Life is changing and fast it seems. Arnold was so much shorter the last time I saw him it seems, but the kid is sprouting like a weed. It won't be long before he reaches my height and even sooner before he tops me altogether. I tell ya, I'm not looking forward to THAT day. How can I call him a twerp anymore? I'll have to think of another name to call him. I guess he won't be a little shrimp forever.

In other news, the boys in our class' voices are sounding pretty funky. It's kinda funny really. Like today, Sid went to answer a question, and right in the middle of his sentence, his voice just gave out and cracked like three different octaves at once. It was hilarious and the whole class laughed. Poor guy went beat red. It was hysterical.

Probably not for him though. I sure am glad I'm a girl and don't have to go through THAT kind of physical change for the whole world to hear. 'Least girls' voices change easier than guys'. And we don't get adams apples like the guys, though Stinky has everyone beat- him and Harold are way ahead of the class when it comes to voice changing. The two of them went through all that a year ago, though it wasn't as dramatic as Sid's was today.

I wonder what it'll be like for Arnold and what his new voice will sound like. Will it still make me swoon like his voice does now? Will he still be the voice of reason for so many like he is today? Or will he too crack like the other boys and sound all weird for a time until it all smooths out? Will it sound smooth as silk? Will it be even better than before?

Tonight, I swoon at the thought of Arnold's soon-to-be new voice and hope it is just as beautiful as his voice now.

Here's hoping,

Helga G. Pataki

Since it's spring and all, the spring talent show for the sixth graders is coming up. Basically, it's this big deal talent show that you are obligated to audition for in music class for a letter grade and if you make the cut, you get to perform your act in front of the entire school with like 9 other acts. It's been a tradition since as long as PS118 has been open I think. You get an entire hour off of school just for it and everyone gathers in the auditorium to watch the sixth graders perform as their swan song to the school before going off to middle school the next year.

There's a talent show EVERY year, but none as important as the sixth grade talent show. But I couldn't care less about the talent show. It isn't like I want to be up on that stage performing anything to anybody. I mean what kind of talent do I have anyway? What would I do, huh? Read a poem or something? All I'd do is put everybody to sleep.

I don't know what Arnold has cooked up, but he wants me to come over tonight to talk about his plan for the talent show which is where I'm headed in a few minutes. I hope he isn't thinking I'm about to do some kind of performance or anything. He's funny if he thinks I'll do diddly squat. Maybe I WILL just do a poem so I can get out of the talent show altogether. They wouldn't dare put me up there for a sure-fire snooze-fest.

Oh well. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Be back in a few,

Helga G. Pataki.

I rarely actually write a laugh because I find it cheesy, but in this instance, I'll make an exception.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Whoof. Now that THAT'S out of my system, let me tell you about my little visit with Arnoldo.

I walked in the house, said hi to Miles and Stella who instructed me to meet Arnold in his room as he had a proposal for me, only making me slightly curious as to what they were talking about. I walked in his room, and the whole place was covered in props- fake flowers, doves, rabbits, hats, a giant box on wheels, the whole works and Arnold of course who was wearing a familiar cape and hat with a bow-tie and I stared at him with a raised brow while crossing my arms.

"What's with the get-up?" I asked and he clapped his hands once while opening them up to present himself to me with a wide smile.

"Welcome back, the astounding... Arnold-ini!" he announced and I brought my hand up to my mouth to hide my laughter as it ensued; Arnold dropping his arms and frowning at my reaction. "What, the costume's that bad? I thought the cape still fit..."

"It isn't the cape it's just..." I said between laughs before taking a deep breath to calm myself and starting over. "It's just, didn't this turn into a HUGE disaster the last time you tried the whole magic thing?"

Arnold picked up the wand he had sitting on the giant box-on-wheels and began to fiddle with it while he responded to me sheepishly. "Well, yeah, but I'm older now and I've thought a lot about the tricks I'd do this time."

"Oh yeah?" I pressed, "And just what kind of tricks are you planning? I see you've got the rabbit for the rabbit in the hat, a dove for the same kind of trick and some flowers you'll pull out of your vest no doubt, so what else could possibly be new?" I wondered, though this merely excited Arnold as he set the wand down and spun the box-on-wheels around to face me.

"May I present to you, the magic, box of knives!" He declared and I shook my head while reaching up to rub at the bridge of my nose.

"And what, prey tell, could THAT possibly be if the name doesn't give it all away?" I asked with heavy sarcasm though Arnold answered anyway.

