Hi guys! I'm back! Sorry for ghosting everyone. I've Been pretty busy with so much stuff the last half of 2022 and haven't had time to write anything. I still have every intention to finish this series, albeit may be slower than usual. Well, here's another story. Hope you enjoy.
Hmm, Rodrigo leading a revolution. What could possibly go wrong, right? Lol.
Please remember to leave comments!
This is part of an AU series. To make things easier, I will write down all the stories that are part of this series at the beginning of the first chapter of a new story, just so everyone can follow the story line. Enjoy!
1. HA! Season 6: Helga vs Rodrigo
2. HA! Season 6: Los Tres Caballeros
3. HA! Season 6: Salsa vs Jazz
4. HA! Season 6: Deconstructing Arnold II
5. HA! Season 6: Feeling Left Out
6. HA! Season 6: Feeling Replaced
"Hm hm hm. Da da da da. La la la."
Rodrigo was heading to school that morning while listening to his music with his headphones. The music was so entrancing, he was danced while walking, occasionally sliding across the street if the ground permitted.
The weather had been warm enough for long walks and Rodrigo wanted to take advantage of the last bit of warmth before winter set in. He even got up early so as to walk to school. After some time, he was only a few blocks away. Not that he was in any hurry. He realized early on that he got up too early and was going to be there before anyone else. Besides, he was too busy in-tuned to the music that he completely lost track of time. As such, he was also completely unaware of who was rapidly approaching him.
"Da la la. Bah, bah pa." Rodrigo continued to hum and sing as he danced walked his way to school when suddenly,
"Hey!" He yelled when someone suddenly grabbed his backpack from behind and lifted him up off the the ground. The pull was so sudden that he hadn't been able to take his backpack off, leaving him literally hanging. Whoever the person was, he must be very tall and very strong.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" He heard a few people laughing from behind him, but with the way he was hanging, he wasn't able to see who it was.
"Whoever you are, put me down!" Rodrigo cried out and tried to turn around to see who it was.
Just then, the person's hand swung him around, letting him who his captor was.
"You!" Rodrigo angrily exclaimed when he came face to face.
"That's right you little shrimp." Wolfgang said to him with a malicious smirk. "Nice dancing by the way. Ha! You looked like an idiot."
Rodrigo then turned his eyes towards who else was with him and saw Edmund along with a few other fellow grader 7 and 8ers laughing.
"Put me down right now!" Rodrigo angrily demanded.
"Or else what?" Wolfgang said with a serious tone and facial expression.
"This!" Rodrigo exclaimed and actually took a swing at him.
His exclamation however lost him the element of surprise Wolfgang moved him away from him, making him miss.
"Oh nice one." He told him with a smirk. "But you'll have to do better than that. Or better yet, grow an inch or two! Ha ha ha!"
Now getting more angry, Rodrigo attempted to punch and kick him, but Wolfgang simply moved him away from his face and torso with his arm while still holding him up from the ground.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" He and everyone else laughed at what was a pathetic attempt by Rodrigo to hit him.
Rodrigo however was undeterred and continued to attempt to hit him, but to no avail.
"Alright, that's enough." Wolfgang said and brought him closer to him, but not before grabbing his arms with his other hand to ensure he doesn't hit him.
"I think you know why I'm here." He said to him. "It's time for you to pay your dues."
"What dues?" Rodrigo asked with a frown.
Wolfgang initially thought he was joking, but after taking a look in his eyes, he realized he had no idea what he was talking about.
"Hm. I'm surprised your Football headed friend didn't tell you about the rules of the school." He said. "Allow Edmund here to enlighten you."
Edmund then stepped forward, took out a piece of paper and began to recite.
"Uh, in accordance to the official hallway rules or as I like to call them, 'laws of the hallway', it states that as agreed upon, all students below the 7th grade must pay 'protection money' to all 7th and 8th graders as well as to grant their superiors with special privileges such as allowing us to cut in line at the drinking fountain, be the first in line for receive our meals, allow us to sit on the best lunch tables, etc."
"What?! That's ridiculous!" Rodrigo was outraged. "No kid would have agreed to this."
"You're right, they didn't." Wolfgang said with a malicious, even threatening voice. "It was imposed on them. Nothing personal. It's just that we are bigger, smarter and stronger than you. So it's only natural that we dominate you. It's for your own good."
Edmund the rest all snickered.
"And the teachers?" Rodrigo asked.
"They have no idea." Wolfgang explained. "These are unspoken, hidden rules that we students follow and no lower grader would dare come forward, lest they find themselves - the old saying goes – sleeping with the fishes."
"Fishing?" A confused Edmund said, "I thought we are to beat up any lower grader to the ground if they talk to any teachers?"
"Ooohh that's what I meant you dope!" Wolfgang yelled at him. "It was just an expression."
"Oh okay." Edmund got it. "I'm no good with expressions."
"Grr. It is so hard to get good help these days!" Wolfgang angrily exclaimed, but he then calmed down.
"Anyways, my arm is getting tired now so hand over your part of the protection money." He said to Rodrigo.
"No!" Rodrigo said defiantly.
This was a bit a surprising to everyone including Wolfgang. No lower grader had ever said no.
