Chapter 3: We've Still Got This
Helga awoke the next morning, wondering how Arnold was doing. She knew the first thing on his mind when she spoke with him would be if her family was willing to have dinner. Why bother mentioning to them however, if he still hadn't recovered?
I guess I'll go check on him. If he's not better, I won't have to worry about dealing with my sorry excuse for a family.
After getting up to get dressed, Helga made her way downstairs to see her family already at the table eating breakfast. Although it wasn't a nice feeling being excluded from their meals, she was relieved to have not been woken up by her sister banging on her door.
As she walked past the table to make her way towards the door, she heard…
"Good morning baby sister! Won't you join us for breakfast?"
Rolling her eyes at the request, Helga scorned "I've got somewhere to be."
"Oh, that reminds me! When are we having dinner with Arnold?" Olga asked eagerly.
Smacking her face with her hand at the idea of them not realizing it was meant to be the previous night, Helga said "I don't know. Why do you care anyway? Don't you have fliers that need to be past out for your precious store?"
"You're darn right we do! I want you back here at 5 o'clock sharp! Got it!" Bob demanded, pointing his fork at his younger daughter.
Helga had gone years not being concerned by Bob's threats. His obsessive desire to pass out fliers for his new store wasn't about to change her opinion (let alone behavior) on the matter.
The Boarding House
"I claim this table in the name of Spain!" said an upbeat woman in a formal dress, as she helped her daughter in law place breakfast on the table for the family.
"You know you're not serving at dinner tonight Pookie." Phil reminded her, hoping to keep dinner with his grandson's girlfriend as normal as possible.
"How is Arnold doing this morning?" Miles asked, looking over at his wife.
"I'm going to take him some breakfast now. Hopefully his ankle isn't as bad as yesterday." she said buoyantly.
Walk
Staring sadly at the ground as she made her way towards her boyfriend's house, Helga couldn't help but envision what dinner with hers and Arnold's parents would be like if it did end up happening…
"It's so nice to see you again!"
"Fine. Fine. So what are we talking about that's so important I had to miss the wheel?"
"We just love having Helga over!"
"Who?"
"Helga...your daughter?"
"Oh right. Right."
Arnold's Room
"It's not so bad this morning." Arnold glanced at his ankle, while Stella carefully placed a hand on it.
"It doesn't seem to be swollen anymore. If Helga's family still wants to, they're welcome to come over."
"Great!" Arnold's eyes grew wide with excitement, until realizing with his injury, he wouldn't be able to cook with Helga.
"What is it sweetie?"
"Helga and I were going to cook for everyone tonight. I guess I won't be able to do much like this." he sighed with regret.
Placing a hand on her son's shoulder, Stella said "Don't worry, your grandma and I will take care of everything!"
Arnold's Kitchen
Finishing up his meal, Miles pushed aside the plate of finished pancakes and said "Mom may have gotten a little eccentric over the years, but she's still a great cook."
"Yeah, just wait 'til you try her raspberry cobbler." Phil glared, knowing the hours he spent in the bathroom every time she made it for him.
The two then heard a knock at the front door.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Oh doggone it! I already told that Scottish girl I don't want any cookies." Phil whined, heading towards the door.
He then opened it to see Helga standing there anxious to see her beloved. "Oh hey there, shortman's girlfriend!"
"Uhh hi. Is Arnold around?" Helga asked nervously, already knowing the answer.
"Hehe yes, he's still upstairs. Come back for another check up?" Phil winked, making the young girl blush profusely.
Arnold's Room
"Well, you can talk to her about it when you see her."
After discussing what dinner would be like that evening, Stella was ready to head back downstairs when the two of them noticed Arnold's door beginning to open.
"Hello sweetie! We were just talking about you." Stella admitted, eyeing her son's girlfriend standing in the doorway.
"Come in Helga!" Arnold insisted, after not hearing a response from her.
Stella took notice of the excitement on her son's face the moment he had seen his girlfriend. It was wonderful seeing he had someone who meant so much to him. From what she was able to put together, Helga felt the same way about him.
Standing from her seat on the bed, Stella headed for the door and said "Let me know if you two need anything."
Once again Helga felt a twitch in her stomach at the offer. Feeling so welcome in another person's home almost felt as though she was being invited into a new family.
