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The J.A.M. a.k.a Numbuh I: Lol he should!


Lunchtime had finally arrived and not a moment too soon. Students eagerly ran to the lunchroom to sit down and get a bite to eat and chat with friends. The lunch area quickly started to get filled of students, with the echoing of their chatting increased dramatically.

The students from Mr. Simmons' class were no exception. Arnold, Gerald, Phoebe and Helga arrived to the lunchroom as quickly as they were able to get there, but soon departed ways. Phoebe and Helga has a prearranged lunch sit-down time, leaving Arnold and Gerald the opportunity to sit down and talk.

"Finally we get to sit down and eat!" Gerald eagerly said. "I'm starving!"

"Got up too late to eat breakfast this morning again?" Arnold asked him.

"No." Gerald replied back with some anger in his voice. "Tiffany 'accidentally' ended up eating my breakfast instead of hers. It was no accident. She did it on purpose!"

"why would you think that?" Arnold asked.

"Cuz my breakfast was the best one on the table!" Gerald exclaimed. "I'm surprised Jamie didn't get to it first."

Arnold chuckled a bit as his best friend's expense, but he then saw Rodrigo on the far side of the room, sitting down with his friends and eating. Almost instinctively, he then began to glance at him, scouring for any signs of distress or concern in his bodily mannerism and face.

"Hey, you really think I shouldn't ask Rodrigo if he needs any help?" Arnold then suddenly said.

"Help with what?" Gerald asked as he saw Rodrigo too and glanced at him. "Doesn't seem he needs any help at all. Seems pretty chilled and happy right now."

"I know but," Arnold countered, "I just think I should let him know if he ever needs help in anything, he can always ask."

"Arnold," Gerald then spoke in that soft, but firm voice, "your my best friend and I love that you have a heart of gold, but you need to stop worrying about every single person in this world. As much as it pains you to realize it, you can't help everyone. Mostly because they either don't want help, or probably in Rodrigo's case, he just doesn't need any help. Trust me man, the guy's happy with what is going on in his life right now. Look at him."

Arnold glanced over at Rodrigo.

"And even if I am wrong in that regard," Gerald continued as they reached their table and sat down to eat. "I'm sure he has others that he can rely on for support."

Arnold did not doubt that last part Gerald said. But he had doubts about Rodrigo not having any problems. He knew from personal experience that a person may seem happy on the outside, but are actually miserable and suffering on the inside. He had seen that in himself and in many others and he didn't think Rodrigo was an exception. Everyone has problems in their lives, some worse than others. And there were countless times when he did intervene and provided unsolicited advice or aid to the person, the person actually needed it, even if they didn't directly ask for it. Helga is an example. So no. Just because a person does not ask for him for help does not mean he/she doesn't need it.

"Still," Arnold then spoke just as they sat down. "It wouldn't hurt to just ask him. Let me just do that."

Arnold then got up from the lunch and went over to talk to Rodrigo. Gerald let out a rather annoying sigh, seeing the futility or even trying to argue with Arnold when it came to this. Sometimes it's best to let him do his thing. Without any further hesitation, Gerald quickly opened his lunch and began to eat his much desired food.

Arnold for his part wasted no time and walked straight to Rodrigo's table, who was still there happily talking to Lorenzo and Peapod Kid. As soon as he reached the table and was behind Rodrigo, he greeted them.

"Hey guys." Arnold said to him with a smile.

"Hey Arnold." Both Peapod Kid and Lorenzo greeted him back.

Rodrigo stopped eating and turned around to also greet him. "Oh, hey Arnold."

"Hey Rodrigo." Arnold greeted him, but then got straight to the point. "I just came by to see how you have been doing."

"Oh. Things are just fine, thanks." Rodrigo non-chalantingly responded.

"Oh." Arnold said, but then proceed to try again. "How have things been with getting settled here?"

"Believe it or not, I'm still unpacking." Rodrigo admitted. "It's been a bit hard trying to find time to get all of my stuff out of the boxes. What with new school, trying to find my way around this city and making new friends, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be."

"I cannot imagine." Arnold sympathetically said to him. "Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked.

