Okay, because I did 'Suspended', I only thought it'd be natural I follow it with 'Principal Simmons'! Why? I don't know, I guess I felt those two episodes linked in a way. Well, anyway, enjoy!
Over the next couple days, I have been riding it out like never before. I made a lot of money thus far and I wasn't going to lose it anytime soon.
I know it may sound a bit cocky on my end, but I don't care! Thus far, I am rolling in the dough!
Though, I'm not sure if I was really good at my poker faces. Heck, even Nadine, Phoebe and Lila have noticed a huge smile on my face when we were walking inside school on Thursday. The three paused as they looked at me...
Lila sighed as she said, "All right, if nobody's going to say it, I will. Rhonda, what is with the creepy smile?"
"Oh, let's just say I am rolling in it." I smiled as I skipped around a bit.
Phoebe shook her head as she said, "Whatever idea you recently got, you better hope it doesn't backfire on you."
"Oh, since when do my ideas backfire on me?" I laughed.
Nadine, Phoebe and Lila just looked at each other with unamused looks as if to say, "Seriously?"
As we went into our classrooms to get settled in, Olga came in with an announcement.
"Now, class, before we begin, Mr. Simmons is currently taking Principal Wartz' place while Principal Wartz is away on seminar." Olga explained. "However, Mr. Simmons has asked for a favor to have at least one student from his class be his assistant for most of the day. Not to worry, their homework will be delivered. Are there any volunteers? Anybody?"
I noticed nobody was raising their hands... for a slight moment, but Arnold did raise his. Olga smiled. "Ah, thank you, Arnold. I'm sure Mr. Simmons will greatly appreciate the help."
"Anytime, Miss Pataki." Arnold said as he gathered his things and went outside of the classroom.
"Good to know that even in this timeline, Arnold volunteered to be Mr. Simmons' assistant." Helga chuckled.
"Do you mean to tell me that Principal Wartz went to that seminar?" I asked.
"Actually, Mr. Simmons was principal for two weeks, long story, but it kind of involved Wartz being a total buzzkill..."
"When isn't he a buzzkill?" I rolled my eyes.
"Mr. Simmons tried to make the school his vision, but it didn't work out too good for him. I mean, no boundaries are okay, but..."
"...you got to have set rules and know when to balance each section out." I nodded. "I think I'm following you, Helga."
"Good. At least it's a two day seminar rather than Wartz quitting being the principal for two weeks." Helga said in my mind.
"Even if we wish Principal Wartz would just go away." I chuckled.
"I know, I know. He's tough but fair." Helga said. "And let's face it, Principal Simmons NEEDS Wartz' toughness to balance out Simmons' fairness."
"Yeah, I notice. Principal Wartz and Mr. Simmons do work pretty well as a team sometimes." I said to Helga in my mind.
"Don't you know it..." Helga laughed.
I decided to just focus on Olga as I continued writing down notes on the subjects.
Eventually, the two days have passed and Saturday came rolling around the corner. I was sitting down at the TV, having tuned in to the horse races as all the other adults were busy getting their stuff out, ready for the garage sale.
It was then Arnold's grandfather came in as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hey, little girl. What are you watching?"
"Oh, I'm just watching something that... let's just say, will make everyone in this house really, really happy." I smiled.
Arnold's grandfather looked at the TV. "Seems like you're watching a horse race to me."
"Not just a horse race, but THE horse race!" I smiled.
"Didn't peg you as a girl interested in horses, but okay." Arnold's grandfather shrugged as he sat down and watched with me.
"Okay, okay, keep your eye on Timbur Lane!" I smiled, pointing to the screen.
"The one that just went into convulsions and fell?" Arnold's grandfather blinked.
I double taked as I looked closer at the screen, staring in shock as I saw what Arnold's grandfather just described. "Uh... yeah... that's the one."
I looked worried as I watched the horse just down on the ground. I heard Arnold's grandfather say in concern, "I don't think he's getting up."
"He will, he will, maybe he dropped something." I said in worry. No, no, this couldn't be happening.
"Well, at least the jockey's okay." Arnold's grandfather said.
"Who cares? GET UP! GET UP!" I shouted to the TV screen.
Arnold's grandfather laughed as he walked out. "Well, that was pretty enjoyable. Feel sorry for the horse that fell, but oh well. If somebody had money on that horse, they must be really upset on losing that bet. Well, see you around."
As I watched Arnold's grandfather leave, I nervously dialed the number as I waited for the phone to pick up. Choco picked up the phone. "Choco? Olga here. Does that race count?"
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid it does." Choco said through the phone.
"Okay... how much am I up?" I asked, out of curiosity.
"You didn't win, your savings don't go up." Choco sighed.
"Oh... then how much am I down?" I asked.
"Let me put it this way, Miss Pataki... you lost all your money. You remember the total I told you!" Choco said.
My eyes shrank as I heard Helga say in my head, "You're screwed."
"Okay, okay, maybe I can still make up for it! Okay, how about I place two thousand on..." I started.
"That was the last horse race until next month, Miss Pataki. You can't bet anymore." I heard Choco growling.
"WHAT? What do you mean I can't bet anymore!" I said in worry.
"Olga Pataki, I know your friend Sharlene! I'm going to call her and get your new address from her so that I can come over and collect the debt!" Choco explained. "Good-bye!"
"No, wait, wait, there's no reason for you to come over to the Sunset Arms boarding house! I'll send you a check in the mail!" I said in worry, but it was too late, Choco hung up the phone.
I groaned in worry as I saw Arnold coming in. "Arnold, buddy, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Rhonda." Arnold said, polishing up an old book that he planned on selling.
"I want your opinion, it's all hypothetical, really. Suppose a little kid placed a bet with a professional bookie using the name of their parent, whether biological or adopted, let's say adopted, okay, for a huge amount of money, say... uh..." I smiled nervously. "...six thousand dollars."
Arnold raised an eyebrow as I continued on, "And then the kid loses it all, and she knows the adopted parent will know something... and the kid can't cover the losses, and neither can the adopted parent. Hypothetically... what would happen to that kid and parent?"
"Well... hypothetically... the kid would get grounded for making such a stupid bet in the first place, and the adult could have his or her legs broken." Arnold frowned as I gulped. "Why did you ask?"
"Oh... no reason. Just wanted to make conversation." I smiled.
"Oh, okay." Arnold nodded as he picked up the book. "But Rhonda, if you want my advice, whatever you did... just tell the truth and be out with it... I'm going to be setting things up for the garage sale."
As Arnold went out with the old book in hand, I sighed as I looked at the screen. "GET UP!"
"Forget it. You just screwed yourself!" Helga frowned. "Just tell Olga the truth!"
"Okay..." I sighed as I got up... then paused. "OR..."
"NO! NO 'OR'!" Helga yelled at me, but it was too late, I was already running upstairs. "Why do I bother? You didn't listen to me since the separation, you're not listening to me now."
Helga's words didn't phase me a bit as I was now up in Olga and my apartment as I was searching around for things, hoping to see if they can get sold for six thousand dollars at the garage sale. Maybe there's still a chance!
There's episode one hundred and fifty-four! How was it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!