My deepest apologies to everyone for sending this chapter late. Without
further ado…
DISCLAIMER: Hey Arnold! is not mine.
Chapter Two
Spending Some Time
~Thursday, library
Blue
eyes roamed through the pages of the book. She was determined to absorb the
textbook she was reading but someone tapped her on her shoulder. Very
irritated, she turned around to face whoever it was.
Helga
softly sighed as she pushed her chair away from the desk and properly faced
him. He looked like he had just come in because he was still carrying his
backpack.
"Follow
me," she whispered to him.
She
gathered all her things, took her bag and binder, and headed to where the study
rooms were. Arnold followed her as she entered an empty room.
Arnold
closed the door and turned around to see Helga putting the things she had been
reading earlier out. He gazed at the room they were in and saw a plain room
with a whiteboard on the wall to his right. There was a small table with four
chairs, Helga was sitting on the chair that was facing the huge window at his
back. In the corner of his eyes he noticed that Helga was looking at him.
He
cleared his throat and sat on the chair to her left. Without a word, he placed
his bag on the empty chair to his right and faced her, only to see her
extremely annoyed.
"Are
you ever going to spit out what you want from me? Because I was planning on
finishing my studies before the next millennium comes," she hissed.
He
wasn't fazed a bit. "That was why I was a bit hesitant about talking to
you blatantly," he coolly answered. He looked at her face as if daring to
make a cutting comeback.
Instead,
a grin wove through her lips. "At last! You've finally gotten a backbone,
football head!"
"Please!
I was just letting you win all those years," he retorted.
Her
eyes narrowed at him. "A step too far."
He
sheepishly grinned. "Sorry."
Laughter
was her only reply. He smiled.
"Other
than an audience for your entertainment, what do you want from me?" she
asked, after calming down.
He
was a bit hesitant. He had never asked her to do anything for him. Well, there
were some incidents in which he asked her a favor but that was years ago. He
didn't know how she would react now.
Well,
he would never find out if he didn't ask.
"Uh,doyouwanttomeetmyfriends?"
She
knew what he was going ask her the minute she saw him. Helga had already
planned what she would say to him. So, even though he sputtered his question
she understood him. She put on an amused smile, "When?"
"How
about tomorrow after you're last class?"
Helga
feigned thinking. "Friday? I'm sorry but I can't. I have to do a project
for my SocSci class."
He
looked away. "Well, next week we're all going to be busy." He sighed.
Helga
looked at him and began to feel bad for lying to him but she couldn't tell the
truth. He would ask her why and then everything would go down...
"I'm
the only one free during the weekend because they're all going to be
working."
It
was extremely important to him that she meets his friends. Her heart felt
lighter as she discovered how important she was to him. But still she couldn't
meet them. It would hurt her even more. Helga just bit her lip as she looked at
him.
'Well,
that went rather well.' He would just ask his friends schedules and then maybe
two weeks from now Helga could meet them.
New
friends. What about Helga's friends? He was so anxious for them to meet her
that he forgot to ask Helga about her friends. Or about her even. All he knew
about Helga was her class schedule and her chosen course. Maybe...
He
looked at her concerned blue eyes. He briefly smiled at the extent of concern
that he saw. She really was a good person.
"Helga,
are you free this weekend?"
Her
heart began to beat rapidly. D-did he just asked her on a date? No, it couldn't
be? "Uh, what do you want, Arnold?"
"Forgive
me for being blunt but I just realized that I know next to nothing about you.
And the best way of getting to know someone is to spend some time with
them."
No!
Why can't he be happy with what he already knows of her? She couldn't let him
know. "I don't know, Arnold. Can't we just talk here in school?"
He
shook his head. "School is nice but I want a change of venue. How about
where you live"
She
immediately shook her head. "No!" Helga calmed down a bit. "I
mean, no. My place isn't good at all. Umm, how about the park?"
Arnold
looked at Helga's face and asked, "What's wrong with your place? And it
isn't fair, Helga. You've already seen my dorm..."
"I
saw the facade of your dorm," she corrected.
"But
you've seen it nevertheless. Can't I at least take a peek at your place?"
Helga
looked all around her, hesitation clear on her face. Arnold worriedly gazed at
her and wondered what was wrong but kept quiet. Finally Helga replied,
"Okay, football head. You got yourself a deal. I'll pick you up on
Saturday. Be ready at 9:00 am." All the time she was speaking she didn't
face him.
Arnold
looked at her. "What's wrong, Helga? I feel like you're hiding something
from me."
