Chapter twelve: Monday

I hate Mondays. Those were the words that rocked inside Helga's mind. I just wish something would happen. That's when the telephone rang. Helga was about to answer her own pink phone, but it stopped ringing.

"Yo, Helga! That short kid from your class wants to talk to you!" Big Bob shouted from downstairs.

"Alright Bob! I'll take it up here!" Helga shouted from her bedroom. "Hello?" she said to the football-headed kid on the other line.

"Hello Helga. I'm just calling to make sure you still want to go to the cheese festival tomorrow." Stated Arnold in a very professional voice.

"I wouldn't miss it for all the ice cream in the world." (For a ten year old, that's really saying something.)

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow at school then I'll pick you up at four."

"Right, so, you are working on homework?"

"No, I finished. I'm just…" Arnold was suddenly cut off.

"Arnold? Arnold?"

A coble blocks away at the boarding house Arnold's lights were out and the phone was dead. A shout came from down stairs.

"Darn it, oh how do you turn this thing back on?" It was Arnold's dad Miles.

"Have you tried flipping the switch to on?" That was Arnold's mom Stella.

"Oh, well no."

"Come here, beast as I will…"

"Pookie! Leave Abner alone. He's too old for your games!"

"Come here you!"

Arnold heard running all over the house and then there was a CRASH!

"Pookie! What did I say about jumping on the nightstand?"

"You said nothing of the sort, Tex."

"I told you…" They were interrupted by the lights coming back on.

"Huh, alright." Arnold thought as he called back Helga.

"Hello, Helga?"

"You got it, football-head. Where did you go?"

"My power went out again."

"That happens often?"

"My Dad thinks he's a great electrician."

"So, you've finally gotten used to making fun of them?"

"Yeah, anyway I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

As Arnold hung up the phone he heard more talking.

"Pookie! I told you not to use the plates as flying saucers!"

"General! Thank goodness you're here. We need to stop the aliens from piercing the ship's hull."

"You crazy old bird."

"I would've figured it out eventually, Stella."

"Yeah, but by that time Arnold would be twelve, Miles."

"No, maybe eleven, but not twelve!"

I wonder what it's like to have a normal family. Arnold thought.