"Perhaps I didn't myself clear." Wolfgang said, now irritated. "I'm only going to say this one more time; hand over whatever you have or we will give you the red carpet treatment. The carpet will be soaked in your blood after we are done with you."
"I said No!" Rodrigo again refused and even attempted to take another swing at Wolfgang, but the bully back away from him.
"Oops, missed again." He taunted him. "Very well then. I think it's time we send another clear message to these lower grader what happens if they defy the rules."
Everyone agreed and even maliciously laughed as they approached and swarmed Rodrigo.
Sometime later, Arnold, Helga, Gerald and Phoebe were making their way to school. They too opted to take advantage of the last days of any warmth by walking there, although they wore their scarves just in case. They had only recently met up and were still in the neighbourhood.
"Hm hm hm hm hm. Man what a day!" Gerald said as he looked at the bright sunny sky. It was by virtue of the absence of any clouds that allowed the Sun to appear and brighten and warm the city. "Such a nice autumn we're having."
"You said it Gerald." Arnold said. "Although I do look forward to some snow, it is hard not to appreciate such a nice weather."
"Not me." Gerald said. "Winter can take all the time it needs. I'm in no hurry for it to come. I prefer to soak up as much sunlight as I can. So let the Sun continue to hang around."
"Speaking of hanging." Helga said with smirk when she pointed out toward something hanging at the football vacant lot they were just about to pass.
Everyone then turn towards to where Helga was pointing and were horrified at what they were seeing.
"Rodrigo!" Arnold called out and hurriedly ran toward him, followed by everyone else.
Fairly reminiscent from their fourth grade days, the four them found Rodrigo badly beaten up, dangling from the football pole. He had a black eye, his shirt was a bit ripped and messy, his face bruised. He at least still had his backpack.
"Are you okay?" Arnold asked when he approached him.
"Do you really need to ask me that?" Rodrigo angrily remarked.
"Help me get him down guys." Arnold called out to his friends and all of them grabbed hold of him and managed to lower him down.
"Are you badly hurt? Do you need to see the nurse or a doctor, Rodrigo?" Phoebe asked him.
"No, I'm fine." Rodrigo replied. "Just a busted lip and a black eye. Nothing is broken."
"Except your dignity." Helga remarked with a smirk, but everyone ignored her.
"What happened?" Arnold asked him.
"Wolfgang, that's what happened!" Rodrigo angrily roared as he began to tell his story. "That good for nothing scum grabbed me and demanded I pay him some stupid 'protection money' and when I refused, he and his sycophant goons beat me up, hanged me at this pole and took my stuff!"
"Oh my!" Phoebe exclaimed.
"Why did you refuse?" Gerald asked.
"Cuz it's my stuff and I wasn't going to be intimated by the likes of him!" Rodrigo angrily replied.
"And look where that got you." Helga remarked but again Rodrigo ignored her.
"What did they take?" Arnold asked.
"My headphones and my fedora hat!" Rodrigo angrily yelled in response. "I didn't even know about this stupid protection money until today" He continued. "His friend justified how the lower graders are inferior to them and they need protection or something stupid like that."
"Oh…" Was all Arnold said when he realized it. "I never told you about Wolfgang and the non-spoken rules."
"You gotta be kidding me." Helga said. "How could you forget? It's like one of the first things he needed to know!"
"It just slipped out of my mind." Arnold admitted. "I remembered it on the first day he came but I didn't want to scare him so I told myself I would tell him later on that week, but then I completely forgot. I'm so sorry, Rodrigo."
"Wait a minute, you all know about this?" Rodrigo asked to which everyone nodded. "And you all just go along with it?"
"What else can we do?" Gerald asked. "Wolfgang's got the whole of the 7th and 8th graders by his little finger and they by our throats. They are encouraged to follow him in order to get special privileges, including cash."
"When did this happen?" Rodrigo asked.
"It was a slow process." Arnold replied. "It may have started out as early as last year. We didn't know it at first. Actually for a good chunk of last year, we hardly saw Wolfgang at all."
"Best year of our lives." Helga remarked.
"Then at the beginning of this year," Gerald continued, "the guy comes out of nowhere, declaring that that all 7th and 8th graders are to take over the school and us lower graders must submit to them. We didn't believe him at first, but when all the 7th and 8th graders sided with him and began to exhort us for our stuff and give them special privileges, well that's when we knew we were in big trouble."
"You guys didn't protest?" Rodrigo asked.
"Oh we did." Helga replied. "And we got completely destroyed."
"They ended up choosing and throwing random people from any grade into the trash as a 'warning." Arnold explained . "Those in 6th and 5th graders got beaten up first before they were thrown in."
"Yeah. Sid and that twisted little freak were some of their victims." Helga remarked.
"And you guys didn't try to tell any of the teachers?" an outraged Rodrigo asked.
"Pfft! Not if you want to end up in the river." Helga replied. "Rumor has it that a few of those that actually tried to go and tell Principal Wartz were never heard from again."
"Yeah, I heard about one kid named Danny." Gerald then explained. "He eventually had enough and swore he was going to tell the Principal. The next day, he disappeared."