"Thanks Arnold, but I think I got it covered." Rodrigo said to him. "I managed to find some time this coming weekend to finishing unpacking all of my things and I'm quickly getting to know my bearings when moving around this city. It's one of those 'take it one step at a time' kind of thing, so I'm going at my own pace."

That wasn't really the answer Arnold was hoping for, but he nevertheless respected Rodrigo's decision.

"Well that's great to hear, Rodrigo." Arnold said to him. "But I just want to let you know, if you ever do any help in anything, I'm here."

"Thanks Arnold!" A grateful Rodrigo exclaimed. "That's really nice of you. I'll let you know for sure."

"Okay, bye." Arnold said as he waved to both Rodrigo and Peapod Kid and Lorenzo.

"What a great guy." Rodrigo remarked to his friends as he turned around and went back to eating.

As Arnold made his way back to his table, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed on not being able to help Rodrigo, which made him all the more confused.

Why do I feel disappointed? He thought. I offered my help and he said he will let me know if he needs it. So why can't I just accept that?

It was a weird feeling. He never had it before. Maybe he felt he didn't go 'enough' to dig deeper, or didn't ask the right questions. But, what else could he have asked? He couldn't possibly force it out of him.

I'm overthinking this. He thought. I told him he can always count on me to help him and if he wants my help. So, he will let me know.

Even with that logic, it wasn't enough to brush aside the awkward feeling. But not wanting to indulge more into it, he merely brushed it aside from his thoughts and went back to his table to eat. His tummy was grumbling.

Next few days…

The next few days went like any other day. Life continued on as it had for millions of years, safe for the modern boring lifestyle of the burn dwellers. Just as it had become a common habit to get up every morning to get dressed and ready yourself for school or work, it had become a common habit for a certain football head to be greeted by several random travelers who came before him for answers on some of them most important questions.

"Hey Arnold," One kid who was in the same grade but in another classroom randomly just approached Arnold to ask. "I dunno which homework I should do first;Math or English."

"Which one is due first?" Arnold asked him.

"They are both due on the same day!" The kid distressfully exclaimed. "Today! Don't ask why I only decided to do it now. I just need your help on getting them done!"

Arnold just calmly answered him. "Well, since both are due on the same day, you can't get them both done. You can only do one of them. I suggest you do the one for the subject you are currently not doing well on. If you manage to get the first one done early, then you might have some time to do your second homework."

The look on the kid's face showed just how disappointed Arnold's answer was. Any hope he had just evaporated.

"So, you can't do anything else for me?" He asked.

Arnold again just calmly responded. "Sorry, but given the short amount of time you have, you don't have a choice. Your teacher is probably going to ask you why you didn't finish all of your homework. I suggest you tell him the truth and apologies."

"What?!" The kid exclaimed in shock. "You must be crazy! What good will that do?"

"Hey, you done there already?!" Another kid behind him yelled. "We need our turn with Arnold and you're holding us up!"

"I can only offer you guidance," Arnold said to the sixth grade boy in distress. "but I'm sure you know by now that lying to your teacher will only make things worse. It didn't turn out well for you the last time you did it, so I don't recommend you make the same mistake again. But, it's your call, Joe."

Joe just sighed. "Okay fine. Thanks Arnold." He said and got out of the line to let the next kid ask his question to Arnold.

While Arnold tended to the next kid, Gerald, Phoebe and Helga watched from the sidelines on the other side of the hallway, looking a bit amused, but also surprised. Gerald especially was keen on counting the number of kids that were now waiting in line for their turn.

"Man this is accelerating!" He remarked. "It was only last week when was Arnold able to help one kid at a time. Now they are willing to stand in line!"

"It is a rather remarkable scene of events." Phoebe agreed. "Even I am astounded on seeing our peers forming a line."

Helga was equally surprised, but she refrained from making it known to anyone. In fact, she was now even more bothered by it. With the way things were going, this didn't look like it was going to end anytime soon.

But if they were surprised by this, what was about to unfold truly knocked their socks off.

Just as Arnold was finishing the second kid after Joe, he noticed a great big figure approaching him. Thinking that it was a teacher, Arnold initially paid no attention to it.

"Hey! Football Face!" Wolfgang called him, prompting Arnold to look up and realize that it was Wolfgang approaching him.