Noticing Helga hadn't said a word since she entered the room, Arnold patted for her to take a seat beside him. "Are you okay?"
Taking a seat on the bed, Helga looked down as she began twiddling her thumbs. "Your parents aren't still expecting to have dinner tonight are they?"
Arnold gave a perplexed look as he lifted an eyebrow and said "Yeah? Have you not said anything to yours."
Sighing with frustration, Helga began to clench her fists and said "Of course I have football head. That doesn't mean they care to come. Heck, they didn't even remember it was supposed to be last night for crying out loud!"
"So when do they think it is now?"
Crossing her arms in frustration, she replied "I didn't tell them because I knew they wouldn't show up. Olga may pretend to care. If she actually did, she would have remembered asking about it last night. Oh brother."
Seeing the upset look on her face, Arnold reached for her hand and said "My family's really looking forward to this; almost as much as I am. I know we can get them to come."
"I hate to break it to you Arnoldo, but there's not much you can do with that messed up ankle of yours."
Knowing she had a point, he said hopefully "What if I get my parents to call and invite them over?"
"Pttss...it's their funeral." she scoffed, not believing they would have a better time succeeding at it than she would.
Rubbing her hand with his thumb, he said softly "You'll have to be the one to ask my mom to do it. Like you said, there's not much I can do with this hurt ankle."
Helga's eyes widened at the thought of requesting this from someone. If she didn't like asking people for help (all because of her family neglecting her), why would she like the idea of asking someone to speak to her family for her?
After taking a deep breath, Helga got up from the bed and derided "You're lucky you're injured right now, otherwise I would never give into such a pathetic request."
"Whatever you say Helga."
Arnold's Kitchen
"I decided pasta, a salad, and some dinner rolls would be good for dinner tonight." Stella said, watching her husband play cards with his father.
"As long as it doesn't have raspberries, I'll eat it." Phil said, picking up another card from the deck.
Stella turned her attention towards the doorway when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Hello sweetie. Are you and Arnold doing alright?"
"Of fine. Just fine." she said nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Well he still can't walk, he must not be that fine." Phil reminded them.
"Dad…"
"What? Would you be fine with not being able to walk?" The elderly man asked, not receiving a response.
"Is there something you needed to ask us?" Stella asked, seeing Helga still standing in front of her.
"Actually, Arnold said you guys are still planning on having dinner with my family tonight."
Nodding her head anxiously, Stella said "I've already got what we're having picked out."
"Well, I don't think they're going to come. Pttss...at least not if I'M the one asking them." Helga leered, picturing the reactions she would be receiving from her request.
"Why do you say that?" Miles asked, placing his cards down on the table.
"Like I said, no one in my house cares to remember I exist. They wouldn't dream of doing something they didn't feel would benefit themselves." Helga reminded them.
"Hmmm….that's a shame." Phil mumbled, keeping his eyes on his cards.
Helga's House
"What the heck did ya do with the keys this time Miriam?!" Bob scowled, as he searched the house.
While Olga anxiously waited for her dad to find the car keys, so the two of them could be on their way to the copy store, the phone began to ring…
RING RING RING
"I'll answer it!" the overly enthusiastic girl screeched, as she ran for the kitchen.
"Hello?!"
"Hello. May I please speak with Mrs. Pataki?"
Glancing at her past out mother on top of the counter, Olga replied to the woman on the other line…
"I'm sorry, mommy's not able to talk right now."
"Oh well, this is Mrs. Shortman, Arnold's mom. I wanted to invite your family over for dinner tonight."
A wide grin began to grow on Olga's face, having been re-invited to dinner.
"Oh yes! We can't wait to come! What time is it?"
"Is six o'clock okay?" Stella asked hesitantly.
"That sounds perfect!"
"Great. See you tonight."
Olga hung up the phone just in time to hear…
"Found 'em! Let's get going! Who was that on the phone?" Bob asked, leading his daughter out the door.
"That was Arnold's mom, reminding us about dinner tonight." she said happily.
Halting in the middle of the sidewalk, Bob said "Oh no! We've still got fliers to pass out. I told her to be back here at five sharp!"
"But daddy, it's not until six?"
