Hey guys, thank you for the kind reviews! I hope you are enjoying the story so far! I tried to make this chapter a little longer, I am trying to fit the story in a certain sequence.
Hope you enjoy!
"Hey kid, you said you're getting off at Sunset Arms, right? Kid? Hello?"
Arnold was staring aimlessly out the window when he suddenly heard the bus driver talking to him. "W-what? Oh yeah, I'm getting off at Sunset Arms."
"Well that's the next stop. I just wanted to make sure you weren't asleep or somethin'." The bus driver started to slow the bus down as he approached a red light. Arnold started to collect his things; this was the last stop light before his old home. After he grabbed his suitcase and put one backpack strap across his shoulder, he stared back out the window. He could see Mrs. Vitello's flower shop, as well as Mrs. Vitello herself arranging some roses outside her shop. As the bus driver started up again at the green light, he could see Green Meats coming into view. Arnold started to smile, he hadn't traveled down his street in 6 years, yet everything was right where he left it; the nostalgia was almost overwhelming. As Arnold was yet again distracted by his old city, the bus came to another halt.
"Here ya go kid, hope you have a good one." The bus driver said as Arnold made his way towards the bus steps and descended onto the street. "Yeah thanks, you too."
As the bus drove away Arnold turned around to see his old home once again, Sunset Arms. Arnold looked up at the old building, its red paint still holding up against old age and the sun. The overpass was still noisy as ever as cars came and went into the city. He could still make out his old rooms sunroof on the ceiling, and his grandpas old sign 'Sunset Arms' was still hanging near the big green door. Arnold started to grin as he ran up the steps to his old home, throwing open the green door. He was about to call for his grandma and grandpa when the stampede of cats, dogs, and his old pig friend Abner ran out the door, knocking him to the ground. Arnold rubbed his head, starting to get up when he heard his voice.
"Has it really been that long, shortman? That you've forgotten about the horde of animals that always barges outta here?"
Arnold looked up at his grandpa, who looked like he hadn't aged a day. "Grandpa!" Arnold got up and threw his arms around his grandpa, almost knocking him over.
"Easy there, shortman! I'm not as young as I used to be!" His grandpa hugged him and he quickly regained his balance. "I have missed you so much grandpa! I am so glad to be home. Where is-" His sentence was lost as he looked down, noticing the cane his grandpa was holding in his other hand. "Grandpa . . . what's with the cane?" Arnold asked, incredulous. His grandpa had always been one of the strongest people he knew, even at the ripe age of 80 when Arnold left for San Lorenzo. "Like I said shortman, I'm not as strong as I used to be. Turning 86 has it tolls, and walking around this big 'ol place is getting harder by the day." He tapped the cane on the ground a couple times. "I have to admit I don't really like the thing, but Pookie won't use her walker if I don't use my cane. You lose some, you win some shortman."
"Kimba! You're back from the Central Americas!" Arnold's grandma came into the room, rolling her walker over to Arnold. "Grandma!" Arnold hugged her, breaking shortly to observe her walker.
"You too, grandma?"
"Oh, nonsense Kimba! This is my new horse I bought to navigate through the open African plains. You know how important that is, coming back from your own safari adventure!" She started to pet the stuffed horse head she had fastened to the top of the walker. Arnold started at her, looking worried.
"Whatever you say, grandma . . ."
His grandma gave him another hug. "Now Kimba, dinner will be ready in a couple of hours. Try not to be late, because I've invited out old explorer friend Norbert and he expects a full report of you adventures!" She pulled the reins of the stuffed horse, acting as if she was galloping away into the kitchen with her walker. Arnold stared back over at his grandpa, who was laughing at the sight.
"Oh Arnold, she's always been a wild one." He glanced back over at Arnold, and Arnold noticed that he was eye level with his grandpa. "Well, you've grown quite a bit shortman! Guess I can't really call you that anymore . . .it turned out not be a very fitting nickname after all!" His grandpa laughed as Arnold rolled his eyes, yet smiling at his old grandpa.
"Come on, I'm sure you wanna see your old room again. We left it just the way it was after you told us you weren't coming back." His grandpa started to climb the stairs, his cane always on the step ahead of him. Arnold followed his grandpa up the stairs, walking slowly behind him.
Arnold looked at the wall following the stairs and saw the familiar pictures of his grandparents wedding, some of Arnold's old baby pictures, and old pictures of the boarding house when it was first built. Arnold felt happy knowing that not much had changed around the boarding house since he had been gone, yet he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt about not being here for his grandparents as they got older. They had always been there for him while he was growing up. They even took him in when his parents went back to San Lorenzo when he was just a baby.
They reached the top of the stairs, and started to walk along the hallway where all the boarders lived. This hallway hadn't changed much either, Arnold thought as they passed the communal bathroom. "I know it's not as exotic as the jungle, shortman." His grandpa teased, pulling down the string that brought the stairs down, leading into Arnold's old bedroom. "No, it's not," Arnold replied, helping his grandpa pull the string down. "But it's better, it's my home."