Seeing the line up, but not caring about it, Wolfgang easily began to push the kids to the side as he made his way to Arnold.

"What the-" One kid exclaimed as tumbled over to the side.

"Hey! We were in line first!" Another kid yelled at Wolfgang, but he paid them no attention and simply physically brushed him aside..

Wolfgang finally reached Arnold as he pushed the kid that was talking to him.

"What do you want, Wolfgang?" An annoyed Arnold asked him as he crossed his arms with a frown.

"I hear you are the person people in this dump of a school go to when they have questions to their problems." He said to him.

Wolfgang, like all the other kids, had grown since the fifth grade. Appearing much taller, muscular and hence more menacing, and due to reaching puberty, began to grow a bit of a mustache, he had been acquiring power for the last two years in the school, gaining full control over the kids in the seventh and eighth grades. Through skillful diplomacy, threats, and even getting into physical brawls with others in his grade or above, he managed to gain the attraction of many graders, effectively taking charge and then using such influence to impose unfair measures and restrictions against the lower graders. Hence, he towered over Arnold as he did two years prior in more ways than one.

"Yeah, so what of it?" Arnold asked him, clearly not intimidated by his adversary's size.

"Well I'm here to see if these rumors are true." He said to him with a menacing voice. "And for your sake, you'd better be helpful. I don't like fake gurus in my hallway."

"This isn't your hallway, Wolfgang." Arnold countered. "Everyone walks through here everyday to get to class."

"I beg to differ." Wolfgang merely brushed what he said aside. "Now here's my question. I have to be at my grandma's this weekend. Now she makes these muffins that I absolutely hate. She's a terrible baker, but she does it out of love and no one in my family has the heart to tell her, til now. I'm determined to get her to stop making those muffins, but I don't know how to tell her. So tell me Football Face, what do you think I should tell her?"

"Hmm hmm hmm hm." Gerald softly muttered from a distance. "Man, this guy's cold. He wants to break his grandma's heart."

Arnold only took a few seconds to think about the scenario.

"So no one has had the heart to tell her that those muffins aren't good?" Arnold asked.

"Correct." Wolfgang answered with his arms crossed.

"You should just tell her the truth." He began. "Sit her down somewhere privately, remind her how much you care about her and break it down to her slowly."

"That's it?" A dumbfounded Wolfgang said. "You're wisest advice for me is to tell her the truth?"

"She's your grandmother, right?" Arnold said. "If she loves you as much as any grandmother would, she would not only understand, but she would even be grateful that you told her the truth. And since you will be the first to tell her, you will be the one to take credit for stopping your grandma from making those muffins, as well as credit from your grandma from being honest."

Wolfgang didn't say anything and just stood here for a moment as he glanced down at the football head with a serious look. Everyone else also said nothing and braced themselves for what Wolfgang would say...or do.

"Alright Football Face." Wolfgang finally said something. "I'll do it. And if it succeeds, you get to go scott-free. But if it fails…"

Wolfgang then slammed one of his fist against his other hand's palm, indicating to Arnold that he will get a severe beating if his advice failed.

With that, Wolfgang then walked away, leaving him unharmed. The other kids that were initially in line waited for Wolfgang to leave. When he was finally out of sight, they began to form up in line once again. But then,

*Rrriinnnggg*

"Aawwww." One kid groaned.

"Aw man!" Another kid groaned as well.

"Sorry guys." Arnold said to them as he picked up his bag. "But class is gonna start soon. Find me after school and I promise I'll help you out."

The other kids reluctantly nodded in agreement and then hurriedly went to get their stuff. Arnold as well made his way back to his friends before heading to class.

"Well, you impressed me today." Gerald said to him.

"How?" Arnold asked with a giggle.

"You were able to help Wolfgang AND survive to tell about it." Gerald replied. "After today, you took your boldness to a whole new level!"

"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet." Arnold said as he and everyone began to make their way to class. "Let's see if what I told Wolfgang worked."

"Do you think it'll work?" Gerald asked him.

"It worked with my grandma." Arnold said with a shrug.

"Well, now you get your strips upgraded." Gerald remarked. "You can now add Wolfgang to your list of people you helped over the years. That only leaves most of the eighth graders and Rodrigo."

