We come to it at last.
The final chapter of these series of one shots, which I have thoroughly enjoyed writing and I hope you have too. Arnold was not quite as emotionally driven as Helga, but make no mistake, he's just as deep if not deeper in some respects than Helga. The goal here was to make Arnold as he's portrayed in the show; a regular kid trying to live his life and do right by the people he cares and loves. He's not perfect. He suffers through the same flaws as the rest of us do and I wanted to showcase that. But ultimately he does so much for so many and is a natural giver. And I think deep down he knows not only that Helga is a good person, but that she's special as well:)
Enjoy guys!
The Good Samaritan- Arnold Shortman
My name is Arnold, Arnold Shortman. I live with my grandparents in the city of Hillwood and I'm a fourth grader in Mr. Simmons' class at P.S. 118.
My home is technically a boarding house that my grandpa and grandma rent out to other tenants. We have some pretty crazy characters. There's Ernie Potts, he's a short guy who works in demolition and saves a brick from every building he knocks down. There's Mr. Hyunh, who's originally from Vietnam. Last Christmas, I managed to help him find his lost daughter and he's much happier from when I first met him. And then there's Oskar Kokaschka, I'm not sure where he's from. He and his wife Suzy live in the last room down the hall. They fight a lot but they seem to always make up in the end. He's a bit lazy and kind of a con-artist, but to his credit, he's also done some nice things for me in the past.
At school there's also quite a few characters. Harold, Stinky, and Sid are hilarious and always getting into trouble somehow. Rhonda takes it upon herself to be the class queen like a badge of honor. Phoebe is shy but she's also really smart and fun to be around. Eugene…well I feel bad for him considering how often he gets hurts or something unlucky occurs. He's pretty upbeat despite all that, and he even forgave me one time after all the things I tried to do on his birthday pretty much backfired.
And then there's my best friend, Gerald. I still remember meeting him for the first time in preschool. We made up our signature handshake that day because we both thought wiggling our thumbs at the same time was funny haha. He and I don't always agree on everything, but he's had my back more times than I count; when Sid went insane because he thought I stole the money we found, or when he scared off Frankie G when he was trying to force me to rob a store. That's more important than anything else. And even though he doesn't realize it, he's got a lot going for him. He has to compete with a younger sister and old brother who antagonizes him all the time, but he's the best athlete in our grade, and only grandpa tells a better story than he does.
If Gerald could hear me say all this, he'd probably ask me the same thing he always does, 'Why do you always have to look on the bright side, Arnold?'
Well the way I see it, every person has a story. No matter how many mistakes they make, deep down I believe everyone has the potential to do better. All you have to do is talk and learn more about them and help them to see that potential. I guess I'm really good at doing that, because a lot of people come to me for advice about problems they're having. Some of my friends think it's annoying at times, but I'm always willing to help where it's needed. I'm not always thanked for it but seeing people happier is its own reward in my opinion. Being an idealist may seem foolish to some, but I'd rather dream then live as if life was pointless. Because that's no life at all.
I can't say there haven't been days where I didn't get discouraged though. Girls in particular confuse me sometimes. Ruth MacDougal was my first crush, but she turned out to be shallow and kind of a lame date. She even thought I was her waiter when I first got to the restaurant.
Then there's Lila Sawyer, the smartest, most beautiful girl in our class. I love the way she bats her eyelashes, the way she smiles, all the funny jokes she makes and she's really nice, much more than Ruth ever was. We share a lot in common and we get along great…yet I've never convinced her to go out with me. I just don't understand it at all. Maybe it's the way I smell? The way I talk? No, that can't be it. She's not repulsed by me, but…she's just not into me I guess.
But I think the most confusing girl I've ever known and ever will know is Helga G. Pataki. Most of the time, she's basically a bully. Now she's usually unpleasant towards everyone, ever her best friend Phoebe, but none more so than me. It's day after day of spitballs, pranks, and shouts of 'move it, football head!' Most of the time I ignore it, but other days she drives me crazy! Gerald's always telling me to stick up for myself, and perhaps he's right. Yet, for all the moments I've wanted to give it right back to her, I can't.