"See, my assistant will get in the box, and I, the magnificent Arnold-ini, will preform the amazing task of shoving knives into the box without penetrating the person inside." He explained and I nodded my head while pursing my lips.

"Alrighty then. So you're gonna shove Geraldo in this here box and then stab him with knives. I'm game." I agreed though Arnold shook his head and stepped around the box to come towards me and set a hand on my shoulder.

"See, the thing that my show is missing is something even Gerald can't fill," he began to say and I looked at him with wide eyes knowing exactly where he was headed with this. "What I need is a lovely assistant. Someone who is smart and knowledgeable and good with keeping a crowd interested. And someone the crowd won't be confused as to who is the great Arnold-ini."

I smirked while still in shock and commented, "Well I'm pretty sure they'll all know who the football-head is, football-head."

"Helga, I need you to be my assistant. Please? I really want to get into this talent showcase and I can't do it without you." He pleaded and I sighed while dropping my arms to my sides.

"Arnold..." I whined, "I just... I CAN'T okay? I can't dress up in some froofy, sparkly getup and stand out there in front of everyone and do your every beck and call. That isn't me." I tried to justify to him, but he wasn't having it as he continued to try and talk me into his crazy idea.

"I just can't do this without you. I'll totally flop," he said sadly and while I knew it was true, I tried to suggest someone else, ANYONE else other than me.

"Why can't you ask Gerald, huh?" I asked and Arnold frowned while walking away from me to go back to fiddling with his wand.

"Gerald is doing some song he wrote while playing piano. He's a shoe-in for the showcase. Everyone is saying so," He quietly said and I raised my brow while seeing the real reason why this was so important to him.

"I get it..." I said suddenly enlightened, "You're jealous of Gerald..." I implicated though Arnold shook his head defiantly.

"I am not," he stated seriously though I could see right through him.

"Yes, Arnold, you so are. You wanted him to be your partner originally, didn't you? I'm your second bet, aren't I?" I went on to question though he didn't answer which was an answer all it's own.

With a frown, I walked over to him and looked directly into his eyes. "Look, I'll do your stupid magic show, okay?" I reasoned, "But on one condition," I stated and he looked at me with wild eyes, gracious that I'd finally agreed.

"What's that? Anything, I'm just happy that you're saying yes." He said and I smiled at him before giving my condition.

"I'm not wearing some stupid costume."

"We can talk about that." He backfired and my smile dropped.

"Excuse me? I just said that was my condition," I solemnly stated and Arnold shook his head.

"Helga, you have to wear a costume of sorts. I mean it doesn't have to be sparkly and... what was the word you used? Fruity?"

"Froofy," I corrected him and he went on.

"Right. It doesn't have to be like what you're imagining but you have to match me. You can't just go out there in your usual attire. We have to match." He insisted and I let out a dramatic sigh as my head dropped back and I caved.

"Fine," I said loudly, "Fine, fine, fine, ALRIGHT, already. I'll wear a stupid costume, okay? There. Are you happy?"

Arnold grinned while nodding his head. "Very."

So now we have to meet every day after school to work on his act and make sure it's flawless and ready for performance coming up in two weeks. We have a LOT of work to do. I went to the local Rent-a-Movie and picked up some magic DVD's so he can have some different acts other than his stupid flowers and rabbits in the hat tricks because if I'm gonna have anything to do with this, it's gonna be good and that's a fact.

Oh boy, what did I just get myself into?

Helga G. Pataki

So today it happened for the very first time.

Arnold's voice cracked.

And Arnold just about crapped his pants.

I was walking into school with him, just entering the classroom, when he turned to me with a smile and asked me if I wanted to come over after school or if I had to stop home first.

Let me re-iterate that.

He said, "Do you want to come to my place after school? Or do you have to stop h-OM-e before coming ov-ER?" his voice squeaked and cracked and my eyes widened at the sound of it, his own widening as he realized what he sounded like.

We stared at each other for a long moment before I pointed at him and quietly said, "Did your voice just...?"

And with that, he blinked and turned around, abandoning our conversation completely and rushing to his desk where he quickly sat down and faced forward as if nothing had happened.

I stood frozen where I was left behind, completely befuddled by what just happened.

And that was just this morning.

The rest of the day went by fine, I guess, until recess hit. I went to Arnold's desk and offered my hand. "Ready to crush some folks at foursquare? Can't do it without you, football-head."

Arnold looked up at me and nodded his head, taking my hand and walking with me outside to our foursquare court which Gerald and Phoebe had saved, ready for the king and queen to take over.

