. You would be very wrong.

Not only did we run into Arnold's parents once, but we ran into them TWICE. But I'll get into that later.

First, I wanna talk about the actual conference itself because it was a DOOZY. So we sit down, right? In the desks that Bob could hardly fit into and Miriam missed completely falling on the floor at first only to stand up and stumble into it before the conference began. Once everyone was seated and my teacher was giving my parents a very uncomfortable look, he pulled out a few of my papers and straightened them on the table before beginning.

"So first, I'd like to talk to you a little about Helga this year and how well she's been doing. Just a little check-up on her progress here in the sixth grade." the teacher said and my parents exchanged a look before returning their gaze back to the front of class where my teacher was sitting.

"Yeah?" Bob said, "How bad's she doing?" He said optimistically (insert heavy sarcasm here) and my teacher's eyes widened at his comment.

"Actually, Helga is one of my best students."

This caught my parents by surprise. "She is?" Bob asked and my teacher nodded his head.

"You haven't noticed by her report cards?"

Of course, my parents NEVER notice my report cards as they usually just throw them out for lack of care but they shrugged their shoulders and took some of the papers that my teacher handed them and glanced through the A's that stared back at them from each of my assignments.

"Wow, kid, you're almost as smart as Olga," he said and the teacher nodded his head.

"Your daughter actually tested outside Olga Pataki, your other daughter, back in the fourth grade on her aptitude test." He said and this shocked my parents who's eyes went completely wide with stupor.

"She...she did?" Miriam stuttered out and my teacher nodded.

"She didn't tell you?" My teacher asked in surprise before clearing his throat and continuing. "Helga has a perfect 4.0 GPA. She's at the top of her class with another classmate who I'm not at liberty to discuss at this particular meeting," Though we all knew he was talking about my best friend Phoebe Heyerdahl.

"Geez kid, who knew you had the Pataki smarts too," Bob commented and the teacher glanced between my parents in almost disappointment at the way they were treating their kid.

"I'd also like to discuss perhaps Helga skipping this grade for seventh. She seems to not be challenged anymore by this grade." My teacher said which was a surprise to me and I shook my head, though Bob spoke up.

"Is that gonna cost us anything?" He asked and I rolled my eyes as the teacher laughed quietly to himself.

"No, it wouldn't. I just strongly advise that Helga be challenged by her academics, and I don't believe she is in this classroom."

"Well I'm not interested," I said flatly. "I'd much rather stay right where I am." I stated and my parents nodded their heads.

"Clearly if she's doing well here, she should just stay put," Bob said and the teacher sighed.

"It is just a suggestion, but one that I believe you should all discuss as just an option. Another thing I'd like to discuss is Helga's superior writing and an opportunity that I think would really benefit her." He said and my parents raised their brows.

"Her writing?" Miriam asked.

"Helga writes?" Bob questioned and my teacher nodded his head.

"Very well. In fact, in all my experience as a teacher, I've never come across such a great writer at Helga's age." He opened a drawer at his desk and pulled out a flier which he handed to my parents. "There is a young writer's conference coming up that I'd really like Helga to attend. I think it would help her grow as a writer and offer some pointers to help her increase her abilities even more."

"And will THIS cost us anything?" Bob demanded and the teacher shook his head.

"The whole thing will be covered by the school as it is a school-led activity and only one person is chosen from each class to go. It's a coveted honor and I'd really like your permission for Helga to come."

Surprisingly enough, my parents signed off on it and now I'm registered to go to some big conference for writers all across the state to come together and talk about writing and all that jazz! I'm actually really excited about it, believe it or not. Who knew my writing would actually take me somewhere?

Now back to my parents meeting Arnold's parents. Boy, was THAT awkward. First, we ran into them at the hallway and thankfully they didn't recognize them, though they recognized Arnold. "Hey, isn't that the kid you keep seeing? Your boyfriend?" Bob had asked me and I rolled my eyes trying to blow him off completely. Then the meeting came and went and we exited the classroom only to run into them AGAIN just outside the hallway where they were waiting for their meeting.

"A-Arnold," I said and he smiled at me.

"Hey Helga. How'd it go?" He asked and I shrugged my shoulders as Bob and Miriam began on their bragging kick.

"Helga got accepted into some prestigious honor of going to some writer's conference deal." Bob said with a cross of his arms and Stella and Miles smiled.