Blue
eyes blazed with fury looked back at him. "It's none of your business,
Arnoldo." She then stood up and began to pack her things.
He
was so surprised at her sudden outburst that he just silently watched her.
Helga was still aware they were in the library because when she walked out of
the room she didn't slam the door. She didn't even look back as she walked
away.
And
as for Arnold, he just sighed and looked at the chair Helga had been sitting
on. Just when he was getting to know her she shut him out. Why is it that Helga
Pataki always pushes every single person that comes close to her away?
"Hey
Arnold!"
Arnold
turned around to see a blonde young man walking towards him. Arnold smiled and
replied, "Leaving for work, Patrick?"
Patrick
was only a few inches shorter than Arnold and was known to be very good in
debates and politics. There were rumors that he might run for senate someday.
"Yeah, although I'm late already." He paused. "It's a bit unfair
that I'll miss meeting your friend, Helga."
Arnold
nodded. "But there will always be a next time."
Patrick
grinned. "Right! Are you staying long?"
Arnold
nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be back in the dorm before it gets dark. I'll
be able to feed Gary his food."
"Great!"
Patrick began to walk away. "Thanks, Arnold! Bye!"
"Bye!"
Arnold
watched Patrick walk out of the lobby of the dormitory. He then looked at his
watch. It was already 9:04. He sighed. She might not come at all.
He
wanted to apologize to her but it seemed like she was avoiding him. And since
he didn't have her phone number he couldn't call her. Arnold sat in one of the
sofas in the lobby but he still kept an eye out on the door.
The
entrance of a young woman wearing green carpenter pants and a form-fitting pink
blouse rewarded his patience. Arnold gave a relieved smile as he watched a
serious Helga walk towards him. He noted that during the seven years absence
Helga acquired a more feminine gait. The way her hips seemed to...
He
forced his thoughts to stop there. 'What are you thinking?! Helga is mad at you
and you're thinking about the way she walks!' Thankfully, by the time Helga
arrived in front of him he was able to push his earlier thought away.
Her
face still held a serious expression as she looked at him and said, "Let's
go."
He
silently followed her to her car.
They
had been driving for a few minutes now and Arnold tried to memorize every
single turn she took. It was all he could do since Helga was as silent as ever.
"I'm
sorry I yelled at you," a soft voice said.
Arnold
looked at Helga in surprise. She rarely apologized and here she was apologizing
to him. It takes a bit of getting use to. He genuinely smiled at her and
replied, "I'm sorry to, Helga. I guess I shouldn't butt in your
affairs."
She
kept her eyes focused on the road as she talked. "It isn't your fault,
Arnoldo. It's just the way you are. You have this tendency to go into other
people's lives to make it a little bit easier. But, you should know that some
people don't want other people in their business." In a softer tone she
said, "you shouldn't do that but I know I can't stop you."
He
looked at her, very astonished. "How can you know so much about me yet I
know so little of you?"
He
didn't notice that she tightened her grip on steering wheel. After a moments
pause she responded, "My sister once said that I was a great judge of
character. Maybe that's the reason."
"Oh."
He paused. "Speaking of your sister, where is she now?"
"She's
in Toronto. We used to live in the same house for about three years but since
she got a job in Toronto she moved there. In fact, she just called yesterday.
She's getting married."
"Married?
That's wonderful!"
"Yeah,
yeah!" She paused. "My father is extremely happy that she's going to
marry her boss's son. Imagine a daughter of Big Bob's Beepers and the CEO of an
investment company." Helga chuckled. "A match made in heaven."
Arnold
looked at her a bit surprised at her words. "Helga!"
"I
was joking! Jeez! But they are a match made in heaven. My sister's great in
Math and Economics. Instead of just being your average social rich wife she
could help her husband in business."
"It
seems like great business sense runs in your family. Your father, mother, and
now you're sister," he commented.
"Except
me. I don't really care for buying and selling. I would much rather see justice
be served, send scumbags to jail and then watch them suffer." She
chuckled.
He
laughed along with her. "You have a great talent for that."
"Thank
you," she proudly replied.
"I
mean, watching other people suffer, not, seeing justice serve and sending them
to jail."
Arnold
stopped to look at her and see if he went too far. Helga just grinned at him.
"You're learning, Arnold. A little bit green but stick with me and after a
few years we'll have made you into a great heckler."
He
just laughed.
"Here
we are."
