And here we go with our next two-parter... 'Arnold's Christmas'! Hopefully, this one'll be great! Anyway, enjoy!
"Oh, we're on our Christmas break now, fa la la la la, fa la la la!" Nadine hummed to herself as we were getting out of school, excited for our Christmas break.
"Ah yes, Christmas. The best time of the year..." I sighed.
"I love how the city's almost transformed by the decorations!" Phoebe said as we looked around the decorated streets. "What do you girls like most about Christmas?"
I sighed as I said, "Me, I like getting together with my family, enjoying all the presents they give me... but seriously, just being snug, inside, enjoying the glad times together, watching the gentle snow fall down to the ground, snuggled next to a warm fire as we enjoy a nice hot chocolate and our furry little surrey."
Nadine, who had pulled out a Christmas catalogue from her backpack and was looking through it, smiled as she said, "Actually, there it is..."
"Huh?" Me and Phoebe turned.
"Only five thousand nine hundred bucks, in this catalogue, one furry little surrey." Nadine pointed to a picture in the catalogue.
"Oh, cool..." Me and Phoebe smiled.
"As for me, you know me! I freaking LOVE Christmas! Crazy about it! My parents are wild for the holiday and so am I!" Nadine smiled. "We always prepare for Christmas all the time!"
"ALL the time?" Phoebe asked. "Sounds like you and your parents OVER-prepare for Christmas."
"Oh, my sweet little Phoebe..." Nadine smiled. "Nobody can be overprepared for Christmas!"
"Speaking of which, girls... things we want most for Christmas and hope we get from our parents! Go!" I smiled.
"I want a bouncing ball and a jumping jack or a jumping jill! And a rocket ship, a trampoline, a flying machine, an elevator, an escalator, an ex-Hawaiian zebra-rator, and submarines and lima beans and..." Nadine frowned. "Lima beans? Yuck! How did that get on my Christmas list?"
Phoebe was about to open her mouth, but Nadine continued on. "A music box and a pair of socks! A bicycle bell and a carousel! Pies of custard and hold the mustard! A baseball bat and a funny hat and eleventy-seventy thingys like that, and a lollipop and a spinning top and a marshy-mellow with legs that hop and..."
"NADINE!" I yelled.
"What? I was just getting to the good stuff... like banana splits and pogo sticks!" Nadine said.
"I know you're excited, but please control yourself!" I said. "Okay, Phoebe, what would you like for Christmas?"
"I want to decide who lives and who dies!" Phoebe smiled.
Me and Nadine just stared in shock.
Phoebe giggled. "Just kidding! I actually want the new in-style ice skates. I want to see if I can do better in new skates. The old ones were getting a little torn."
"Ah, nice choice." I smiled. "As for me, I was thinking about a little footwear myself, hopefully my parents'll be able to get it... it's the new Nancy Spumoni Snow Boots."
"You just want anything Dino Spumoni related, don't you?" Phoebe said. "After all, Nancy IS Dino's daughter."
"AND she's a nice model. Why, just the sight of the boots just makes me..." I started.
"Hey, Rhonda, here's a nice looking mannequin with those boots you want!" Nadine said, pointing to a window mannequin.
My eyes widened in interest. "Want. Want. Want. Want."
My eyes were then glued towards the window in interest as Phoebe and Nadine groaned. Phoebe said, "Don't you think you should wait until Christmas for this?"
"Want now. Want now. Want now." I said in a mantra.
Nadine groaned as she pulled me away from the window and turned me around to face her. "Seriously, Rhonda, you are acting like a greedy girl who can't wait! Seriously, who else looks at these snow boots and instantly wants them? Nobody but you!"
"Want. Want. Want. Want."
My headache started up, snapping me out of my daze as the three of us turned to see Olga, wearing her snow clothes, staring at the boots in a similar matter, eyeing them in interest as she was repeating the same words. Nearby, Sharlene was groaning. "Seriously, every freaking time we past this store?"
"...I stand corrected." Nadine said.
"Want. Want. Want." Olga said as she pointed to the store window at the boots.
"Yes, Olga, they're nice boots. But you should wait until Christmas to get them." Sharlene sighed.
"Want now. Want now. Want now." Olga said in a hypnotized state.
"Olga, I think you should wait, lest you get your father angry?" Sharlene smirked.
Olga snapped out of her trance, looking at Sharlene. She sighed. "Good point. Good point. Good point."
Olga recovered as she smiled. "Hi, girls!"
"Hey, Olga, hey Sharlene." Me and the girls nodded towards Olga and Sharlene.
I then asked, "Looking at the boots too?"
"I'm not interested. Olga is, though." Sharlene sighed as she looked at them. "Seriously, Olga, I don't know why you want them."
"I don't know why either. I guess... something just draws me to them..." Olga sighed. "Almost as if... a little kid in my mind was telling me you want them..."