"Good for you, Helga!" Miles said. "I knew all that writing would pay off. How's the journaling going?" He asked and I grinned.

"Pretty good actually. That journal is coming in handy believe it or not. Hate to say it, but I think you were right." I admitted and he smiled.

"Good, glad to say 'I told you so,'" he said and Stella and Miles adjusted their gaze to that of my parents who were eyeing them curiously.

"These are your parents?" Stella asked and I nodded my head reluctantly while taking a deep breath.

"Bob, Miriam, these are Arnold's parents, Miles and Stella." I introduced and Bob held out a hand to firmly shake theirs, reintroducing himself as he did so.

"Bob, Bob's Beeper Emporium. You want a deal, we'll give you a steal. You looking to get a beeper?" He plugged and I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous advertisement.

"No, actually, we just invested in cellphones ourselves," Miles said with a wink in my direction. "New wave of the future, don't you think?"

Bob frowned, snatching his hand away. "Cellphones are overrated. Just you watch, beepers will make their comeback."

"But aren't they only used to let someone know they need to make a phone call?" Stella asked, having had me to explain what they were just weeks ago. "Seems more convenient to have a cellphone just to call right away."

Bob glowered at Arnold's parents. "Haven't you two been gone for 10 years? How do YOU know what's in and what's out ANYway?" he demanded and the two shared a look before returning their gaze back in Bob's direction.

"We've had a good teacher," Miles said with a smile and Miriam set a hand on my shoulder.

"We-we should really be going, B," she said while pushing me in the direction of the exit as Bob remained in place.

"And who's that? My daughter I take it? She's been spending enough time over there at your house," Bob noted and I felt blush rise to my cheeks at his words.

"Well she's very welcome at our house," Stella said warmly, "We enjoy having her."

"As long as she isn't causing you too much trouble. She can be a handful." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"Like you would know dad," I muttered and he glared at me.

"Hey, hey, hey, no backtalk little lady, the adults are having a conversation, here." He said and I shut my mouth immediately while looking to Arnold for help at avoiding whatever would happen next.

Arnold cleared his throat while tugging slightly at his dad's shirt. "Let's uh, let's head inside. I'm sure my teacher is expecting us." he said and his parents nodded their heads while smiling in the direction of my parents.

"Nice to meet you, Bob, Miriam," Miles said while Stella nodded her head in agreement.

"And know that Helga isn't a handful. She's always welcome at our house," Stella added before they disappeared into the classroom leaving us alone in the hallway.

Of course the ride home was awkward as Bob complained the entire time about the cellphone-world taking over the beeper-universe and how everyone was going corrupt- even people who have been out of the picture for over ten years. Then he began attacking me for introducing them to the whole deal to which I only countered that if he were smart, he'd get into the business himself and get our house back before we were stuck in the emporium forever.

Needless to say, he didn't like that comment very much.

Oh well. As if I care what BOB thinks. Overall, the night didn't go as horrible as I thought it would go and the takeaway was definitely the fact that I'll be going to the young writer's conference in the next couple of weeks. Who knows what will be in store for me there?

Excited and Embarrassed,

Helga G. Pataki

Hello Again!

Bored of me yet? I'm finding this journal thing to be kind of cool the more that I do it. It's nice to have a place to write down all my thoughts even if they're just stupid or about my day. Maybe Miles was right, even if I don't have much to say today.

School was boring. Life was boring. I didn't go to the boarding house today because Arnold was sick from school.

Nothing much to report.

Restless,

Helga G. Pataki.

Criminy,

I just got back from Arnold's house and he was BEYOND excited for me to go to this writer's conference coming up.

"I can't believe you were picked out of our entire class!" Arnold beamed as we sat on his bed and I shrugged my shoulders.

"It isn't THAT big of a deal," I said nonchalantly, but Arnold disagreed and shook his head.

"Helga, it's a big deal. It just proves how good you actually are. Aren't you excited?" He asked and I nodded my head while closing my notebook that was sitting on my lap.

"Honestly, I'm really excited, yeah." I admitted and Arnold smiled.

"My parents are pretty excited for you too. Especially my dad. He can't stop talking about it. He's so proud of you."

I rolled my eyes. "What a goon," I said before chewing my lip and finally bringing up the topic I had been afraid of bringing up in the first place. "Speaking of your parents..." I said slowly, "did they say anything about meeting mine?"