"Fine. Fine. Let's get going." Bob sighed, not looking forward to the evening planned ahead.
Arnold's Room
"So, what do you think would be some good interests to share with them during dinner?" Arnold asked, hoping to do what he could to make this a less stressful evening for Helga.
Shrugging her shoulders at the question, she sighed "Beats me. Bob doesn't find anything he can't make a profit from interesting."
"He must have some hobbies. What about golf?"
Cocking her brow at the suggestive topic, Helga replied "Arnold, do you really think it's a good idea to take a stroll down that memory lane at dinner?"
Thinking back to the conflict that had occurred between Phil and Bob during their game of golf, Arnold replied "Uhhh I guess not. There has to be something besides business he cares about though."
After watching her continue to sit silently, not caring to think of anything, Arnold added "Or we could just spend the night talking about old memories with our families we don't mind sharing with each other?"
Helga turned her head and sent a look to her beloved that implied Are you kidding me?
"Stop wasting your time worrying about it Arnold. They're not going to come anyway." Helga sighed, feeling she knew her family all too well.
Before Arnold could say anything, the two looked over to see the bedroom door opening.
"Helga sweetie. Your family said they'll join us for dinner tonight!" Stella said excitedly, as a wide smile formed on Arnold's face.
"Really?" Helga asked suspiciously, not knowing what the catch could be.
As Stella nodded her head, she replied "Yes. You're welcome to stay until they arrive. If you'd like to help me prepare dinner, I've already started on it."
"Okayyy...sure." she gulped, again feeling unworthy of being of some assistance to someone so kind and caring.
Arnold's Kitchen
Standing beside the counter, chopping vegetables with her beloved's mother, Helga listened to her say "So, you don't spend any quality time with your parents?"
Helga did her best to hold back her laugh, when hearing the question. The closest she had ever come to that was the 'quantity time' she had been forced to spend with Bob.
"They seem to enjoy saving their good parenting skills for their other child." Helga smirked.
"They should still give you some attention?" Stella insisted, feeling Helga had to be exaggerating a bit.
"Pttss...I don't think those two even know what that word means when it comes to me." the neglected girl simpered, placing the chopped vegetables into the dish that had been set out.
Seeing the frown forming on Helga's face, Stella replied "Well you've grown into a wonderful person, despite the little support you've been given along the way."
A smile began to form on the young girl's face as she looked at Stella and said "Thanks. And um...thanks for letting me stay here when I need to."
Arnold's Room
Arnold laid on his bed watching the clouds go by through his glass plated ceiling. He was beginning to wonder if perhaps it was pointless to help with the dinner conversation. Perhaps they should just let their parents handle things themselves.
His thoughts were soon interrupted when he turned his head to see his bedroom door opening. Helga entered the room with two yahoo sodas, as she approached her smiling boyfriend.
"Here you go football head." she said, handing him his drink.
"Thanks."
"So how's your ankle doing? I never did ask you before." she realized, feeling guilty for becoming so wrapped up in her usual self-loathing state.
"It's getting better. I'm sorry I couldn't help you cook." he said sorrowfully, as he watched her stroke it gently with her thumb.
"Pttss...don't worry. I could tell by the little time I spent with your mom how much she enjoys that kind of thing."
Rubbing the back of his neck, Arnold blushed as he said "Uhhh yeah. She and my grandma both do I guess."
"Don't expect that from me when we get married." she sniggered, taking a sip of her drink.
"We could take a cooking class together." he winked, reaching out for her hand.
Cocking her brow at his eagerness, she replied "Or...you could just handle it for us. You're praised for everything else you do. What's one more quality to add to the list?"
"One of the reasons I wanted us to make dinner for everyone was because I thought it would be a fun thing to do together." he said, rubbing her hand softly.
Helga's eyes stared softly into his emerald ones as she listened to these sweet words. It touched her to know she had at last reached the point where he would be happy doing the simplest of things as long as he did them with her. "Thanks football head. It would have been."
Seeing the guilty look that statement brought to her beloved's face, Helga then added "We've still got this dinner to look forward to though."
The sound of these sweet words brought an even sweeter look to her boyfriend's face as he pulled her close to his. While pressing his lips slowly against hers, his mind was eager to know what the later evening had in store for them.
