Here's something that's a little later during the fifth season, but I'm putting here just because, here is 'Stuck In a Tree'! How am I going to do this story? Wait and see! Anyway, enjoy!
The next morning, on a Sunday, I was up, walking and I was just finishing up a small notebook on what I was going to say to Madame Parvenu during our date... I knew I would have to tell her the truth, but she'd probably be suspicious if I told her about Curly, Caroline and those two other figures, so I left them out of my notes.
Satisfied, I decided to relax as I decided to start up my homework for Monday... as I picked up my books, all of a sudden, I felt a certain calling... to a certain diary that was in my bookcase.
I knew I should have been busy, but when I picked up the diary, those stapled pages were just calling to me. I had to get them unstapled somehow! But how?
I looked at my old diary and just decided to put it in my backpack. Maybe I can find something later on to help me unstaple those papers out of the book's cover.
I sighed as I got out my math homework. After I finish this, I'll go call my friends and see if they want to hangout...
"Oh sure, yuck it up." I shook my head as Nadine and Phoebe were laughing, Lila just shrugging a bit as we were strolling through the park.
"I'm sorry, Rhonda, but that's just too funny." Phoebe smiled as she put her calculator in her pocket. "I mean, forgetting your coupon and almost being in debt!"
"Though I'm curious, why did you not call your parents?" Nadine asked.
I blinked... then face-palmed. "It didn't occur to me at the time."
"Well, at least we can learn something from this!" Lila smiled. "I know me and Lorenzo got close on our date!"
Nadine and Phoebe smiled as Phoebe giggled, "Okay, let me tell you about my night!"
"Do tell!" I smiled.
"Babysitting Timberly wasn't too big of a deal, but it was Gerald that was the main worry!" Phoebe smiled. "Fortunately, I taught Timberly my cute eyes technique, because I know one thing's for sure, Gerald cannot resist those cute eyes! He'll do whatever I say when I pull those cute eyes... and I'm sure he'll listen to whatever Timberly needs when she decides to use them."
"Hope Gerald isn't too mad about you teaching his little sister your technique." Nadine giggled.
"Ah, Gerald's like a tough dog. You've got to know what pleases the dog and he'll be friendlier to you." Phoebe smiled. "He doesn't mind me alone, it's me with Timberly that he has a bit of a problem with..."
"Think he's a little jealous that Timberly sees you as a great babysitter AND a good sibling?" Lila asked.
"A little bit, but I also think that Timberly may know my secret crush on Gerald." Phoebe said.
I raised an eyebrow. "However did she figure that out?"
"She had a little picture drawn saying 'My Family', with Gerald and Timberly's mom and dad in the center, Gerald and Timberly's biggest brother Jamie-O next to them, and Gerald a little to the side. She also had herself pushing me into the picture, almost next to Gerald. I think she likes me and Gerald together." Phoebe said.
"Well, duh. You two obviously have a lot of potential as a couple. You two may not talk about your feelings, but you two do have the hots for each other!" I explained.
"I don't think it would be of any surprise Gerald's parents and his siblings know you like him!" Nadine smiled.
"Indeed." Lila smiled. "A parent can be very strange that way."
As me, Lila, Phoebe and Nadine sat down on a bench, Nadine sighed, "Yeah... I mean, take me, my parents, Tucker Wittenberg and his parents! They obviously see a connection between me and Tuck... and to be honest, I think we both see it..."
"Deep friendship, maybe more?" Lila asked as Phoebe noticed a soda stand.
"Maybe." Nadine said as Phoebe walked over to buy some sodas for us. "But who knows? I like Tucker. He's a really great guy to hang with..."
"Yahoos?" Phoebe smiled as she came back with a few bottles.
"Don't mind if I do." I smiled as Phoebe handed me a bottle. Lila and Nadine nodded as they took the other two bottles, leaving Phoebe with one.
"Well, no doubt in my mind on what to do." Nadine smiled.