Arnold grew quiet then, quickly staring down at his lap and shrugging his shoulders. "Not much," he obviously lied and I frowned.

"You don't have to lie to me, Arnoldo. If it's anyone who hates my parents it's me. I can take it. What did they say?" I pressed and Arnold took a deep breath before letting it out and finally speaking.

"They were shocked, I guess," Arnold stated, his mind focused on how to phrase it so he didn't hurt my feelings.

"Go on..." I pressed though he clearly didn't want to.

"I guess if I were you, I'd ask them yourself. They didn't really say that much to me." He admitted and I frowned while getting up from the bed.

"Fine then. Maybe I will." I said and Arnold reached out to stop me.

"I didn't mean do it now," he tried but I was already at the door and heading downstairs to find Stella and Miles on the couch in the living room watching TV.

"Hey Helga," Miles greeted me with a smile. "How's it going?" He asked though I was frowning and Stella leaned over to look at me.

"Is something wrong, dear?" She asked and I crossed my arms.

"My parents. You've met them now. What did you think. Honestly. And don't go giving me any of that sugar coated mumbo jumbo. I can handle it." I demanded and they exchanged a look before turning to look back at me and sighing.

Miles decided to take this one as Stella seemed to not want to offend me. "Your parents are... just as you described it seems," he said slowly. "And your father is-"

"Something else?" I finished for him and he nodded his head.

"I'm sorry for the way he treated you. He talked down to you and that's no okay. At least not in my book." He said and I shrugged my shoulders.

"It's nothing new. It's like that every day." I said and he patted the spot next to him on the couch for me to sit down, and I did so.

"Helga," he said as I sat down, "Your parents care about you, even if they don't show it."

"Well they really don't," I replied and Stella and Miles both nodded their heads.

"We think that it best that maybe you spend some more time with them and try to stop avoiding them so much." Stella said, the words seeming to come out harder than she expected and I raised my brow in curiosity.

"Are you saying you don't want me to come over anymore?" I asked and they both shook their heads adamantly at my suggestion.

"That's not what we're saying at all, we love having you here," Stella said, "But after what your father said, it seems to bother him that you're here so much-"

I cut her off quickly to give her the REAL reason why it bothered him. "It BUGS him because I'm not there to do free labor for him. He doesn't have a single worker in the store anymore because he can't afford it so he just has me do all the work for free. Don't you get it? I'm not avoiding some kind of family activity where we bond and do family stuff, I'm avoiding doing free labor and getting yelled at for not doing it just perfectly." I explained and they shared a look before nodding their heads.

"Alright," Miles said. "Well I can understand that. You're always welcome here and we're sorry you have to put up with parents who act like that but your mother, she seems to care about your well being."

I nodded my head looking down at my lap. "My mom is... different than my dad. She COULD be a good mom. If she really wanted to, I guess."

"What's stopping her?" Stella asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Her smoothies." I replied and they raised their brows.

"Smoothies?"

"I think she needs a friend or something. She's cooped up in that place all day with Bob just weighing her down all the time. You know, there was once a time where she used to pack me lunches and pay attention to me and actually care about my school work and all that jazz? It didn't last long, but for like a few weeks, I had a MOM. She's in there... somewhere." I said softly and Stella stood up from the couch, determined.

"Then I think your mom needs to get out of the emporium and meet someone. And I know just the woman for the job," she stated and I raised my brow.

"Are you serious? YOU think you're the answer to all of Miriam's problems?" I asked and Stella nodded her head.

"I think that a good friend can help anyone get out of their shell. Just let me try. If your mom really is in there, she'll come out. Especially if she has a confidant." Stella explained and I shrugged my shoulders.

"What have I got to lose?"

And really, what DO I have to lose?

Stella said she's planning on going over to the beeper emporium tomorrow to take Miriam out for lunch and a 'girl's day.' We'll see how that goes. Who knows? Maybe this will all work out and Miriam won't have to rely on smoothies to get through her day anymore. That's the goal at least. I'll let you know how it works out tomorrow when I get home from school.

Until then,

Helga G. Pataki

Welp,

Mom hasn't had a smoothie ALL DAY TODAY. Can you believe it? She's been completely with it ALL FREAKIN' DAY. No naps, no ignoring what's going on, and she even stood up to dad while he yelled at me for screwing up his display when I dropped a beeper and 'broke the merchandise' that he isn't even selling. Although we did have one customer. Some hipster who thought beepers were 'all the rage' and 'totally gonna make a comeback.' Poor fool.

