Chapter 15: Parent Time
Arnold stood in his room preparing for his date with Helga. After helping Sid fight off Big Gino it set Arnold's schedule off. He wore his usual plaid shirt and green sweater over it. He looked at the clock. 3:00.
"Better go." He said to himself. As he walked downstairs he passed some of the boarders. He got a wink from Mr. Potts, a sly smile from Mr. Kokoshka, and a "Congratulations" from Mr. Hyunh. Then Arnold was stopped by his mother.
"Now I want you to be safe and stay warm. Actually it's kind of cold tonight maybe you should take a jacket." Stella told Arnold.
"Mom it's the middle of May. I'll be fine." Arnold explained to his Mother.
"Alright, I'll be waiting for you here."
"Just don't leave." They both looked into each other's green eyes.
"I won't. I promise." Arnold smiled as Stella told him this. They both hugged each other.
"Now go. Don't keep her waiting." Stella pated his back.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you to." They again looked into each other's eyes. They thought back to when they met again. Arnold stared into her eyes and knew. He was so happy when he saw her football-shaped head.
"You know, I'm still an hour early. Would you like some hot chocolate?" Arnold asked his Mom.
"You have a deal."
Helga was preparing for her date with Arnold. She was wearing her usual pink dress with white t-shirt under it. Only this time she put her hair down because she knew Arnold liked it that way. She was finished putting on light make up (Miriam showed her how). She got up and walked out of her room. Then when she turned she saw Big Bob.
"Hey Helga (Big Bob was getting better at remembering Helga's name.) Would you like some soda?" Bob asked.
"Sure dad."
They went down to the table and sat down with two yah-hoo sodas.
"You going to the cheese festival with that Alfred kid?" Asked Big Bob
"It's Arnold and yes. He'll be here in an hour."
"Good, then we have plenty of time to talk."
"Okay, what do you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to tell you that even though I haven't been the best father I could have been. I want you to know that I'm proud, very proud to say I have daughter as wonderful as you."
Helga was surprised. She wasn't expecting this kind of thing from Bob. Bob had always been the tough, showed little tenderness to anyone kind of guy. Helga stood up and walked over to Bob and gave him the biggest hug she'd ever given him. The two shared stories for a long time. They connected a lot that night.
"No way, dad really almost got trapped inside quicksand until you saved him?"
"Yes, he nearly got us killed but like always we got out."
The two were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying the last of their hot chocolate.
"…and that's when Helga, dressed up in her ghost bride costume scarred the living death out of me. I high tailed it out of there and got as far from her as I could."
The two laughed and that's when Arnold looked at his watch.
"Oh shoot. It's 3:50!"
"You better get going, short man."
Arnold gave his Mom one last hug and was off.
"Love you." Arnold and Helga told their parent's they separated from their hugs.
"Love you to." Both Bob and Stella said as they watched their kids took off.