Next episode is 'Career Day'! Anyway, enjoy!
Sunday was a really good day for me. I didn't have much to worry about, I had my graduation ceremony with Big Patty and the other students early in the morning whilst Madame Parvenu gave a speech about how her students have managed to become the politest people in the world, and she hopes that we can make ourselves better people in the futures yet to come. Everybody was there, Nadine, Phoebe, Lila... all my friends and family... well, except for Olga, but I understand, she needs to keep an eye on her family, and we can't be together all the time... and Arnold, but he had a good reason, he's going over to wait for his grandfather to take his final test before getting his diploma, and that's pretty cool. But he said he'd be there at the graduation party.
Over at the graduation party at my house, we were all having a lot of fun. Arnold did eventually show up as he joined me.
"Having a good time?" Arnold asked.
"Oh, well... yeah." I sighed. "To think, I entered that finishing school a girl... I come out of it, a beautiful young woman."
Arnold gave a slight smile. "You certainly are beautiful..."
"Huh?" I raised an eyebrow, though I did know what he said.
"Uh... well... nothing, forget it!" Arnold blushed. "Hey Rhonda, I've been thinking... careers, you know?"
"Oh yeah... you want to know where your future lies, huh?" I asked as I drank a little of my drink.
"Yeah..." Arnold sighed. "You know, our school is holding a Career Day tomorrow."
"Ah... the good ol' Career Day." I sighed. "The stories I hear from our fourth graders now known as fifth graders. You know, before he went to jail, I hear Wolfgang went along with the Jolly Olly Man. I heard from the word on the school halls that Wolfgang didn't have a lot of fun with the guy. And who can blame him? The guy may give out ice cream, but he's such a jerk."
"I'm... I'm sure he's not that bad when you get to know him." Arnold smiled.
"That's what I like about you, buddy. Always the optimist." I sighed. "But seriously, don't you remember when we had that heat wave in the summer?"
"Yeah, you went crazy." Arnold said.
I paused to remember that moment...
"Oh yeah?" Arnold frowned, then he started yelling out, "NO ICE CREAM, NO PEACE!"
We all started chanting these lines. Was I really that heat depraved that I'd be willing to follow any order? Well, truth be told... yes. I was.
"NO ICE CREAM, NO PEACE! NO ICE CREAM, NO PEACE!" We all chanted as we surrounded the man, Harold jumping up to the ice cream truck.
"Listen up! We have had enough!" Harold called from atop the ice cream truck. "We want our ice cream, and we want it at a price which we kids can afford!"
Every kid was rooting for what Harold said, and heck, I was too! This wasn't fair, this wasn't right!
"And if we don't get any ice cream, we're doing something so bad you'll start to regret ever refusing our ice cream privileges." Harold glared.
We all started to glare too as the Jolly Olly Man gulped. "Okay, okay, here's the deal!"
We all paused.
"You can have one scoop of Rum Raisin for ten bucks." the Jolly Olly Man said.
All of us started to riot angrily as Harold yelled, "LET'S TIP OVER THE TRUCK!"
I cheered with the other kids as we ran over to the truck, about ready to tip it over...
"Wait until I'm OFF the truck first!"
Whoops. Guess we forgot Harold climbed up the truck. As he climbed down, he yelled, "Let's do this!"
We all hollered as we started to push the truck, and we seemed to be doing a good job of it too... we started pushing it from all sides, when all of a sudden, we heard...
"EXCUSE ME!"
We instantly stopped as we turned to see Arnold standing nearby. The little sanity I had left not affected by the heat suddenly started to focus on Arnold as I noticed he was starting to feel a little bad for starting the riot, but I mean, why would he feel bad? He started the riot in the first place, we were all...
The heat. The heat got to us all.
"Look, you have a right to be angry, but we can't let the heat make us that crazy." Arnold explained as I looked over to my hands, when I noticed my nails weren't looking good. Wow, did I actually get heat deprived so bad I was willing to break a couple of my nails to tip over an ice cream truck? I guess I was. "The Jolly Olly man is our friend. Harold, have you forgotten about the time he sold you that slightly damaged snow cone at high price?"
Harold looked down disappointed. "And Rhonda, what about your favorite Chocolate Fudge Bars? Doesn't he always keep your favorite Chocolate Fudge Bars in stock?"
I looked down, very guiltily.