But Arnold never spoke a word. No matter what happened in that crazy game, he never voiced a single sentence and I eyed him from the corner of my eye in confusion. Was this because of his voice cracking? I didn't mean to make him feel bad about it or anything, I just was wondering if that was what happened or if he had a sore throat or something. That happens, right?

Recess came and went and we went back to class, Arnold remaining silent for the rest of the day. And when the teacher called on him for an answer, I raised my hand straight in the air and covered for him, knowing that he'd rather remain quiet for fear of cracking in front of the entire class. I knew what that shame of public puberty was like. I'd been through that. And I didn't wish that upon Arnold. I just hoped he realized he could be open with me above all people.

So when we finally made it to the Sunset Arms and up to his room, I approached him about his silent treatment with arms on my hips and sighed. "Arnold, I get why you're being silent."

He raised his brow at me as if to say, 'you do?' from where he sat on his couch.

I nodded my head, reading his expression like a book. "I do, Arnold. And I want you to know that I wasn't trying to make fun of you earlier today. I just wanted to know if you had like... a cold or something or if... like... it was real."

Arnold smirked, looking down at his feet and nodding his head, softly saying without a crack, "It was real."

"There! You spoke!" I exclaimed while raising my arms in the air. "Praise the lord, Arnold speaks at long last."

"Only because I'm with you. Who knows when it'll happ-EN again?" He cracked and in frustration he threw his head into his hands and ran his fingers through his hair.

I went over to sit next to him on the couch and set a hand on his back and rubbed it in circular motions. "Well, as we just saw, you DON'T know when it will happen again."

Arnold scoffed while shaking his head in his hands. "Y-EA-h, and they said in that cl-ASS that this could last months."

I sighed, not knowing what to tell him to make him feel better and nodded my head. "Yeah, well, at least it only lasts that long. Us women get the hard end of the bargain in puberty."

Arnold glanced up at me before returning his head to hands and sighed. "Right, sorry about that."

I shrugged my shoulders, "It's not that big of a deal, and neither is your voice cracking because once it's all over, you'll have a sultry voice that all the guys will be jealous of."

Arnold chuckled, "You really th-INK so?" He asked and I nodded my head sincerely.

"I really do. Look," I said while walking towards him, "This is just something that...that HAPPENS. And it happens to EVERY guy no matter how cool or lame or different or football-headed. You just gotta get through it. And you will. You're a tough kid," i said with a light punch on his arm and he chuckled before losing the laugh and his face dropped altogether.

"There's just one problem," Arnold said suddenly and I raised my brow looking at him as he finally raised his head to turn and face me.

"And what's that?"

"What about the talent showc-ASE? He asked before shaking his head. "There's no w-AY that I'll be able to perform in front of all those p-EO-ple with my voice sounding like this. I'll be the laughing stock of the sixth gr-AD-e."

The more Arnold talked, the more his voice seemed to crack and I felt bad for the kid knowing it must be hard to hear your voice freaking out for no reason and without the capability of stopping it from doing so.

"I say do it anyway," I said seriously and Arnold looked at me with wild eyes.

"Are you cr-AZ-y?" He asked me through a squeak and I shrugged my shoulders while staring at him with an honest expression.

"Look, your showcase is gonna be all about how you present yourself and your act. If you play INTO your voice cracking, it not only will be hilarious, it will be memorable and THAT will get you into the showcase for SURE." I explained and Arnold thought about that for a moment before slowly nodding his head.

"You know what... you're r-I-ght, Helga. I could play into all of this and with your help, we could think of some witty comments and really make a sh-O-w of it." He said with a smile and I grinned back at him.

"We GOT this football-head," I reassured him, "Cause you're stuck with me as your partner now."

Arnold laughed and looked up at me with earnest eyes, the same green eyes that never change despite his changing appearance and vocal chords. "Helga?" he said quietly and I tilted my head while eyeing him.

"Yeah Arnold?"

"Thanks. For everything. Don't think I didn't notice you sp-EAK-ing up for me in class today just so I wouldn't have to talk. I really appreciate it."

I shrugged my shoulders, the act not being any sweat off my back. "Don't worry about it. It's what we do."

"We?" he asked and I watched him carefully.

"Boyfriends and girlfriends. We stick up for each other. We have each other's backs." I explained and Arnold nodded his head reaching out to give me a big hug, squeezing me tight.

"You're so great, Helga. I couldn't be happier to have you in my life."

"Ahh, don't get sappy on me now, football-head," I said into his shoulder while hugging him back. "But I'm pretty glad you're in my life too."

