Disclaimer: Craig Barleett is the creator and he and Nickelodeon have the rights of the show.

11. Phoebe's secret

– PS 118- 6th grade classroom–

It was the last period on a hot Thursday, too hot to be an autumn day. The teacher was talking about a fascinating math problem, but no one was paying attention, not even the smartest girl Phoebe, who was absent that day. Her best friend and her boyfriend were looking at the watch to put a feet out of the room after the bell.

- Ok guys, it's everything… - Helga, Gerald and Arnold, trying to follow them, ran out. - For today…. - Simmons supposed that the little group will talk with their friend, and to be honest he was so curious too to know why the girl lost her perfect assistance record.

- Hey Helga! Where are you going?

- Where do you think bro? With Pheebs, I need to talk with her.

- Oh no Helga, I think that she prefers to talk with her babe.

- Sure, because the men know how the girls think and feel. But Gerald… - He stopped his run. - I'm worried. She hasn't been herself for some time...

- Yes I noticed too. Please sis, let me talk with her first.

- Are you talking about Phoebe? - Rhonda appeared behind them, and closed her locker.

- Yes princess, why?

- Maybe I understand what happened to her…

- And why would you know more than us, princess?

- Because, yesterday the nurse was talking with me and Sheena. She said that some girls were facing… you know… "female problems"...

- Criminy! What stupidity… Hey… that guy ran away! Thank you Rhonda!

– Phoebe's house- Outside–

Gerald and Arnold ran as fast as they could, finally they arrived at their destiny, trying to breathe.

- Are… you sure… to… do this?- Arnold tried to ask.

- Sure Arnie… I'm worried… I need to talk to her… and if it is before Helga, better.

- Why?

- Because she is like an angry crazy bear when it's about Phoebe's secrets, if they talk I won't know what's happening!

- Oh Gerald, you're exaggerating, Helga isn't an "angry bear".

- Oh yeah? So why did you start running so fast when I decided I'd go without her?

- Because I'm not stupid.

- Anyway bro, I've to do it.

- Wait a minute you…. traitor…

- Pataki! But…how? When?

- With my feet and now! Why did you do that? I need to talk with her! It's my best friend, we only talk between us.

- That's the reason, I want her to tell me too.. I've been her boyfriend for so long, and she was always there for me, now it's my opportunity to be useful to her… can you understand it?

- Oh Gerald, my newest bro… I understand. - She said with a sweet voice that it made both boys feel better. - But I care about her more than you, so, sorry!

She started running stairs up and the worried boy tried to block her walking.

- Guys, please! You'll hurt each other.

- Well Arnold, tell him that this is our problem.

- No, she's my girlfriend, I've the right to help her.

- Both of you are right, there must be another way to decide it.

- You're right my bro, Helga… will you…?

- Yes, just do it bro!

They saw each other with a determined look. Gerald reached into his pocket, Arnold couldn't resist the tension of the moment.

- So… "sis"... heads or tails?

- Head… Tall Hair Boy…

- Ok… Let's go to decide it… - Gerald spun the coin while Arnold and the blond watched its movements as if in slow motion - Tails! Yeah!

- Damn! But…

- We had an agreement and you said yes, so, excuse me. - He smoothed his hair down a bit and knocked on the door. A tired Mr. Heyerdahl opened the door, besides of tired, he looked angry.

- What do you need?

- Hello Mr. Heyerdahl! Is Phoebe here?

- Yes, she lives here.

- Oh… I know it… but I mean, can I come in and talk with her? I need to bring her the homework.

- Listen me guy, she is busy, and she needs some rest, please she needs to be alone for today, thank you. - He closed the door and the boy outside and his friends felt totally confused. It was not like Mr. Heyerdahl behaved rudely, on the contrary, he was always kind and polite to them.

- I don't know what happened there.

- I told you Geraldo! I must go! Now we've lost our only chance. Now I'll have to save the situation my way.

The determined preteen turned right and started walking to her "house".Gerald asked his friend with his eyes and said "I don't know" with his shoulder. They are out now, but the pair of best friends won't ever accept "no" by answer.

Trying to be so unnoticed and precise as ninjas, the both boys followed the angry girl, until she was in her place.

- Mom… I'm home… or whatever this place is. Mom? - She walked through the business but neither Bob nor Miriam were in sight. Without knowing it, Arnold and Gerald were looking at her through the stained glass windows. - Miriam! Bob!... Why did they leave this place empty?… Someone can take out everything! - Said with irony.

She was still looking and finally she saw her mom with a big empty bottle in her hand, sleeping deeply.

