Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
Another Bully On The Block
Hillwood
2025
It was a typical Sunny afternoon in the town known as Hillwood and the students of Mr. Simmons 4th grade class was enjoying themselves at Gerald Field, playing a nice game of football.
"22...34...hike...hike!..."The 4th grade's quarterback shouted as the game began.
The ball was passed as the fourth graders began football practice. The children all played and trained for a good 30 minutes before taking a break.
"I say that was pretty good practice so far..."The quarterback said, pleased.
"Not bad, Andy. I say that we should be able to cream those sixth graders at next week's game..."A glasses wearing girl said, smirking.
"You know it, Kiara, I can't wait for the game..."The boy, Andy, said with a matching smirk.
Yes, they are Andy Shortman and Kiara Johanssen, best friends since infancy and teammates.
Today, they have football practice and were practicing for an upcoming game against the 6th-grade football team at P.S. 118. Andy, due to being the most athletic kid in their class, served as the quarterback while Kiara served as both a receiver and their team's manager/strategist.
Right now, they just finished practice and were now taking a break.
"Man, I feel all sweaty and thirsty. And I'm hungry..."Adam complained before chugging down his soda.
"Suck it up, we got a lot of practice to do if we wanna beat those sixth graders next week..."Andy said, being bossy.
Usually, he's pretty mellow with his friends but they are in training and he wants to make sure that they don't get rusty for that game. Like all competitions, he wants to win by doing his best and he wants to make sure that his team is in top shape.
"Come on everyone, we got this in the bag. We just gotta keep practicing..."Andy said, looking determined.
"Don't worry Andy-Darling, with you as team captain, victory is guaranteed!~..."Courtney said in a sucking up kinda way.
Andy cringed and Kiara crossed her arms at the rich girl's attempt at flirting. No matter how many times that Andy reminds her that he only likes her as a friend, she still won't stop with her crush.
"Just try and focus on practice, we don't need failed attempts at flirting here..."Kiara said in annoyance.
Courtney sent her a glare at that while Andy sighed.
"Save that energy for the game, you two. We got a lot more training to do if we wanna stay undefeated..."Andy said, wanting to be sure that they got their training done.
The fourth graders would have continued with their game...except some unwanted people arrived to spoil their fun.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the wimpy little fourth graders playing ball, huh?..."An obnoxious voice said.
Andy narrowed his eyes when he saw that it was W.J and Edgar.
"Get lost, W.J! This is official fourth grade baseball practice and you're not welcome here..."Andy said, not even bothering to pretend to be polite.
W.J sneered.
"Watch your mouth, Shorty! I should pound you just for saying that!..."W.J said as he raised his fist.
"You've mean like you've tried every time we've crossed paths...and yet you've never managed to lay a hand on me..."Andy said with a smirk.
W.J was a huge bully who always tried to pick on them and had it out specifically for Andy, especially when it comes to sports. However, thanks to Andy's martial arts training, athleticism and his refusal to knuckle under bullies, he always manages to stand up to this jerk and protect his friends from his as well, so W.J isn't the feared bully he wishes that he was.
He's just a nuisance.
W.J growled at that remark.
"Big talk from a little shrimp like you! But I'm not here to talk to you. I just came by to introduce you all to an old friend of mine..."W.J said in a mean looking way.
"An old friend?..."Andy questioned suspiciously, keeping his guard up.
Just then, a new kid showed up, one who is just as big as W.J and just as mean looking.
"Who is this guy?..."Andy thought, not trusting this guy.
He was tall, much taller to be an elementary school kid, with dark hair and he had the same mean, arrogant look that W.J has.
"Wimpy fourth graders, I'd like to introduce you all to my old buddy, Johann..."W.J said, in a very arrogant way.
"So, these are the little fourth grade sissies you mentioned. They look even more pathetic than I thought..."Johann said with a mocking laugh.
Andy and his friends frowned.
