That's enough suspense for one day, don't you think. ;)
The door creaked open. The class's stare moved towards the door. Everyone was in such suspense. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours. Who was at that freaking door?
Principal Wartz.
"Hello class! How are you all on this fine day?" The class barely answered. They had too much anticipation. Silence. Principal Wartz looked over at everyone's faces. "I am pleased to announce—" Arnold could barely breathe when Wartz said this. Was this really, really happening? Was this a dream? Arnold could NOT believe it. "that the winner of the city-wide essay contest is in this very class!" Everyone didn't care who the winner was. The class cheered. It was pure mayhem. Everyone jumped up out of their seats. Who cared who won! They still got to go to San Lorenzo, not only for a vacation, but to finally be reunited with Arnold's parents, if they were truly out there!
Everyone surrounded Arnold and gave him a huge group hug. He was then lifted up by Harold and Stinky and he crowd surfed through the class.
"Okay, class, settle down! Settle down!" Principal Wartz said firmly, yet with a big smile on his face. "Do you guys want to find out who the winner was, or not?" The class nodded yes. "The winner in this class was….Helga Pataki."
What? "Me? I won? That's unbelieveable!" Helga said.
"Well, I can show you right here the results, Helga, that it is true. You are the winner!" Principal Wartz said. And it was true. On top of the paper, it said Helga Pataki, with a few comments on her paper including "nice work," or "I hope that you will fulfill your dream during this vacation." Arnold wanted to give Helga a big hug. Helga won. He didn't care how the others or himself did, but if Helga hadn't have won, maybe they wouldn't have gotten this vacation.
Arnold ran up to Helga and gave her a hug anyway. "Helga! Thank you so, so much."
"Ew! Get off of me you football head!" Helga yelled, as she usually did. "I mean, no problem, Arnold, it was nothing."
****Later that day, in the Cafeteria****
"Wow, my goodness. I still can't believe Helga G. Pataki won the essay contest. City-wide." Gerald said, still in full shock.
"Yeah, me neither. Of all people, Helga!" Arnold exclaimed.
"I wonder what she wrote, anyway."
