Jungle Surprise
(10 years old, TJM)
Gerald paced around the large jungle tent, backward and forward, backward and forward, past his best friend.
Finally, he broke the silence, "What did I just see?... WHAT on earth did I just see?" he asked.
"Well.." Arnold began, "I was just helping-"
"NO!" Gerald interrupted.
"No?" Arnold asked tentatively.
"Not that excuse again." Gerald warned.
"A different one?" Arnold offered.
"No, I don't want to hear your stories." Gerald grumbled.
Arnold winced, "Would you like... the truth?"
"No." Gerald shook his head, "I cannot handle the truth. I absolutely cannot handle the truth."
"This... never happened?" Arnold suggested.
"Right." Gerald said with a sigh of relief, "Forgetting."
Arnold nodded slowly as Gerald exited.
Helga, who had been sitting by the campfire nearby, was startled as somebody stomped from the tent, "Geraldo? Uh..."
"This never happened." Gerald stated.
Helga stared at him for a moment before eagerly nodding, "Understood."
"Good." Gerald said, tentatively patting the girl on the shoulder, before walking off into the distance.
Helga slowly made her way back into the tent, biting her lip nervously as she entered.
"That was..." Arnold began.
"Awkward." Helga concluded.
Arnold smiled at her, and in no time, they had resumed their previous activity.