Next episode is 'Rich Kid'! Anyway, enjoy!

Over at school, I was walking with Arnold and Gerald as I was telling them about Lorenzo. I already told Phoebe and Nadine about who was coming to our school ahead of time, so I figured I'd tell Arnold and Gerald now.

"Another new student here?" Gerald asked. "And we just had Lila a couple weeks ago."

"It's pretty surprising to me as well. Guess all the students think PS 118 is the new fad these days." I said. "Anyway, he's rich, like me, but he has no connection to the world of middle class like I do. He's a follower of a schedule, that one."

Arnold rose an eyebrow as he said, "He does know that if he keeps following a certain schedule within school rules, he's isolating himself."

"That's what I told him." I said. "Hopefully, he's thinking about what I said..."

As we were wrapping up our conversation, we noticed Stinky passing us by. "Hey, fellers."

"Hi, Stinky." We said before I noted that he was wearing something different on his feet today.

"Whoa, Stinky, pretty neat sneaks!" I smiled.

Stinky raised an eyebrow in confusion.

I sighed. "You have nice shoes."

Stinky smiled. "Well, gee, thanks a whole bunch, Rhonda."

"These are pretty amazing sneakers." Arnold said.

"Not just any sneakers, Arnold, they look brand new!" Gerald smiled.

"Well, thanks, fellers. I saved up my allowance for fifteen months just to get these!" Stinky smiled.

I noted the Velcro straps on the sneakers. "The standard Velcro, a good touch for somebody who can't afford to tie shoes... the laces are a little hard, but Velcro is easy."

"Yeah..." Gerald smiled. "It's a shame you can't afford the deluxe version, Stinky. I hear they light up when you walk!"

"They do, but I'm not a huge fans of the stitching on the deluxe version." I said. "Still, Stinky, you're doing good, breaking these things in."

"Yeah..." Stinky said. "Shame I can't get the deluxe version, though, but you'd have to be a dang millionaire like Rhonda to buy them!"

As soon as Stinky said that, we heard a horn honking as we turned to see a limo approaching. I paused as I said, "No way..."

The doors opened up as we saw... well, Lorenzo coming out, wearing the deluxe version of the Velcro sneakers I mentioned. And what do you know, the deluxe versions, just as I predicted.

"Dang..." Stinky said.

"Hey, Arnold, Gerald, that's the rich kid I was just telling you about!" I said as Lorenzo was looking around as his mother came out. I saw his mother and Lorenzo talking quietly for a couple of minutes.

"This is him?" Arnold said.

I nodded. "This is Lorenzo Lopez, he's going to be in our grade. In our class? That's going to depend on what's going to happen."

I saw his mother talking with Lorenzo, as if she had some doubt, before nodding as Lorenzo handed over his cell phone to him. I did catch the last part of the conversation as she asked, "You'll be okay?"

"I want to at least give this a try on my own." I heard Lorenzo say.

His mother paused as she nodded. "Okay, then. I'll trust you. If this works out, maybe I'll let you do what you want, and I can rearrange your schedule. Maybe you're right, maybe you do need to have that kid outlook. If it is what is missing from your life, I'll give it to you. Just promise me you'll be back home by five-thirty."

Lorenzo nodded. "I will, mom."

As Lorenzo and his mom were finishing up the conversations, we saw Harold arriving, jumping on some mud puddles that appeared in the fall weather as he was having fun jumping around.

Mrs. Lopez paused as she said, "Again, you really sure you know what you're doing?"

Lorenzo looked unsure at first, but then got a look of determination as he nodded. "Yes."

"Okay." Mrs. Lopez nodded. "If this is how you feel, I'll let you have a chance at this. I love you, honey."

"Love you too, Mom!" Lorenzo smiled as he hugged her.

Mrs. Lopez smiled as she hugged his son back. "Good luck on your first day of public school, son."

Lorenzo nodded as Mrs. Lopez went back to her car as Lorenzo looked around. He saw me and nodded as he came over. I smiled. "Welcome to public school, Lorenzo. You have a lot to learn."

"I'm willing to try my best." Lorenzo nodded.

"Great. First of all, allow me to show you around the school, first, I like you to meet a couple of my... acquaintances. Arnold, Gerald, Stinky, meet Lorenzo, he's the new rich kid coming in, he's curious about our lifestyle and wants to explore what it's like to be a kid."

"Hello." Lorenzo smiled.

"Lorenzo, Stinky, Stinky, Lorenzo." I introduced Lorenzo and Stinky as they shook hands. I went over to Gerald as I said, "Lorenzo, Gerald, Gerald, Lorenzo."

I smirked as I went over to Stinky and got him over to Arnold. "Stinky, Arnold, Arnold, Stinky."

Arnold and Stinky blinked, but shook hands as I pushed Lorenzo over to Arnold as Stinky went over to Gerald. "Arnold, Lorenzo, Lorenzo, Arnold. Gerald, Stinky, Stinky, Gerald."

All four of them shook hands as I smirked. "Arnold, Gerald. Gerald, Arnold."

I smiled as I said, "And I am Rhonda Wellington Lloyd, of course."

