Here's the next episode, 'Deconstructing Arnold'. Anyway, enjoy!
The next day, at school, I was taking a deep breath as I came out with my backpack in hand. I planned on waiting for the bus today with my friends as Nadine, Phoebe and Lila quickly joined me.
"Hi, girls!" I smiled.
"Hey, Rhonda." Lila smiled. "What's up on the agenda for today after school?"
"Didn't Phoebe and Nadine tell you? I'm going to finishing school after school, so I can't hang out." I explained.
"Oh..." Lila said, looking down.
"Ah, don't worry about it, Lila. Maybe we can do something together tomorrow." I smiled as the bus stopped.
"I suppose you're ever so right." Lila said as we went in.
"Don't worry about it, kid." I smiled.
"Yeah... it's just going to be every Monday, Wednesday and Friday." Phoebe smiled. "No big deal."
I nodded. "Right! We'll come out of it fresh and alive in the end."
It was then we noticed that Sid, Stinky and Harold were gathering around each other, Sid was holding a cell phone as he was dialing a number. Lila frowned. "Curious..."
"What's that?" Nadine asked.
"Lorenzo has a cell phone model like that..." Lila pointed out.
I nodded at Lila, getting the picture. "Something not right with you either, huh?"
She shook her head.
"Come on, we better go check it out." Phoebe said as soon as the bus stopped.
We quickly joined the three boys as I asked, "All right, what are you boys up to?"
"Oh, hey!" Harold chuckled. "Watch this. Sid, do another prank call!"
Sid nodded as he started to do his prank calls. "Hey, is your refrigerator running?"
Sid chuckled as he waited for the person to say yes. "Well, then, you better go catch it!"
Sid laughed as he hung up the phone as he said, "Oh man, this is the best."
Harold and Stinky laughed as well, though me, Nadine and Phoebe frowned. That was just... the lamest prank call ever!
It was then I noticed Curly was right behind me. I yelped. "Jesus! How long have you been here?"
"Not long." Curly just shrugged. "You still look cute when you jump like that, though. It really brings out your eyes.
I shook my head. I swear, that guy! I ought to write something down...
My eyes then brightened as I got an idea. Maybe if I could...
"Forget it, Rhonda. Curly will know it's your handwriting!" I heard Helga say in my mind.
"Oh, I guess... your Rhonda tried that in your timeline too, huh?" I asked.
"Unfortunately... you also rejected Arnold's advice, everybody else did that day!" Helga explained to me as Sid did another crank call on the phone.
"Why would they reject Arnold's advice? Seriously, even if he IS a kid, his advice is like... the best thing you can get from him!" I asked in my mind. "Were their minds like... asleep on that day?"
"Along with yours? Pretty much..." Helga explained.
I just shook my head as I turned back to the others, with Sid finishing his phone call. I hadn't even noticed Arnold was just joining us.
"Interesting phone you got there..." Lila said in suspicion.
"Is it new?" Arnold asked.
Sid, not catching Lila's suspicious tone, but listened to Arnold's curiosity, said nervously. "Well, actually, I borrowed it from Lorenzo."
"Oh, you did, huh?" Lila raised an eyebrow.
"That's awfully nice of him." Arnold smiled.
"Yeah, what he doesn't know won't hurt him." Sid smirked.
"Okay, we're done." Lila frowned as she got up and started to walk to the near front of the seat.
Stinky blinked in confusion as he asked, "Now what do ya reckon is Lila's problem?"
"Probably her time of the month." Nadine explained, covering for Lila. Me, Phoebe and Nadine all knew Lila was wanting to get off the bus, just so she could meet up with Lorenzo and tell him what was going on.
"You didn't ask Lorenzo?" Arnold said in shock.
"Oh, come on, Arnold, it's not like it's a big deal." Sid started.
"Actually, it kind of IS!" I said.
"Sid, you've got to do the right thing, return the phone and admit the truth that you've been using it for crank calls. He'll be angry, but it's the right thing to do." Arnold smiled.