Which I am. Even though he's changing and I'm changing, I'm in this for the long haul and nothing will make me stop loving Arnold the way that I do. I just long for the day when Arnold finally loves me back with the same depth that I love him. But I can wait. He'll get there. Right now he needs to focus on himself and just getting to be with me and the love will come.

After all, I've had YEARS on him in the love department so I can't possibly expect him to catch up to me after one trip to San Lorenzo and a few months of dating. He'll get there, I know it. I just have to be patient, that's all.

Anyway, tomorrow we start working on our act so I've got to start thinking of some witty lines to toss in the show for Arnold to say regarding his voice. The show is only in a couple of weeks after all! We've got our hands full!

Ready for the long haul,

Helga G. Pataki

Well journal... WE DID IT!

That's right, you heard me clearly, Arnold and I got into the talent showcase! Which means in two MORE weeks, we'll be performing our magic act in front of the entire student body in the auditorium with 9 other lucky saps.

And who might those other saps be, you ask? Well allow me to enlighten you.

First on the list is Gerald, playing piano and signing his song, as everybody predicted. Then there's Lila singing a tune while doing a traditional dance of some sort (though I didn't think it was all that good), then Sheena and Eugene doing their Broadway medley including costume changes and full choreographed dance numbers. Next is Curly who did a Shakespearean monologue. Then, of ALL people, Rhonda, doing a mock fashion show starring the only and only her modeling clothes she had designed herself. Next on the ticket is Stinky playing the spoons (which was really kind of impressive, I'll give the kid credit). Then we have Park juggling, Phoebe fencing with her special guest- her father, and of course to end the whole shebang, Arnold and I with our Magic Extravaganza.

Honestly, some of the acts were a bit lackluster, but anything beat watching Harold shove food down his gullet and Nadine passing around her boxes of cockroaches making poor Princess pass out on occasion and had to be sent to the nurse. At the end of the day, the music teacher had to choose the best fit for the showcase and what would be the most entertaining to watch and Arnold and I were CLEARLY a shoe-in to make it to the final showcase in two weeks.

I mean, we practically had the class CRYING in laughter at our act as we fumbled around looking for our equipment and then finding it only to reveal the wrong item altogether. It was hilarious. All of our plans worked out perfectly and with my help, Arnold and I developed a perfect routine that had our entire class giving us a standing ovation complete with whistling and whooping and hollering.

Oddly enough, it was a feeling that I never knew, and yet, I craved such the reaction even more. I mean, there was a taste of it when I was in Romeo and Juliet, but that whole show was just about kissing Arnold, not about getting applause or anything. But the high of hearing it now... it made the hair on my arms stand on end and my blood rush through my veins rapidly making me feel as if I were floating through the air at the sound of their clapping and whooping and hollering.

It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before.

After the show was all done and our teacher had announced who would be performing in the showcase, we all left the classroom and walked as a group back to our own classroom; Arnold turning to me and smiling, walking side by side with me.

"Looks like we did pretty ok-AY, huh?" His voice cracked to me and I chuckled with a nudge against him as we walked.

"Were we watching the same act, football-head?" I retorted, "We were spectacular."

"W-E sure make a pretty great t-EA-m," Arnold commented with a slight blush hinting at his cheeks, "i couldn't have done A-ny of this without y-OU."

I smiled his way and shrugged my shoulders. "You're right. You couldn't've."

Arnold laughed and rolled his eyes. "W-OW. Pretty f-U-ll of ours-EL-ves aren't we, Helga?"

"After that performance I am. I'm feeling... on a high. That applause... I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually can't wait to perform this in front of the student body."

Which honestly, I can't. The feeling it gives you when you perform is this remarkable high that I can't even explain. It gives you this feeling like you're floating and like anything can happen. And when I'm standing up there beside Arnold, I feel all of that and more.

That football-head was right. Blast him.

Either way, I'm looking forward to the big showcase in two weeks! Now we just have to work on perfecting our act and working out all the kinks before the big day. It'll mean going over to Arnold's house every day again and making sure we have everything under our control. Our act has to move like a well-oiled machine. The jokes have to come at JUST the right time and the slight of hand has to be unnoticeable to the untrained eye. Sure, our performance today was GOOD, but I want it to be GREAT.

Also... my costume ripped, so I have to work with Stella on fixing that. Note to self.

Ahh, there's so much to do and so little time!

The theater awaits!

Helga G. Pataki

Who's ready for the big showcase? I have a feeling it's gonna be great! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter! Please leave a REVIEW!

And thanks for your continued, never-ending support. I can't thank you enough. This story is gonna take you further than you even know.

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-Polka