"Makeover?" Me, Lila and Phoebe looked over to Nadine.
"I was going to say 'arcade', but yeah, okay, we'll do a little makeover." Nadine said.
"Hey, we can stop at the arcade afterwards." I smiled. "We have plenty of..."
"Rhonda, Rhonda!"
I blinked before turning to the girls. "Did you say something?"
They shook their heads.
"Up here!"
Me, Lila, Nadine and Phoebe looked up to see...
Huh. Looks like Arnold and Eugene were hanging up on a branch atop a tree.
"Oh, hey Arnold! Hey Eugene! What are you guys doing up there?" I asked.
"Here's the story..." Arnold sighed.
"You see, I got stuck here because I thought it was a great day to climb a tree, and when I did it, I suddenly remembered I had a fear of heights." Eugene smiled.
I blinked as I looked at Eugene. "You seem surprisingly calm about it."
"Oh, trust me. I'm terrified out of my wits." Eugene continued smiling. "I've been stuck here ever since."
"O... kay..." Lila said awkwardly before turning to Arnold. "And what about you, Arnold?"
"Well, I was flying my kite, when I noticed Eugene was stuck in the tree. I decided to climb the tree to help him down, but one of the branches broke and... I guess you can connect the dots." Arnold sighed.
Nadine sighed. "And... how long would you say you were stuck?"
"Four hours." Arnold sighed.
"Seriously?" I asked.
"Four or five for me." Eugene smiled.
"Okay, coming from you, that's not surprising." I sighed.
"You want us to help you down?" Phoebe asked.
"It would be greatly appreciated, thanks." Arnold said.
"Okay, wait here a minute." Nadine said as she rushed off.
"In the meantime, let me see if I can find a way to retrace what exactly happened." Lila smiled as she and Phoebe nodded, I just watched.
"Okay, so you both climbed this tree, right?" Phoebe asked.
"Indeed..." Arnold sighed. "Though we have no way of climbing down."
"Well..." Phoebe said as she decided to climb the tree slowly, with Lila following. "Let me see if I can map a good path to get you down easily. Maybe there's a branch you guys didn't notice."
I watched a bit as Phoebe and Lila got to the same branch as Arnold and Eugene. Lila nodded. "Okay, we're here!"
"Great! Which branch do we use to get down?" Arnold asked.
Phoebe blinked as she turned to Lila. Lila shrugged as she said, "I was just following you."
"Girls! Seriously!" I frowned.
"Sorry! I guess I forgot to write down my path." Phoebe blushed in embarrassment as Nadine came back with a ladder.
"Okay, this man offered me this ladder to use, but to bring it back when I'm done." Nadine asked before looking up. "Phoebe? Lila? Seriously? How?"
"She forgot to map out a path." I sighed as Phoebe looked down in embarrassment.
"Well, fortunately I have this!" Nadine said as she set the ladder up. "Now, I'll climb up and get you guys!"
"Can't we just go down the ladder, I mean, we're here." Arnold said.
"Yeah, but don't forget, I have a fear of heights." Eugene smiled.
"Creepy." Lila shuddered when she looked at Eugene's calm composure.
"Relax, I'll get Eugene down first, then you three can climb down from there." Nadine said as she started to climb up the tree. "Hold still."
As soon as Nadine got up the tree, she unknowingly accidentally kicked the ladder down as it broke apart.
Nadine yelped as she looked down as I sighed. "I don't think the guy will be wanting that back now..."
"Okay, great." Nadine sighed as she looked at Phoebe, Lila, Arnold and Eugene. "Now all FIVE of us are stuck."
They then looked down at me as I sighed. "Okay, what do I have to do?"
"Looks like we'll need the help of the fire department." Arnold sighed. "Rhonda, maybe you can get them?"
"Yeah, I think that's better off." I nodded as I turned around... until I got an idea. "OR..."
