Okay, I got a couple episodes left for Arc 4, before taking a break and moving on to Arc 5! The next episode is 'Grudge Match'! Anyway, enjoy!
As Big Bob and Arnold's grandfather were getting into an argument (with Big Bob on the arguing side and Arnold's grandfather on the nice side), me and Olga were sitting down as I sighed. Arnold was still in the car.
"Never a dull day with your father, is it?" I said.
Olga sighed. "Unfortunately, no. It's bad enough he took Mom's happiness away... I think she went back to the bottle again." Olga put her head down. "Just as we were getting a breakthrough..."
"Olga, listen to me." I said as Olga looked up. "I'm sorry, Olga, but... I don't think there's a way for you to ever get that happy family you always wanted."
Olga sighed. "I realize there's no hope... I guess there's just no way to reconnect the family that created me..."
"Olga, was there ever a time that you did things together as a family?" I asked. "And don't say 'when I won a lot of trophies'."
Olga sighed. "Okay, I won't say it."
"Look, Olga, maybe someday, your mother and your father will reconnect on their own terms..." I explained. "How that'll happen... I don't know yet. The point I'm making here is... maybe it's time you should let it go..."
Olga paused as she looked down. "But where will I go? What will I do?"
"Olga, take my advice." I said as Olga looked at me. "It's becoming pretty clear by now that you'll never achieve your true goals if you continue living with your family the way they are now. I want you to try and live your own life. If not for yourself, then do it for the people who care for you... like me."
Olga paused as she looked over at Big Bob and Arnold's grandfather, the latter sticking his tongue out at the former as Big Bob glared.
Olga frowned as she turned to me, saying, "I'll think about it."
I nodded as Olga went back to the car as she started talking to Bob Pataki. I went to the back seat of the car and joined up with Arnold as he was holding the baby chick gently. Arnold turned to me as he asked, "How did things go with Miss Pataki?"
"She's okay..." I sighed. "So, what did I miss?"
"Not much." Arnold said as he gave the small little chick to me. "Grandpa and Mr. Pataki were fighting over the damages... which isn't bad, it's just a little fender bender damage."
"So, how are they agreeing to the terms?" I asked as Arnold's grandfather went back inside the car.
"I'll tell you how! Old Pataki just challenged me to a golf match next Saturday!" Grandpa Phil laughed. "I'll beat him and he'll pay the damages! I have this in the bag!"
Me and Arnold looked at each other, concerned.
"You're not even nervous?" I asked as we came back to Arnold's boarding house.
"Ah, shucks, little girl. Back in my days, I was a huge golfing champ! Me and my friend Jimmy Kofka used to hit the ball all the time, lobbying it back and forth and..." Arnold's grandfather started.
Arnold blinked as he said, "Grandpa, are you sure THAT was golf?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Grandpa laughed as he dug around in his closet and pulled out... a tennis racquet. "Even got my racquet right here!"
I stared at him, unamused. "That's tennis. Golf is when you hit that white ball really long distances and getting it into a little tiny hole."
"You mean THAT'S golf? That game that's been on TV all this time where they drive the little carts around and carry those bags full of sticks?" Arnold's grandfather said, worried.
"They're called golf clubs, and yes." I sighed.
"Me and Jimmy just call that tennis." Arnold's grandfather smiled.
Me and Arnold stared at each other with the same unamused face as Arnold's grandfather's eyes widened. "Oh, what have I done! Now that blowhard is going to beat me and never let me forget it AND make me pay a huge mechanic's bill!"
Arnold's grandfather turned to us as he asked, "Do you two know how to play golf?"
"Not really." Arnold sighed as I petted the small chick.
"Perfect! You'll make a fine coach!" Arnold's grandfather smiled.
"Ahem!" I frowned as he turned to me. "I think Arnold just said no... but I think I may know somebody who does..."
"Let me get this straight, Arnold." My dad said as me and Arnold were sitting across from him, I was petting the small chick that hatched out. "Your grandfather needs MY help in learning how to play golf?"
"That is about the gist of the problem, yes." Arnold explained.
"I don't know, kid. They say it's never too late to teach an old man new tricks... but you think he'll like the sport?" My dad explained.
"Dad, Arnold's grandfather REALLY needs the help if he wants to beat Big Bob Pataki." I explained.
"Wait... Big Bob Pataki, owner of that beeper emporium that's still selling well, challenged him?" My dad frowned a bit. "Why didn't you say so? I'll be glad to help him out!"
"That's good..." I sighed as I put the chick down on the table as it started to move around a little bit. "Because he needs the help he can get, plus, we still have school and play practice to work on..."
"Don't worry, I'll assure Arnold's grandfather will win this or my name isn't Buckley Lloyd!" My dad gave me a pat on the head as I giggled.
We all laughed as I heard my phone ringing. I picked it up to see it was Nadine. I opened the phone and smiled, "Yello?"
