So I'll bet you're wondering how our spring talent showcase went, aren't you?
Well, I'll let you in on all the juicy details.
Picture this- a full auditorium, the lights low as the chatter among the students drift through the ears of the nervous sixth graders backstage while Mr. Simmons and our music teacher Mrs. Morken- the two brains behind the operation –try to calm us down. But Arnold and I are poised. We are ready. We've been working on our act for nearly a month now and we aren't afraid or nervous as to what that stage holds for us. That stage holds NOTHING for us- it's US to hold EVERYTHING for that stage.
At long last, I heard the lights go on as Mrs. Morken and Mr. Simmons pushed passed the curtains and presented themselves to their unwilling audience who was just happy they got to skip the last class of school to be here. With a clearing of his throat, Mr. Simmons was the first to talk into the mic, his voice resounding through the auditorium and into the backstage where we were all patiently waiting.
"Hello girls and boys," he said, the mic's feedback kicking in for a moment as some kids shrieked and we covered our ears until the microphone adjusted and he tapped the top gently. "Hello? Hello. Hello! Girls and boys! Today is a very special day as we honor our sixth graders in our annual spring talent showcase!"
Mrs. Morken then stepped up to the mic and began to speak. "As you know, in just a short while, our sixth graders will move on to the next step of their educational career, middle school, but before the do that, they are going to show some of their amazing talents to us. These kids have worked very hard these passed few weeks in preparation for today, so be kind and please be sure to give them a hearty round of applause after each number."
I rolled my eyes and glanced over at Arnold. "That's reassuring. So if we suck, we still get applause."
"Helga..." He scolded and I shrugged my shoulders.
"What?"
"So without further adieu," Mrs. Morken continued, "We present to you," Mr. Simmons chiming in with her for the last words, "The sixth grade class!"
And with that, the curtains opened up wide to reveal Gerald siting at the piano with sheet music before him and a smile on his face. From the sidelines, I could see Phoebe giving him a thumbs up before he began to play and sing into the mic, his already-deepened voice ringing through the auditorium with it's jazzy flair as he sang along to his unique tune and I had to admit, Tall Hair Boy had a gift. Heck, if him and Arnold teamed up, I'd bet they could really get something off the ground.
But who was I to say anything. I was just an observer.
By the time he finished with his last note, the crowd was already cheering for him, and with a bow, he exited stage left, only to realize he had to exit stage right and took the walk of shame across the stage to the other side as the younger kids laughed and Gerald mentally beat himself up over it.
"God, that was BAD, man," he whispered to Arnold who shook his head.
"No it wasn't. Gerald th-A-t was gre-A-t." He crackled and Gerald smiled at him and nodded his head.
"You know who's GONNA be great? You two. Your act was practically flawless. Just wait till those kids see what you guys have in store for them."
I crossed my arms and frowned. "Yeah. If they even GET what we're DOING," I said pessimistically and Gerald shrugged.
"Who knows? Seems like they'll laugh at anything," he stated with a point of his finger just over his shoulder as Lila took to the stage in her pink leotard with a matching pink tutu to perform her rendition of Fairy Doll from Le Corsaire. It wasn't a hard ballet routine by any means, but it certainly was perfect for little miss perfect and if Olga were here to see it, she'd ooh and ahh at the perfection that is Lila.
I frowned from the wings as she performed, Arnold coming around to me and setting a hand on my shoulder.
"Why are you so je-AL-ous of her?" He asked softly and I shrugged my shoulders, my arms tightly folded over my chest.
"I'm not JEALOUS Arnoldo, she just drives me up a wall." I answered and he nodded his head before whispering to me.
"You have nothing to be worried about if that's what you're thinking, Helga."
"Worried?" I asked while turning to look at him. "Worried like she'd take you from me worried?" I asked before rolling my eyes. "Pssh, we all know you're way over little miss Lila."
"Than why do you still hate her?" he whispered and I sighed while relaxing my shoulders.
"Just LOOK at her" I said while gesturing towards her as she danced gracefully across the stage, "She's... she's... perfect."
Arnold shook his head vehemently and instead turned to me. "I don't see perfection in Lila."
"You don't?" I asked before he took my hands and whispered to me without a crack in his voice because he was whispering and all.
"I only see perfection in people I care about."
I raised my brow as I looked at him curiously. "So like..."
He nodded his head with a smile hinting at his lips. "Yes, Helga. Now stop worrying. Lila's dance is almost over which means we're one step closer to being on."
Arnold cared! He really cared! Cared enough to see perfection in all that I see as failure! Oh the bliss! Oh the rapture! Oh the fast-beating heart inside my ever longing chest!