"And with that, we now we AREN'T gonna be friends with him any time soon!..."Andy thought, irritated.
"Anyway, you brats get out of MY vacant lot. You hear me..."Johann said.
"Wait, I'm sorry...YOU'RE vacant lot?..."Kiara asked, confused.
"Did I stutter? Now leave, this is our territory and you babies aren't welcome here..."Johnann said, arms crossed.
Andy, getting angry, spoke up next.
"Uh, no. We were here first and why the heck do you think this is YOU'RE vacant lot...and in addition, just who are you? I don't remember seeing you at school..."Andy said, irritated.
"My name is Johann Phillips. My dad, Ludwig Phillips said that this was his vacant lot back in the day, so that makes it mine too. To answer you're other questions. My family and I had to move since my dad had a job transfer but now we're back and I'm ready to take back what's mine..."Johann said, determined.
Andy frowned at that, not liking this guy.
"You can't do that..."Andy said.
"Yes, I can. Like I said, this vacant lot belonged to my dad back when he was my age...and now it's mine. So get lost, before we have to pound you guys into paste..."Johann said in a domineering way.
Andy looked unmoved as he just stood his ground.
"Uh, I hate to burst your bubble but this lot is ours now..."Andy said.
"What was that, Shrimpy?..."Johann asked in a threatening voice.
Andy didn't flinch as he kept looking defiantly to the bully.
"You heard me, it's ours! My parents, along with my friends parents are co-owners of the property. They bought it 8 years ago to keep it from being developed and now it's our property, so you can't kick us out!..."Andy explained, his arms now crossed and sporting a determined look on his face.
Johann looked flabbergasted upon hearing that.
"What? You're lying!..."He accused.
"No way, I'm telling the truth..."Andy said with his arms crossed, not liking being called a liar by this jerk.
Courtney nodded.
"That's right and my mummy's lawyer still has the deed to this place. I can easily call and have him bring it over so you can see for yourself..."The rich girl said, not liking this guy.
Johann looked livid, while W.J looked furious.
"You said that your dad OWNED this place. You lied to me?!..."W.J yelled at him.
"He does. These brats must me lying!..."Johann accused.
"Like I said, I can get the lawyers here ASAP if I have to..."Courtney said, showing that she's not playing around.
"What the heck?! You guys can't do this? Why didn't anyone tell my dad? You guys just can't buy his property without his permission!...
Johann yelled.
"All of our parents bought this place and did all the paperwork. If you're dad has any complains, he can take it up with the realtor or whatever..."Kiara said, and Andy nodded.
Johann looked furious, but refused to give up.
"This ain't over. I'm gonna get my dad and you guys will be in big trouble for using his property without paying any rent..."Johann said, leaving with his fellow fifth graders.
Andy rolled his eyes as they left.
"What a loser..."He said.
"No kidding..."Kiara said.
"I'll call Mummy's lawyer, just in case that guy's father really does have legal grounds here..."Courtney said.
"Good idea...maybe we should call our parents too, just in case..."Kiara said.
"On it..."Andy said as he pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
An hour later
Johann, W.J and Edgar returned, but this time with an adult.
The adult was big, muscular, with tattoos, with a shaggy goatee and stubbly mustache on his face. He also had a mean look that was identical to his son.
It was Ludwig Phillip, Johann's father.
"So, Johann...you said that these kids all picked on you and tried to push you around, and they wouldn't let you play with them on the lot..."The man, Ludwig said, sounding angry.
"Yeah, Pop. They were so mean. They wouldn't let us play there and they even said that it's their vacant lot, like they own the place..."Johann said, trying to look like the victim.
"Yeah, they were so mean Uncle Ludwig..."W.J said, faking sadness.
"Well, that won't do. I'll have to explain to those kids that they can't use our vacant lot and treat you guys that way..."Johann said as he arrived there.
As expected, the kids were there but Ludwig and Johann were shocked to see some adults there.
