"Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are,
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as these?"
-William Shakespeare

-

Arnold turned to face his classmate, "Hey Helga, how's it going?"

She wasn't wearing a jacket and was soaked head to toe, even her little pink bow was dripping. Outside the drizzle had turned into a downpour but Arnold had been so caught up in his own observations hadn't noticed.

"Just peachy, Arnoldo. I'm drenched, at the back of the line and my arms are about to break because of all the groceries I'm carrying. And to top it off, the idiots that run the place can't even think to open another register!"

Her baskets were full to the brim with pork rinds, Yahoo soda and beef jerky. He looked more closely and saw a mess of things thrown into them including a flashlight but no batteries, matches but no candles, one lonely bottle of water and a jar of Dino Spumoni chewable vitamins. Her thin arms were straining with the weight and covered in goosebumps from the air conditioning.

"You are carrying a lot more than I am. How about you take my spot?"

Helga looked stunned but readily switched spots. "Okay, Arnold. Chumps to the back of the line."

The second register eventually opened and the line moved quickly. They didn't speak again until Arnold had tucked his matches and change into his pocket and saw Helga at the other register glaring at the clerk. He thought she'd already left.

"Well as you can see all of my money is on the counter in front of you and there isn't enough, you moron! Why don't you write a NOTE with my name on it and the amount I owe you and I'll pay you later!"

"Miss, we have a no store credit policy and unfortunately that includes you. Just pick out one item that you don't need and you'll be able to cover the rest."

"You're hearing me but I don't think you get it! I need everything! There's a storm coming and these are my supplies!"

Helga usually managed to handle herself pretty well and Arnold was on the verge of leaving when he noticed how tired she looked. He felt sorry for her and approached the counter. He took all the change out of his pocket and placed it on the counter.

"Here you go ma'am, that should be enough."

He gathered up her bags and they walked outside together, stopping under the awning to avoid the rain. She looked angry but only said,

"Thanks Football Head. I'll pay you back later."

He waved her off and asked her a question that had bothered him since he first noticed her in the store.

"Where are your parents? Shouldn't they be helping you do this?"

Her weight shifted from one foot to the other and she looked into his eyes intently,

"Well, Miriam's in Alaska visiting Olga like she does every summer and Big Bob's probably watching tv so someone had to get stuff to last through the storm."

Arnold felt confused. He peeked inside her bag again.

"Helga, you don't have batteries for your flashlight. Do you have candles at home? Because matches won't do you much good if you don't. Is this the only water you're getting? We might be without power and water for days after the storm. You're going to need a lot more than this. Do you have any other food in your house?"

With each question her face got harder until she looked ready to punch him.

"It's none of your beeswax, Arnold! What is this, twenty questions? Get lost!"

She stomped off into the rain with her plastic grocery bags leaving Arnold alone in front of the store.

Something was off, he felt sure of it. It was as though Mr. Simmons had given them an algebra problem to solve with more than one unknown variable. He could just let it be and go back to the Sunset Arms. The hurricane was getting closer. The rain was heavy and slanted, and the wind was strong now. Papers and litter were blowing up and down the streets in mini cyclones. The birds had gone quiet and that heavy feeling, like a sinus headache, was more noticeable than ever. Back at the boarding house he could make himself some hot chocolate, settle into a blanket and read comic books until it hit. He couldn't let it go though. He knew if he went back he'd be unable to get Helga out of his mind all day.

He was trying to decide what he should do when the answer came. He knew the unknown variable. He looked up and saw that the outline of Helga's figure in the rain was almost invisible. Without another thought he ran off in her direction.

"Helga!"

Up ahead she didn't falter, she kept walking away from him towards her house.

He ran faster and when he saw her took her arm again to keep her from walking. They were both soaked now.

"Helga, your parents aren't home are they? You're alone, aren't you."

Helga looked up at him angrily and then dropped her gaze to the sidewalk. Her eyes were swimming with tears but she didn't move or make a sound. Arnold was shocked. He'd never seen Helga cry. He wished he hadn't said anything at all. He had never felt so bad about being right before.

When she answered him her voice shook with anger, "Yeah, so you figured it out, Sherlock. What's it to you?"

He ignored her tone and said, "Where are they?"

"It's like I told you, Miriam's off ice-fishing with Olga in Alaska having a grand old time. Big Bob's at a business meeting with some major clients up at the casino. It's like he always says, You can show a client just who he's dealing with in a good, long gambling session. He sees you win some, he sees you lose some and if you keep your composure-"

"-Is he coming back for the storm?"

"No. He's going to stay at the casino until it's past."

"Well what did he want you to do? Are you supposed to stay with someone?"

She smiled at him and Arnold felt himself beginning to get angry. That smile was so condescending and he was trying to help her.

"He told me to go take some cash from his jacket and pick up food until this thing blows over. That's what he told me to do Arnold."

"I don't understand! This is a hurricane not a thunderstorm. He just expects you be alone while it's going on? That doesn't make any sense!"

Her cheeks were beginning to flush and she spat out, "I don't know what he expects, Arnoldo, I just know what he told me to do and I'm doing it. I'm sure this storm is just an exaggerated news story to get people spending money on radios and water purifiers. I'm FINE."

"You're not fine! They say it might even be a category 3 by the time it gets here, Helga. You can't stay in this hurricane alone. I won't let you. It's not safe."

"Well where do you expect me to stay? Phoebe's gone along with the most of our class. What's your brilliant solution, Arnold?"

His heart raced. He hadn't been this angry in a long time but he didn't exactly know why he was angry in the first place. Helga was just being Helga. The words were out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying.

"You're going to stay with me and my grandparents!"