Arnold didn't say anything do that and just continued walking. That last thing Gerald said hit him a bit hard. Wolfgang himself approached him for help, but not Rodrigo...

Why? He thought. What is he hiding?

A few more days later…

It was now lunch recess and while the rest of the kids were busy playing or talking, Arnold was busy glancing over at a certain Latino Kid from a distance.

"Hey Arnold!" Gerald called out of him.

"Huh?" Arnold said as he diverted his attention back to his best friend.

"You alright man?" Gerald asked him.

"Yeah." Arnold replied and passed him the ball and attempted to 'be' in the game.

However, his mind was again drifting off to Rodrigo. It had been a whole week now since he last spoke to him and he still hadn't approached him to ask him for any assistance. Not like he had any free time for him. His schedule had been severely booked lately on trying to help everyone else. But still, he would have made time for him.

He took the opportunity to quickly glance over at Rodrigo as he talked and laughed with Harold, Sid and Stinky.

"Hey Arnold, watch out!" Gerald called out to him.

"Hu-" *Bong* Before the ball Gerald threw at him hit him right in the face, knocking him down on the floor.

Later that same day…

Arnold, Gerald, Phoebe and Helga were riding the bus, heading back home. But while his friends were busy chatting, Arnold, who was sitting on the front seat viewing to the side, looked back to take a look at Rodrigo, who sat midway. He was alone this time, busy reading a book. And that was his cue.

"I'll be back in a second." Arnold said to his friends as he got up from his seat and proceeded to head over to Rodrigo.

He had been thinking it over for the past few days now. He wasn't sure if he should attempt to speak to him again. He didn't want to overburden him. But after Wolfgang himself sought him out to help him with his problem, it was than that Arnold realized that there was no way Wolfgang came to see him, but not Rodrigo. It just wasn't possible. In his mind, this merely proved that Rodrigo must be hiding something; he must be experiencing some sort of trouble in his life, but he is too afraid, or confused to tell anyone. He doesn't think he can help him.

That's not true at all. Arnold thought. Of course I can help him. Or at least, I can try. I have to try. He's seen me help everyone else at school. So, why not give me a chance?

Arnold finally approached Rodrigo, who didn't notice him as his attention was firmly in his book.

"Uh, ahem." Arnold cleared his throat. "Hey Rodrigo."

Hearing his name finally prompted him to lift his head up and look at Arnold.

"Oh. Hey Arnold." Rodrigo politely greeted as he put his book down. "What's up?"

"Oh nothing much." Arnold responded. "I just came by to see how you are doing."

"Me? I'm okay." Rodrigo asked, whilst looking a little confused.

"Really?" Arnold asked him. "You sure everything is okay? You know you can always tell me."

Tell him what? Rodrigo thought to himself.

"Yeah, I'm sure Arnold." Rodrigo calmly responded. "Everything's okay."

Ugh, Really? Arnold groaned in thought. He's still not willing to tell me?

Arnold wanted to further inquire on the matter, but he feared of a possible backlash from him. He didn't want to go back and forth, but wasn't really sure how to break the deadlock. He hadn't the slightest idea on what the actual problem was; he would be going in blind if he tried.

"Well, okay then." Arnold grudgingly relented, although he had to hide his disappointment to Rodrigo. "Just as long as you're okay. Remember, I'm here if you need me." He winked at him with a smile before turning back around and heading back to his seat.

"Um, okay…" A now even more confused and awkward Rodrigo said to him as Arnold left. He didn't say anything else back and just watched him leave. Only when he got back to his friends did he begin to go back to his book.

What was that about? Rodrigo thought to himself.

"Hey Arnold." Gerald said to him as he sat down. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's okay." Arnold assured him. "I went over to talk to Rodrigo about something."

Gerald glanced over behind Arnold to see Rodrigo. He couldn't get a good look at him, but he saw him reading a book.

"Alright, so long as everything is okay." Gerald said with a shrug and then went back to talk to Phoebe.

Arnold however, wasn't so sure. He was again disappointed that he couldn't get anything else out of Rodrigo, but like always, he wasn't willing to give up. He knew he needed help. He just needed to reach out to him somehow and get him to willingly accept his help.

But how? He thought to himself. What else can I do?