Anyway, I guess Miriam went out with Stella, much to Bob's dismay, and had a blast. They went shopping and out to lunch and then had a pedicure or something and totally bonded. I guess they're going out again in a couple of days or something. She even told me that I'm allowed to go over to the boarding house any time I want! Score for Stella!

I had to thank Stella for all that she did, even if it's just a baby step in the plan of getting my real mom out in the open. I hope things are changing. It'd be really nice for Miriam to quit the smoothie habit and become the mom I know is in there. Heck, it'd just be nice for her to become A mom and start caring just enough to pack me a lunch every once in a while, though Stella mostly has that covered as she usually packs Arnold two lunches- one for him and one for me just in case I don't have anything to eat.

I'm telling you, the Shortmans are a blessing. Who knew that there are people out there like them who actually care and are willing to give you the shirt off their backs just so that you're okay? They care so much and for ME of all people. I hardly feel worthy of it all. Maybe it's just because I don't feel worthy of much of anything, but it's nice to feel it, even if it isn't from my own parents. I know I say it a lot, but Arnold is one lucky kid to have parents like them. This year at the Parent's Day competition, my parents better lookout because we have some serious competition. The Shortmans will kick some serious behind if you know what I'm talking about. They've been all over the world and defeated plenty of villians so our little relay races will be a piece of cake for them. I can already smell a winner.

In other news, Arnold and I are doing great. We don't fight much anymore and I hardly pick on him, besides his nicknames which are mostly in the loving sense now. I think he's grown attached to them since I've called him football-head ever since I can remember. They're all just terms of endearment. And since I know you're wondering, we haven't kissed in a while. Those moments are saved for special times which we haven't had in a while. We mostly spend our days in his room talking about this and that, sharing life experiences and wisdom and thoughts we have along with a secret or two. I feel like we're really getting to know each other for the first time. Sure, I knew his school schedule, his address, his phone number, the ins and outs of his life, but I never really KNEW him up until recently. It's a journey that I'm loving every second of, learning about Arnold. I just hope he's loving the journey as much as I am.

But we ARE only 11 and 12 years old, Arnold being just a few months ahead of me, that little twerp. There's still plenty to learn about each other as we grow. And speaking of growing, Arnold's getting to be pretty tall now, even though I've still got him beat by quite a few inches- still forever a true Shortman.

We're planning on going on a one-on-one date this weekend, and Arnold apparently has something up his sleeve because he won't tell me what it is we're doing. I'm a little nervous because I like to be in control of everything around me, but I'm trying to tell myself that it's a good thing to not be in control all the time. Either way, I'm excited because if I'm lucky, I'll get a kiss out of it and that's what's keeping me going throughout this whole week. It's funny, kissing. Once you get a good smooch that goes both ways, you kind of start to crave it and hope it happens more often than not. I'm not expecting a full make-out session or anything, but a kiss every now and again makes my heart melt because it lets me know that Arnold is still interested in me in that way and that our relationship is evolving the way it should be.

And I hope it is, because the more time I spend with Arnold, the more I end up telling him and the more we end up sharing about ourselves and our lives. It's weird, relationships, and how you end up feeling so comfortable with another person that you feel you can just tell them anything. All my life I've wanted that with Arnold and now I finally have that. Who would have thought my dreams would actually come true?

I haven't written poems in a while. I've been so happy that I've just been focusing on this silly journal and writing down my every thought and everything that's been happening. It's kind of addicting, really. Sometimes I even go back and re-read all that I've written just so that I won't forget the craziness of the week. Especially the part about the young writer's conference. My teacher says I should bring with me some of my best work, but that's hard when ALL of your work is your best work. I'm still trying to decide which poetry volume I should bring, but it's hard. I think I've decided I'll go through them all and pick out the best ones and just bring a collection of poems. Maybe THAT will impress someone. Who knows? Maybe I'll get published, can retire early, and Arnold and I can spend the rest of our lives traveling the world and marveling at the universe together.

Ahh, what a dream to have.

Dreaming of the best yet to come,

Helga G. Pataki

Just wait for the next chapter, things are really getting going on this story now and i hope you're really enjoying the journey i'm taking you on! Please be sure to leave me a REVIEW letting me know what you are thinking of this story! I love the feedback!

-Polka