The stairs descended, and his the floor. Just as they were about to climb the stairs into his room, they heard voices.
"Oskar! How many times do I have to tell you?! I do not want your dirty socks, in my laundry!" Mr. Hyunh shouted, throwing a clump of socks outside his room. "But Mr. Hyunh I don't have any money to wash my socks, and Suzie will be upset when she comes home and finds the laundry not finished!" Oskar said, picking up his socks and turning around to face Mr. Hyunh. "Oskar, that is not my problem! Maybe if you-" Mr. Hyunh looked at Arnold, his face in awe. "Maybe if I what? Maybe if you were a better-hey what are you looking at?" Oskar turned around, his mouth falling open as he too saw Arnold.
"Arnold . . .is it really you?" Asked Mr. Hyunh, incredulous. Arnold walked back over to Mr. Hyunh's room, as both Oskar and Mr. Hyunh moved closed to get a better look. "Yeah, it is Mr. Hyunh. I'm back from San Lorenzo, to graduate from school and start thinking about college. I-" Arnold was cut off as both Mr. Hyunh and Oskar embraced Arnold. "Arnold, you're back! You are really back!" Oskar shouted, hugging him tighter. "Yes, you are back, Arnold! We have missed you so!" Added Mr. Hyunh, also hugging him tighter. Arnolds face was beginning to turn red, when his grandpa jumped in. "Alright, alright ya big babies! Let him go so he can breathe!" They released him, both smiling apologetically as Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm really glad to see you guys, too!" Arnold said, as he heard some people coming up the stairs.
"It's like I said Suzie, you convince your boss to let me tear down building, and we could build a brand new one! One that would attract a lot of customers!" Arnold recognized that voice almost instantly, it belonged to Ernie Potts. "And I'm just sayin', if you let me have one word with the guy, I'll-" He stopped the second he saw Arnold. "You'll what?" A female voiced asked. Arnold knew it belonged to Suzie before she even reached the steps. She followed Ernie's gaze and saw Arnold as well. "A-Arnold?!" She gasped, almost dropping her bag of groceries. Arnold waved at them, smiling shyly. They approached him, both giving him a hug. "We didn't know you were coming back!" Ernie said, patting Arnold on the back. "We thought you were gonna stay in San Lorenzo forever!" Arnold rubbed the back of his neck again, smiling shyly at the boarders. He didn't realize how much the boarders had missed him. "Yeah! I was telling Oskar and Mr. Hyunh that I came back to graduate from school, and start thinking about college." He looked back at his grandpa, who was still standing by the stairs. "Yeah, yeah. It's very exciting that Arnold his home! But he's exhausted and wants to relax a little before dinner, you can all do your catching up then." Grandpa said, dismissing the boarders. "Oh yes, of course!" Suzie replied, giving Arnold one more hug. "We are so glad you're back Arnold!" They all waved and went back to their rooms, leaving Arnold with his grandpa in the hallway again. "Yeah they were pretty bummed when they found out you weren't coming back, shortman. I didn't tell them you were coming back today; I wanted it to be a surprise at dinner. Oh well."
His grandpa shrugged, climbing the stairs up to Arnold's room. When they reached the door, his grandpa took out and old key and unlocked his old familiar door. "Every boarder in the house wanted to stay in here shortman, you did have the best room in the house!" He swung the door open and Arnold gaped into his old room, almost forgetting how awesome it was himself.
They both walked in, and Arnold set his things on his old bed. He smiled, turning around to reminisce his old dwelling. His computer desk was still there, along with his old computer that was probably way out of date. His awesome stereo collection was still there as well, along with all the CD's he had collected over the years. Arnold felt a tap on his shoulder; he turned around to see his Grandpa holding his old remote out to him. Arnold smiled, pushing the red button. Instantly his red leather couch sprung out from the wall, his ceiling lights turned on and an old jazz CD started playing. "I really have missed this room." Arnold said, turning to his grandpa. "And we have really missed you shortman, it's good to have you back." His grandpa squeezed his shoulder before turning away to go back down the stairs. "Hey, grandpa?" Arnold asked, taking a step towards his grandpa. His grandpa turned around, looking at him. "Thanks . . . for everything." His grandpa smiled, nodding before turning to go back down the stairs.
Arnold closed his door, walking back over to his old bed, and then collapsing on it. He didn't realize how tired he really was. He gazed at the sky, the sunset painting it full of pinks, oranges and reds. He sighed, pulling out Helga's letter again and holding it to his chest. He was feeling so many feelings all at once: Happy to be back in his old room with his grandparents, happy to see his old friends tomorrow and happy that the boarders had missed him . . . but he was also extremely nervous. What exactly was he supposed to say when he saw Helga tomorrow, if she let him say anything at all? "I haven't forgotten about you Helga," he practiced, "but have you forgotten me?"