Obviously this won't be all wrapped up before Thanksgiving as I obviously decided to do this last minute and story wise it will probably not be a clean as I like them to be. But since it's about the chaos of Thanksgiving and family gatherings in general, maybe that kind of works for it? LOL
But no matter what I hope you guys get enjoyment out of the story. Leave me a review and tell me what you think! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
"Talking"
Thinking
It was the moment of truth as Thanksgiving day rolled around. The Boarding House was awash in full chaos mode. People darting to and from the hallway and into their rooms. People walking up and down the stairs while the animals took turns coming inside and running back out the flurry of opening doors.
Gertie, Stella and Suzie were already busy in the kitchen getting the various dishes compiled for dinner. The two younger ladies laughing at the older woman's usual antics and wondering how she managed to get meals on the table every night despite the theatrics.
The men were tasked with moving tables and chairs around. And setting up seating in the various locations around the house. This was going to be one of the biggest parties they'd thrown at the Boarding House and everything needed to be functional before the guests arrived.
Apparently after the news spread around the House that the Patakis were coming, a few other people wanted to add to that guest list. They weren't anyone Arnold knew in particular, but at least it was going to be more than the previous unlucky thirteen guest roster.
Arnold helped his father set down another square card table in the back yard. He wiped his brow and tugged at his sticky tank top.
Even though most of this November had been pretty chilly, Thanksgiving of all days had been blessed with a higher seventy degree weather. The added bonus of moving so much stuff around the House had added to the boy's drenched state.
"I think that's the last one." Miles said patting his hands together.
"Think so." Arnold let out a breath ignoring the sweat dripping down his nose, I wonder if he's going to say anything...
"You think any more about what I told you, son?" his father started quietly.
"I really want today to be fun." Arnold's voice already having an inkling of sourness baked into it, Of course! Can't leave it alone!
"I know, just tell me anything new you've thought of?"
"I want to take my Generals first and then by the end of the year I'll decide on a Major." Arnold huffed out.
Miles raised a brow, "A whole year before you pick? What's stopping you from picking now?"
"I read eighty percent change their Major at least once over the course of three years. So if I happen to change at the end of the first year, then I've wasted my time on specifics. Most Generals are the same for each Degree."
"You really think a year will make a difference?" Miles's voice still skeptical.
"Absolutely. I promise to think harder about it. I do have an idea and I promise to research. Okay, Dad?"
"That actually sounds like a pretty good plan." Miles put a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Better go wash up for your lady friend."
Arnold raised a brow at his father's calmer behavior, but he tried not to question it too hard as he scampered away, Maybe that will keep him off my back for a little bit...thanks Helga!
So as it would turn out, Arnold did in fact know some of the extra guests. He had spent most of the morning answering the door in between helping his parents set up the rest of the event. Mr. Hyunh had invited his daughter who as it turned out had three middle school aged kids of her own. Her husband strangely absent from the picture, but he didn't ask the details on that one.
Susie had invited her cousin Nancy to come as well which in turn brought along her children. Baby Oskar, who was middle school age now, his younger brother and another baby sibling. Nancy came in flustered with her brood of children nipping at her feet. The baby wrapped tight in her arms. The baby which was given to Arnold the minute she walked through the door.
He held the baby as she explained it would only be for a minute. Nancy and Susie said their hellos and jabs about their deadbeat husbands. Of course Arnold narrowed his eyes, why the heck was she having this many kids if he was a deadbeat guy?
Seriously.
Finally, the baby was taken back from the teen. He sighed letting in some more guests that he didn't know, but they named dropped Potts and then Kokoshka respectively. It was turning into a block party at this point and Arnold couldn't help but wonder if they were going to have enough food for this many extra guests.
This was going to be kind of crazy with her family to begin with...and now we have this many extra people? Arnold let out a sigh and returned to his post in the kitchen.
The hour drew closer to noon and the doorbell rang again. Arnold hopped down the hallway from the kitchen. He knew that there was no one left to arrive, but the ones he'd been waiting on all day.
At least he hoped it was them this time.
His daydream promptly forgotten as he answered the door with a big grin and an apron. The Pataki's stood on the door step. Bob towards the front and Miriam at his side although she had her arms folded. Helga was distracted by her phone and Olga gave him a warm smile.
The group started walking inside.
Bob stopped short when he noticed the boy's garb, "Helga, you sure you wanna keep dating this one? He's wearing an apron like a housewife. Sheesh!"
Arnold tore the apron off and hid it behind his back with an embarrassed grin. The ladies all giggled a little.