"And no one's heard from him since?" Rodrigo asked. "Not even his friends?"
Everyone just shook their heard.
"Serves the idiot right." Helga then said. "The paste of brains practically told everyone in the lunch room what he was going to do. What did he expect was going to happen?"
"How does Wolfgang keep control?" Rodrigo asked.
"Through his secret network of spies." Helga replied. "He recruited Big Gino and Mickey the Weasel to recruit kids from the lower grades who have no back-bone and are willing to back stab their own friends for some benefits."
"No one knows who these spies are except those two and they benefit from this tyrannical system." Phoebe then said. "So it could be anyone."
Rodrigo just stood there with a highly shocking, horrified look in his face. What he just heard was only what happened in countries, not in a local school!
"Tell me again how you could have completely forgotten to tell me all of this?" Rodrigo asked Arnold with a frown.
"Yeah, that was really my bad, sorry." Arnold apologized with a nervous smile.
"Igh, this is just great." Rodrigo groaned.
"I know it look terrible," Arnold then spoke, "but it is not all bad."
Rodrigo looked at him with a dumbfounded look.
"Please tell me how a school got usurped by a tyrannical, sadistic 7th grader without the teachers even knowing is not bad?" He asked.
"Well for starters, so long as your pay your due, they'll leave you alone." Arnold tried to be optimistic. "The amount is usually small and for what is worth, they don't always exhort you. And this only takes place inside the school. It doesn't apply outside."
"Fascinating." Rodrigo sarcastically remarked.
"Hey now you're catching on!" Helga excitedly remarked.
"Arnold's got a point." Gerald then said. "It's not all doom and gloom. There is still room to breathe. So long as you follow the status quo, you can get by without any issue."
Rodrigo however, was not at all satisfied with that answer. If anything, it only made him that much more outraged.
"But, there's gotta be something we can do?!" He desperately exclaimed.
"If only it were that easy." Arnold said. "It's not because we're afraid or anything. We're scared for the safety of our friends. If we try to protest, it will put our friends at risk."
"They won't just come after you." Phoebe continued to explain. "They will go after your friends, even if they had nothing to do with it. So if you risk it, you risk all."
"Ohh man…" Rodrigo just groaned in disappointment.
"Looks guys, it's getting late." Arnold then reminded everyone. "We better get going. Rodrigo, did you want to go home?"
"No. I'm still going to school." Rodrigo softly replied. "I'm not going to let that scumbag get the better of me."
"You sure?" Arnold asked, making sure.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Rodrigo replied.
"Okay then. Let's go." Arnold said and all five them then quickly made their way to school.
At school…
All five pre-teens made it to their classroom just in time. The bell was due to ring at any minute, but they managed to get inside beforehand.
As he entered the building, Rodrigo had the misfortune of being the center of everyone's attention. Before he even set foot in the building, news of him being the latest example was already circulating. Much to his chagrin, he had to walk down the hallway not only looking battered and bruised, but also being stared down by his peers. Even as he entered the classroom, everyone in their class had already heard of what happened and so went over to him to ask him if he was alright. He assured them that he was alright.
"Good morning class!" Mr. Simmons then stepped inside and greeted his students in his usual happy go lucky manner. "I hope everyone had a great and relaxing weekend! I'm sure you are all eager to share on what you did, but we have a lot of to - oh my!" He then suddenly stopped and his smile soon disappeared to give away to a worried look when he glanced at Rodrigo.
"Rodrigo, are you alright?" Mr. Simmons worriedly asked when he saw the state he was in.
"I am sir." Rodrigo just calmly replied.
"A-Are you sure?" Mr. Simmons continued to question him. "What happened?"
The entire class then went absolutely quiet and all glanced at Rodrigo to see what he could say.
Rodrigo for his part struggled to what to actually say. Furious, upset, and humiliated by his beating, he wanted nothing more than justice. But after everything he heard, he hesitated on whether or not to tell Mr. Simmons.
"I uh...I…" Rodrigo stuttered as he looked at some of his peers. Paranoia soon gripped him and he soon became suspicious of everyone. He didn't know who were his true friends and who were part of Wolfgang's spy network. Heck, he soon came to distrust even Arnold. All he knew was that if he opened his mouth, he and the lives of his friends would be in jeopardy. The odds were stacked against him.
"I um….I...fell sir." He then finally spoke.
"You fell?" Mr. Simmons said, not entirely convinced.
"Yes." Rodrigo lied. "I was listening to some music on my phone and while was I dancing on the street, I didn't see where I was going and I tripped and fell down a hill."
"Okay." Mr. Simmons said. "Do you need to see the nurse?" He asked.
"No." Rodrigo said. "I''ll be alright sir."
For a few seconds, Mr. Simmons said nothing and continued to glance at Rodrigo with suspicion. During those intense moments the classroom said nothing and watched with some suspense.
"Well, alright." The teacher than finally relented and focused his attention back to the entire class. "Alright everyone. Today, we're going to look into American history; specifically what influenced the American colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain."
This one many students knew and were eager to make it known.
"Imposition of the British Crown to do what it wanted without the regard of the American colonist's interest!" Yelled one student as he put his hand up.