"And Eugene, didn't he help you that time you were choking on your favorite Rainbow Turbo Pop?" Arnold asked an in-pain Eugene, holding his back. "Don't you see, the heat is turning us against each other. Jolly Olly Man against kids, kids against Jolly Olly man. It's the heat! Don't you see? This has to stop! What do you say?"
We all looked down guiltily as I said, "Arnold, you're right in saying it... we all feel bad... the heat is really getting to us... but here's one thing you should know about people that suffer through the hot, humid weather."
"What's that?" Arnold asked.
"...We actually don't care what any rational person says, even if the rational person is you." I shrugged. "Sorry."
"LET'S TIP OVER THE TRUCK!" Harold called as the kids, along with me, cheered.
"Man... what a rush that was." I sighed. "But even IN that heat wave, he was still a jerk."
Arnold sighed. "Look, if I end up with him, I'll try to get along with him. Who knows? Maybe he's not as bad as he seems."
"You keep thinking that buddy." I said as I sipped my drink.
The next day, on Monday, we were all sitting in our seats as Mr. Simmons made the announcement of Career Day. Everybody around me just groaned as I just blinked. But fortunately, as expected from word on the street, the volunteer people for Career Day... I could recognize Mr. Potts, Harvey the mailman, Mr. Green, Mrs. Vitello and Sheena's Uncle Earl in the group... and yep, the Jolly Olly Ice Cream Man arrived as well. There were quite a few people there, actually. We had to draw from a hat a random job. I drew out a name and opened it to reveal... hm. Doctor.
Hmm... I guess it's okay. I turned to Nadine, Phoebe and Lila who were looking at their jobs.
"Construction worker?" Phoebe said, confused at what she just read.
"Come on, Phoebe, it's just for the day." I smiled. "Besides, you're hanging with Mr. Potts, how bad could he be?"
Phoebe paused. "I suppose you have a fair point... I always wanted to study an actual explosion up close... in case I ever want to know the concept of inventing something someday..."
"That's the spirit!" I smiled.
"Baseball player..." Nadine read. She shrugged. "Eh. I suppose that's fine."
Lila blinked. "Selling... selling clothes? Who would volunteer at a school to go over and pick up somebody just to act as cashier?"
"Sharlene." I shrugged.
"What brings her up?" Lila asked.
"No, I mean, Sharlene is over there. She seems to the volunteer." I said, pointing over to Sharlene, who just waved at us.
"Oh." Lila said. "What did you get, Rhonda?"
"Doctor." I said, looking at my paper. "Now... who is a doctor-"
My eyes widened as I immediately spotted the doctor sitting nearby. I knew that doctor...
"Oh, and by the way, kids, your career mentor is going to grade your performance at the end of the day, so remember to stay on your best behavior and mind your mentor." Mr. Simmons announced as we looked up. "You are all dismissed for the rest of the day. Have fun with your mentors!"
We all nodded as we each walked up to our mentor and stuck with the person... and as I was walking with my mentor, I looked up to him and said, "It's a surprise to see you again, Dr. MacFarlane."
"Heh, likewise, kiddo." Dr. MacFarlane smirked.
As I got in the car with Dr. MacFarlane, I looked over to him as he started the car and drove off. Dr. MacFarlane looked over to me before focusing on the road. "Say, kid, you visit Dr. Bliss' grave?"
I sighed. "Yeah... I can't really explain it, but... if I had met her today, I would tell her she did a great job."
"Heh, I'm sure she'd be glad to hear that, kid." Dr. MacFarlane smiled. "Anyway, kid, I know being a doctor or a psychologist takes a lot of work. Tell you what I'll do. I don't really have a lot of appointments today, I only have at least two appointments that lasts for two hours, other than that, I can teach you everything you need to know about doctors."
"All right." I said as I relaxed. "Is it all right if I..."
"Turn on the radio? Sure, kid, go right ahead. But don't change the radio station. I have it on a certain station I really like." Dr. MacFarlane nodded.
I nodded as I quickly started to turn on the radio as I heard a song I never heard before.
"Last night I had the strangest dream..." a male voice started singing
"Ah, I love this song..." Dr. MacFarlane smiled as the upbeat song continued playing. I smiled as I bobbed my head to the tune.
So, the morning was pretty well spent as Dr. MacFarlane told me to watch as his patients came in.