Olga was looking down again as she muttered something to herself. "I wonder if I did have one that he or she would have wanted a pair... maybe we'd have a match..."
"What?" We blinked.
Olga smiled, trying to not to give a worry. "Oh, nothing to worry about. Just thinking to myself. Anyway, girls, getting your Christmas shopping done?"
"Well..." Nadine paused. "We're currently in the middle of it..."
As the girls were talking with Olga and Sharlene, I then heard a voice in my head.
"Pst."
I blinked as I said in my mind, "What is it, Helga?"
"I know this is going to sound crazy, but during one of your next shopping sprees, I need you to buy a pair of Nancy Spumoni snow boots!" Helga explained to me in my mind.
"Buy a pair? I really appreciate you wanting me to have those snow boots, but..." I said in my mind.
"No, they're not for you!" Helga growled in my mind. "You need to buy the pair to someone who needs it the most!"
I blinked. "You want me to buy Olga the snow boots? I think that would be pretty sweet, but I don't know, maybe her parents already had something pla-"
"It's not for Olga either!" Helga groaned. "Look, I just need you to buy the snow boots, then go to the electronics section once you do! I know it doesn't make sense, but trust me, it will!"
"But Helga, all the stores are practically sold out! There's barely enough of those for everybody!" I said.
"Yeah, you said that to me when I was wanting the boots in my dimension! Look, just trust me on this, okay? You need the boots!" Helga sighed. "Look, I can't talk long, I sense something evil here..."
"What?" I blinked, but the voice was already gone. "Helga? Hello? Come in!"
I didn't understand what was going on. Nothing Helga is saying made any sense...
"Rhonda? Hello?"
"Huh?" I turned to the girls.
"Olga just asked how you're doing on your Christmas shopping." Phoebe said.
"Oh... uh, I'm about done." I said. "I just have to figure out who to get for a few people, and I'll be set."
"Oh, cool." Olga smiled. "Yeah, I've gotten it pretty much done already. Hopefully, my parents will love the presents I give them... then again, when do they NOT like the gifts I give them?"
Sharlene sighed. "I've been... slacking a little on the shopping, but not to worry! I got something big planned."
"Oh, well, that's good." I said as I noticed Arnold and Gerald leaving a nearby store, talking to each other. Now that I think about it, I should really get a gift for Arnold. He's been so nice to all of us and to me, I should at least give him something in return.
"Anyway, girls, me and Sharlene have to get back to our homes..." Olga smiled. "Dad's probably going to worry. See you girls later."
"Bye, Olga, bye Sharlene." Phoebe, Nadine and I waved to the departing women as we kept on going.
"Say, girls, I think maybe we should give our boys something... special." I said.
"I think that's a good idea." Phoebe smiled. "I've been meaning to give Gerald a small token of my affection... after all, he likes me."
"He completely adores you! I'm thinking about giving Tucker a special basketball poster!" Nadine smiled. "And maybe a baseball coaster! And some nice pumpkin bread for his wonderful toaster!"
"Oh no, she's rhyming again." Phoebe groaned.
"And hopefully he gives me some great presents, like a mobile stream, a shining gleam, and a couple pairs of lima beans..." Nadine frowned. "Lima beans? Yuck! How did they get in there again? Oh well, no matter. Mom'll like them. And maybe a couple dozen of banana splits and pogo sticks!"
"What about you, Rhonda?" Phoebe said. "Ready to finally give your undying love to Arnold? Come on, we all know you want to give that!"
"No, no." I shook my head. "I haven't thought about what to give him yet... but hopefully that time'll come..."
"Yeah yeah, just let me know when to bring the mistletoe so you two can kiss under that thing." Nadine rolled her eyes as all three of us started to go off.
Well, for now, I had two missions... one, to get those boots, and two, to get something for Arnold...
The next day, the day before Christmas, I was over at the mall as I took a deep breath. Everything seemed to be crowded as I decided to look around. "Sheesh, what a crowd... okay... if I were a pair of Nancy Spumoni snow boots, where would I be?"
"Try the boot store, maybe?"
I looked towards the shoe store and nodded. "May as well... fortunately, my parents let me use some of the funds for Christmas gifts like this..."
As I walked inside the boot store, I looked towards the cashier as I looked up. "Excuse me, ma'am?"
The girl on the cashier smiled. "What can I get for you, my fine young lady?"
"I'm looking to buy a pair of Nancy Spumoni snow boots for a friend for Christmas? You wouldn't happen to know if there are any left in stock, do you?" I asked.
"I don't know..." The girl behind the counter frowned. "It's a very popular sales item. I'll check in the back and see if they have any left."
"All right, but please hurry, if you can! I really want to make it a surprise for her!" I said.
"I will." The girl nodded as she left the counter for a minute.
I sighed as I waited a bit. "Okay, Helga, you're still here, right?"
"Yeah, still here."
"Mind telling me WHY you want me to buy these boots, and who they are for?"