And I shook hands with myself as all four groaned as Lorenzo asked, "Does she do this with all of you?"

"Sometimes." Arnold said. "She likes to play around, though, I'll give her that."

I heard the bell ring as I said, "Well, Lorenzo, how about I just show you to the principal's office and you can get assigned to a classroom?"

"I would like that. Thanks." Lorenzo said as I started to lead him into the school.

Pretty soon, after I settled in my seat in Mr. Simmons' classroom, I turned towards Phoebe and Nadine as I said, "So, the new rich kid just came in."

"Oh, nice." Nadine smiled. "Hopefully, he's willing to give the common folk a chance."

"He seemed pretty nervous about it at first, but I think he's ready." I explained as I saw Lorenzo coming in the room, looing a bit nervous, but determined.

Mr. Simmons smiled as he got up. "Class, before we begin, we have a new student in our class. Please give a warm welcome to Lorenzo, who comes to us from Peavine Academy."

Everyone (but me of course, since I already met Lorenzo ahead of time) started talking in interest as Mr. Simmons smiled. "Okay, I'm pretty sure you all will make him feel right at home."

Lorenzo nodded as Mr. Simmons led him to a seat in the front as he sat down, where I happened to be. Lorenzo then whispered to me, "This is going to feel pretty weird, I usually have a phone with me at this point."

"Trust me, you don't need a cell phone to talk." I said. "Just relax, you'll be fine."

Lorenzo nodded as he took a deep breath. "Okay... okay."

And so, Lorenzo decided to look up into class as he listened to Mr. Simmons, as we all did. All in all, just a regular school day.

Over at recess, Lorenzo was still nervous as he was sitting outside, talking with some of the other kids, me, Arnold, Gerald, Nadine, Phoebe, Sid, Stinky, Harold and Eugene, mostly.

"Usually, I check my stocks at this hour." Lorenzo said, feeling a bit more comfortable with the people around him. "But being here, it feels a bit different. Like time is running pretty fast."

"I'm sure your clock will adjust to our time pretty soon." I said. "It's not easy being the rich kid in school. You can't just brag about what new item you have or where you went."

"You do that sometimes..." Nadine muttered.

"Sometimes, being rich and isolated doesn't get you friends." I explained.

Lorenzo paused as Nadine asked, "You didn't have a whole lot of friends back in Peavine, did you?"

"I only had friends that helped me whenever I needed." Lorenzo said. "But, actually, l had a pretty tight schedule back in Peavine."

"Well, Lorenzo, you'll see that here in PS 118, things are a little different here." Arnold said. "If you really want to have friends or real fun, sometimes you'll have to..."

"Break schedule for once, that's what I want to do..." Lorenzo said. "But I'm so used to life in a schedule..."

"Ah, don't worry. We'll help you out." Harold smiled. "Hang with us after school, we'll show you what being a kid is about!"

Lorenzo paused. "All right... just as long as I get back to my house at five-thirty."

I smirked. "Lorenzo, by the time we're done with you, you'll wish the fun never ended."

Sure enough, the end of school had come as the bell rang, and we were let out at three o'clock! Most of us kids led Lorenzo over to Gerald Field where we decided to give him a first on-experience at baseball. At first, he was a little nervous, and... well, okay, he was nervous. He couldn't quite get the handle of baseball correctly, so we decided to leave baseball and move on with that, so...

We went over to the park as we looked up at some clouds, trying to figure out the shapes the clouds were forming. Unfortunately, Lorenzo decided to be boring. Lame! Well, either way, the cloud thing didn't work out...

But we tried again with another bit of sport... skipping stones across a lake.

"What's so interesting about skipping a stone on a lake?" Lorenzo asked.

"It used to be rocks at dumpsters, but the alleys aren't really a suitable place." I explained as I threw a rock as everyone kept count of the skips. "Anyway, it's not bad. Give it a whirl."

Lorenzo paused as he picked up a rock... and threw it... right past the lake and into a car that was somehow parked on the other side of the lake.

"What the- we were NOWHERE near that car!" Phoebe said. "How is that even possible?"

"Doesn't matter, let's go!" I yelped as we all quickly ran off.

"I still don't get it." Lorenzo said as we were all now enjoying an ice cream inside Slausen's, with everyone laughing at Harold getting a brain freeze. "Just what am I missing? I get that I should try to be a kid... but I STILL don't get what makes a kid tick."

"It just happens." I said as I finished up my sundae. "What you need is to make a good life being a kid. You may never have that chance again, so you have to enjoy being a kid while it lasts."

"It's true, Lorenzo. Just remember, being a kid can be one of the greatest things in the world. Sure, we'll grow up to be mature adults someday, some of us may already be growing, but it doesn't mean there's the kid in us to let go." Arnold explained.

"You just have to do the most awesome of awesomest things, that's all." Nadine explained.

"Maybe, but..." Lorenzo paused as he turned to me. "Just how are YOU standing all this? You're one of the rich kids, yet you don't mind hanging around these other people?"

"It helps to be a social butterfly." I shrugged. "Yes, I am rich. I will not deny that. But building good friendships, having fun with your actual friends... it is what a kid is all about in the end."

