Chapter twenty-two: Interrogate
As Arnold, Helga, Gerald, and Phoebe walked through the doorway of the principal's office, they thought of the other times they've been here. Arnold was here to give information to principal Wartz about the mooning incident. Helga had been in here for hitting Brainy, disagreeing with a teacher, improbably displaying the school's image in the school paper, and was suspected of stealing $120 for the school vault. She was pronounced innocent by principal Wartz due to evidence that she was not anywhere near the vault that day. However to do this she had to tell Principal Wartz where she was. She told him that she was behind the garbage can reciting poetry about Arnold. Making Wartz the fifth person to know about Helga's crush. The others being, Lila, Phoebe, Dr. Bliss, and Arnold (he found out when she told him on top of the FTi building. He knew it wasn't the heat of the moment.). Gerald had been here for spreading rumors that Principal Wartz was in love with Miss. Chummy, the school science teacher. Gerald got two months of detention. Phoebe had been here to revive an award for perfect attendance. This was the first time she was in trouble with the Principal. Phoebe was very nervous. Then Gerald took her hand and looked into her hazel eyes.
"It will be okay." Gerald told her. The two were standing in front of Wartz's desk.
"Alright, no more delaying. Sit down." Wartz told them. When they were all sited Wartz started to talk again. "I know that all of you are very conferrable around each other, but kissing in school is a direct violation of school policy. However all of you, for this particular offence, is a first time. Because of this I am going to give you a warning. No more kissing on school grounds. Agreed?"
The kids nodded their heads.
"Now," Principal Wartz began again, "with this fight I understand that it was you two who were involved in it. Mr. Johansson and Miss Hyerdahl, you may go." Gerald and Phoebe looked to Arnold and Helga. Arnold and Helga nodded their heads and Gerald and Phoebe left.
"How did this fight start, Mr. Shortman?" Wartz asked Arnold.
"Well you see sir; we were playing a baseball game against the sixth graders. When it was my turn to bat I swung and hit the ball. The ball went flying and hit Wolfgang right in the face. He marched to me and picked me up by my sweater." Arnold began.
"You're sweater?" Wartz asked.
"I was wearing a sweater but when Wolfgang was about of punch me I slipped out of it. It must still be out there. Anyway so I went running away as fast as I could, but Wolfgang was faster. He grabbed me by the leg and held me upside down. That's when Helga came to my rescue." Arnold began to go into his half-lidded love-face mode again.
"Alright, Miss. Pataki what happened next?" Wartz asked.
"Well, I told him to put Arnold down, and then he grabbed me and held me up by my fist. Then Butch came up and held me so Wolfgang could have a free hand." Helga told him.
"Then Mr. Simmons walked up and stopped the fight. Alright you two are free to go." Wartz told them. Helga got up and realized that Arnold wasn't with her. She turned around and saw Arnold, still in his love-sick mode, sitting in his chair.
"Come on, football-head." Helga told him.
"What? Oh, sorry Helga." Arnold said as he began to blush.
"Let's go. Class is almost done." Helga said when they were out of the door.
"Actually there's something I wanted to give you first." Arnold told her.
"What? What is it?" Helga asked.
"It's at the boarding house." Arnold said.
"Well, what are waiting for? Let's go!" Helga stated.
"Wait. What about class?" Arnold asked.
"There's only twenty minutes left. Don't worry." Helga told him.
"Alright." Arnold told her and the two were off.