"Taxation without representation!" Another student yelled.
"The Boston massacre!" Another student yelled.
"Those are all great answers." Mr. Simmons stated. "But I was more talking about the motives behind the Revolutionary War. You see, the United States was born at a moment in history known as the Age of Enlightenment. It was a time of great progress that was happening in many parts of the world, economically, socially, and politically. But it was in Europe that came to directly influence the American colonies. You see class, the Age of Enlightenment was a great cultural movement that promoted many of the ideals that we now cherish. These included the idea of happiness, the promotion of reason over superstition, that people are all born equal under the law. Wealth and status did not matter. Even the way the law was being implemented began to be questioned, such as the value of believing people to be innocent until proven guilty. These ideas soon made their way to the American colonies where many thinkers and writers became influenced. And with the way the British Crown was behaving toward its colonial subjects, many felt it was unfair that someone so far away whom they never met, let alone decided if they should be in charge, can dictate their lives."
The whole class, in a rare case, showed actual interest in this subject. Even Helga paid attention. Many were intrigued by this grand cultural movement and were keen to learn more about it.
"Here's a fun fact;" Mr. Simmons continued, "Many of these ideas that influenced the American colonies came from France when it was ruled by an absolute monarchy."
"Mr. Simmons?" Sid raised his hand. "What's an absolute monarchy?"
Before Mr. Simmons could answer, Phoebe, as usual enlightened her classmate.
"An absolute monarchy is a political system whereby a King has absolute power. There are little to no checks and balances. His word was law and all government officials are obligated to implement any law or rule the King wished to impose."
"Thank you very much Phoebe." Mr. Simmons thanked her. "It was only after the success of the American Revolutionary War and the founding of the our democratic system where the people of France became inspired in 1789 to overthrow their absolute monarch, and establish their own Republic. The event began when people stormed the Bastille, which was a fortress in the city of Paris that acted as a prison for political prisoners."
Now things were getting really interesting and all the kids in the class attentively listened to Mr. Simmons. Imaginations were soon running away with them as many imagined a huge mob of people protesting against the injustice around the fort. Some thought the Bastille simply surrendered to the people while other kids imagined there being a huge, inspiring battle that occurred within Paris."
"So after that, the French formed their democratic system and other European countries followed suit, right?" Arnold asked.
"Oh I wish that happened, Arnold." Mr. Simmons then said with a rather serious tone, which only served to intrigue the rest of the class, indicating that there was more.
"It was in fact the opposite. The rest of Europe all had absolutist monarchies at the time and they saw the French Revolution as a direct threat to their own power and survival. The Revolution didn't just get rid of the King; it got rid of all institutions and rules that oppressed the French people. For example, during that time, the nobility didn't have to pay any taxes, but the middle and lower classes did. People would be convicted and thrown into prison with very little evidence or if you said something bad about the King. The nobility lived in luxury and had great privileges, but the rest of the population did not. It was a really unfair system."
Mr. Simmons then continued, but in a now more dramatic away, one that aroused further interest and suspension from among the class.
"This was why the rest of Europe actually united against France and attempted to get rid of this new Republic. They mobilized their armies and invaded the country. Worse still, there were still people living in France that opposed the Revolution and so allied themselves with the European monarchs. The Republic's ability to survive were very slim and so they formed a committee which soon became infamous; The Committee of Public Safety."
"What did they do that made them so infamous?" Stinky asked.
Mr. Simmons continued. "These were a group of men led by Maximilian Robespierre who after realizing the threat the Republic was in initiated the Terror."
"The Terror?" Helga asked, but very much interested.
"Yes. This Committee believed there were many people that were a threat to democracy and the Republic and so, in a very ironic twist, became tyrannical against their own citizens. Tens of thousands or people were arrested, often without a trail and many more ever never seen again!"
This truly shocked everyone in class and all stayed absolutely quiet to let Mr. Simmons continue.
"No one was safe. Even if you told joke, you were arrested and disappeared. People soon became so afraid and paranoid they began believing there were enemies everywhere, even when there weren't, which only made the situation worse."
"Mr. Simmons?" Sid raised his hand again. "How did people disappear?"
"That is a mature subject matter Sid and not one to be discussed in this class." Mr. Simmons declined to give any detail.
"Ooohhh!" All the students then groaned in disappointment.
"But, that censorship does not apply after school." Mr. Simmons then spoke. "When you get home, type the word 'guillotine' in the Internet and you will see."
All the students then quickly wrote down the word.
"How do you spell it?" Gerald asked.
"That unfortunately I am not a liberty to give out." Said Mr. Simmons, much to the students' annoyance, but they each wrote down as accurately as they could.
"Can you at least tell us who this Maximilian person was?" Rhonda then asked as she raised her hand.
"Why yes." Mr. Simmons replied. "Maximilian Robespierre remains a controversial figure to this day. Many see him as the man who saved the French Republic, while others see him as a tyrant who betrayed it. He actually started out as a lawyer who got into politics early in his career. He was a fierce proponent for universal male suffrage – that means for every male citizen to vote, regardless if you were rich or poor – the end of slavery and the separation of Church and State. He was famous for his many speeches and for always carrying the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's book, The Social Contract."