It was Arnold, Helga, Rhonda, Thaddeus and a man in an expensive looking suit with glasses and a brief case.
"What the? What's going on here?..."Johann asked outloud.
"So, you actually came back, huh? I knew it..."Andy said, arms crossed.
"Uh, what's going on here?..."Ludwig asked, confused.
"I cannot believe that you actually had the nerve to show up here..."Helga said, looking disgusted.
Johann was confused, however, his eyes landed on the blonde woman and grinned. Since he and his son's mother are no longer together, he was still single. He grinned.
"Hey there, doll. What's your name?..."He asked.
"Uh, ew..."Andy said in disgust as this creep hit on his mother.
"Hey, don't you talk to MY WIFE that way, Ludwig!..."Arnold said, looking furious.
"Uh...do we know each other?..."Ludwig asked, confused.
"You don't remember us, do you?..."Helga said, disgusted that he hit on her and annoyed by his stupidity.
Ludwig seemed lost, but then noticed Arnold's head and it soon came to him.
"Oh no...you're not that same football headed dweeb from back in the day, huh?..."Ludwig asked, irritated.
"The name is Arnold Shortman, and I would appreciate if you step away from my WIFE, my SON and his friends right now..."Arnold said with some edge in his tone.
"Best do as they say, unless you want our lawyer here to add charges..."Rhonda said, irritated.
"Wait...lawyer?..."Ludwig asked, confused.
"You guys actually have a lawyer?..."Johann asked, confused.
"Duh..."Kiara said, irritated.
The lawyer then went to the tall man and presented his business card.
"Greetings, Mr. Phillip. I'm Stanley Jones, from Bartlett, Purdy and Lang law firm. I'm Mrs. Wellington-Lloyd-Gammelthorpe. 's attorney and it seems that you apparently have a complaint regarding the ownership of this property, a property that is CURRENTLY OWNED by the people I am representing..."Mr. Jones, the lawyer, said in a professional manner.
Ludwig was just stunned silent but tried to answer.
"I...I...it's just...this was my lot as a kid and...well...I didn't know that it was sold..."Ludwig said, looking nervous. "Is it really owned by someone else?..."He asked.
The lawyer then pulled out some documents, including the deed to the lot.
"We got documented proof that the vacant lot had been that, a VACANT LOT, meaning it had NO owner for a period of 30 years before Mrs. Wellington-Lloyd-Gammelthorpe, her husband, the Shortmans, the Johanssens, the Bermans and several others all purchased it approximately 8 years and 6 months ago..."The lawyer said, confirming the facts.
"You guys ACTUALLY bought it?!..."Ludwig asked, looking stunned.
"Hey, it was either buy our old childhood hangout so that our kids would have a safe place to play or let some sleazy business man tear it down to build some coffee joint and I think we made the right call..."Helga said, and her husband nodded.
"Indeed, plus the chain that wanted to buy this place wasn't even that good, and I'd much rather let my precious little Courtney have a nice place to play with her friends..."Rhonda said, while Ludwig looking lost.
The lawyer then continued to state facts to the so-called "former owner" of the vacant lot.
"There is no record of you having ever been owner of this lot, or any transactions of ownership having been done, so on what grounds can you say that this land was ever yours?..."The lawyer asked.
Ludwig lost his previous bravado, especially with the other adults glaring at him. He gulped and tried to say something.
"I...well...I used to hang out here all the time as a kid before and after my time in juvie. This was my place..."He said, nervously.
"So, you admit that you never BOUGHT this land...and if so, you also just admitted that you were loitering on property that wasn't yours..."The lawyer said.
"And you also came here to try and scare our kids off THEIR lot, didn't you?..."A furious sounding Helga said, arms crossed.
"Is that true?..."The lawyer asked, glaring at the man.
"W-What? NO! I was just gonna talk to them and explain that it wasn't nice to kick my son off the lot and that it was his..."Ludwig said.