"OH CRAP!" Nadine, Phoebe and Lila face-palmed as Arnold and Eugene just groaned.
"...I can find our other friends and see what they can do to help you guys!" I said as I started to run off. "I'll be right back!"
A few moments later, I came back with Stinky and Sid as I filled them in on what's happening as they arrived at the tree where the others were at.
"Don't worry, fellers, we'll get you down!" Stinky said as he examined the two pieces of ladder.
"Don't worry, this should be a snap!" Sid smiled as he cracked the rungs on each ladder.
"Now we DEFINITELY own that guy a new ladder..." Nadine groaned.
Sid now climbed on Stinky's arms as he reached the ladder and did a good balancing act.
I clapped, as did the girls, Arnold and Eugene. Stinky nodded as he did the same thing, climbed up on Sid's shoulders as we clapped again.
"Okay, let's get you..." Stinky said as Sid was about to walk... when they both slipped out of the rung. "WHOA!"
The two of them then got stuck on the same branch as the others.
Arnold groaned. "Rhonda, get the fire department."
"I'm not giving up! I got another idea!" I smiled.
"Okay, just jump!" Tucker called as me and him were holding a net.
"Can't. Afraid of heights." Eugene said.
"Is it bad to say that he's the first one in line?" Phoebe sighed. "And his calm composure is creepy?"
Tucker sighed. "Relax, it is so simple to jump down! I'll climb up and demonstrate!"
"No, you don't have to-" Arnold started, but it was too late, Tucker started climbing up the tree and joined them in the same branch.
"Okay, first you jump, THEN we land on the net me and Rhonda are hol-" Tucker's eyes widened as he looked down. I just waved to him. "Suddenly, I realize I did not think this through."
"Rhonda, if you're done, how about the fire department?" Arnold frowned.
"Don't worry, I got a better idea!" I smiled.
"HELP! HELP!" Sheena yelped as she clung on to the branch as Eugene was comforting her.
"It's okay, Sheena. We're all here." Eugene smiled.
"Unfortunately." Lila sighed.
Arnold looked down, frowning. "Ask Sheena to save Eugene to climb the tree. Good plan. Stop fooling around, Rhonda!"
"No, no, hang on! I'll get you guys down!" I said as I ran off.
"Okay, let me see if I can jump this tree!" Gerald smirked as he rolled up his sleeves. Timberly climbed up on him as he said, "Hang on, little sis!"
Gerald then started springing up to each branch like a ninja as he got to the same branch the others were on as Gerald smiled. "Hey, fellas! What did you think of my little ninja skills?"
Phoebe giggled. "You certainly have them down from the second grade."
"Thanks." Gerald smiled.
"So I guess you can get us down then." Nadine smiled.
Gerald started smiling as he opened his mouth... then his eyes widened in shock as he said, "Uh... no. I did not learn how to climb down."
Everyone just face-palmed.
All of a sudden, the tree branch started jiggling as Tucker yelped. "HEY! Hey, what's happening now?"
Near the branch, Timberly was starting to jump up and down on it as she did a little ditty. "Don't jump on a string, it's much too danch, the best type of jump, is a great tree branch! Whee!"
"Stop that, kid, please!" Sheena said, looking down.
"Timberly, S-T-O-P, stop!" Gerald ordered.
"You're shaking the world!" Sid stammered.
Timberly stopped as she sat down. "You guys feeling okay?"
Phoebe sighed in relief as the other kids sighed. "Thank goodness. We were just getting seasick... from seeing too much."
"Rhonda, PLEASE stop!" Arnold called.
"Not giving up!" I smiled as I ran off.
But not before I heard Arnold say, "This is going to go on all day..."
"So you really want them down this tree?" Curly said as he examined the tree that everyone else was in.
"Pretty much. Think you can help them out?" I asked.
"You got it!" Curly smiled as he ran off. "Be back in a second!"