"Hey, Rhonda... did you know that our eggs just hatched? Because Phoebe just called me about it." I heard Nadine's voice say. "And my egg that I'm taking care of with Harold got hatched into a baby chick."
I sighed. "You may want to sit down Nadine, this is going to be a long story..."
And so, over the course of the week, after we got back to school, we handed over the baby chicks over to Olga and Mr. Simmons where they granted us some great work on taking care of the small chicks. They told us that the chicks would be then sent back to a nice little chicken farm, where they will be taken care of.
Along with that also came the practicing of the play. Me and Arnold were doing pretty good in acting out the scenes, even Mr. Simmons was pleased with our performance...
Okay, I will admit that if it hadn't been for Helga telling me the lines in my head, I probably would have been a bad actor... but no, everything seems to be going perfectly in order.
Along with the practice AND schoolwork, my dad also helped Arnold's grandfather train up for the golf tournament, so when I caught Olga after school asking how her father was coming along with the golf tournament, Olga sighed.
"He's had a LOT of practice. He is really good at the golfing, let me tell you." Olga sighed. "I'm even his caddy... kind of a drag."
"Oh... sorry to hear that." I said, looking up to her.
"Rhonda, I was thinking about what you said, about getting control of my own life." Olga said. "I know my parents wouldn't like it... but I feel this is something I need to do. I can't live with them forever. Not when they're like this."
"You're going to move out of our parents' home?" I asked in surprise.
"I've made quite enough money that I can afford an apartment." Olga smiled. "I'm going to move out during the weekend... I haven't told my parents yet, but I'm planning on doing it after the golf game."
"Oh... where will you move to?" I asked.
"I found something in the paper that sounds like I can reasonably afford it." Olga smiled. "Rhonda, I want to say thanks. For the first time in my life... I feel like I need to be in control of my own life, not let my parents be my control. And if they still need help... I'll only do it IF they need me."
I smiled as I hugged Olga a bit. "I'm proud of you, Olga."
"Thank you, Rhonda." Olga smiled as she hugged me back.
Pretty soon, Saturday came as the day of the golfing match between Arnold's grandfather and Olga's father was on. I sat with my father as I turned to him and asked, "Did you train him well?"
"I did all I could, sweetheart." My dad nodded. "He's learning the basics at least. All we can hope for is that he gets my method to good use."
I nodded as I turned towards the game. Hopefully, everything would go good...
Turns out that Arnold's grandfather had really been quite successful... hitting the birdie in the last hole really won him that game as we all cheered.
Me and my dad waited nearby as Arnold came over to me, smiling. "Grandpa won! He won!"
"He sure did..." I sighed as we see Big Bob groaning in frustration. "He sure did..."
Indeed, it seemed like a really great day for all, so we went out to get root beer floats to celebrate.
The next morning, I woke up as I saw my phone ringing. I picked it up and saw 'Arnold' on the caller ID. I picked it up. "Hey buddy."
"Hi, Rhonda. I need a little help with practicing for Romeo. Think I can come over to your house to help out with practice?" Arnold's voice asked.
"Why can't we come over to your house?" I asked as I put my glasses on.
"A new boarder is coming in. I wouldn't want to disturb the halls if they're going to move." Arnold said.
"Nonsense. I'll come over to your house right away and we can discuss our plans." I smiled.
"Well... okay, Rhonda. I'll wait for you outside." Arnold said as he hung up the phone.
I smiled as I started to get myself dressed up.
I smiled as I arrived at Arnold's boarding house as Arnold was sitting on the steps, waiting for me. I smiled as I said, "Hey buddy! Shall we start working?"
"In a moment. I have to keep an eye out for the new boarder. Grandpa told me she's on her way over." Arnold explained.
"Oh..." I said.
"Oh, that must be her..." Arnold said as we saw a car pulling up.
The car door opened up as...
"Olga?" I said in shock to see Olga coming out.
"Surprise!" Olga smiled. "I decided to move in a little closer to the school!"
I stared in shock as Arnold gave a blink of surprise. I smiled as I said, "You're going to love this place, for sure."
"I sure hope so..." Olga said as she started pulling out some bags.
"I'll go tell Grandpa you're here." Arnold said as he went inside.
I turned to Olga as I asked, "You really think Arnold's boarding house would be a good idea to live in?"
"I don't know... but it's going to be quite a start." Olga took a deep breath. "Here's to a new beginning, huh?"
I smiled as I gave Olga a hug. "Yeah... a new beginning."
"To us." I heard Helga say as Olga started to come straight in with her bag.
There's episode one hundred and thirty-eight! How do you like it? Yeah, I decided to have Olga move into the boarding house... not just to have a little independence, but for something else I have planned for later on. You'll see what it is MUCH later. Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!
And now, for the Question of the Day: What song do you think fits Gerald in 'Oh Rhonda', and why?