Miriam gave her husband a bat, "Oh leave him alone, B. It's nice he helps his mom in the kitchen."
Bob gave an exaggerated eyeroll and started lumbering down the hallway, "You have anything to eat in this place? I'm starving!"
"There's snacks in the living room." Arnold said, still flushed red.
Miriam and Olga promptly following him into the other room.
Before he could react, Helga darted her hand to his back to try and grab the apron from his hands. He tried to keep it away from her with a stretch of his arms, but she was still a slightly taller than him even after all these years. With a quick snatch, she waved it barely above his head a second.
A determined frown on his face as he leaned towards her again. Weaving around his arms, she slid it over his neck before he had a chance to protest further. Her lips pressed into his causing his arms to flop down like jelly. A soft hum as he enjoyed the tender kiss she gave him. Her fingers tying the apron back around his waist.
With a delicate pop, she pulled away from him, "You asked for this, you know?"
"I know." his voice a little dreamy.
"But for the record, I think you'll be the best housewife I could ever ask for."
He let out a puff of air, and with a gentle tug pulled her back so he could whisper, "As long as you remember, I'm going to be cleaning your house tonight."
"Oh, Arnold." her voice low and gaze hazy.
Arnold's lustful look was replaced with an eager grin as he tugged her down the hallway, "Come help us finish up in the kitchen."
Once they filed into the kitchen, they were met with a gathering of the matriarchal figures in the household. Stella, Gertie, and Suzie were still all busily working to put together the Thanksgiving feast. They all gave a polite greeting to the new couple.
Everyone else in the kitchen had their own set of tasks and it was seeming more like an assembly line cafeteria rather than a small kitchen. It was kind of amazing how the ladies of the house had managed to make something that should be chaotic into an organized function.
Arnold turned towards the pantry cabinet and pulled out another apron.
Helga accepted it and pulled her hair back. She was pretty happy to help him in the kitchen until she heard her sister making her obnoxious presence known from beyond the doorway.
Helga let out a sigh and pivoted on her heel, "Just a second."
Helga practically crashed into Olga as she came through the archway. The two girls coming to a stunned stop.
"Oh, Helga—"
"Listen here— if you're going to help you're not allowed to take over." Helga pointed at her sister with a frown.
Olga let out a petite giggle, "Oh baby sister, Stella already told me she didn't need help in the kitchen."
"She...did?"
"I'll leave the cooking to you this year," Olga gave her sister a big hug, "I'll be outside helping finish setting up the games and decorations."
Olga walked past her sister to open the fridge. She grabbed a bottle of water before heading back out of the kitchen. Helga watched her leave with a stunned silence. Her gaze darting from Arnold to Stella, both of which had the same amused smirk on their faces.
They were probably related.
"How'd you get her to listen? Tell me your secrets!" Helga put a dramatic hand to her forehead.
The pair just giggled at her usual theatrics. Helga felt pretty warm inside at the thought of him diverting her sister for her. Knowing full well that Olga and her would probably have clashed with everyone in the room had she been allowed to stay inside.
At that moment, Mr. Kokoshka came wandering into the kitchen. A meek grin on his face as he approached Susie. The lady turned sharply upon his appearance. The darkest glare set upon her features.
"Susie can you make me a sandwich—"
"Make you're own sandwich, Oskar! We're not going to be married anymore, remember?!" she jabbed her finger towards the fridge.
The man skittered away from the kitchen and ducked back out the archway. Totally forgetting the reason why he came in the first place. However, maybe it was just an excuse to talk to his soon to be ex-wife.
"So, that's finally happening, huh?" Helga whispered to Arnold at her side.
"Yup, and she's been talking about it nonstop. So get ready for that too."
"Sheesh, can't blame her— I'd thrown him out probably hundred sandwiches ago."
The teens shared a giggle.
"Um, honey?" the meek voice of Miriam made the girl turn again.
Helga slowly looked over her shoulder at her mother. A twinge of annoyance running down her spine, "Yes, Mother?"
"I'd like to help you cook today."
"Perfect!" Arnold interjected when he saw Helga winding up to start a rant, "You two can work on the stuffing."
The boy pushed his girlfriend towards the stove and boxes of premade mix that littered the counter. Miriam slowly walking to stand next to her daughter. She seemed tentatively happy as though Helga might shatter her mood at any time.
"Ya sure you want to trust me with something so crucial to the meal?" Helga gave her 'bosses' a sideways glance.
"I know you can do it, Helga. Just read the box." Arnold said with a nod.