"Mr. Simmons?" Phoebe then got his attention. "What was so special about that book?"
"Well I don't want to delve to deeply into it," Mr. Simmons replied. "But that book was a big influence on the Age of Enlightenment. Rousseau's book theorized the best possible way for people to establish a political community under their own free will in order for them to then next see how they can be governed legitimately. He called his type of arrangement a 'social contract'."
"Interesting." Phoebe remarked.
Rodrigo said nothing, but he quite clearly agreed with Phoebe.
"Yes, very much." Mr. Simmons agreed. "I am so glad to see all of you enthusiastic about this. It is a really interesting and very important part of human history and I promise to return back to this subject another time. But right now, let us get back to our main subject about the Age of Enlightenment and its influence on the American Revolution."
Mr. Simmons then turned around to face the blackboard and began to write something on it. The class, still enthusiastic, opened their notebooks to begin taking notes. Among them was Rodrigo, but he was struggling to listen. Too intrigued with the French Revolution and especially with this Maximilian Robespierre, he was keen on learning everything he could about them.
Although he still knew little, Rodrigo had almost already made up his mind about this historical figure. He saw in him a man who was willing to do anything to push Man into a new age, a better age. History and progress demanded it and this Robespierre seemed to embody a virtuous stand precisely for being one of the few to carry out such a task, even if it meant being vilified. To Rodrigo, he made the ultimate, heroic sacrifice.
Later that day…
Once class ended and lunch began, all the students headed toward the lunchroom, except for Rodrigo. No, as soon as he could, he quickly made his way to the library. Even with his bruises, he pushed on and entered the library so as he could learn more about he had learned in class that day.
"Um excuse me?" He approached and asked the librarian, but as quietly as he could. "Can you tell me where I can learn about the French Revolution?"
"Aisle 3." The Librarian replied with a dispassionate voice and pointed to where the aisle was.
"Thank you." He thanked her and quickly made his way.
At the end of school…
Once school ended, Rodrigo made his way out of the building. He had trouble trying to make his way down the stoop. Apart from his bruises, his backpack was heavy.
"You alright, Rodrigo?" Arnold asked who was in front of him.
"Yeah." Rodrigo responded as he adjusted his backpack. "I just borrowed a bunch of books from the library."
"What for?" Helga asked. "I don't recall getting any assignments."
"It's not for any project." Rodrigo replied as he finally made his way down. "I was just so interested about the French Revolution and this Age of Enlightenment that I had to learn more about it. So I borrowed a bunch of books about it."
"Ah, I forgot." Helga said as she rolled her eyes. "You're one of those people."
"And I'm proud of it." Rodrigo replied with a smirk.
The five pre-teens then began to make their way to the bus when they heard a commotion.
"It's time to pay up." An 8th grader told a lower grader, possibly from the 5th grade as he held him by his shirt.
"Bu-Bu-But, I already paid my dues last week!" The small kid trembled.
"That was last week!" The 8th grader exclaimed. "You need to pay your dues this week!"
"Bu-But, I don't have anything to give!" The younger kid said. "I didn't know."
"Oh really?" The 8th grader said with a malicious smile. "Let me see." He then swung the kid upside down and began to shake him up and down forcefully.
A bunch of stuff soon fell out and to the ground. A yo-yo, pencil, pieces of paper, until some money finally fell. The 8th grader saw it and put the kid down as he picked up the change.
"This'll do, for now." He said to the kid. "Make sure you come up with the rest by this week!" he warned him.
"Okay, okay." The kid said with the trembling voice and soon ran away.
Gerald just sighed. "Another day, another pay day." He said as he and everyone else turned around and went about their way, except Rodrigo.
Furious and disgusted at what he just witnessed, he wanted to intervene and have a 'talk with the 8th grader. However, seeing that he had no way remedy the situation, he caved in and followed his friends home.
The next day…
Rodrigo walked through the hallway, looking for Wolfgang. He had to ask around a bit, but he soon found out where he was and made his way there. Down by the hallway, he could see a group of older kids. He couldn't quite see him, but he had a hunch that he was there. He made his way to the group.
"Hold it!" One of the older kids said to Rodrigo and put his hand up, signaling him to stop.
"I'm here to talk to Wolfgang." Rodrigo said.
"You got an appointment?" The older kid asked.
"No." He replied.
"If you don't have an appointment, then you can't see him." The kid said. "He's a very busy guy. Now beat it!"
Rodrigo however was not going to back down. He pretended that he was going away and even turned around. But then suddenly,
"Hey!" The older kid yelled when he saw Rodrigo then suddenly turning back around and run inside the group.
Rodrigo quickly ran inside, carefully going through any gaps he saw without arousing suspicion. He eventually made it to the center where he saw Wolfgang wearing his hat!
"Wolfgang!" He called out to him.
Wolfgang, who was busy counting and distributing the latest paid dues looked up.
"Oh, it's you." He said with a smirk. "Come to pay your dues?"
"No." Rodrigo said to him with an angry frown. "I'm here to get my stuff back."
"What? These?" He said as he lifted his headphones and pointed to his hat that was on his head.