Arnold
stopped laughing to look at the neighborhood where Helga lives. He noticed that
there weren't any apartments, only houses. She lived in the suburbs.
Helga
then pointed to a house. "That house with various flowers that surround it
is where I live."
They
passed the house and then she turned left at the next street. She turned yet
another left and then proceeded to go into an alley. She stopped at a white
gate and parked temporarily, "Just stay here for a bit, football
head." Then without hearing a reply she got out of the car.
He
watched her pull out some keys from her pocket and go near a small door a few
feet away from the white gate. She opened the door using one of the keys and
went inside.
After
a few seconds, Helga opened the gate, got into the car again and drove into the
garage.
As
Helga was properly parking the Beetle Arnold exclaimed, "You should have just
let me open the gate for you."
She
scoffed at him, "You're a guest, Arnold. And besides, I've been doing this
for nearly three years." Helga got out of the car once more, this time
Arnold followed suit.
He
looked at the garage. It was big enough to let two cars park there. It was also
clean, with a few flowering plants planted at the edges. He also noticed a
small structure on the left side, near the door where Helga came in a while
ago. It looked like a tool shed.
He
then focused on the house, or more specifically the back of the house. Up front
the house looked small but because they went around he could see that it was
big. "You live in this house by yourself? Forgive my rudeness but how are
you able to pay for this?"
Helga
waved him off. She began to walk towards the house and he followed her. "I
don't pay for this house now but I will once I finish college. And besides, the
person I live with presently pays for it."
He
noticed that beside the walkway they were on there were a variety of vegetable
plants. Arnold then looked at her. Person? "Are you married?" he
cautiously asked.
For
the very first time since he came in Canada, Helga heartily laughed. Since they
were already in front of the door Helga opened it but still couldn't stop
laughing. When she was finally able to calm herself down she exclaimed,
"Please, Arnold! At my age? I live with my grandmother."
"Grandmother?"
Helga
nodded.
"Geraldine,
is that you?" an older female voice yelled.
"Yes,
ma!" Helga yelled back.
She
noticed his inquiring look. "She doesn't want to be called grandmother
since it makes her feel older." She paused. "Since she's in the
garden, let's go outside."
Geraldine, is that you?" an older female voice
yelled.
"Yes,
ma!" Helga yelled back.
She noticed his
inquiring look. "She doesn't want to be called grandmother since it makes
her feel old." She paused. "Come on, I'll introduce you to her, she's
out in the garden."
She
was about to leave when Arnold stopped her. "Can I ask why she called you
Geraldine?"
Helga
looked at him as if he had grown extra appendages. Then she looked like she
realized something because she suddenly (but lightly) smacked her head.
"Criminey! I didn't tell you what 'G' stands for in Helga G. Pataki. Its
Geraldine."
"Oh."
"Now
come one, football head. Let me introduce you to my grandmother." Helga
led him in front of the house. When he arrived there he saw a woman among the
roses. She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and some gloves. He couldn't see what
clothes she wore since the tall flowers covered his view.
Helga's
grandmother looked up at their arrival and smiled. "Good morning, Arnold!
I trust you are well on this wonderful day?"
"He
smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
"I'm
no ma'am, Arnold. My name is Felizia, but please call me Lizi."
Arnold
looked at Felizia a bit confused. "Felizia? It sounds like Felicia
but..."
"It's
the Swedish version of Felicia," Felizia replied.
This
time he faced Helga. "Then that must mean you're Swedish."
Helga
grinned. "Part Swedish. She's the mother of my dad, who with her husband
immigrated here to Canada. And dad married my mom who's an American. So, I'm
one-half Swedish."
Arnold
looked at the both of them in awe.
Helga
grinned wickedly at him. "You're awestruck now, but what will your
reaction be after you stay here a bit longer?" she teased.
Lizi
gingerly walked out of the garden and into the cemented floor. She began to
walk towards the two and said to Arnold with a serious expression, "To tell you the truth, Arnold, the
reason we're a bit secretive is because we're a family of liars, thieves, and
murderers. That was why my husband and I immigrated here." She was beside
him now. "We like to keep our family in the dark so no one will come
snooping around. But since you kept intruding on my granddaughter's privacy,
well..." She paused. "I'm afraid. I'm going to have to kill
you."
He
silently looked at her. Was she telling the truth?
A
jovial laugh broke his musings. He turned around to see Helga laughing and
wiping tears in her eyes. "Ma, you always could tell a story!"
Still
laughing Helga went near Arnold and put a hand on one of his shoulders.