No, Helga, I told myself. No time for inner monologues, it's time to get your game face on.
Lila finished her routine, a hefty size of applause following as she left the stage, Sheena and Eugene quick to replace her and got into their poses for their routine of Broadway showtunes that was definitely a showstopper. I remember their performance in class and as dorky as it was, it was pretty darn good. Good enough to be a huge highlight in the showcase. They began with their ode to Rats and it just went on from there. I turned to look at Arnold, confusion in my eyes.
"What if we're just being fools, Arnold?" I asked and he raised a brow at me.
"What do you me-A-n?" He wondered back and I shook my head.
"What if we blow it up there and the whole school laughs in our faces?"
Arnold smiled at me and rubbed my arm warmly. "Helga, that w-O-n't happen, and if it d-OE-s, I'll be right th-E-re with you."
Eugene, Eugene began to play through the loudspeakers as the crowd cheered at their lift and spins and all the fancy things they'd worked into their routine. I had to give it to them, their number really WAS something special. Not so dorky after all.
"You promise you won't just ditch and leave me out there to hang and dry?" I muttered and Arnold's eyes grew wide.
"You honestly th-I-nk I would do th-A-t?" He asked in amazement and I shook my head. "Good. Because I wouldn't. It's you and me. Forever." He held out his pinky to me and I looked at it for a moment before he took my hand forced me to lock pinkies with him. "Th-E-re. Now it's a pr-O-mise. Forever."
Maybe that'll become our new thing, the pinky thing. I don't know, but I kind of liked it. It made me feel like there was a bond between us that nobody could break.
The audience soon roared with applause as Sheena and Eugene exited the stage leaving it for the poor fool to follow next- and that poor fool was none other than Curly dressed in full Shakespearean attire holding a skull as he performed the famous monologue from Hamlet. The 'To be or not to be' one. He began and let me tell you, even though he performed it to perfection, it was a snoozefest. Especially after the energy-charged performance that Sheena and Eugene had just put on. Now THAT'S some bad programming.
"Can you believe Gammelthorpe up there?" I said to Arnold as he turned his head to watch. "The guy is a Shakespearean MASTER. Just wait till we hit high school. I bet you twenty fat ones that he is in EVERY theatrical performance."
"Yeah," Arnold agreed. "Him and Sh-EE-na."
"Sheena's not really suited for female leads though, you know," I said with a tilt of my head as we watched Curly, "They'll need someone with more... umph from their soul to pull off stuff."
"Well why not you?" Arnold suggested and I let out a stifled laugh.
"Me? Are you nuts?"
"Well you did great in Romeo and Juliet. Probably the best Juliet anyone has ever s-EE-n. You had the depth and the sk-I-ll and the emotion. I'd love to see you up on st-A-ge again." He went on and I rolled my eyes while nudging him from where I stood.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll see. Maybe if they do something worth being a part of..."
Small clapping eroded from the group as Curly left the stage letting the lights dim low as Rhonda herself took over for her one-woman fashion show, something that everyone was anxious to see her pull off again. She managed to do 4 costume changes in a mere 7 minutes flat and all to some stupid runway music she'd picked out. The lights went too and frow as she took to the stage in her first outfit, modeling it so before walking back and then disappearing behind a curtain and changing in a minute flat to model the next ensemble. She continued to do this as I talked with Arnold in the wings.
"Do you think she does this at home? Just models her clothes for herself for fun?" I asked and Arnold shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe. But she's never h-A-d quite the audi-EN-ce before." He cracked and I smiled at him.
"THAT'S for sure. I'm sure she's living some fantasy up there modeling her own clothes for everyone to oogle over her at." I muttered with a shake of my head.
Clapping resulted after her 7 minutes were up and she was heavily breathing as she exited the wings and looked at Stinky who was waiting to enter onto the stage.
"Top THAT," she muttered to him as she strutted by and with a gulp, he grabbed his spoons and stool and headed onto the stage.
Stinky appeared to be nervous in his full farmer get-up with spoons in tow as he sat down on his stool. With a lone breath, he began spooning away... a weird talent but a talent nonetheless.
"What do you think about that?" I asked Arnold as he shrugged.
"Guess his d-A-d taught him. It's family tradition."
"To play with spoons?" I wondered aloud and Arnold nodded his head.
"Huh." I simply stated, Stinky's short but sweet talent ending as the group once again offered up meek applause waiting for something good to happen.
But nothing good was about to happen. At least not yet.
Park was next on the bill and he took to the stage with his juggling sensation. He juggled this way and that, doing tricks that astounded the younger kids, but bored the older ones. He was like some clown at a birthday party without all the froo-froo of a clown's outfit. But all that aside, I had to give the guy credit where it's due. I could never juggle. It takes a lot of skill to do something like that so props to him.
