Chapter 4

Class

"Okay, class, today we're going to start the 'special' section on decimals in long division!"

"Awww," the class groaned.

Just then, Arnold and Helga dashed into the classroom, very wet and out of breath.

"Arnold, Helga, you're late! I hope you have a reasonable excuse," their teacher, Mr. Simmons, said.

"Dentist appointment," Helga quickly lied.

"Okay, that's fine. What about you Arnold?"

"Well…um…-"

"His bus came late. You know, cause of the rain."

"Well, I can't mark you tardy for things beyond your control. You're both excused."

"What did you do that for?" Arnold asked as they walked to their desks.

"To pay you back. We're even now."

He smiled at her as he sat down, and she sat down behind him.

"Konichiwa, Helga!" chirped a voice to the right of her.

"No Japanese this morning, Phoebe, I'm kind of having a moment. And I'm probably going to get a headache from running around in the rain."

"Oh, okay, English!"

"Arnold man, where were you really?" Arnold's best friend, Gerald, asked. "The bus didn't have any trouble. You weren't even on the bus!"

"I know, Gerald, I…um…had to collect the rent from the boarders."

"Arnold, we did that last week! Seriously, man, where were you?"

"Just…around."

"Arnold, why won't you tell me?"

"Why should I tell you?" Arnold snapped. "Can't I keep a few things to myself?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, just because we're best friends and all, doesn't mean that you have the right to know every little detail that ever goes on in my life!"

"Alright, man, chill! Sorry I asked."

"Alright, class, settle down! Let's review last night's 'special' homework assignment! Harold! Would you come up to the board and do the first problem?"

"Uh…what? Oh, yeah, okay," said the fat boy, as he walked over to the blackboard. "Okay, um, seven goes onto four two times, carry the one…Mr. Simmons! This is hard! My brain hurts!"

"Now, Harold, it really isn't that hard. Here, let me show you…"

Mr. Simmons continued to explain the problem, and pretty soon just about everyone's attention had wandered away from the lesson. Everyone except for maybe Phoebe, Helga's genius Asian friend, and Lila, the 'ever so perfect' country girl, whose sweet talk and pretty face made her the object of just about every boy's heart. Including Arnold's.

Helga reached into her pocket and pulled out her most recent pink notebook, already filled with countless love poems. She opened it to a new page, and began to write.

There must be something more to us than

you and me.

It must be tangled up somehow in

destiny.

I used to think the sum of one and one

was two,

but we add up to more,

me and you.

When we are close together it's so

plain to see,

together we are better than we

used to be.

I don't know how to say the things I'm

thinking of,

but the something that I'm felling must be

love.