"You believed what she said, hook line and sinker!" Arnold couldn't
help but laugh along with her.
Lizi
smiled at the two. "Relax, Arnold." She waited for the two to calm
down and then asked Arnold, "What do you want to eat? We have some eggs
and bacon here, do you want Helga to cook you some?"
"No,
I'm really not hungry, Lizi."
"Well,
you must have something to drink then."
He
was a bit uncertain. "Well, water would be just fine."
Lizi
waved him off.
'Now,
I know where Helga got that gesture,' he thought.
She
turned to face Helga and said, "Geraldine, why don't you get Arnold
something to drink. I think we have some juice there." Lizi faced him
again. "Do you want a soft drinks?"
"No,
thanks."
Lizi
smiled. "Good! I for one don't believe in drinking soda in the
morning." She faced her granddaughter. "What are you still doing
here? Come on! Get!"
"Keep
your shirt one, ma!" Helga began to walk in the house.
"I'm
not wearing a shirt!"
"Keep
whatever you're wearing on!" Judging by the slightly muffled voice Helga
was already in the house.
Arnold
looked at Lizi and grinned. In some way, Lizi reminded him of his own
grandmother. His grin turned into a smile. Maybe living here won't be bad after
all. He looked at the house, more specifically at the part of the house where
Helga had gone through. Not bad after all.
Meanwhile,
Lizi removed her soil-ridden gloves and hat as she approached Arnold. She put
the gloves and the hat in one hand while taking his arm at the other. She found
out they were about the same in height.
"Let's
stay at the balcony. The sun is getting a bit too harsh for my liking."
He
nodded. "Sure."
They
walked only a few steps for the balcony was just in front of them. It really
wasn't as grand as you would normally expect a balcony should be. It was as
wide as the house and you took only three steps to get to it. A small table and
four chairs were in one corner and two tall potted plants were situated on the
sides of the door that was located on the center of the balcony.
Lizi
sat on one chair and faced her garden while Arnold sat on the chair at her
right. "Lizi, I'm really sorry I disturbed your gardening."
She
faced him and shook her head. "No, you didn't. I was about to stop when
you two came. I just wanted to do some last minute checks on my flowers."
"Oh."
He paused and smiled. Arnold then noticed that the narrow vegetable that he saw
on the way in the house stretched until it was only a few meters from the front
gate. He faced Lizi again and exclaimed, "I saw you're vegetable garden as
we were going in the house. It looks great. I imagine that you always have the
juiciest vegetables around."
It
was Lizi's turn to smile. "That is one of the joys of gardening. She
stopped for a second. "So tell me about yourself. Helga doesn't say much
about you, not even your last name, except that you go way back."
Arnold
sheepishly smiled. "The thing is, I myself don't know it either." He
grinned. "But she's right. We really go way back. We were classmates right
until she moved here, which was in grade six." Lizi nodded and he continued.
Helga
stared at the moonless night sky. It was already late at night and she had just
finished her homework. Arnold's visit lasted only till before five. He insisted
that he had to be back before nighttime. It was okay with her since she had
homework to do.
"I
like him."
Helga
faced her grandmother who was at her right. They were on the balcony sitting
and drinking hot drinks. She was on the same chair she was when she finished
making the lemonade, using their very own lemons.
Helga
found her grandmother and Arnold talking about their grade school life and for
a moment she had feared that he would tell her grandmother everything. It
wasn't that she didn't know, but receiving it from Arnold himself is not a good
situation. But her fears were lessened as she heard him talk about her...
err...mischief in a placid manner. Helga peeked around and smiled lovingly at
him.
She
banished that memory and looked at her grandmother. Lizi was cradling her cup
of tea. "It's part of his charm, ma," she quietly replied. She looked
at her own hot milk and took a sip. She faced the night sky again and enjoyed
the warmth the milk gave from her hands and inside of her.
"He's
a fine addition to our family."
Helga
quickly faced Lizi and good thing that the cup she was holding was nearly
empty. She didn't say anything but the shocked expression on her face was
enough.
Lizi
innocently gazed at her granddaughter, "Is anything the matter?'
Still
Helga couldn't say anything for fear of giving everything away.
"Arnold
will be visiting here often. He'll be like another grandson of mine, right,
Helga?"
Helga
noticed Lizi's choice of words but didn't give any rash reactions. A simple nod
was all she did and continued to face the night sky. She took her milk and
began to finish it.
Lizi
slyly grinned at her granddaughter's hands. They were shaking.
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