CHAPTER 7: FADOODLING

Arnold awoke from his slumber, and noticed that it was morning already. The dream that lasted only a few minutes actually lasted all night. With a flick of the wire, he turned off his potato alarm clock. Arnold knew his subconscious was trying to tell him something, either that or he was feeling guilty about asking Helga to reveal some of her secrets. After all, Helga was the most secretive person Arnold had ever come in contact with. Why did he ask? To know the answers? To find out more about her?

"I got an idea," Arnold said aloud to himself.

Quickly, he put on his usual everyday attire and exited his bedroom. As he ran down the stairs, he noticed that Miles was standing at the end of the hallway.

"Whoa, what's your hurry son?"

"Um…I was thinking about going to talk to Helga. I…I kinda messed things up," Arnold said rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, girl trouble huh?"

"You have no idea," Arnold said with a smirk.

He hugged Miles tightly because…he never got tired of hugs from his own father. While he was continuing down the steps, Stella was waiting on him at the bottom of the stairs. She had her arms crossed, so Arnold assumed that he was in some sort of trouble. However, to his surprise she also embraced Arnold with a hug.

"Good morning Arnold."

"Good morning."

Stella kissed his cheek and left a red smudge across it.

"Mom," Arnold said embarrassed.

Stella apologized. She had forgotten that Arnold was getting to that age. The age of those adolescent teenage years. The slightest things can make any preteen embarrassed. Arnold rubbed the makeup off his cheek and headed for the front door. Couldn't he leave his own house in one piece? Phil then stopped him. Apparently not.

"Look Arnold, I know you're wanting to go talk to your little girlfriend, but I think it's time you and I had a little talk."

"Talk? Talk about what?" Arnold said eyeing the front door.

"Shortman, you know what I'm talking about…the birds and the bees? Fadoodling?"

The preteens eyes grew wide and his face went beet red. Before his grandpa could get another word out, he interrupted him.

"Grandpa, I gotta go!"

Arnold exited the boarding house along with the same familiar cats, dogs, and Abner. He had finally reached the outside world. Helga's house was a few blocks away. He was anxious to get there, but he was also extremely nervous. Talking to Helga always made him nervous due to her emotions, but he had to talk to her. He wanted to apologize for asking her to divulge some of her secrets. However, he also wanted to tell her that he needed time to process them. Having your girlfriend basically tell you that she was involved in many different aspects of your life was a lot to take in for young Arnold. It took him a while to take in her confession of love to him, now there was more to it. There were more examples of her love and devotion to him. I can't believe all of those things she said to me. It's almost been a full 24 hours, and I still don't believe it! Arnold thought as he walked down the sidewalk.

With his hands in his pockets, Arnold continued his stroll to Helga's. The closer he got to her house, the more he felt his stomach do backflips. Butterflies were caught in his stomach and they wouldn't stop fluttering. What could he say to her? How should he speak to her? Arnold, the master of advice, the warrior of words, was actually having trouble coming up with what to tell Helga. Looking up he saw it. The house of the one and only Helga G. Pataki.

With a gulp, Arnold went up to the door and knocked on it. To his surprise, no one came to the door.

"Hmm, that's odd. Maybe Miriam's asleep," Arnold said remembering how tired Helga's mom could get.

Before he knocked again, he heard something. A voice. A recognizable voice only this time it was filled with an air of sweetness. Arnold couldn't figure out where the voice was coming from or make out what it was saying. He went around the back of Helga's house to trace the noise. As he looked up he noticed that Helga's bedroom window was open.

"Helga?" Arnold thought. "She sounds so…different?"

He put a hand to his ear to try and figure out what she was saying, but she was too far away. He looked to the side and noticed a small tree against the house. If he climbed it maybe he could hear her. Spy on her? Now, I'm acting just like her. Arnold thought as he approached the tree.