As Curly ran off, Arnold looked down at me and frowned as he said, "Rhonda, in the time you went to get your latest help, Chocolate Boy came over and we had to get HIM to go to the fire department for you, since you're so stubborn!"
"Oh come on, since when can Chocolate Boy follow through favors." I sighed. "Besides, we all know Curly! He may have some random plan to get us all down!"
"That's what we're afraid of." Phoebe groaned.
I looked over and... was surprised to see Curly, Caroline and... huh. Two other figures in orange cloaks were sitting nearby as Caroline was grabbing Curly. I watched as Caroline spun around and threw Curly right to the tree...
...on top of the branch... that the others were... what just happened?
I looked back to see that Caroline and those other orange cloaked figures were gone. I turned back. "Did any of you see..."
"Curly, how the heck did you get up here?" Gerald asked as everyone was looking at Curly, confused.
"Beats the crud out of me." Curly shrugged.
I looked back in confusion as I sighed. "Never mind! I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago!"
"Finally get the fire department?" Arnold asked.
"Even better!" I smiled.
"Oh my gosh!" Olga said as I showed her and Sharlene the kids up on the branch. "Are you kids okay?"
"We're all right, Miss Pataki. But we're stuck." Lila smiled.
Arnold sighed. "Well, it's a step in the right direction..."
"Okay, don't worry, kids. We'll get you down in no time..." Olga smiled as she started to climb up.
"Please tell me she remembers how to get down when she gets up here, please tell me she remembers how to get down when she gets up here..." Phoebe was crossing her fingers.
Me and Sharlene heard a crack before Olga came and joined the kids. "Good news, kids! I know how to get down from the tree!"
All of them cheered.
"The bad news is that I broke the branch that supported a foot rung, so... yeah, we're stuck." Olga sighed.
All the kids groaned.
Sharlene shook her head. "Seriously, Olga?"
Sharlene sighed as she walked off. "Well, looks like it's up to me..."
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Well, if that tree branch isn't full of people that'll be enough to break the weight off, I'm getting a chainsaw to hack the tree off!" Sharlene said as she continued to walk.
"Come back here, Sharlene! We are not harming these kids!" Olga called.
Sharlene groaned as she turned back to the other kids and Olga. "You're no fun, Olga!"
"Sharlene, maybe you can try climbing up and getting them down?" I asked.
"Good idea, Rhonda." Sharlene said as she started to climb up the trunk... like a bear.
Sharlene then joined up with the other kids and Olga as she nodded. "Okay, now what?"
"Uh, get us down?" Olga smiled.
"Are you crazy? I need both arms to climb down." Sharlene frowned.
Everyone just face-palmed... when all of a sudden, the branch supporting them started to break a little. Everyone yelped.
"Oh God, you guys are about to fall! I'm calling the fire department!" I said as I pulled out my phone.
"FINALLY!" Most of the kids (except for Arnold, Olga and Sharlene) yelled.
Arnold shook his head in shock. "Wait, you mean you had your phone, and you could have used it to call the fire department at any time?"
"Uh, yes?" I blinked.
"But instead, you decided to get EVERYONE else stuck in this tree?" Arnold asked.
"Yes?" I nodded.
Arnold groaned as he muttered something... I think I heard it as, "You're a really, lovable stubborn girl, Rhonda."
Olga smiled. "I think that would be a great idea..."
I paused as I looked at the phone. "Hang on. I don't have bars. Maybe if I climb..."
"Rhonda, no, you don't need to-" Nadine started, but I was already climbing the tree as I examined my phone.
"No bars yet..." I said as I continued climbing.
"Rhonda, sweetie, please don't step on there, I don't think our weight can support this..." Olga smiled nervously as I was near the branch.
"Almost..." I said as I put my foot on the branch where everyone else was on. "Ah, here are some bars!"
I heard the crack of the branch. The kids screamed as I yelped. Arnold groaned. "Rhonda... I don't think any of us are going to trust you on helping us... leave it to the professionals."
