Imperfection Is Perfection
"Hey grandpa." Arnold sighed, as he dropped his backpack by the kitchen table.
Seeing the look on his grandson's face, Phil watched Arnold stare sadly at the table and asked "Oh bad day?"
"All my friends and I were standing outside the school listening to Lila tell one of her funny farm jokes. Then Helga just decides to knock me off the steps on her way out of the school." Arnold explained.
Phil began to chuckle uncontrollably while Arnold rested his head in his hand, thinking about the tough times Helga always gave him.
"I don't get it grandpa? Why does she have to be like that?"
After getting his laughs out, Phil looked at his troubled grandson and asked "Did I ever tell you about the week your grandma caught the flu when we were in grade school?"
The blonde boy lifted his head from his hand and hesitantly replied "No?"
"When the teacher announced to the class she wouldn't be back for a week, I felt like jumping out of my seat! I was so happy!" Phil smiled, thinking back to the day.
This didn't surprise Arnold after hearing all the stories he had about the hard times Pookie had given Phil when they were younger.
"Then by the time the third day rolled around, I realized how boring it had been around the classroom. All the other girls were, oh what's the word? Normal." he explained, as Arnold's unamused look turned to a perplexed one.
"So you're saying you missed being picked on and tortured by grandma?"
"I'm saying it's our differences that allow us to connect with one another. I realized how stupid I was to think there would be anything exciting about a class of twenty kids who behaved perfectly!" Phil exclaimed, watching Arnold's eyes widen.
"So, did you call her later that day?"
"Nah, I just waited 'til she came back to school. First thing she did was cough in my face, hoping to get rid of any remaining germs. Hehe."
"Whatever you say grandpa."