As usual Bob was already gone by the time Helga woke up the next morning. It was around 9 o' clock when she finally dragged herself out of bed. She had had such lovely dreams that night of being part of Arnold's family and getting away from her so called family. But despite her good dreams, Big Bob had ruined her night again by invading at the end of the dream and dragging her back home. And to make things worse, his banging and throwing things had made her sleep very heavily. Her body ached and the circles under her eyes made her look as if she had stayed up all night and played Call of Duty, which she felt would have been a better reason. She signed as she brushed her hair in the mirror. She knew she would have to wear some kind of cover up to avoid questioning. She silently thanked Olga for sending her make-up for her birthday. Not that she really knew how to use it since Olga had expected Miriam to teach her.

It was about 9:40 when she finally pulled her outfit together and felt ready to leave the house. As she went down stairs, she found Miriam passed out on the couch, curled in a ball with tear stains down her cheeks. Helga gave another sign and made sure to cover her mother with a blanket so she didn't catch a summer cold or something. Outside the air was warm and felt wonderful against her face. But being as it was mid-August she could feel a little cold slipping into the breeze. She made her way down the street towards the book store. The streets weren't very busy out since a lot of people were in church on this lovely Sunday morning.

She was pretty sure since it seemed so slow today that Alice would possibly close up early. Sunday nights at the Boarding house were family dinner nights. Everyone came over including Ernie's girlfriend Lola and Mr. Hyunh's daughter Mai along with her new and growing family every now and then. When Helga finally made it to the shop, Alice was just flipping the sign in the window from closed to open. Helga entered the shopped with a small smile and said nothing except a "good morning" as she made her way to the counter. She sat her bag down, put on her apron and took her spot at the counter. Across the room Alice was putting the new arrivals in the window. It took older woman a few minutes to notice Helga was staring at her and when she turned to face her she gave an almost knowing smile.

"Well, are you going to ask?" Alice put the last book into place and began to bring the ones that had been into the window over to the Counter.

"Helga, I assume that you will tell me about your night with Arnold when you feel like talking about it. I'm not going to pry you for information and Oh my gosh!" She put the books down and quickly snatched Helga's face between both her hands. She turned her face from side to side. "Where the hell are you going?"

"What?" Helga stared up at the woman confused.

"With those bags under your eyes? You got enough luggage there for a three week trip." Helga's face fell into an unamused glare before breaking into the biggest smile she could muster. The laugh that came out of the young girl's lips next, made the older woman's expression melt into a soft and pleasant gaze. Helga batted her mentor's hands away.

"Very funny Alice."

"No seriously Helga! Jesus! Did you get any sleep last night?" Helga sighed knowing she is going to have to be careful how she proceeded since Alice was a human lie detector.

"It's nothing Alice. I was up playing Call of Duty. Nothing big." Slowly Alice's eyes narrowed auntil suddenly her face snapped into a smile.

"Well I was on last night with Arnold and I don't remember seeing you." The blonde teenager kept her cool but inside she was sweating.

"I was on a different server, I guess." Alice stopped smiling and paused.

"Big Bob came home last night didn't he?" Again Helga sighed knowing at this point she didn't have a chance to lie her way out of the conversation.

"Yeah but I got home and went straight to bed so he left me alone. I didn't have to listen to his drunken rants." Alice seemed to take this as truth or she gave up because she smiled again.

"Good." The shop keep took her books back up and made her way to the display shelves next to the counter. Helga watched her quietly for a moment or two before reaching back, grabbing the chair behind her and pulling it next her. Alice turned to the noise and found Helga patting the empty seat. Alice placed the last of the books down and took a seat next to her young prodigy.

"Ready to tell me?" Helga nodded and began the story of her night out with Arnold. It felt nice to have someone to talk to like this, not a friend but almost a family member. The sister she never really had.

"So he took you to Sock Hoppin'? Wow!" Alice couldn't seem to smile big enough from Helga's point of view because as the story went on the smile got bigger.

It was as she finished her story that Helga and Alice heard the chimes on the front door rang through the store. Helga blushed a little as Arnold came strolling in…but something was off. He wasn't looking up with a bright smile like he usually did. His oddly shaped head was downcast and his hands were shoved into his pockets. No trace of a smile could be found. Helga looked to Alice with a worried expression and found the woman with something of sympathy across the gentle lines of her face. Arnold looked up as he noticed the two females and managed a pitiful smirk. Alice pulled a chair up next to counter which Arnold took quietly. The girls looked at one another and waited for him to say something. When he didn't, Alice put a hand on his shoulder.

"Arnold? Would you like to talk?" Arnold looked up and they saw disappointment in his eyes.

"What is there to talk about? It's the same every year. School comes around the same time every year and Mom and Dad get a message from the Green-eyed people saying they need help with summer illnesses." Arnold didn't look angry but there were traces of it in his voice. "We were just there not a month ago and now they are going to leave and be gone until at least the beginning of October. It's…" Arnold seemed to be choking his emotions down. "It's not fair. They always miss everything. They missed the first ten years of my life and then they keep leaving. It's like they don't even care. "

"Arnold…" Alice seemed to lose her nerve when her nephew looked up to her. There were tears beginning to gather at the corner of his eyes. Helga watched them fight them back knowing at this moment she had been forgotten but she was alright with it since this was something she knew Arnold must have been holding back for quite some time. She heard Alice take a deep breath beside her. "No Arnold, It's not fair. And I don't think your parents ever really settled down. Even after coming home, they still, sadly enough, see themselves as Explorers before they see themselves as parents. I'm guilty of it too at some degree."

Arnold grabbed his Aunt's hand gently.

"But Aunt Alice, you aren't my parent. It's not your responsibility. But you also kept in contact with me. I have every letter and card you ever sent me. And I know my parents couldn't contact me but I spend over 9 years watching all my friends grow up with their parents and I know grandma and grandpa tried their best but it's not the same. And even now that they are in my life, they aren't." Helga watched as Alice lifted Arnold's chin and wiped away a tear.

"They do care Arnold. It may be hard to see but they do. They just have a severe case of tunnel vision." Alice smiled. "Why don't we talk to them tonight after dinner? And remember Arnold…I'm here for you."

Finally Arnold smiled and Helga felt herself relax.

"Yeah. I think we should." At that moment Arnold seemed to realize Helga was sitting there with them and she saw his face turn pink with embarrassment." Oh, Helga! I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Helga stopped him.

"Chill football head. No one can be a ball of sunshine and optimism all the time. We all have problems. Don't worry about it."

"Well then." Alice stood up suddenly causing the teen on either side of her to jump. "When do they leave?"

"Tuesday." Arnold replied bitterly.

"Do you need to go school shopping still?"

"Yeah."

"Helga? How about you?" Helga was startled by the sudden question and nodded. "Then let's go together on Wednesday? I'll close the shop."

"Sounds great." Helga felt relieved as Arnold showed off the shortman smile she had been waiting for this entire time but she turned to Alice a little concerned.

"Alice, you don't have to take me."

"But I want to." With two Shortman smiles Helga couldn't argue with them and finally gave in.

Arnold had finally calmed down and left after chatting lightly with Helga, while Alice ran off to "check on an order" or so she said with a wink. And then when he finally left, Alice watched him carefully.

"I wish I could do more for him." She said to no one in particular and Helga simply nodded having been thinking the same thing.