When she first told me I thought it was a joke. A weird one, but a joke. I laughed when she told me. She said it so casually, as if it were nothing big
"You know Helga, I really do think you can win that art contest.." Helga blushed profusely at that statement.
"No I can't, you're crazy Pheebs.", Helga responded playfully.
"Well to be completely accurate, I'm psychotic."
Helga bursted out laughing.
We had been getting coffee then at a nearby cafe, discussing my entry in the 10th annual Hillwood art contest.
Of course I didn't believe her. Would you? Imagine your friend that you've known since preschool all of a sudden having a psychological disease? I straight out denied her my acceptance by simply not believing her.
"You're not crazy Pheebs", Helga stated with a smile, "I was just joking."
"But I wasn't", Phoebe replied.
"You can't be crazy. I would've noticed, you're my best friend.
Phoebe just sighed.
She told me then. How she knew, when she first suspected it. She told me all the little things, then she told me that over the past few months she had been going to a psychiatrist. Phoebe had been officially diagnosed a week ago.
She was getting hysterical by then. Tears streaming down her face, but laughing at the same time.
"Helga, my parents have arranged for me to be checked into a ward. I'm leaving for it next week. It's in Chicago.", Phoebe told Helga as Helga led her hysterical friend from the cafe towards Phoebe's home. Helga said nothing but nodded as silent tears ran down her face.
I was shocked. I couldn't respond to her statements. I didn't know how to. So I just led her out of the cafe, and to her home. At the time I couldn't really even comprehend what she was telling me. All I could do was agree with her.
The two friends had reached the Heyerdahl home. Before entering her front door, Phoebe turned back to Helga and hugged her friend tightly. "You are now my kryptonite, Helga." Phoebe whispered into Helga's ear.
"Then you can't destroy me then." Helga whispered back to her friend's ear as had been tradition to say to each other whenever a secret was told. Smiling, Phoebe went inside as Helga carried on dazedly to her own home.
Its a little bit unnervrving. But we're best friends, we can get through this. Oops, I better be going Diary, she should be getting here in a little to plan Geraldo's surprise birthday party. His actual birthday is in a few months so there's no way he'll expect it. Phoebe thinks we should do it in the old shed. It's definitely big enough. We're going to go check it out when she get's here.
Well Diary, I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow then.
Love, Helga G. Pataki