- Finally Miriam!... Miriam? Miriam! - She tried to wake the woman… but was useless…

- Is she still sleeping? - Big Bob appeared from the principal door.

- Yes… She is worse.

- Thanks to your "dear granny".

- Please Bob, stop, you're pathetic.

- And why were you looking for Miriam girl?

- I'm looking for advice for girl problems. - She said in a totally calm way, she didn't notice how uncomfortable her dad was.

- You… Did you say "girl problems"? But… you're 7.

- I'm 11, dad.

- Oh… I see… You can talk with Miriam, later… see you! - And he ran to take refuge in the bathroom.

- What a jerk!

Arnold and Gerald couldn't understand anything, but at least, now they have a clue.

- "Girl problems"? What 's that? - The blond one asked.

- I don't know… we need another female help.

- I got it! Maybe my mom, Suzie or my grandma will explain to us.

- Yeah and we'll win against Helga, c'mon pal!

The boys continued their mission, which they had just defined... Cracking the "girl trouble" code.

- Maybe I can ask Olga…- The blond said to herself.

- Oh my baby sister! Of course I'll help you, to you and your friend. I'll spend all my time with you…

A disgusted Helga went out of her imagination with shaking chills, when a male voice appeared in front of her.

- Excuse me, Miss, is here Pataki?

- What?... Yes, I guess, it's me…

- Here is a package for you. Sign please. Thank you.

- Thank you. - She opened the box. - It's from Gerry! and here's a note: "Here is a beautiful dress so that the president can look so beautiful than she is, some money for lunch. - 500 dollars!... - and a new cell phone to talk with some guy with Football head. From one Geraldine to another one". Oh my grandma…. wait a minute… - A lightbulb lights up in her mind. - My grandma was young once, I can ask her. - She turned on her new phone and discovered the number or the old lady in the number one. She smiled and felt her heart throbbing with joy.

– Sunset Arms –

- Ok here we are! Where is your mom Arnold?

- I don't know.

- How many times will you lose your parents!

- Hey!
- Sorry Arnie, I'm a little nervous.

- Arnold, are you, dear? - A sweet voice said from a distance.

- Yes mom, I'm at home.

They ran into the kitchen and then saw all the plants and ingredients that Stella was using.

- Mom please, it is not our dinner, right?

- Don't worry son, I'm preparing some natural healing creams.

- Mom, we need advice, can you help us?

- Me? Oh yes! - She was totally excited, finally could help her son in an important adventure.

- Champ, you're here! I heard that you need some advice?

- Oh no Miles, get away! Arnold asked me first!

- Honey, you're a woman, you can't understand our complex mind of men, let me handle this little question. Tell me son, throw me a good one! - The man smiled at his son bravely while his wife rolled her eyes.

- If you want. Dad, one of our friends, was acting kind of... weird for a few days, so Helga said today that it was... "girl problems." You know what it means?

- Gi… girl… girl problems!... - He could feel a drop of sweat fall from his forehead, a tick in his left eye and instinctively he smiled nervously. - Stella, I'll go to unclogging the bathroom, it's a man thing, so good luck here. - And he ran away, just like Big Bob did.

- Brave help dear! Anyway, guys... I can't believe you're old enough to have to talk about this!

- "Too old"? What are you talking about?

- My guys, I'll explain to you the fascinating world of adolescence! - She smiled, totally excited.

- What! But Stella, please is not necessary… We watched an old and creepy movie.

- Yes mom, there was enough information!

- Nonsense guys, you can never know everything. Also, if you knew, you would understand your friend. Come, I'll explain in detail.- The boys were dragged into the family room, like pigs to the slaughterhouse.

– Phoebe's house- Outside– Evening

And there she is again… in front of one door that she had used so many times. On a normal day, she could knock on the door and find the smiling faces of her bestie, but now… she was afraid, afraid to talk with her, for the first time in her whole life. She closed her blue eyes and remembered the last talk with her new friend…

…

- Helga? Amazing! Your present has arrived. - The old woman smiled with happiness.

- Yes granny… Thank you… for all the presents.

- It was nothing my dear, you should have had all that since so time ago. But… you have some more to say… Am I right?

- Actually… Yes, I've a little problem with my friend, Phoebe. She's facing something, but for the first time she didn't come to me. I'm afraid that it's something big. Another girl said that it's maybe… you know, "adolescence's changes", but I don't believe it.

- Why are you so sure?

- Because she is so mature, and I know that she would talk about it with her mom or with me… Criminy, I feel in unknown terrain.

- I can imagine… Helga, maybe you're right and the problem is huge, but darling, to be honest, your life has not been a Sunday morning picnic! If you have experience in something, to solve problems, just go with your gut and tell her all the things you would have liked to hear.

