Chapter 7: I Need To Borrow Something

Arnold woke up the next morning, not feeling right about the idea of spending his share of the money alone. Not to mention knowing Gerald no longer had his. He was tempted to give his share to Gerald and no longer worry about it.

Gerald's House

"Morning son." Martin greeted Jamie O who stopped in the kitchen for a protein bar.

"Morning dad."

"That friend of yours coming over again?" Martin asked suspiciously. Although they hadn't spent any of his parent's money, it was only a matter of time before things changed.

"No. I'm going to go meet him at his place. Catch you later."

After watching his brother make his way out the door, Gerald raced across the hallway to Jamie O's room.

An evil grin appeared on his face, knowing all he had to do was find a way to get rid of it. Who would want it though? More importantly, how was he supposed to get it out of the house without his parents knowing?

Bruce's House

"Thanks for having me bro! I brought us a couple of protein bars." Jamie O said, tossing one to his friend.

Bruce stared at the treat, having a lot on his mind. Jamie O then spoke up and asked "What's with you?"

Although he didn't want to sound like a baby, Bruce couldn't help but admit "I just feel bad we took your brother's money."

Jamie O rolled his eyes at the response and replied "I take his things all the time. Trust me, he'll get over it."

"That doesn't mean it's okay to do. That's why I'm so upset with my dad. All he does is steal from people, and lie about what he says he'll do. I can't trust him about anything."

Jamie O's face softened as he watched his friend stare at the floor. Silence took over the room, while he compared his friend's situation to his own. Was he too hard on Gerald? He may not be his father, but an older sibling is someone you should be able to look up to (or at least trust).

Gerald's House

Gerald eagerly walked into the kitchen to find his parents at the table. "Hey sweetie, how are you?"

"Fine mom. Listen, Jamie O said Arnold and I could borrow his weights. I'm going to take them over there in a little while."

Martin lifted his head from his finances and asked "Borrow his weights? What for?"

"We're about to start training for the fitness test in P.E. I kind of need to practice." Gerald explained, as he began to slowly back out of the room.

"Hmmm...okay. But don't you break anything! I'm not paying for a new set." Martin warned his son.

"Relax dad. Everything's under control."

Phoebe's House

With the group now being down to four people, Helga was at Phoebe's explaining Gerald's dilemma.

"Oh dear! Perhaps we should do something for him?" Phoebe offered.

Helga leaned against the bed with her legs stretched across the floor. Sighing at the remark, she said "If I know football head, he's going to give his money to Geraldo."

"Perhaps there's something we could all do together. That was the original plan after all. It wasn't Arnold's intention for the group to use the money for individual activities only they would enjoy." Phoebe explained.

Gerald's House

Gerald opened the door to see the buyer of Jamie O's weight collection.

"Hey there coach! What's up?"

Coach Wittenburg waved at his former athlete and said "Hey Gerald, where's Arnie?"

The boy wasn't looking to stand around explaining things. There was no telling when Jamie O would be home. Plus, he didn't exactly tell his parents the coach would be the one moving the weights out. He just didn't want them to be shocked when they saw everything being moved down the stairs (and then an empty room upstairs).

"He's not here. Come on, let's go get everything." Gerald rushed him.

Walk

Jamie O was on his way home, thinking about everything Bruce had said. Sure siblings fought a lot, but there had to be a limit somewhere. Yes they could get on each other's nerves, but there was no reason they couldn't attempt to get along, as opposed to intentionally causing chaos.

Maybe I am too hard on Gerald. Even after all the mean things I've done to him, he hasn't tried to get back at me.

Gerald's House

"Here you go kid. That's $328!" the coach handed Gerald the money after loading all the equipment into his vehicle.

"Thanks coach! Good to see you again."

"Hey, how'd you and Arnie like to be on my new soccer team? I could use a few more players."

Gerald began to back away with his money as he said "Uhh thanks but, I'm kind of busy the rest of the school year."

Walk

After leaving her friend's house, Helga was heading towards home when she bumped heads with someone...THUMP!

Rather than falling to the ground, she held her head and shouted "Criminy! Why don't you people watch where you're going?!"

The angry girl then looked to see she had run into Gerald's older brother. As opposed to apologizing to her, Jamie O stared curiously and asked "Aren't you friends with Gerald?"

Helga rolled her eyes at the question and scoffed "Well Doi!"

Seeing he hadn't started to walk past her yet, Helga cocked her brow and asked "What are you staring at geek bait?"

Jamie O rubbed his chin and said "From what he's told me, you're always in a bad mood."

"Yeah. You wanna make something of it?" the vexed girl threatened, as she held a fist to his face.

Jamie O rolled his eyes at the younger kid's threat and said "No. You just remind me of myself."

Helga crossed her arms at the accusation and scoffed "Pttss...what's that supposed to mean?"

"You hang out with the class, but you're still mean to them. I'm Gerald's brother, but I can't seem to cut him a break."

Helga's face began to turn pink. Although the teen hadn't mentioned Arnold, anyone digging deeper into her qualities put her in a vulnerable state.

After feeling her face change colors, Helga shook her head and said "Yeah, I heard about unapproved loan you made. Oh brother."