Sid, Stinky and Harold rolled his eyes as Harold said, "Oh, blah, blah, blah, we heard it all before! Can you do anything OTHER than give advice! Come on, Arnold, stop speaking big adult words!"
"Sorry, Arnold, but I reckon Harold's right." Stinky said.
"What do you mean?" Arnold asked.
"Lately, you've been turning into this advice giving person... you're not our parents, Arnold!" Sid complained. "You can't tell us what to do!"
"Come on, isn't this going too far?" Nadine asked. "I mean, yes, Arnold does give out advice... but what's wrong with it? It's good advice."
"Well, yeah, but he does it ALL... THE... TIME!" Harold sighed. "He's helpful, but... I bet one dollar he can't go one whole school day... just ONE... WHOLE... SCHOOL DAY... without giving somebody advice."
"One dollar?" I smiled in eagerness.
"Uh-oh..." Nadine and Phoebe groaned.
"Harold, I can do that. There are days when my advice isn't needed, but..." Arnold started.
"He'll take the bet!" I said.
"What?" Arnold said in shock.
"But ONLY if YOU, Harold, can stop being a bully for a whole school day!" I smiled.
"What?" Harold frowned. "Well... only if you stop mentioning how wonderful you are every sentence?"
"What? I don't compliment myself every sentence!" I frowned.
Curly, not helping matters, then said, "Hey Rhonda, you look wonderful."
"Oh thanks, I really am wonderful!" I smiled... before my eyes widened. "Okay, maybe I do compliment myself every once in a while."
"Since we're doing this..." Sid smiled. "Stinky, I bet you can't go one day without lemon pudding!"
"What?" Stinky said in shock. "But that's just..."
Stinky paused. "Okay, fine... but only if you don't wear that hat for the whole day."
Sid frowned as he took the hat off. "Simple enough. Anybody want to hold my hat?"
"I'll take it..." I said as Sid handed me the hat. "Okay, between me, Arnold, Harold, Stinky and Sid. Hey Phoebe, you want in on this bet?"
Phoebe paused. "Why not, I'm up for a challenge."
"Think you can handle not being a competitive girl for grades for a day?" I smiled. "Unless you're asked to do so, you can't compete to be first for all the answers!"
"What?" Phoebe frowned... then growled. "Fine... no volunteering unless asked."
"Nadine, you want in?" I asked.
"Oh no, count me out! I'm not getting involved in one of your gambling aspects." Nadine frowned.
"I'll pass as well." Curly said. "I'm just going to watch from the sidelines."
"Okay, suit yourself." I said as I turned to the people I made the bet on. "So it's all settled then!"
I put out a hand. "It's a bet?"
"Yeah!" Harold smiled as he put his hand down.
"Bring it on!" Sid said, putting down his hand.
"I reckon this'll be easy!" Stinky said as he put his hand down.
"This is going to be fun!" Phoebe giggled as she joined her hands in the group.
"Do I get a say in this?" Arnold asked.
"No." We all said.
Arnold just shook his head. "Okay, if just to get this out of the way."
"Can I get a 'Whoa, Rhonda'?" I asked.
We all nodded as we shouted, "Whoa, Rhonda!"
We nodded as we glared at each other. It was a bet!
Pretty soon, the bus stopped at the school as we were all going out, ready for the day to go by. It was then we noticed Lila talking with Lorenzo. Lorenzo didn't seem pleased as Lila pointed over at Sid's direction.
Lila then returned with Lorenzo as she smiled, calmly. "Hi Sid, I hope you don't mind, but I just told Lorenzo about your phone. I'll leave you two to sort it out!"
Lila then sat down to watch as Sid's eyes widened in shock. Harold and Stinky chuckled nervously as they started whistling as if pretending they weren't involved.
Sid yelped as Lorenzo glared at Sid. "What was this I heard from Lila about you using my phone, Sid?"
Sid looked around as he looked over to Arnold. Arnold just shook his head as he did the zipping motions with his lips. Sid chuckled nervously as he backed away for a moment. "Okay, Lorenzo, let me explain..."