"You do realize your talking to someone who's burned cereal, and someone who's only been fluent in smoothies most of her life?"
Miriam flinched a little at the comment and stayed mostly still. Arnold warranted Helga another pleading look and pointed his eyes towards the woman beside her.
Helga let out an exaggerated sigh, "Well if it'll makes you happy, Hair Boy."
Arnold went to his post besides his own mother helping her beat out the dough for the dinner rolls. It may have been a little bit of an ambitious task, but Stella's famous rolls recipe just had to be included with dinner. He never knew that his mother was such a great cook. But apparently living in the jungle all those years didn't stifle her ability to cook hearty food.
Helga stood next to her mother flipping between reading the instructions and ignoring her mother's attempts for conversation. She dumped some more ingredients into a bowl at the protest of her mother.
"What? What Miriam, spit it out?" her voice harsher than usual had it been anyone else.
A collective flinch could be felt around the room. The other helpers in the kitchen busily ignoring any of the growing tension in the room. All of their eyes focused on their own tasks.
"Well, honey, you have to melt the butter first." Miriam said softly.
"Minor setback." her daughter waved her down trying to dump the mixture into the heating pot.
"Now dear—"
The bowl of ingredients hit the counter with a snap.
"Criminy, why don't you just do it by yourself then? I clearly don't know what I'm doing!"
Miriam recoiled a little, a meek expression still burned onto her face. Her eyes glossy as she seemed to plead for daughter to give her a chance. A crackle of tension wafting between the women.
"Helga!" Arnold's sharp voice cut through the room.
The couple shot each other looks. A silent argument seemingly passing between them. Helga flinched first and turned a sore eye to her mother. A deep breath and she raised her brows at the woman.
"What, Mom?" Helga said in a calmer voice.
"You have to boil the water first. Says so right here."
"Ok, how about you read the instructions and I'll do what it says."
The girl let out another sigh and tried to focus on what her mother was saying. She couldn't help but glance over her shoulder to see Arnold playfully batting flour back at his mother. Stella laughed and managed to dust him with a big puff of flour. He sputtered and coughed a cloud.
Helga felt her stomach twist, He gets along with her so well...it's not fair. Miriam may be trying, but I just can't forget everything that's happened my whole life...
"You okay, honey?" Miriam's voice brought her out of her thoughts, "The water is boiling now."
Helga started completing the tasks her mother instructed her to do. But her gaze couldn't help but wander back towards Arnold and his mother across the room.
They were putting the final touches on the rolls to put into the oven. Stella was brushing melted butter over the tops while Arnold sprinkled coarse salt over them. She brushed his hand with a splash of butter.
He scoffed and tried to grab the brush from her hand. She tried to lift it out of his reach, but they were pretty much the same height now. As she leaned back, he picked his mother up by the waist. She squeaked as he snatched the brush from her and unceremoniously dropped her back to the ground.
She landed on wobbly legs and playfully scolded him. He let out another pleased laugh and dodged her attempts to splash him with more butter. He darted to grab the tray of rolls that were ready to bring to the oven.
As he approached the oven, he gave Helga a warm smile. He leaned down to sneak the trays into the oven. She returned his smile with a sour look.
"Could you be any more Mr. Sunshine over there? If we were eating, I'd've yacked by now."
"Just enjoy time with your mom, okay?" he shrugged returning to his mother's side.
Helga let out a low groan, "So Mom, what do we do next?"
Miriam lit up a little, "We just let it boil for about ten minutes. Then fluff it and let it rest."
"Fantastic." Helga said with a drawl.
Miriam and Helga managed to chat a little, but the conversation still felt stilted. However at least they were talking. Arnold passed a look over his shoulder to observe their progress. Seeming pleased with their stance, he started helping his Grandma with another dish.
In a burst and flurry of energy, the brood of kids galloping through the kitchen.
"No! Absolutely not!" Susie shouted.
A few of the animals hot on their tails as the group blitzed around all the workers in the kitchen. A few of the kids knocked into the adults and tipped over some bowls of food. The animals happily lapping up the mess off the floor.
"Kids go play in the yard!" Stella barked shaking her mixing spoon at the children.
The children stumbled over each other and into a heap on the floor. A collective giggle coming from them as they were covered in a collection of flour, shredded cheese and whatever other random mess littered the floor.
As they were slowly standing up, another voice came from the other room. At the sounds of more yelling, the animals went scampering away into another part of the house. Mai came into the archway and scolded her children as well.
"You know better! Now get out of here!" Mai pointed at the kids.
