Chapter 5: Be Cruel To Your School
It was the beginning of a new day for Arnold, Henry and June. The sun rose slowly over Sunset Arms, and brightened up the city before reaching Arnold's room.
It was shortly after, that Henry woke up to the sound of someone saying, "Hey Arnold!" It was really the sound of Arnold's potato-head alarm clock from across the room.
Groggily, Henry got out of bed. He was about to wake up June, but then, a gong was heard from across the room.
"Rise and shine, everyone! Fellow warriors, we begin our attack for Leif Erikson!" Grandma yelled. "We'll reach Valhalla by dawn!" Followed by that was the sound of a horn that could be heard a mile away.
"Sheesh, Hanksky. Is there an earthquake?" June reluctantly asked Henry. She then attempted to go back to sleep.
"Oh, no you don't!" Henry sternly said. He dragged June out of bed up to the door. He then told her, "Look, we're supposed to go to school. Can you please make it LOOK like we're normal?"
June's attention was obviously somewhere else, she just replied, "Yeah, sure."
Arnold then came into the room. "Good morning, guys." He greeted. "I just came to tell you that the bathroom's over there, and I gathered up some of our extra school supplies for you to use."
"Thanks again," Henry replied. "Is breakfast around the corner?"
"Sure, just get washed up and meet me in the kitchen. I even put your book bags next to your chairs." Arnold answered. "See you downstairs."
Henry and June then got dressed, and met Arnold downstairs.
"Good morning, you little youngsters! First day of school, eh? How's it going?" Grandpa greeted. Henry and June then sat down; Grandma then came into the room, and put a big helping of pancakes on their plate.
"Eat up, kids!" Grandma alarmed them. Henry turned to June. They both shrugged. Neither of them had heard Norse before.
"Pookie, can you PLEASE stop with the Viking outfit?" Grandpa pleaded.
Grandma then replied with a triumphant, "Aldregi!" (It means Never in Norse.) As she walked out of the room, chanting Norse dialect, Grandpa put his palm over his forehead.
"Sorry about that, Pookie's always surprising us," Grandpa explained.
They then sat and ate their food, until the time soon read 7:30, which meant that there were 30 minutes left until school started.
"Thanks again for the food, Grandpa." Arnold said as he walked out of the building. "Come on, guys. The bus stop is over here."
Henry and June followed Arnold, and soon they were on the bus. "Oh great, I'm broke." Henry noticed. The bus fare was 75 cents.
"Wow, celebrities that have no money. What is this, MTV?" June mocked. She was enjoying every moment.
"It's OK. I can pay for it this time." Arnold then gave Henry $2.25, just enough for all of them, they went on the bus. Arnold sat in the seat in front of Henry and June.
From there, Gerald walked over.
"Hey Arnold, how's it going'?" Gerald asked.
"Just fine, except we got a few new visitors." Arnold replied.
"You have visitors? Like who?" Gerald asked.
Henry and June then got up from their seats, and made an extravagant entrance.
"I'm Henry," Henry began.
"And I'm June," June replied.
"And we're the hosts of... Kablam!" they said at the same time.
"Cool! You mean you're celebrities?" Gerald asked.
"Well, if you want to put it that way," Henry started.
June then covered Henry's mouth and frantically shouted, "Are you kidding? We're hosts of a 4 season cartoon cramaganza, complete with action figures!"
"So, you're living' the high life, huh?" Gerald asked.
"All until some guys in black kicked us out. If we don't spend at least half a year in a real school, the show is cancelled." Henry responded.
"Don't worry, you'll fit right in." Gerald told them as he sat down next to Arnold.
"The name's Gerald, don't wear it out." He grinned while he looked back at Henry and June.
"You seem like a pretty suave guy, want to bust a beat?" Henry offered.
"You do know that you can't rap, right?" June pointed out.
"I was the one who contacted Busta Rhymes, remember?" Henry shot back.
"You rapped for Busta?" Gerald questioned. He was pretty excited over this news.
Until his 'rap' was so bad, Busta left without giving him anything!" June guffawed.
Henry was less than amused. The bus then came to a stop, and the 4 of them stepped off.
When they got off and were ready to enter P.S. 118, Arnold stopped to tell Henry and June some important information.
"Ok, I got to go to my class. In the meantime, you should drop by Principal Wartz's Office; he should be able to assign you your class." Arnold notified them.
"And just where would Warts-for-brains be?" June grunted.
"Just walk by room 212, and take a right. It's near the room that has the 'Gym Equipment' sign." Arnold instructed.
"Ok, see you at 3." Henry thanked.
Please make it like a NORMAL day for once, almighty being. I'm begging you!" Henry mumbled.
"Did you say something?" June asked.
"Me? Oh, nothing," Henry nervously answered.
"Well, stop acting like you're sick. For crying out loud, your cheeks are as red as a tomato!" June insisted.
"Where is it? Henry wondered. He tried to look, but then June nixed his nose, all as part of a trick.
June was enjoying herself, but her laughing was cut short when the bell rang and everyone went in for class.
"Isn't this great? It's a brand new place, just begging' for some cramming'!" June anticipated. "Come on, Hanksky, don't be such a Budinski!"
June grabbed Henry's arm and the two of them zoomed into the building.