"Hey, we didn't do that! HE tried to kick US out and got really mean when we wouldn't budge!..."Andy said, looking angry.
"We believe you, Son..."Arnold said, still frowning.
"Johann...you told me that these kids were bullying you?..."Ludwig asked, while his son gulped.
"But...but..."Johann stammered, while W.J and Edgar turned pale now.
"Mr. Phillip. I think it's clear that you never owned this lot. Now, if you have any more complaints, I suggest you take it up with a lawyer of your own, though I HIGHLY doubt that you'd win any case. In the mean time, I suggest you leave since you are technically trespassing on private property right now..."The lawyer.
Johan and W.J just got mad.
"This isn't fair. You guys can't do this to us!..."W.J said.
"Yeah, you guys can't go behind out backs and just boy the property without our permission. We'll-..."Whatever threat Johann wanted to make was cut short when Ludwig spoke up.
"We'll leave. And I'm sorry for the misunderstanding..."A pale Ludwig said, his bravado gone now.
"What? But Dad?!..."Johann complained.
"Shut up, Johann. We already lost this battle, and I can't risk getting in trouble with the law again! I just managed to get parole and your mom is mad enough at me as it is, so let's just leave..."Ludwig said, knowing this was a losing battle.
"Glad to see you at least develop enough brain cells to know that you don't stand a chance here..."Helga said, glad to see that creep give up.
"Also, just so you know...if you try and get on this lot without permission from The Llyods, the Shortmans or the other co-owners, that is grounds for charges of trespassing..."The lawyer said.
"I-I'm sorry...I didn't know that you guys really owned this place, but don't worry. We're leaving..."Ludwig said as he grabbed his son by arm, and dragged him away.
"But Dad..."Ludwig complained.
"Shut up, we lost! And I'm not going back to jail over this!..."Johann said as he dragged his son away.
W.J and Edgar stood there and saw all eyes were on them. W.J hated this but soon left running and Edgar followed him.
"Glad they're gone..."Andy said.
"I'll say. I can't believe the nerve of that guy, acting like he still owns this place..."Helga said, disgusted.
"I knew that he was a jerk but I thought he'd at least try to shape up and grow up after he got expelled in high school..."Rhonda said, just as disgusted.
"I actually feel sorry for his son, he's just another Ludwig in the making..."Arnold said, being his usual sympathetic self.
"It's a shame that the apple didn't fall from the tree in this case..."Thaddeus said, adjusting his shades.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wellington-Lloyd-Gammelthorpe. I have to leave and I will send the invoice for my services..."The lawyer said, getting their attention.
"Of course. Also, thank you again for arriving on such short notice and resolving this silly issue..."Rhonda said.
As the Lloyd's spoke with the lawyer, Arnold and Helga turned to the kids.
"Are you kids alright?..."Arnold asked, concerned.
"We're fine. Thanks again for coming and sorting this out. I had a feeling that jerk wouldn't listen otherwise..."Andy said.
"Of course, there's no way we would just sit by and let someone try and bully you guys off the lot. You all have every right to be here, especially since WE'RE the ones who own it and paid a pretty penny for it too..."Helga said.
"I'm also happy that you kids were smart enough to come to us for help, instead of trying to get into whatever fight that bully would have tried goading you all into..."Arnold said.
"Dad, you know I'm smarter than that. That creep had no idea who he was dealing with...it would have been a waste of energy to play their game..."Andy said.
"Smart boy. Now, how about we all go home and I'll order some pizza's for you kids. I imagine you had quite a day..."Helga offered and the kids cheered.
"Thanks, Mom..."Andy said.
"Yeah, but we should call the others to let them know what happened..."Arnold reminded.
"On it, Darling..."Helga said as she pulled out her cell phone and proceeded to do just that.
As the adults settled things and brought the kids over to the Shortman home for pizza, Andy and Kiara were still talking.