The teen began to rub his neck. Although it was just a friend of Gerald's he was speaking to, he still felt he had set a bad example. "Yeah. I'd like to pay him back. That won't be happening anytime soon though."

The Boarding House

Arnold was at his computer, contemplating what to do. He didn't mind the idea of giving Gerald his money. Even if he did though, Gerald made it sound as though he was too busy to bother with it that day.

The blonde boy sat at his computer until he heard someone at his door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in."

Arnold turned to see his best friend entering with a smile on his face. "Oh hey Gerald."

"Hey Arnold! Ready for some fun man?"

Arnold got up from his seat, wondering what had gotten Gerald into such a good mood. "Sure. Guess you and your brother made up then."

The now placid boy glared at his friend and said "More like got even with him."

A concerned look grew on the blonde boy's face as he asked "What's that supposed to mean?"

Arnold's eyes then grew when he saw Gerald pull out the money from his pocket.

"Where'd you get that?"

Gerald's House

Jamie O walked inside with a smile on his face, anxious to see his younger brother (for the first time ever). Although he wasn't one to get along with Gerald, it felt good to do the right thing.

He headed down the hallway towards his younger sibling's room, ready to make up with him. "Hey little brother. Look what I've...Gerald?"

After seeing the room was empty, the teenager assumed his brother must be hanging out with Arnold. There was nothing to do but hang out until Gerald returned.

Jamie O stuck the redeemed cash in his pocket and headed towards his weight room.

Downstairs

"Look at this electric bill! I told Gerald he could only play two C.D's a day. Did he not listen to a word I said? And look at the phone bill! Did….AHHHH!"

Before Martin could finish venting to Mrs. Johanson, the two heard screaming upstairs.

They began heading towards the weight room where they found their oldest son on the floor crying.

"What's going on in here?!" Martin demanded to know.

Mrs. Johanson bent down to pat her son on the back as she listened to him ask "What happened to all my stuff?"

The penny pincher lifted an eyebrow with his hands on his waist and said "What do you mean what happened to it? Gerald said you let him borrow it."

"What?" the overwhelmed teen asked, not believing what he was hearing.

"Don't look at me. I don't know how you kids work these days. As long as you're not wasting money, I don't need to get involved."

Martin left the room to finish the bills as Mrs. Johanson said to her oldest son "I'm sure they're fine sweetie. He probably thought you wouldn't mind if he just borrowed them. We'll get them back later."

Arnold's Room

After hearing his friend's story, Arnold stood from the couch and said "You sold your brother's weights?! Gerald, what were you thinking?"

Pointing towards himself, the guiltless boy replied "Hey, I had every right to do it man. After everything he's done to me, I'd say he owes me more money than this. I wouldn't be surprised if that $3,937 was just a sign of how much he's taken from me."

"I don't know Gerald. Even if he has treated you badly, that doesn't mean you need to get even with him. Look at Helga."

Lifting an eyebrow at the upcoming comparison, Gerald asked "What about her?"

"She treats me badly, but I don't retaliate."

"Yeah, you really need to work on that man."

"No, because I know she's a good person. Your brother is too, and if you keep overlooking the bad things he does, eventually he's bound to see the mistakes he's made."

Gerald sighed at the money in his hand, knowing how right his friend always was when it came to solving moral dilemmas (or any problem for that matter).

"Alright man thanks."

Coach Wittenburg's

"Oh please. You expect me to believe you're going to use this stuff every day, Jack?"

The competitive man glared at his un-supportive wife and said "Darn right Tish! And I'm going to coach the best soccer team this town's ever seen!"

Tish rolled her eyes and began to leave the room. "In your dreams."

"I'll show her! I'll…" Jack muttered to himself until he heard someone at the door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The competitive man went to answer the door, where he saw his former athlete once again.

"Oh hey Gerald." the coach waved to his friend.

"Hey coach. Listen, I was wondering if I could buy back that merchandise from you?"

"Buy it back?!"

"Yeah. You see, I kind of took it from my brother without asking." Gerald rubbed his shoulder, embarrassed to admit it.

Tish walked towards the front door after not being able to help overhear the conversation. "Jack, give something back? Why not just ask him to voluntarily lose. Oh wait, you don't have to. He'll lose without even trying."

"Oh yeah! I'll show you Tish! I'll give it all back right now, and won't even charge him for it! Come on kid, grab what you want!" the insulted man motioned for Gerald to join him inside.

Gerald's House

Gerald opened the door for the coach as they brought the weights back one by one. The eager boy walked upstairs with a smile on his face, happy to know he had done the right thing. Arnold always made people feel better about themselves, whether or not it was something they actually wanted to do.

"Thanks again coach. You can have the money back for the trouble I caused you. Take that wife of yours out to dinner. Show her you still remember a sensitive thing or two from that sympathetic swim team you coached."

"Thanks Gerri!"

Gerald watched his friend walk downstairs and out the door with the money, while he stood at the top thinking to himself Gerri? Mm, mm, mmm.

After shaking his head, the tranquil boy headed for his room, happy to have things back to normal...or so he thought.