Once he left the stage, my hands began to sweat because I knew there was only one thing standing in the way of Arnold and me and that was Phoebe and her father Kyo.
That's when the action began.
Phoebe was like an ANIMAL out there thirsting for blood with her fencing routine. Even when she'd done it for the class I'd never seen her like that. She was really putting on a show for everyone and she had their attention, that was for sure. With each dodge and grunt, she was into it and so was her father. They went back and forth for probably a good ten minutes before Phoebe finally took the win and they removed their masks and bowed to one another; Phoebe turning to face the audience and go towards the microphone to explain a little more about fencing and the art of it all.
"That was... wow." I said as Arnold grabbed my hand.
"You know that means we're next," he said without a crack in his voice and I swallowed hard, suddenly nervous at the thought of it.
"Are we going to do okay you think?"
"What," Arnold asked, "You're suddenly n-ER-vous?"
"No, I mean, I just..." I sighed and nodded my head. "I guess a little bit, yeah."
"Well don't be. We HAVE this. You'll see. Once we get OU-t there, you'll for-GE-t you were ever nervous in the first place."
And Arnold was right. Even under the hot lights of the auditorium, once we were on that stage, my fears melted away and soon I was in the thralls of the moment, my moment with Arnold and our magic routine.
"I am the great Arnold-ini!" Arnold began as I stood in place just on the opposite end of the stage.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I said as rehearsed, "And I'm his sidekick Helga."
"You're my assistant," Arnold countered and I rolled with the rehearsed punch and turned to face him.
"Yeah, well I like sidekick better," a few rumbles of laughter emitted through the crowd and I knew we were onto something.
"Okay... me and my... sidekick, will be per-FOR-ming for you a magic show for the c-EN-tury."
I rolled my eye and gestured over to him with my thumb. "Are you guys LISTENING to this guy? He can't even make out a word without cracking all over the place."
"Helga..." He scolded and I held my arms up in surrender.
"Alright, alright. I'll be your trusty sidekick."
And so we began. We did numerous tricks, all without a single hitch and all with loads of jokes in between that included, but were not limited to:
"Another wise crack, what a good one, Arnoldo,"
"Do you ALWAYS crack jokes like that?"
"How about another crack at that there trick?"
"You just crack me up, football-head!"
At some points Arnold even found himself laughing which caused me to laugh and then we had to cover for ourselves with some other witty comment that made the crowd go wild. Our routine was a wild success. Once we were done and we took our bows, Arnold and I made our way to the mic to give a speech we'd gone over to ease the minds of some of our fellow classmates and future sixth graders to come.
"Just like our magic tricks here, we are all going through some pretty magic changes ourselves," Arnold said first before I went to take my turn.
"Each and every one of you are sure to go through some magic yourselves so be sure to embrace them instead of hide them. We may have made jokes this whole time but it's something to be serious about." I said as Arnold took the mic back again.
"Be true to yourselves and know that it will pass and leave you better than ever. My sidekick here taught me that," he said while turning to look at me with a smile that made me blush instantly and I turned to look at my feet as he finished out for the two of us. "And with that, we bid you a good night!"
Mr. Simmons and Mrs. Morken came back to the stage then, clapping themselves and wandered to the mic summoning all of us out with a gesture. "Come back out here kids, let's give all of our showcase-ers a round of applause!" Mrs. Morken said as the crowd erupted in applause and whistling, something I wasn't expecting. We all bowed, Rhonda curtsying, as Mr. Simmons took the mic.
"What special performances we saw here today. Now, be sure to exit the auditorium single file-" But before he could finish his sentence, the kids were already pushing their way out the doors and he sighed knowing there was no way he could control the hundreds of kids from where he was standing.
All in all, it was a great show and I was glad that Arnold had talked me into being a part of it. I never dreamed in a million years I'd be back up on that stage for any other reason than some concert. But Arnold surprised me again.
As for those 'magic changes,' Arnold was a champ doing the show even with his voice cracking. I know it took a lot for him to get up there and face his fears of people making fun of his voice changing but like we said in our speech, it's as natural as anything and there's nothing to be ashamed of it.
I'm glad Arnold feels comfortable enough to talk to me with his crack. Oddly enough, it makes me feel really special to know he feels like he can show even his vulnerable side with me.
Anyway, I've bored you long enough with this story, so sweet dreams and here's to those magic changes!
Helga G. Pataki
Summer is almost here and I can pretty much TASTE it! I'm counting down the days- only 13 more to go!