Lorenzo paused. "Well, am I- part of this friend's group?"

"Are you feeling nervous?" I asked.

Lorenzo thought about it for a second. "A little, but I feel comfortable with you guys. It makes me feel... a little warm and more comfortable."

"Then you are part of the group!" I smiled.

"Just give other people a shot. Even if it's not us, it could be anybody." Phoebe said. "You just have to get comfortable with a few students. Who knows? Maybe you'll find the right group."

Lorenzo paused as he smiled. "I guess I can see it..."

"Come on, I have one more idea... if it doesn't convince you, I don't know what will..." Arnold said as we all followed him.

We were now balancing on pipes at the dump as Lorenzo paused, turning to Arnold. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"We do this all the time, it's cool." Arnold said.

"Arnold, I actually never did this balancing pipe thing, so I'm not sure where you're going with this." I said, honestly and truthfully as we all reached our destination. A pipe that spread across a pile of mud.

As Harold crossed first, he smirked as he called, "Come on, you bunch of wussy babies!"

He was so busy laughing, he yelped as he fell off the pole. Everybody laughed but... me. Everybody was getting on the pole as they started to fall into the mud. They expect me to cross and balance so I can fall into the mud? No thank you! I think I'll pass!

Lorenzo seemed to share my intentions. "You don't expect me to actually walk across this pipe, do you?"

"Go ahead, you can do it." Arnold started.

"But what if I fall?" Lorenzo asked.

"It's only mud, Lorenzo, you can do it." Arnold supported him.

"Don't listen to him." I whispered to Lorenzo. "It's a horrible plan."

Lorenzo started to balance as he started to walk across the pipe, with Arnold following, with Lorenzo starting to rant. I groaned as I said to Arnold as he was about to cross, "Can you push him off so he'll shut up?"

Everybody seemed to share my intentions, but with a determined smile. Arnold just shrugged as he pushed Lorenzo off as he yelped and fell in the mud.

"Thank you." I nodded.

Lorenzo got up as he looked down at his new sneakers, then backed and fell... straight down a mud slide... which I didn't think these turns were humanly possible! When he landed in a pool of mud, we all ran over, wondering if he was okay.

But, to our surprise, Lorenzo was actually... smiling. "I'm all muddy and... I smell! I found it! I finally realize what it's like to be a kid!"

Everybody cheered except for me as I tried to shout, "I don't think that's how it works!"

But my words were drowned out by the cheers as all the kids were joining Lorenzo on the mud slide.

Phoebe smiled as she said, "Come on, Rhonda, let's go!"

"Forget it! I refuse to- YA!"

I glared at Phoebe and Nadine, the ones who DRAGGED ME INTO THE MUD SLIDE as I was now covered in dirt. "Thanks a lot, girls. Now I have to SHOWER all this off! And this was my favorite shirt, may I add?"

"Oh, relax, you drama queen, it's not like it's the end of the world." Nadine said as we saw Lorenzo talking with his mother about the fun he had.

His mother had some doubt at first, but then she smiled as she said, "I'm glad you had fun, today, Lorenzo, but seriously, being a couple minutes late."

"Sorry, mom. But I truly did have fun." Lorenzo explained.

His mother sighed. "I suppose it's fine... it's okay to be late a couple times... I guess it's time I let you be the kid you wish to be."

Mrs. Lopez smiled as she said to us, "Thank you for giving my son a chance to breathe in some new life experience."

"It's no trouble at all." I smiled. "We taught him all he needs to know to be a kid here..."

Mrs. Lopez looked at me and said, "Maybe you're not as rebellious girl as I thought, but you should probably shower now... all of you. And, Rhonda?"

"Yes?" I asked.

Mrs. Lopez frowned as she said, "Si te pillo tratando de influir en mi hijo en una artimaña peligroso que es demasiado peligroso, voy a asegurar, verá problema conmigo! Esa es mi advertencia para ti!"

I blinked. "What?"

"You don't want to know what she said." Phoebe chuckled nervously.

Mrs. Lopez then smiled as she said, "But you are not too bad."

"You should probably thank my friend here, the boy in the green shirt." I said, pointing to Arnold. "He helped influence Lorenzo."

"Is that so? In that case..." Mrs. Lopez smiled. "Gracias, mi amigo. Usted es muy agradable para ayudar a mi hijo."

Arnold paused, knowing a few of the words as he said, "De nada, Mrs. Lopez. Lorenzo did do good today."

Mrs. Lopez smiled.

"Well, all in all, a pretty good day today." I said as I arrived at my house, with Phoebe and Nadine following.

"Yeah..." Phoebe sighed. "But seriously, we better be at home to shower this mud."

"Good idea." Nadine said. "I think I'll be in the showers for quite a while."

"Yeah..." I said. "Still, it's nice to welcome another rich person into our community of PS 118 friends. See you girls tomorrow!"

Phoebe and Nadine nodded as they started to go off.

As for me, I decided to get to the showers as I started to get in the tub to relax. After all the mud I had, hopefully, some of it will come right off...

And there is episode eighty-three! How do you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!