"Come and get'em." He taunted him and stood up to reveal his size, intimidating him.
"Or," Wolfgang then spoke again, "you can have them back, if you pay up. I think a good $40 is a reasonable price."
"What?!" An outraged Rodrigo exclaimed. "No kid other than the rich bring that much money to school."
"Well, I guess you'd better ask them for a loan." Wolfgang mocked him with a smirk.
"I want my stuff back!" Rodrigo demanded. "I'm not leaving here without them!"
A minute later…
Rodrigo flew through the air and landed on the hard ground floor as a few of the 8th graders threw him right outside the school building. Landing hard, he had to use his arms as cushion to prevent his head from hitting the pavement.
"Consider yourself lucky!" One of them said to Rodrigo. "Next time Wolfgang won't be so merciful." And with that, the older kids turned around and went back inside.
Rodrigo, now in even more pain, got up and cleaned himself off. Feeling even more furious and humiliated, he angrily growled and went back inside.
Instead of attempting to confront Wolfgang, Rodrigo reluctantly accepted defeat, for now, and went back to his locker.
Along the way, he saw a bunch of kids lining up at the water fountain. He was in the process of passing them when he saw some older kids, probably in the 7th grade, cutting in line and then drinking from the fountain, forcing the younger kids to wait.
Rodrigo watched from afar and witnessed the injustice. While it was obviously clear that the younger graders were not happy about it, they were unable to do anything. All of them just frowned at the older kids that butted in.
Just then, a teacher happened to walk by and almost instantly, the older kids suddenly backed away and allowed the younger kids a chance to have some water. Rodrigo watch in amazement as the teacher complimented the older kids for their maturity and behaviour and soon left. However, as soon the he did, the older kids gave the younger kids a threatening look and pushed them back to the side while they finishing drinking.
Rodrigo could not believe how the school was so oblivious to this abuse and bullying. For a second, he wanted to go up to the teacher and inform them of what happened, but remembering what he learned the day prior, restrained himself. In the end, all he did was let out a big disappointed sigh and left the scene.
Some time later…
Over the next few days, Rodrigo tried to continued on with his life, but he was struggling to cope. For one thing, losing his hat was severely bothering him. It held great meaning to him and felt violated that someone had taken it.
The second part had to do with the 'dues' he was forced to pay. This was a whole other issue because he was now forced to pay use his savings or ask his parents for money. Obviously his parents were not willing to constantly give him money for school unless there were reasons, which Rodrigo attempted to give, but was soon running out to justify his requests. He at one point refused once again to pay, which resulted in another beating, this time in the washroom. Not wanting his parents to get worried, he resorted to asking Rhonda to borrow some of her make up in order to conceal the bruises and black eye. God knew how Helga was able find the money to pay her dues. Frankly, Rodrigo didn't want to know.
The third part was the gross injustice and humiliation the 7th and 8th graders were imposing on the rest of the kids at P.S. 118. Never able to tolerate such abuse, Rodrigo began to have serious anxieties whenever he got anywhere near the school building. The hopelessness he felt, along with what he was witnessing was just another burden on his shoulder, a burden he and the rest of his friends didn't need.
What was surprising was that up until his first beating, he hadn't realized all this occurring under his nose. The times he saw a group of older kids near lower graders, he thought they were just talking to them, not exhorting them. And the times he saw a few lower graders either crying or bruised, he thought they were just having a bad day or they hurt themselves while playing. He never would have thought it was the result of the constant bullying happening.
To make matters worse, Rodrigo had to constantly keep his thoughts to himself. Becoming paranoid that he was being watched, he couldn't afford to speak his mind, lest Wolfgang finds out.
The only thing that brought him any solace was that he was not alone. Although he didn't speak to anyone, it was clear that all those in the lower grade were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with this 'arrangement'. He could see it in their faces or in their grumbling. A few times he heard some of them talking to each other, saying how fed up they were and something should be done about it.
The other thing that brought him any comfort was his studies. Whenever he could, he would spend his time either in the library or would be busy reading. He was now focusing his energy on reading more about the French Revolution, the Age of Enlightenment and especially this Robespierre. He even tried his hand on reading Rousseau's work.
Then one day, as Rodrigo entered the school that morning, the hallway was buzzing with activity. Kids of all ages were talking to each other, but it was clear that something happened because of the look on their faces. Rodrigo walked through the hallway and tried to listen in on what was going on.
"Did you hear?" One student said to his friend.
"Yeah I heard." His friend replied.
"They are going too far!" Another kid exclaimed to his friend.
"This is so unfair!" A female kid said to her group of friends.
Clearly everyone was upset about something, but Rodrigo simply continued to walk to his locker. About halfway there,
"Hey Arnold." Rodrigo called out to him when he saw him. "What's going on?"
"Wolfgang increased our dues." Arnold explained, also clearly annoyed by this.
"By how much?" Rodrigo asked.
"Almost double!" Gerald angrily exclaimed. "This is a crime against humanity I tell ya!"
"So unfair." Phoebe also angrily said
Rodrigo then turned to Helga, who said nothing but was clearly bothered by this.