I used to believe that maybe I was too soft for my own good, but as time has gone on, I don't think that's quite it. You see, Helga is a person and even she has a story. And over the years I've seen enough, bits and pieces here and there, to see she's not just this cold hearted, awful human being. I know her home life isn't all that great, as she complains a lot about her parents being incompetent and stupid. I've witnessed her sister treat her like a three-year-old, even if I get the feeling she means well. But more so than all of that, there have been moments over the years where she's been…kind, brave, and really, really smart. And if that wasn't enough to put my mind into a knot, not even a month ago she told me that she loved me and kissed me…
Honestly, I was so surprised I didn't know what to think. The whole thing was so fast, I just chalked it up to the heat of the moment. Helga did too after we exposed Von Scheck and FTI for what they really were. I guess she just lost her head in all of the excitement.
But that still doesn't explain why she even bothered to help me in the first place. She was poised to get rich off the whole scam von Scheck was pulling, and yet she chose to aid me? The person she supposedly dislikes more than anyone in the world? I keep thinking back to all the times where something just mysteriously went right for me for no reason. Was that Helga? And does she actually love me?
Some days I'm almost convinced of it, I'm certainly less intimidated by her than I used to be. But I just think if she actually loved me, well…I don't know…some of her behavior would have changed by now. Even if she's gone out of her way to help me all those times, maybe she's just trying to go out of her way to do something for someone she doesn't like and become a better person.
I haven't said this to anyone, but in those moments, I actually like Helga. Especially when she smiles. She scowls so much, I rarely ever get to see that side of her. So when it comes out, you could say it…changes the way I feel about her. In fact, I'd even say she's pretty.
Man, if Gerald could hear me now, haha. He'd probably ask if I had a fever or something. But I'm not ashamed of thinking Helga's pretty or has the potential to become a force for good, because in some ways I think she already is. I wonder what would happen if just once she'd let me in and drop being the angry bully for just two minutes. I bet I would learn a lot about her I didn't know before.
Well for now, I'll just let Helga be. And who knows? In time, maybe she will stop being so mean. We're only ten after all, a lot can change in a short amount of time.
*sigh
I guess if I were to be honest with myself, that's the one of the main reasons I still think I'll see my parents again someday. I don't usually like to bring them up, but I've spent a lot of hours at night pondering, asking myself what happened to them? Why did they never come back? Are they even still alive?
I look around my class and see all sorts of families, and I feel happy that my friends get to experience that joy. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous. Grandma and Grandpa are great and I could never repay them for everything they've done for me…there are just times where I feel like I'm taking care of them more than they're taking care of me. And that's where my longing comes from. Parents are the largest and most important figures in your life as a kid. I don't have that, or at least I haven't since I was a baby.
But recently, I found something that might be a clue to there whereabouts! A map of San Lorenzo, the country they were last seen. I bet anything it's the key to finding them! I've even started a collage on my corkboard, which contains all the information I've looked up on San Lorenzo and the villagers they were trying to help.
The problem is, it raises just as many questions as it solves. Chief among them, what happened that kept them from coming back? My grandpa tells me not to get my hopes up and even hints at…well I'm not going to entertain that idea just yet. For as long as I can remember, the one thing I tried not to dream about was the prospect of finding my parents again. It was just too painful because I knew the possibility was so remote, it wasn't worth focusing on. This map, this new information, changes everything. And even if my grandparents don't want me to get my hopes up, what choice do I have? Someone has to.
I'll find my parents someday. I'll do whatever it takes. I just have to find a way to get to San Lorenzo, but I have time to figure that out. In the meantime, I'll just take things as they come. I'll hit some baseballs, eat some ice cream, help my friends, and maybe even get into another crazy adventure with Helga.
It never hurts to dream.
And there you have it. 'Underneath the Surface' is concluded.
Thank you so much to everyone who read, reviewed, and kept up with this little idea. It means a lot and I hope you'll read some of my other 'Hey Arnold' related work as well.
And for goodness sake, can we get a Season Six already?!
~The Wasp