…

- Ok Helga, old friend, the world is only for the brave ones… - She said to herself and took some courage and knocked on the door.

- Helga? What are you doing here? I told your friends that…

- Mr Heyerdahl, I know what you said before, but I can't move aside, she needs me, she and you were for me before...… It's my turn.

- Ok Helga. - He sighed wearily. - You're right… She is in her bedroom.

- Thank you Mr, and don't worry, she'll be better, I promise you!

- Your welcome, go on please.

Helga closed the door behind her and walked down one of her favorite paths.… the path to Phoebe's room.

- Pheebs, girl… Can I go inside with you?

- Helga? Why… Why are you here?

- My best friend lives here… and if she is here, it is here where I Have to stay, not anywhere else.

She could hear small footsteps and the door finally opened. She walked into the room, which was totally dark, with a lot of papers and garbage. - Hey Pheebs! - She said and gave a big smile to her.

- Helga… - She didn't know how to start to explain, only a few tears ran from her eyes…- Sorry but..

- It is ok, friend, just do it.

The japanese-american girl started crying, in a harder way, Helga could feel her tears in her dress, and how the girl was trying to breathe.

- It was so fast… everything was going well… and then… one day… it was hell… my parents couldn't stop fighting… and then… she left Helga… without us… without me… my mom had a new boyfriend, her coach … I could never imagine that something like this would happen… they loved each other so much…

- I know it… sorry my dear, sometimes the adults are real jerks… I hate that you have to experience it yourself.

- Helga… you've been living this for years… I never understood… How miserable… you could feel and…

- Pheebs, please don't think about me today, don't worry, just cry, let all that drain away. I'm here to you… forever.

They shared a strong hug while the girl continued crying, Helga gave all the love that she could, only with the promise that someday, everything would go better.

– Phoebe's house- Outside– Night

A pair of preteen, tired and uncomfortable were walking with a big box in their hands.

- We're here Gerald… Are you… sure about this?

- Sure bro, she's my babe, and she needs me, doesn't matter how uncomfortable or strange it would be… I'll be there for her.

- Ok Gerald, I'm with you! Ready?

- Yes…

He took a big breath and knocked on the door… again.

– Phoebe's Room– Night

The girls were sitting in the bed, looking at a new and fancy cellphone and a letter.

- So… did your grandma send you all this?

- Yeah, clothes, some money and the phone.

- I'm so happy for you!

- I told you… some adults are jerks… but other ones can be very useful, when you meet a bad person, you'll meet another 5 excellent people.

- Do you think so?

- Years of experience, sometimes only one that is worth per 5.

- Phoebe! I'm here!- Her determined boyfriend appeared with a big box and a very worried friend behind him.

- Gerald? What are you doing here?

- Pheebs, I know that you need some space, and you have some… situations happening here… but I'm your boyfriend, not only for dates or presents, I'm here and I'll be there for you, to share your situations, good o bad moments, please let me be here, with you.- He put his hand on hers.

- Thank you Gerald, you… you can stay if you want, it would be so important to me.

- Thank you. Now, we're not so "experts" in girl's problems, but we did an investigation about that.

- "bro"... What are you talking about? - The blonde put her hands on her hips and widened her eyes in genuine curiosity at what the two fools were about to say. Phoebe just looked dumbfounded.

- I brought for you a special kit with some pills, a compress… and some menstrual pads… you know… to use it.

- Men…? OMG - Phoebe and Helga looked at each other and then started laughing so hard for the boy's confusion.

- Oh Tall Hair Boy, Fuzzy was right about you… you are quite a case!

- I don't understand… I'm trying to be mature…

- Gerald… I don't understand what's happening… And wait a minute… Did she meet Fuzzy first before I?

- Girls, explain yourselves! - The guy ignored his offended best friend. "one problem at the time". - He said.

- Oh babe, sorry, it's just that you're the cutest boy in the city.

- Ok guys, we need a talk about what "girl's trouble" means… - She couldn't stop laughing.

- Yes, Helga, you were right…. - Her friend said, wiping away the tears of laughter she had on her face.

- About the talk?

- No, about the valuable people. - The girls smiled at each other while the guys tried to understand what happened. Maybe her mother is not around and she won't be, but she isn't alone.

THE END

Hey Guys! Happy thanksgiving! I hope that you enjoyed your special day in company of your loved ones, friends and family. This episode was a little difficult to write, I decided that Phoebe had a problem but I discovered which is while I was writing, what do you think about? See you in Reviews! and an extra... I've a surprise for you... pay attention!