"Oh, kid, do you mind if you listen to music while I take care of this?" Dr. MacFarlane asked as he gave me a Walkman and some headphones. "This is a... personal thing."
"Not at all." I said as I put in the Walkman and smiled as I bobbed my head to the music a bit as I listened to it. It went on for pretty much an hour before Dr. MacFarlane tapped me as I took the headphones off.
"All right, I'm pretty much done now." Dr. MacFarlane said as I put away the Walkman. "At least until another half-hour. So anyway, kid, let me tell you something about doctors and what they do. You know how they work, right?"
"Right." I nodded.
"Basically, helping people in need is a very good thing. It helps people realize what they got going in their lives and they should live it out the best they can." Dr. MacFarlane explained as he pulled out a couple drinks. "Lemonade Tea?"
"Please." I said as I took a cup and sipped on the contents. "But Dr. MacFarlane, what if you had a patient that was say... incurable?"
"All patients can be cured... but if they aren't... then they'd be legally insane." Dr. MacFarlane explained. "Call the nearest asylum if he or she tries attacking. It's the last minute use!"
"You'd think it be the first..." I said.
"It can be, in a way. You see kid, there are people that come here that are often... well... wanting death. It's not a good thing. People with these types of depressed moments need to be talked with seriously."
"Oh..." I looked down. "And killing yourself can be a bad thing."
"Of course it can..." Dr. MacFarlane nodded. "Now, even though I'm a Christian and not too big on crazy religions, I HAVE heard that there are multiple religions with their own version of God and the Devil."
"God and the Devil..." I paused. "Could there be a devil that's so obsessed with someone they want the person dead?"
"Whoa, kid, this is a little TOO much out of my league... but I'm sure a form of a devil would have a list of all people they want condemned..." Dr. MacFarlane explained. "I'm sure you've heard of other religions as well..."
"Me and my parents do go to church on Sunday mornings normally, yes." I nodded.
"Well, there are some religions that don't really require a church." Dr. MacFarlane said. "Sometimes, there are even secret religions, ones that you don't know about or don't even believe they exist, but yet they do... but I'm getting off-topic here. The point I'm making is that killing yourself is a horrible idea and you shouldn't even consider it."
"Don't worry, Dr. MacFarlane. I want to live. If something bad happens to me, I'll find the strength to move on." I smiled.
Dr. MacFarlane smiled. "Heh, you're getting good at this, kid."
After Dr. MacFarlane finished up with another patient and finished up some paperwork and got dismissed for the day, me and him were driving along as he asked, "You know, kid, there's more to me than just being a doctor. And we still have about three hours... are you all right if we take a drive around the town?"
"Eh, sure..." I said. "Meanwhile, you can tell me more about what doctors can do."
"Sure." Dr. MacFarlane smiled as he started driving around. "You see kid, doctors are the best in the business when it comes to helping people. Like firemen or police, they help people in their need..."
Dr. MacFarlane looked over and nodded as he stopped. "Like for example, you see that burning building over there, the one with all the firemen?"
I looked over and saw Gerald climbing up a ladder and rescuing someone. "Yeah, I see it."
"These firefighters fight for lives, just like doctors." Dr. MacFarlane explained. "But even firefighters go to doctors... many people go to doctors, actually..."
"Wow..." I watched as I saw the Jolly Olly Man driving, Arnold was probably riding alongside. "But Dr. MacFarlane, with all due respect, if a person were hurt physically and mentally, would they be needing a doctor?"
"Immediately? Yes. But if they had this for a long time, I don't know if it would be too late to help them... but you might as well try, right?" Dr. MacFarlane said.
"Yeah..." I said as I looked over to see Phoebe talking with Mr. Potts as Mr. Potts was about to blow up a building. "So... take this, just for example."
"Ah..." Dr. MacFarlane smiled. "Let's just watch and see..."
Outside, I saw Mr. Potts sitting down as he smirked, looking at Phoebe. "Okay, kiddo, on the count of three!"
"One... t-t-two..." Phoebe shook nervously.
"Close enough!" Mr. Potts smiled as he pushed down on the plunger and the dynamite exploded inside the building, causing it to fall down.
"You see that, kid?" Dr. MacFarlane asked. "These construction workers know what they're doing with themselves... they know the job is pretty dangerous... which is why they have to keep a safe distance away."
"I see." I said, turning to Dr. MacFarlane as he contined driving around.