Her brood standing up quickly, and with a bow darted out of the archway and presumably towards the back door. Mai gave an embarrassed smile as she tucked back out of the kitchen.
"That wasn't a suggestion for you two either." Nancy pointed at her children who were still dragging their feet to leave.
They gulped and walked a little quicker out the arch. The adults heaving a sigh of relief and taking some time to clean up and repair the damages left by the child tornado. Stella yelled for the other men in the house to try and round the animals to the outside. A few voices of the boarders could be heard calling back that they would.
Gertie looked thoughtful for a moment before turning her gaze onto her grandson.
"Arnold? Will you be able to finish this if I leave you to it?"
"Yeah, sure Grandma." he raised a brow at her suddenly calm nature.
The old lady walked through the kitchen and disappeared through the archway without much more comment. Although he wondered exactly what his Grandma might be up to, he didn't have much time to ponder it. The child tornado had put them behind a little. He was going to have to work harder to catch up and hope that he could still pull together this dinner.
So far, so good. This can still be the best Thanksgiving we've ever had together, Arnold glanced over his shoulder to see Helga still at least listening to her mom talk, I just hope this ends up a good time for her.
Helga felt the conversation with her mother start to fizzle out. The pair of them staring at the boiling pot of seasoned bread.
"Honey, I'm going to the bathroom real quick. I know you've got this." Miriam said giving her back a small pat and walked away.
"Finally." Helga let out another sigh feeling her eyes glaze over as she watched the pot boil, Forgot to set a timer...oh well. Whenever it looks ready, I guess.
She turned around to lean her back against the counter. Pulling her phone out for a minute to busy her mind while she waited. Still distracted when her mother came up. How long had she even been gone? Didn't she need to go to the bathroom?
Her mother seemed flustered and urged her to move or do something. Helga barely turned upon her request to see the pot boiling over with a soppy mess of stuffing slinking down the pot and all over the edge of the oven.
It'd only been a few minutes, right? Did she fall down a phone wormhole?
The faint smell of burning wafted throughout the room. A tinge of black coating the edges of the concoction.
Yup, that stuffing was definitely ruined now.
That and she was blaming interdimensional time travel through phones as the culprit.
Arnold happened to walk over to check on the bread in the oven. Giggling to himself as he looked over the mess they happened to make. Helga and Miriam doing their best to wipe up and spoon away the burnt stuffing into the trash.
"Helga— did you burn the stuffing?" Arnold cocked a brow.
"No! I mean. This isn't as easy as you think." she jabbed a spoon in his direction.
"I literally gave you the easiest thing to make." He couldn't keep from laughing.
"You sayin' I'm dumb, Hair Boy?"
"Well, she never was much for following instructions." Miriam added with a playful smile.
"And you called me a daydreamer." he pointed and wiggled his eye brows at her.
Helga batted his accusatory finger away, "You're hilarious! Start a stand up routine, why don'tcha?"
"Lady Helga, I hereby banish you to Housekeeping island for burning the stuffing. Pray we don't burn you at the stake instead."
She sputtered at his decree, flicking his hair, "Feeling merciful are we, King Flour-hair?"
Trying to protest his deduction, as he pushed her towards the table that now sat at the far edge of the kitchen.
"Here, help Dad finish the silverware." Arnold gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before turning back to his duties.
Helga let out a hiss as she sat down at the table, That boy is something else...Oh, how I love that boy!
Folding her arms she glanced back at where she'd left her mother. Miriam stood a space away from Arnold as he presumably asked her if she could finish the rest of the stuffing. The lady stiffly nodded before the boy gave her a sudden hug. The look of pure shock melted into one of happiness as she lightly returned the boy's squeeze.
Arnold pulled back from her and told her something else. Miriam looked very determined and pleased to have something to do. Helga felt a jealous twinge festering in her gut.
He made it look so easy.
So simple to just give her a hug.
Shower her with appreciation.
She had to remind herself that since he hadn't grown up with them, it was probably easier.
He said he understood, but he never truly would.
Of course, she remembered the time her mother temporarily had to run the business. She had really stepped up and excelled at that. Maybe she was just the kind of person who needed a lot of pushing.
Arnold shared a laugh with Miriam before he went back to what he was doing.
"What you in for?" a wry voice dragged her from her thoughts.
Helga glanced to the side to see Miles sitting across the table from her. Noticing they were the only two at the table seemed to indicate that they were the only odd ones out. Having been voted off Cooking Island and banished to Housekeeping Island.
His brows set deep as he fumbled to put some silverware into a paper napkin.
"Burning stuffing." she said simply reaching across the table to grab the napkin and silverware from him.