"Why do I get the feeling we haven't hard the last from that creep?..."Andy asked, having a gut feeling.
"Because idiots like him and W.J never learn their lesson. They just keep coming back like roaches, no matter how much we try and get rid of them..."Kiara said.
"True...but like Mom and Dad and that lawyer guy said, they don't have any legal grounds here, so they can't do anything without getting in trouble..."Andy said.
"Did you see the look on that guys face, when the lawyer said that big guy was trespassing? Man, I thought he was gonna wet his pants!..."Adam laughed, having found it funny.
"I know, that Johann was all talk but he's just a big, dumb jerk..."Courtney said, smirking.
"Yeah, let's not talk about him anymore. He's already spoiled enough of our day as it is..."Andy said, and the others nodded.
They all went to enjoy pizza and the rest of their afternoon, happy that this legal mess was dealt with already.
The Next Day
It was another sunny days and the kids were once again practicing at Gerald Field. Once again, Andy was both quarterback and team captains and was busy training with his friends.
"Come on, everyone. Look alive! You guys don't want those sixth graders to win! Then let's get tough here!..."Andy said, as he threw the football to his friends and they all tried to work on their plays here.
As he and his friends kept practicing, someone else came to the field, looking angry.
It was Johann, and next to him are W.J and Edgar.
"Hey, Shrimpy!..."He yelled.
Andy saw him and rolled his eyes.
"Not you guys again, get lost..."He said, frowning.
"Shut up, because of you guys, my dad got mad at me for almost getting him in trouble with that lawyers of yours...it's not right that you did that to us and took our lot..."Johann said.
"It's not YOUR lot!..."Andy said.
"It will be...unless you're scared!..."Johann said in a taunting way, obviously trying to pick a fight.
"What the heck are you talking about?..."Andy asked, while his friends wondered what was happening.
"Why don't we play you for it in an old fashioned game of football? The winner gets the lot!..."Johann said, in a very arrogant and overconfident way.
"No way!..."Andy said, rejecting the offer. "We have NOTHING to gain from that stupid bet! Besides, we already have a game coming up against the 6th-graders!..."He said.
"Aw, is the wimpy little fourth grader scared?..."W.J mocked.
"No, I'm just not stupid. Besides, this lot belongs to all our families. We can't just give it away..." Andy argued.
"He's just scared about losing the game and the field..."W.J mocked, clearly trying to get under his skin.
Andy didn't like being mocked but still stood his ground, not wanting to encourage the 5th-grade bullies.
"Even IF we were to play against you guys, what do WE get if we win?..."Andy asked.
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA WIN!..."W.J shouted.
"If by some chance you guys do win, we won't pound you guys into the concrete..."Johann said, cracking his knuckles.
Andy rolled his eyes.
"In other words, you guys have NOTHING to offer at all. So, we don't have a reason to make the bet..."He said, irritated.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? If you don't play us, we're gonna pound you!..."Johann yelled, as he raised his fist in warning.
Andy rolled his eyes, but knew how to handle this.
"One...if you have to pick a fight with anyone, leave my friends out of it and just fight me..."Andy said, wanting to make sure that they are safe.
"But I doubt that you'd be able to actually lay a hand on me..."He added.
"Big talk coming from such a little brat..."Johann said.
Andy's friends all watched this and knew what was going to happen.
"This is gonna be good..."Kiara said, intrigued to see how this will play out.
"Two fudgey bars says that Andy knocks his teeth out..."Adam said.
"Three budgy bars says that he'll wimp out before Andy even gets a chance to do so..."Keisha said, while the fourth graders watched how this will play out.
"You really don't know who I am, are you? W.J didn't tell you..."Andy said, trying to maintain his temper.
"Tell me what?!..."Johann demanded, wondering what was up.
Andy sighed.
"Of course, he's too dumb to even remember such a detail..."He said.