"All right, I guess I can tell you. They're for Arnold."
"What? Seriously? I didn't think he was interested in a pair of girls' snow boots."
"There's more to it than that. Look, in my universe, and probably going to be the same in your universe, Arnold is trying to make a Christmas miracle happen. You heard of Mr. Hyunh, one of the boarders at his house?"
"Yeah?" I nodded.
"See, his daughter was lost at the end of the Vietnamese War. He had to give her up to somebody in order to be safe. What Mr. Hyunh wants for Christmas is to see his daughter again. The reason Arnold is wanting the snow boots is because he's shopping for a favor for some guy from the department records. If Arnold can get all the items on the list, INCLUDING the snow boots, he'll get more information on where Mr. Hyunh's daughter lives."
"Oh, I get it!" I smiled. "All I have to do is buy the boots, give them to Arnold, since pairs are rare to come by, AND he'll find his daughter! Am I getting it right?"
"Give the princess a prize." I heard Helga applauding in my mind. "Now, I kinda screwed up on that one last time, but I redeemed it at the end. This time, I need you to give him the boots, no matter what! No delays, just get to the electronics store once you get the boots and meet up with Arnold and Gerald! It should be no problem!"
"How will I know if they have the boots, though?" I asked Helga in my mind.
"You're in luck, sweetheart!" I saw the cashier coming back with a perfect pair of Nancy Spumoni snow boots. "These are the last boots in stock!"
I smiled. That'll work. "I'll take them, then! I got enough cash, I can pay for it!"
After a quick purchase and a thank you to the employer, I left with the snow boots in hand as I smiled. Phase One complete! Now all I had to do was meet Arnold at the electronics to trade off the boots!
"Rhonda, my sweetheart!"
Oh God, it's Curly! I just saw him, his cross around his neck and winter clothes on him as he came close to me. I noticed the mistletoe he had under him. "So, sweetheart, kissed anybody under the mistletoe yet? I'm willing to be your first!"
I groaned. "Curly, I'm not in the mood for this right now, I have to go to the electronics store back in the neighborhood!"
"All the way back there?" Curly frowned. "I don't know, the streets are particularly dangerous. At least let me go with you."
I frowned as I put the bag with the snow boots down as I glared at Curly. "Look, Curly, if I can be honest with you, you are sick and demented. Not only that, you are freaking crazy! I appreciate the help you give me and the girls, especially when it came to the mystery of Tucker Wittenberg, but I can handle myself!"
"You never know! There's people just crazy enough to steal your stuff!" Curly frowned.
"I can handle myself." I glared. "And I don't need your help."
"Some little girl is looking into your bag and is swiping it." Curly said nonchalantly.
"WHAT?" I said as I turned to see a raven haired girl in a purple dress taking my bag. "HEY! COME BACK HERE WITH THAT!"
"Told you." Curly yelped.
"Go get your own!" The little girl snapped as she started to run.
"Curly, help me! I got to get those snow boots back, they're important for something!" I said.
"Way ahead of you!" Curly frowned as we began to give chase to the little girl, who no doubt was going to find her parents.
Much to our surprise, she ran out of the mall as we ran out.
I groaned. "Great! She could be anywhere!"
"Follow me, she went that way!" Curly said as we continued giving chase.
I wanted to ask how he knew that, but I decided, it's Curly. He for some reason knows.
We eventually caught up to the girl as she grabbed a taxi and went inside.
"She's going to the other side of town!" Curly said as he waved his hand for a taxi, which came by conveniently. He dragged me inside. "Quick, pal, to the other side of town and step on it!"
We felt the taxi moving... about three inches before it stopped. I blinked. "Why did we stop?"
Curly and I looked out the window... and blinked as we saw the street signs, which said 'THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN ST.' and 'STEP ON IT BLVD.'
"Huh." I blinked.
"I meant follow that cab and step on it!" Curly groaned as the taxi did as told this time.
We eventually saw the little girl getting out of the cab as she came out. We got out quickly, but not before paying our cab driver, as we resumed chase.
"If I can just get those boots!" I grunted as the little girl gave chase.
"I'm getting a second wind!" Curly said as he started to get a second speed boost... which I was impressed, I didn't know Curly could run like that. Curly then jumped the girl as she dropped the bag.
"OW! SON OF A BI-" The little girl started before Curly covered her mouth.
"I got her down, take the boots and go!" Curly said as I took the boots. "Don't worry about me! Just protect yourself!"
"Uh... thanks, Curly." I said as I took the snow boots and just ran off.
I heard a voice in a distance, "I don't know why you're here, but you're no-"
I didn't hear the rest as I just ran. I don't know who that girl was, and quite frankly, I didn't care. All that mattered was that I needed to get those snow boots to Arnold!
And there's part one of episode one hundred and one! How did you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks! And don't forget to check out/add tropes to the TVTropes page!