"You stole my phone. Not cool, man." Lorenzo glared at Sid.
Sid gulped.
I didn't have much time to see what Lorenzo was going to do to Sid next as I immediately ran inside. While I did have a bet going on within the school day, I haven't forgotten what was in the letter.
"Where did you first meet Dr. Bliss alone where you did your first action?" I asked in my mind.
"In front of Mr. Simmons' classroom! But I don't see what she would put in there..." Helga told me as we arrived at Mr. Simmons' classroom. It was still early, so Mr. Simmons and Olga weren't here yet. "Maybe she put something under a loose tile! Feel around with your foot!"
I willfully obeyed as I lifted open the tile in front of the room... and sure enough, a tile came loose.
"You're right! I think I see something!" I said as I noticed a small note and a small cross. I picked it up and read it.
'To my patient from the alternate reality...
Thank God you came across this! I don't know how you would have done it, but I'm glad you did. Know that I'll always be in your heart. Have somebody keep this around at all times! You never know when she may approach. She might feel a little pain, but it'll be a temporary force to keep her away from you. Keep close to the cross at all times.
Dr. Bliss, your favorite child psychologist'
I examined the necklace in curiosity. There was something familiar about this necklace... haven't I seen it before?
"Well, you read what she said. Keep it on you." Helga told me.
I nodded as I put it in my pocket. "I think I saw a similar necklace like this..."
"That cross symbol? You should. One of our classmates have been wearing it, sometimes putting it outside, and sometimes putting it inside." Helga explained.
"Wait... you don't mean Curly, do you?" I asked as I took my seat.
"Who else do you know with the cross necklace!" Helga frowned.
"Wait a minute... I remember Phoebe, Nadine and I got similar necklaces for when we went out to investigate the mystery behind the disappearance of Tucker and Lana Vail's weirdness! I think he called that necklace a... 'Symbol of Marcie'. Helga, do you know what it means?" I asked in my mind.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do... but you need to talk to Curly YOURSELF in order to get answers." Helga sighed in my mind. "Look, princess, I don't have much to go on, but if something else comes up, let me know!"
I just nodded. Not much else to do but wait for something to react.
Pretty soon, I saw Sid coming in, rubbing his head as I looked up. "Lorenzo bopped you?"
"No, he was angry, but he sternly told me how stealing was wrong, so I gave him the phone back." Sid groaned. "Actually, I hit my head on the locker, and suddenly realized why I needed the hat. Can I have it back?"
"Well..." I paused. "A deal IS a deal! You have to go through the whole school day without your hat!"
"Screw the bet! I want to drop out! I'll lose a buck, but it's worth it!" Sid begged.
"Well, since you put it like that..." I smirked as I handed the hat back to Sid. "All right, here you go!"
Sid sighed in relief. "Oh, thank you!"
As Sid put his hat back on, the rest of the others came filing in as I gave a smirk. I can easily get this bet won.
A little later in class, Olga was teaching math as Phoebe was tapping nervously, really wanting to volunteer, but knowing she couldn't do it unless she was asked to volunteer. I smirked as Olga came to me.
"So, Rhonda, could you tell me what x equals in the quadratic formula?" Olga smiled.
I gave a smirk as I noticed Phoebe was starting to get frustrated. "Let me see... uh... x equals... m c squared?"
Olga frowned. "No, that's wrong, Rhonda. Is there anybody else?"
Phoebe was shaking nervously.
"Anybody at all?"
Phoebe groaned as she muttered, "Oh, screw this!"
She then raised her hand.
"Yes, Phoebe?" Olga asked.
"X equals negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus four times a times c divided by 2 times a!" Phoebe said in a smart-alec voice.
Phoebe's eyes widened as she realized what she just did.
I noticed Arnold glaring at me a little bit. I just gave a smirk back at him, reminding him of the fact that he took the bet as well. Arnold sighed, knowing he couldn't do anything to me without losing the bet. Arnold sighed.