In the meantime, we're all preparing ourselves for middle school, the next big deal in our young lives. Honestly, I'm not all that freaked out, but our teacher thought it would be a good idea to have one of the middle schoolers come to our class to talk to us about what we might expect when we get to middle school and how it differs from elementary school.
Big freakin' whoop.
Anyway, that's today, so I'll let you know how THAT goes.
Helga G. Pataki
So here's the scoop. I wasn't freaked about middle school before, and it isn't that I am NOW, but I'm DEFINITELY having second thoughts.
This girl came into school, her name was Francesca, and she was an active 7th grader. Our teacher introduced her and told us that she was going to give us a run-down of all the things to 'look forward to' when it came to middle school.
Look forward to. HA.
"Okay, so like," she started, slightly intimidated by the eyes staring at her from the front of the room, "Middle school is cool because it groups together all the elementary schools like PS119, PS120, PS118 and of course PS119. So it's a pretty big school which means lots of more classmates that you'll be meeting."
The class all shared looks with one another before the girl continued.
"So because there's so many other students, you get grouped off into 4 different 'teams' as we call it. The blue team, the red team, the orange team and the yellow team. Now, each of these teams have their own set of teachers for subjects like science, math, english and such. Following me?"
Everybody looked around at each other, a few nods following her question while others just stared in shock and Arnold and I exchanged a sad glance. Was he thinking what I was thinking? What if we didn't end up on the same team? Would we ever see each other?
"Now don't worry," Francesca assured, "you'll still be able to see all of your friends even if you aren't on the same team." She said as if reading my mind. "Another cool thing about middle school is you get five minutes in between classes to say hi to your friends and to get to your next class. It might seem like a short time, but all that time adds up and all the classes are pretty close together so there is plenty of time to see each other in those five minutes."
I nodded my head, though feeling pretty unconvinced. Five minutes didn't feel like long enough to spend time with Arnold, no matter what this chick said. And odds are, with MY luck, that Arnold and I WOULDN'T be on the same team which meant NONE of the same classes. And even if we WERE on the same team, who's to say we'd have any of the same times of classes? There was just too much on the line. This was definitely not reassuring me anything of middle school.
"Another thing you should know is lunch period. You'll all have the same lunch period which is in an enormous lunchroom with plenty of places to sit. You get an hour and a half for lunch and there's even a neat little snack shop where you can buy pop and candy and other things while you're there. And if you're into it, you can volunteer to work there as well. I've done it a few times, it's pretty fun. And a great place to meet new people." She added as Phoebe turned around to tell me that that was something she'd be interested in doing and I smiled at her with a nod of my head.
I'm glad Pheebs was getting something out of this. Cause I sure wasn't.
"Besides all of that, middle school isn't really all that scary," Francesca noted, "It takes some getting used to for sure, but once you get your schedule memorized, you'll find that it's easy to navigate and not scary at all. Now... you guys have any questions?"
Sure. I had a lot of questions. None that I'd say out LOUD, but I had loads of questions. What were the worst teachers? Would any of them take appreciation in my writing? There weren't any counselors lurking around like Dr. Bliss, were there? How about parent teacher conferences? How often were those and did my parents HAVE to attend or could I just go by myself? That was probably a dumb question. They all probably were.
But the biggest questions on my mind were that of Arnold. How would we continue our relationship in these new waters? Would it be hard or easy? Did relationships ever last in middle school? Would we be able to make the long haul or were we destined to be doomed? I suppose this girl didn't have the answers to any of those questions, but it sure would be nice. It would be nice to have at least SOME answer to know if Arnold and I were destined to fail or if we even stood a chance. I know he would try and so would I, but would that be enough? Would it be enough to try or would we need some kind of miracle just to make it through?
And what about high school? There was so much left of schooling for us to get through that I didn't know what the world had in store for us. I guess nobody did. Once Francesca left, our teacher went to the front of the classroom to reiterate how important it was for us not to be afraid of middle school and to simply enjoy our last few days of elementary school as they would be the memories we would take with us for the rest of our lives.
Boy would they ever.
Maybe they'd be the last memories Arnold and I would have, but I was determined not to let that be so. There HAD to be something I could do. There just HAD to be.
But until then, there was still summer, and THAT wasn't a season I was going to waste with Arnold. Summer was a kid's dream and it was going to be the summer of love for the two of us if I had anything to do with it.
And while summer was going on? I'd just have to come up with a plan to get on the same team as Arnold. There HAD to be a way to get on the same team as him. I just had to think of one.
Determined,
Helga G. Pataki
Like my ode to Francesca up there? I found it to be entertaining :)
Anyway, let me know what you thought about this chapter by leaving a REVIEW and stick along for what's to come, it's going to be great! I promise! We're entering middle school soon!
-Polka