"You okay, Helga?" Rodrigo asked.
"No, I am certainly not okay!" Helga angrily exclaimed. "How am I suppose to pay that idiot almost double the money?! Sheesh!"
"How were able to pay before?" Rodrigo asked.
"None of your business!" Helga angrily yelled.
Seeing how upset she was, Rodrigo backed off.
"When does it come into effect?" He asked Arnold.
"Today." He said.
"You gotta be kidding!" Rodrigo angrily exclaimed.
"I wish I was." Arnold said. "Come on, let's head to class. We wouldn't want to be late."
Lunchtime…
With lunch arriving, Rodrigo made his way into the lunchroom, but stopped short when he saw a group of students standing around, one of them looking like Wolfgang. Curious, he went over to investigate.
"This is unfair!" a student yelled at Wolfgang from among the noise.
"You can't do this!" Another student shouted.
"You need to lower the dues down!" Another student yelled.
"Shut up and listen you little freaks!" Wolfgang then suddenly shouted, forcing everyone to go quiet. "I'm not here to argue with anyone. My word is final! The dues have increased due to inflation in the economy. You are to pay what you owe us or else!"
The room then erupted in outrage with yells and shouts of disapprovel.
"You seem to forget who are your masters and who rules you!" Wolfgang than spoke. "We are stronger, smarter and superior to all of you in every way, so it is natural for us to be your superiors. Consider it divine law as dictated by the Heavens. You should consider yourselves grateful that we spend our time protecting you!"
"Protection, what protection?" One student angrily yelled.
"You don't protect anyone other than yourself!" Another student yelled. "You're a fraud!"
"Enough!" Wolfgang roared. "Fred." He signaled to him and a large 8th grader appeared. He was rather imposing with strong, trunk like arms and a malicious, almost sadistic face.
"Do your thing." Wolfgang said to him.
With a smirk, Fred grabbed two random kids from among the crowd and maliciously smiled. Frightened, the two kids tried to break free, but he was too strong. He then took them outside of the lunchroom where they disappeared. No one knows what Fred was going to do to them, but it was nothing good.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Wolfgang asked, to which then his supporters all approached the crowd and using their size and strength, intimated them into submission.
No one else had the courage to continue protesting and while they all frowned, they cowed.
"That's what I thought." Wolfgang said them, content on seeing them submit. "Now beat it and let us eat in peace!" He order them and the crowd, with more to lose if they stayed, slowly began to disperse.
Rodrigo stood by a little while longer before he too eventually went to have his lunch before Wolfgang got any ideas.
Later that day…
Once school ended, Rodrigo made his way down the building's stoop. But instead of getting on the bus to head home, he had other plans . He waited until the coast was clear and after making sure he wasn't being followed, he took a different route. Not far from the school, Rodrigo entered and traversed the dirty, dark, rat-infested alleyways that plagues the city. He had to be careful so as he didn't step into any puddles or garbage, lest he gave evidence that he was there.
Once he turned a corner, Rodrigo quickly looked back to see if he was being followed. Nothing, but not convinced. He went inside a building, went through it and came out from the other side. He when went the long route and went back inside the same alleyway, but in the opposite direction. It took him a while, but he could not risk being seen, or being caught.
Finally, he arrived at his destination. It was an old shack in the middle of some sort of yard surrendered by buildings. With no time to waste, Rodrigo approached the shack and knocked on the door. After a second, it opened and he went inside.
Almost two weeks later…
It was now lunchtime and Rodrigo entered the room, went over to the cafeteria, got his food, then went over to sit down and eat. Even with his friends, he didn't utter a word and just ate. But as he did so, he scanned the whole room and observed.
That day looked pretty normal. Students were sitting around either eating or talking with their friends. Each group was minding their own business and seemed to be oblivious to their surroundings.
Rodrigo looked toward the door and saw that more students were arriving. He continued to glance over there, waiting to see more students coming in. After a while, he then looked around and saw that the lunchroom became filled. Some students were even sitting on top of the table as there were no more chairs.
Seeing this, he got up from the table, put his lunch tray away and walked across the lunchroom, towards a large group of 7th and 8th graders. He approached the group quietly, trying not to arouse any attention from them or anyone else. Eventually he arrived, but dared not stop and simply continued walking, gently bypassing the taller kids. Given his short stature, some of them didn't notice, while others did by thought he was simply passing through.
Eventually, Rodrigo made it to the center, where he saw Wolfgang eating and laughing away. At first he didn't notice Rodrigo, which the Latino kid took full advantage.
"Hey!" He then suddenly yelled at him, getting everyone in the group, including Wolfgang, their attention.
"You again?" Wolfgang annoyingly said. "Where are those bodyguards?!" He yelled.
"Uh, right here." One 7th grader nervously said as he and a few others raised his hand.
"Are you blind or something? Didn't you see him walking through?" Wolfgang scolded them.
"Uhh...not really." The 7th grader said. "He is rather short."
"Ugh! Go be useless somewhere else." Wolfgang angrily shushed them away. He then directed his focus back to Rodrigo.
"What do you want?" He asked him.
"I'm here to get my hat and headphones back." Rodrigo said with his arms crossed.