The branch came close to cracking as I nodded. "Got it."
The branch snapped as all of us starting falling...
"Who knew Chocolate Boy would pull through?" I said as we were all recovering pretty good, me, Nadine, Phoebe, Lila, Olga and Sharlene were all having a chocolate shake.
"I honestly didn't expect all of us to land on the net that the fire department pulled." Phoebe said. "I didn't even hear the sirens."
"I think we all learned a big lesson here." Olga smiled.
"Yeah, too many people on a branch will cause it to break." Sharlene sighed as she rubbed her head.
"Oh, don't be like that." Olga smiled. "I'm sure Rhonda was having good intentions in her heart."
"Yeah, and stubborn pride. I thought I could try to save you all, but I guess I took it too far." I said.
"It's okay, Rhonda." Lila smiled. "Just do us a favor. PLEASE call the fire department first before you try doing things yourself!"
"Noted." I nodded.
"Ah, come here, you!" Olga smiled as she hugged me a little bit. Sharlene shook her head as she put a hand on Olga... when all of a sudden, I had another flash in front of my eyes...
"What's wrong is that YOU'RE here! Again!"
"Helga, I thought we had this talk..."
"'Oh, Helga, I thought we had this talk'... THAT'S what you always say! It starts out this way! 'Oh Helga, I realize we don't spend time together', 'Oh Helga, I realize I haven't hung around with you', 'Oh Helga, we should totally hang around like the sisters we are!'. Guess what, Olga! It starts out that way, and you always screw it up!"
"Helga, come on, you silly..."
"SHUT THE HECK UP! Do you not notice anything that goes on in this family? Do you not notice the smoothie blender, the alcoholic drinks that Miriam mixes in that blender, the fact that Bob ALWAYS yells and ignores me? Have you noticed that whenever Bob pulls out the old family album, I'm NOT in most of those pictures? It's mostly because they support you and ignore me!"
Stunned silence was heard.
"You heard right! I know you talked to me about this whole praise thing and how they treated you like a puppet and how I should be happy that they're ignoring me... BULLCRAP, OLGA! You're basically saying to me, 'Oh Helga, have your family ignore you for much longer, and have them punish you for SURVIVING!' You heard correctly, Olga, SUR-VIV-ING! Big Bob and Miriam, and before you say anything, I never see them as my parents since they don't treat me like their child, so I have a right to say their full names, always have this grudge against me! Maybe not a lot on Miriam, but I have the know-how that she didn't want me! Big Bob, I know for sure, despite the fact that he tries... doesn't appreciate me... nor do I suspect he wanted me!"
"...Helga... I need to tell you something..."
"OLGA! LET ME FINISH! You are the worst person of all! Always striving for attention, always loving it... and you know what? YOU ADORE IT! That little talk on perfection and how you hated it... I didn't know whether to believe you or not, but looking at how everything IS... I think it's safe to say you lied to me!"
"Helga, if you'd just..."
"You don't even TRY to be a big sister to me! You don't try to be supportive of me! All you've ever done was brag about everything, and ruin my life when you hang out with me! I don't like you, Olga! If you were a better sister, I'd forgive you... but I don't! So do me a favor, and LEAVE ME ALONE! I've done fine in the past, I don't need help from you now!"
Stomping was heard.
"Helga, please, wait! I didn't know abo-"
A door slamming was heard, followed by another murmur in the darkness.
I blinked as Olga let go of me from the hug as Olga sighed. "Well, on the bright side, we had a fun day..."
"Uh..." I paused as I recovered a bit. "Yeah..."
That new flashback... I could tell this was one of Helga's... clearly, she and Olga must have done something wrong. I knew I needed to talk to her as soon as I could...
There's episode one hundred and twenty-three! How'd you like it? Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks! And don't forget to check out/add tropes to the TVTropes page!