"HEY!..."W.J shouted, but was ignored.
"I'll just show you who I am..."Andy said as he looked around.
He soon spotted a nearby tree and knew how to best handle this situation. He went to the tree, while Johann wondered what was happening.
"What are you doing?!..."He demanded.
Andy ignored him and was now at the base of the tree and saw the lowest branch hanging out.
"My name is Andy Shortman..."He said as he took a stance.
In less than 10 seconds, he jumped up, did a karate chop and soon enough, the tree branch was now on the ground, successfully chopped off. Once he landed, he turned to Johann, who was now gaping at him.
"And I'm the current regional karate champion...and I don't like jerks who mess with my friends!..."He said as he sent a glare.
Johann was stunned, while W.J got upset.
"Now...do you think wanna fight...or are you guys gonna leave so that we can finish our practice?..."He said as he cracked his own knuckles.
W.J, being the most stubborn, refused to back down.
"You think you're such hot stuff but with the three of us together, you're-..."He was cut off when Johann started to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?!..." He demanded.
"You didn't tell me he knew karate! And my dad already told me not to come here unless we actually owned the lot...unless you can make me a black belt overnight, I'm out of here!..."Johann said, knowing that he stood no chance here.
Andy smirked, while W.J looked livid as his so-called childhood friend left in defeat.
Edgar also got nervous.
"Uh...I'd better go too, W.J. I promised my mom that I'd get some groceries for dinner. Don't wanna keep her waiting..."Edgar said, before leaving.
"You big babies!..."W.J yelled, before turning to Andy.
"So, what's gonna happen? Are you gonna do the smart thing and leave, or do I have to give another demonstration?..."Andy asked.
W.J snarled.
"You won't keep getting lucky forever, Shorty and you won't stay karate champ forever either! One day, you'll see who's the real toughest guy in Hillwood!..."The bully said in an angry tone.
"Whatever you say, now leave. We're always wasting daylight as it it..."Andy said, irritated.
W.J soon left and Andy's cheered...though Adam was complaining.
"Alright, I won the bet! Pay up, Fatso!..."Keisha said with a smirk as she held her hand out.
"Aw, geez! You couldn't have knocked at least some of his teeth, Andy..."Adam said as he surrendered his candy to Keisha.
"Sorry, Adam, but karate is suppose to be used for self-defense. That means, try not to use violence if you can help it..."Andy said, as his friends swarmed him to thank him.
"Nice going, Andy. I just hope those idiots will leave us alone..."Kiara said.
"I doubt W.J will, you know that he's too stupid to give up and I have a feeling that Johann creep is no better. Whatever, they know now that if they try messing with you guys, they'll be dealing with me..."He said, being as protective as ever about his friends.
"Oh Andy, you were so cool!..."Courtney said in a gushy kind of way.
Andy cringed at her fan-girling, while Kiara frowned and told her to back off. Before this could escalate into one of their usual arguments, Keisha spoke up.
"Alright guys, come on. Like Andy said, we still gotta practice if we wanna whoop those sixth graders at our next game..."Keisha said, being eager to go back to practice.
Andy, wanting to not deal with Courtney's flirting and her and Kiara fighting, nodded.
"She's right, come on. We got work to do..."Andy said, eager to get back to training too.
"Fine..."Courtney and Kiara both said, but they frowned at each other, for reasons that Andy is still too young and clueless to understand.
The rest of the day continued uninterrupted, as the fourth graders kept practicing in the lot that they loved so much, the same one that their parents did so much to keep for their sakes.
No one, not sleazy businessmen or dumb bullies could take this lot away from them, and even if they try, they had both a lawyer and Andy here to make them back off.
And it was the latter that really made Johan back off...for now at least.
The End
A/N(1): I hope that you all enjoyed my latest Hey Arnold Fic.
A/N(2): This is dedicated to my family, my friends and my love for God! Enjoy :)
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)