"Sorry," Wolfgang said with a smirk. "but those items are now permanently off the market. Now beat it! I'm busy eating."
Wolfgang then went back to eating his food. However, Rodrigo was not done. He then quickly grabbed a grape juice box, took out the straw and squeezed it hard. The juice instantly shout out and landed right on Wolfgang's face and shirt!
"Ugh! You idiot!" Wolfgang angrily roared and got up.
This time, the whole group became shocked and the few students that were nearby saw what just happened. Word quickly began to spread, with many students getting up and going over.
"That was grape juice! Do you realize how hard it's going to be to get the stain off?!" Wolfgang angrily shouted at Rodrigo.
Rodrigo was unfazed.
"Serves you right for taking my stuff." He said. "Now hand them over or else!"
"Are...are you making threats to me?" A stunned Wolfgang said as he now walked toward the pre-teen and using his size and stature, once again attempted to intimidate him, but he was unmoved.
"You bet I am!" Rodrigo angrily yelled. "Now hand them over."
"That's it! You're dead!" Wolfgang angrily shouted and was about to throw a serious punch at Rodrigo,
"Uh, uh, uh." Rodrigo then said and shook his head. "I wonder what the Principal would think if he saw you hitting on someone so defenseless like me?" He said with some drama.
As angry as Wolfgang was at that moment, reason got the better of him and stopped from trying to hit him.
"Alright then." He said with a frown. "After school, outside of school property. Today!"
"Where?" Rodrigo asked.
"A few blocks down south. By the alleyway." Wolfgang answered. "You better be there. Oh, and if you don't. I'll come find you and your friends!"
"I'll be there." Rodrigo defiantly answered him.
Gasps were then suddenly heard by everyone who was witnessing it.
Even Wolfgang was a bit surprised by Rodrigo's response and behaviour. Anyone else would have already either fainted or wet themselves, just at the mere sight of him. But not Rodrigo. He looked defiantly calm.
What's with this guy? Wolfgang thought. He is about to get the most serious beating of his life, but he isn't even flinching! Either this kid thinks I'm bluffing or he is in serious denial.
"Good." He just said to him with a smirk. "Better say your prayers."
And with that, Wolfgang put him down and simply walked away, along with the rest of the group. Rodrigo said nothing else and just stood there and watched Wolfgang leave the lunchroom.
By now everyone had heard what happened and still too shocked, the room went silent as they looked at him. The Latino kid however still said nothing and after Wolfgang and cronies left, he silently walked back to his table, but he was soon joined by his classmates.
"Rodrigo, what did you do?" A frantic Arnold asked him when he arrived.
"Have you gone completely awol?!" Gerald exclaimed.
"Do you have a death wish or something?" Helga asked.
Rodrigo initially said nothing and just glanced at his friends as they all surrounded him and probed on what was he trying to accomplish
"I gave him what was coming to him." He just simply said.
"Do you realize what you just did?" A worried Gerald rhetorically asked. "You picked a fight with Wolfgang! Have you forgotten he controls this entire school?!"
"He doesn't control me." Was all Rodrigo said in return.
"Man, you'll be lucky if you even manage to leave this building alive." Gerald said. "And that's not mentioning that you now put everyone else you know in danger! Seriously man, what did we ever do to you?"
"That's a possibility." Rodrigo said. "But I doubt he'll do anything to anyone of you. He wants me."
"Rodrigo, I don't think you are thinking clearly here." Arnold then spoke. "You are in serious danger. Wolfgang is not going to show any mercy. What were you hoping to gain by spilling that juice on him?"
"An advantage." Rodrigo vaguely responded.
"Will you stop with the vague answers!" Helga angrily shouted at him. "How do you expect us to show our faces in this school now? Thanks to you, we either have to get transferred or dig our own early graves!"
"We only have half the day left." Rodrigo said. "Lunch is going to be over soon and we'll be back in class; safe ground. Once school is over, you guys can make your gateway while I confront him."
"Are you really going to fight him?" Arnold asked.
"Yes." Rodrigo responded without flinching.
"I seem to be missing something here," Helga then spoke, "because I do not see how on this blue dot of a planet do you expect to fight him!"
"You let me worry about that." Rodrigo said. "And just make sure you guys stay safe until then."
His friends still wanted to interrogate him, but before they could utter a word, Rodrigo instantly turned around and walked away.
"Well Arnold," Said Gerald. "It was nice knowing you, my man."
"Hold on, Gerald." Arnold said. "There's still time to stop this."
Given how determined Rodrigo looked, Gerald wasn't so optimistic.
"Man, I hope you're right." He said. "If not, this will be our last day on Earth!"
Well, there was a lot to uncover here.
Oh boy, I sure hope Rodrigo knows what he is doing. This kid likes to play with fire.
Something to add. I'm aware it was bit awkward to portray Arnold was somewhat passive. Given his history, he would have eventually stood up to Wolfgang one way or another. But I had to make him this way to make way for Rodrigo to do his thing. Plus, it is a pretty bad situation to be in; if anyone protested, he would be putting their friends in danger. Arnold was always protective of his friends and I think that was a major reason for his timidness.
Until next time!