Chapter 23

The Dream

"No, it's just…my head's all messed up today. It's all because of that stupid dream."

"What dream?" Gerald asked. "You didn't tell me about any dream."

"I wasn't really planning on it. It's just a weird dream. You'd just laugh."

"No, I wouldn't. And even if I did, it wouldn't matter. We're best friends. You're supposed to tell me these things."

"I don't have to tell you anything!" Arnold snapped.

"No, but you should, if you want to stay friends."

"Fine, fine. I just had a dream that I was on a train to Nebraska, and I wanted to go back to the city, back to Helga-"

"Back to Helga?"

"Hey, I told you it was crazy. It was probably because Grandpa was going on and on about Helga and I being perfect for each other because Grandma acted just like her or something. It doesn't mean anything."

Helga didn't care that it didn't mean anything. He had dreamt about her! The boy that she had dreamt about almost every night since she was three years old finally had had a dream about her! She eagerly listened for the rest of the dream.

"Anyway, I wanted to go back, but you wouldn't let me. You wouldn't help. You pushed me out the door and into this dungeon."

"Good. If it's Helga or Nebraska, I'd choose Nebraska."

"Gerald! That's just what you were like in my dream!" Arnold exclaimed, shocked.

"Well…good. So, you were in a dungeon?"

"Yeah, and I couldn't see anything. It was pitch black. Then I heard someone crying, so I called out to see who it was. I still didn't really know who it was, but they sounded really scared, so I wanted to help them-"

"Knowing you."

"And I found the person, only I still didn't know who she was."

"She?"

"Yeah. It was obviously a girl. Then she kind of fell into my arms and…stuff like that, and all she kept saying was that 'she' was coming."

"Who's 'she'?"

"That's what I wanted to know, but she wouldn't really tell me. Then these weird lights came on, and then Lila was there."

"Figures. So, Lila was the girl?"

"No…Lila just kind of appeared. The girl was…Helga."

"Helga?!"

"Yeah."

"Helga G. Pataki?"

"Yes! Helga G Pataki! What is it with you and saying her whole name?"

"I say it on the off chance that you're talking about a different Helga, one that is actually nice and has some minuscule thought for the feelings of others! Because the Helga that you keep describing isn't in the least bit the same Helga that I know."

"Well, maybe you just don't know her well enough."

"What? And you do?"

"Well…not really. But I do know that she has a kinder, gentler side; that she's not always so mean. I've seen her do things that…she just wouldn't do if she was. I know that she might be mean on the outside, but inside she's really…well, I don't know. Helga's just kind of a mystery. But I know that deep down she's really not that bad."

"Arnold, are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because…oh, never mind. I can see there's no way to change your mind."

"Oh, Arnold!" Helga whispered from her hiding place, "My sweet prince, you figured me out! Kind of. But you don't think that I'm mean! You won't let Gerald say unkind, though possibly true, things about me! You're really sticking up for me! I don't get it! Why? How do you know? And why the heck are you having dreams about me?"

"So, then what happened?" Gerald asked.

"Well…Lila was weird. She kept going on and on about how she was evil and liked lemons or…something."

"Lemons?! Arnold, did you eat any of your Grandma's cooking last night? Maybe that's why you're so screwed up."

"Gerald," Arnold sighed, frustrated. "Can't you just listen without trying to make up reasons for stuff?"

"Probably not."

"Oh, brother. So, then Lila kept saying that Helga was stealing me from her-"

"Huh?"

"I know, I don't get it either. Then she said that I loved Helga and not her, and I said that I didn't love Helga, I was just trying to save her, and she said I had to choose between the two of them, and I said that I'd choose-"

"Lila?"

"Lila," Helga sighed miserably.

"Helga."

"Helga?!"

"Me?!"

"I thought you loved Lila?"

"I do, it's just this crazy dream it was, well, crazy! Lila got really mad and wouldn't believe it. Then she told me to prove it."

"How the heck would you prove something like that?"

"That's what I said. And she said I had to kiss her."

"Kiss her?!"

"Kiss me?!"

"Yeah. And then she pulled out a dagger and said that if I didn't then she would throw it at us and kill us."

"Violent. So, did you die?"

"Well…almost. She threw a knife at Helga, so I grabbed her so she wouldn't get hit, but it scraped her arm. I got really mad that she got hurt so…so I kissed her."

"You WHAT?!"

"You did?" Helga whispered, resisting the urge to faint, so that she could hear the rest.

"Yeah. Just to save her."

"Wow. You poor kid. What a nightmare."

"I never said it was a nightmare. It was actually okay. I mean…well, kind of…exciting I guess."

"Exciting? Arnold, you're one crazy kid."

"Maybe. Who knows? Anyway, after that Lila got really mad and threw a handful of knives at us, and there was no escape. And then…then Helga said she loved me, and then I said that I loved her too, and then I woke up."

That was just too much for Helga. She fainted dead away.

"Man, Arnold! I don't get it! I just don't get it! Why on earth would you dream about Helga?"

"Because of that story Grandpa told me, I guess."

"Wow, Arnold! You really ought to have your head examined."

"How come you always have to do that Gerald? How come you always have to insult me? And Helga? What do you have against her? How come you're always just so…mean?"

"I'm not mean! I'm just truthful."

"You are mean! Admit it, you are! You go on and on about Helga, but she's an angel compared to you!"

"I don't have to stay here and be insulted!" Gerald shouted.

"Then don't! Go!"

"Fine! I will!" Gerald said, storming out of the room and slamming the door.