We were in Slausen's a little later, enjoying a meal as Dr. MacFarlane explained to me the hazards of food. "So, even if you eat food, there's a chance it may go down the wrong pipe, but you're careful."
"Of course, Dr. MacFarlane." I said as I ate my fries.
"Another point I want to make." Dr. MacFarlane took a deep breath. "You ever hear of the Heimlick Manuever?"
"Yeah, that's what you do to someone when they're choking, to save a life." I said.
"You catch on quick, kid." Dr. MacFarlane smiled. "Man, these fries are delicious..."
"So, I guess in conclusion, kid..." Dr. MacFarlane stopped the car next to the school as I came out. "Being a doctor isn't easy... but it sure is nice to help people... even if they don't want to be helped..."
"Yeah..." I said as I looked at Dr. MacFarlane. "Thanks for the advice, Dr. MacFarlane."
"No trouble, kid." Dr. MacFarlane smiled. "I'll see you around."
I waved good-bye to Dr. MacFarlane as he drove off. Nearby, I saw Nadine, Phoebe and Lila waving. I walked over to my friends as I asked, "How did it go?"
"Oh well... construction wasn't too bad, I guess." Phoebe smiled. "Mr. Potts mainly showed me the ins and outs of construction working and demolishing a building. It wasn't bad."
"I had to spend a whole baseball game helping out!" Nadine giggled. "I even got to pitch and throw! How awesome is that?"
"Lila?" We all turned to Lila as I asked. "Did Sharlene treat you good?"
"Oh, she treated me fine." Lila smiled. "Of course, she kept examining me oddly for a good portion of the morning, but she acted fine for the rest of the day."
"What do you mean, Sharlene acts odd?" I asked.
"It was like she was looking for something, but not quite to an extant. It's strange, but maybe she found whatever it was she wanted to find." Lila shrugged.
"Or maybe she found a little mud on your nose." I smiled. "Maybe that's why she acted weirdly."
"You think so?" Lila asked as she rubbed her nose. "Maybe that explains it."
"Well, girls, I had a fun Career Day..." I smiled. "What say we go to the library?"
"Sounds good!" Nadine, Phoebe and Lila nodded.
Of course, before we began to walk off, Olga came out and smiled. "Oh, girls, there you are! I figured you just came back."
"Hi, Olga!" I smiled before I noticed a small paper. "What's with the paper?"
"Actually, girls... me and Mr. Simmons were going to make the announcement tomorrow, BUT..." Olga took a deep breath. "I couldn't wait! I needed to tell you now!"
"What is it?" Phoebe asked as Olga unfurled the paper.
"Phoebe Heyerdahl, I want to congratulate you on keeping up with your grades!" Olga smiled. "You are indeed the smartest girl in fourth grade."
"Aw, I'm not that..." Phoebe blushed.
"Come on, Phoebe, yes you are!" Nadine laughed as Lila gave a satisfactory pat on the back for congratulations.
"You're totally a huge help!" I smiled.
"Indeed. You see, you were so good... that... well..." Olga smiled as her eyes widened.
"Come on, Olga, what's the news?" I smiled.
"Phoebe's moving to sixth grade." Helga told me in my mind, which caused me to stop.
"Phoebe's moving to sixth grade?" I said in shock, not realizing I said that out loud.
"Phoebe's moving to si-" Olga started... before stopping as she looked at the paper in surprise. "Uh, yes, she is. How did you know?"
Phoebe gasped in delight as Lila and Nadine cheered. I paused in shock. "L-lucky guess..."
"This is amazing!" Phoebe said in delight.
"This is horrible..." I thought to myself, shaking nervously.
"You can still convince her to go back to-" Helga started.
"It's not that. She's just... she's too fragile! She'll break! She's nothing without her best friends! My baby!" I said in my mind, panicking.
"Your what?"
"Uh, nothing!"
"No, you just clearly said, 'Your baby'! Jesus, Rhonda, even I didn't think of my best friend as a daughter!"
"No, but she's a really fragile girl!" I explained. "She can't handle the big stuff!"
"She'll be fine. Besides, I believe you already met two sixth graders... they're good friends with you and Phoebe, remember? They'll help her through..."
"But we won't share recess anymore... or lunch period." I looked up to see Phoebe jumping up in excitement as Nadine and Lila were hugging her. I looked down, depressed.
There's episode one hundred and twenty-nine! How'd you like it? Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!