"That's right, Phoebe. You're really a good student here." Olga smiled. "I may have to talk to the teachers about you..."
Phoebe sighed. "Great..."
Over at recess, I watched as Harold was trying his best to breathe in and out. I turned to Nadine, who was standing with me as I said, "Nadine, wait here a minute."
"All right." Nadine nodded as she sat down. I smirked as I went over to Harold.
"Hey, Harold. How's the bet going?" I smirked.
"Oh... fine. I'm doing okay." Harold said nervously.
"Oh, that's good... because I heard Nadine call you fat." I said.
Harold stopped. "That... that doesn't affect me at all."
"She figured you wouldn't." I smiled. "That's why she called you another name."
"What kind of name?" Harold frowned.
"You know... uh... big longbottom." I smiled.
"That's not cool..." Harold frowned as he seemed to be shaking, trying to calm himself down.
"No... but she did call your mom ugly." I smiled, knowing I had this in the bag.
"UGLY!" Harold glared. "I am going to tell her off! Screw the bet, this is my family life on the line!"
I smirked as I saw Harold walk up to Nadine. I knew Nadine would take care of herself. For now, only Stinky and Arnold were left.
"Rhonda!" Arnold frowned as he came over to me. "That wasn't..."
I gave a smirk as I asked, "Yes, buddy? You wanted to give me some... advice?"
Arnold's eyes widened...as he sighed. "You know what you did."
Arnold then walked off as I gave a smirk... this was in the bag!
At lunch time, I looked over at Stinky, who was looking nervously at the lemon pudding that was put out. I smirked as I rubbed my hands in eagerness. Arnold then frowned at me as he said, "Rhonda, please stop!"
I smirked. "Oh, stop what?"
"Your little schemes! You're trying to cheat your way to win the bet! I know you have some sort of greed issue, but come on! You've got to at least consider your actions!" Arnold sighed. "Rhonda, take my advice, quit while you're ahead!"
I smirked. "Arnold, you just lost the bet."
"Yeah, so what if I did? I don't care!" Arnold said.
I turned to Stinky as I pointed over to the lemon pudding. "Here, Stinky, help yourself to one of my helpings of lemon pudding!"
"Gee, thanks, Rhonda!" Stinky smiled.
"Stinky, no! You and Rhonda are the only people left in the bet!" Arnold begged, but it was too late as Stinky took the lemon pudding and went off to his seat.
I laughed. "Yes! I win! I'm awesome! Compliment me all you want, but I am awesome! I'm beautiful and I'm awesome! How can you top that?"
It was then one of the cafeteria ladies came over and said, "Sorry, forgot to change the signs, this isn't lemon pudding."
"Wait, what?" I blinked as they changed the signs... to reveal... 'Lemon-Lime Jell-O'.
"Jell-O?" I blinked. "So wait... this isn't lemon pudding?"
We both turned to Stinky as he was eating the Jell-O... as he paused. "Hey, this isn't lemon pudding! This is Lemon-Lime Jell-O! There's no rule saying I can't eat Jell-O!"
"JELL-O?" I said... before realizing I blew my own plan as Arnold smirked at me.
My face fell as Arnold said, "Game, set and match."
We were later seen after school as me, Arnold, Sid, Harold and Phoebe were giving one dollar each to Stinky as I grumbled a bit.
"Well, Rhonda, what have we learned today?" Arnold asked.
I sighed. "Don't make bets and try to cheat to win."
"Also don't throw your friends under the bus!" Nadine glared as she was standing right beside me, glaring. "Rhonda, seriously, this greed issue needs to stop!"
"I'm sorry! I can't help it!" I sighed.
"Well, hopefully your first day of finishing school will help out in that department." Phoebe sighed as everyone nodded in agreement.
I sighed. "For goodness sakes... I hope you're right."
I looked up at the clock as it struck '3:05 PM'. Only a couple of blocks to the Finishing School... hopefully, I can control my own greed issues...
There's episode one hundred and seventeen! How'd you like it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!