He glanced up to watch her with a raised brow, "Harsh. Apparently, there is such a thing as too much dressing on a salad."
She demonstrated a quick fold and twist as the metal disappeared into paper, "Did you drown Sir Waldorf?"
"He didn't have his sea legs apparently." his grin cheeky.
The pair snorted holding hands over their mouths. A mutual head shake as they started folding more napkin silverware.
"So, do you have a lot of classes with Arnold?" Miles said a little awkwardly as he tried to think of conversation.
"Eh, not as many this year. I'm in a lot of Advanced Placement classes." she said simply continuing to focus on her task.
"That is impressive. I told him he should at least do a few. Math, if anything else. But I guess he couldn't be bothered." Miles warranted a disappointed look towards his son.
Arnold glanced over his shoulder knowing with a comment like that his father had to be making some kind of face. The two shared a sour look with the other.
This exchange was not lost on Helga. A mischievous look crept onto her face.
"Wanna talk about can't be bothered? You outta see Football Head daydreaming in class."
Miles brows tilted as he glanced at his son.
Helga imitated one of their elderly teachers, "Mr. Shortman, can you answer this question?"
The adults giggled a little her imitation.
"That's enough, Helga." Arnold said twisting from his post to shoot her a frown.
She snorted a little, "Of course, he never can."
"See this is what I've been telling you about, dear." Miles said as Stella only warranted him a side look.
Helga rested her chin in her palm, "But somehow, he always gets A's on his papers. Finishes his homework faster than anyone. He daydreams cause he's bored. Not unfocused or irresponsible."
Arnold blushed a little at her praise. Her wink not lost on him.
"Well, if he's bored, all the more reason he should've taken Advanced Placement classes." Miles let out a thick sigh.
"Now I thought we weren't talking about that today, dear?" Stella said turning to mirror Arnold's pose.
Yes, they were definitely related.
Miles motioned to Helga as though that explained his whole reason for talking about it in the first place.
"You were digging mister—don't give me that." Stella jabbed her spoon in his direction.
Arnold and Helga tried to hide their giggles as Miles looked increasingly hot under the collar. He sputtered a little before he tried to refocus on his task.
"Besides, AP classes wont help him if he doesn't even know what he wants to do." Helga added giving the man a look.
"But you know what you want to do?" Miles said sounding impressed.
"Yeah, I wouldn't even be taking them if my Dad hadn't decided what I should go for in college." Helga said with a slight edge to her voice.
Arnold peeked over his shoulder to look at her irritated expression, She didn't tell me that part...I should've expected that from Bob though...
"But still, it must be nice to have his guidance right?" Miles just couldn't help pressing on.
Helga let out a scoffing sound, "If you're thinking about helping Mr. Sunshine over there— good luck."
Miles gaze darted a little as though he'd been found out again, but Stella merely let out a knowing hum.
"Knowing him, he'll end up scaling mountains to help a community of goat farmers—"
"Helga—" Arnold said giving her another warning look.
"Or maybe, he'll dive to the bottom of the oceans and discover a new sea amoeba— Afootballus headphagam."
A few chuckles were heard around the room. Arnold shook his head with a laugh too. He glanced at her. She rested her chin on folded hands with eyes that seemed to sparkle in challenge. It caused a playful strum in his chest. He gave her another look that seemed to say 'you're asking for it'.
"Basically— he don't need no man." She stuck her tongue out at Arnold.
A gasp of shock from her as a small gob of mashed potatoes landed on her forehead.
"That's enough, Helga." A playful smirk on Arnold's face.
"Criminy, I get it boss!" She couldn't keep the grin off her face.
The rest of the room having another good laugh at the teen's antics.
The day was going well so far, but there was still a long way to go before Thanksgiving was officially wrapped up. Arnold mentally crossed his fingers that he'd be able to keep everything balanced. So far he'd managed to circumvent any huge argument or upset, but even with his optimism he knew it was only a matter of time before something happened that maybe went too far out of control.
Something out of his control.
Or many things out of his control.
But he didn't want to think about that now.
He glanced towards Helga. It wasn't lost on him that she had been trying to ease the concerns of his father. It warmed his heart to think that no matter what she seemed to have his back despite the fact that she was very much against such a big gathering. She never seemed to let him down.
He saw her smiling and laughing with his dad about something else, I won't let you down either, Helga.
Alright couple more chapters before we wrap up the big day. What could possibly go wrong? We'll find out soon! And since I will be celebrating the holiday with my family today like most of you, it will probably take a few more days for the next chapter. :)