Challenge 14: When History Repeats Itself
Gerald, Phoebe, Arnold and Helga were standing at the top of a hill, Martin sitting atop his bike and being pushed back and forth by his father. The training wheels squeaked as Gerald almost rocked Martin, his brand new bike shining in the daylight. Martin held onto his handlebars, imagining what it would be like to win a bike race just like his father had.
Gerald let go of Martin for a moment and looked at Arnold.
"Well, why didn't you just tell Harold to stop? He's going to burst from eating so much some day."
Arnold sighed, "I tried to, but he was determined to show how much he could eat."
Helga chuckled slightly. Then she said, "I know one thing though. That buffet restaurant will never let Patty and Harold back in again for a long time. They might even have him on a restriction if he ever does." Helga burst out laughing while getting glares from Phoebe and Arnold. Gerald shook his head, smiling to himself.
He reached down again, but only felt empty air. He looked down, his smile sliding off his face. Martin was gone.
"Oh no, where did Martin go?" yelled Gerald as he looked frantically around, then down the hill. He raced as fast as he could, his wife and friends running to catch up. Gerald followed the road, hoping that Martin was okay and that he too didn't get a bad experience on his first bike.
He eyed a nearby construction site and immediately ran to it, his eyes sweeping around for an upside-down bike and maybe some feet waving back and forth. He didn't find anything, but he did hear Phoebe call, "GERALD! I FOUND HIM!"
Gerald turned to see Phoebe pulling a distraught Martin from some trash cans piled on the corner of a street, his clothes rank and covered with banana peels, candy wrappers, and socks. But the boy was smiling, not upset and traumatized as Gerald had been, and what he had thought Martin would be. He ran to his son, hoping he wasn't hurt, physically or otherwise.
"Martin! Are you okay son? You're not hurt are you? I'm so sorry; I didn't know you went down the hill."
Martin beamed at his father, "Dad, that was AWESOME! Can I do that again?"
Gerald stared at Martin, then Phoebe, then Martin again. "What did you say son?"
Martin picked up his bike, "That was soooo fun! Can I go again? Only this time, I want to…"
"No, no, no" interrupted Gerald, his son losing his smile. "That was too close Martin, and I almost had a heart attack from this little experience."
Arnold snickered, "This seems familiar, doesn't it Gerald?" Helga looked between Arnold and Gerald, confusion evident on her face. Phoebe giggled quietly, and then explained to Helga.
"Let's just say Helga…" she peeked at Gerald, who had already told her about his own accident, "that history has repeated itself." Helga looked at Phoebe, then Gerald. Understanding crossed her face, and then she smirked. Arnold shot her a look before she said anything. Helga rolled her eyes and kneeled next to Martin.
She spoke sweetly, "Well, are you okay Martin?"
Martin nodded. Disappointment still was on his face from his father's rejection of trying again. Helga leaned closer to Martin and whispered something into his ear. Martin's eyes widened as heard her, then he jumped up and hugged Helga's neck, almost knocking her over.
Gerald raised an eyebrow, "Helga, what are you up to?"
Helga waved him off, "Oh nothing Geraldo, nothing at all." But her mischievous smile said otherwise.
"Score; Aunt Helga: 1. Dad: 0" thought Helga as she and Martin led the way back up the road, pushing Martin's bike back toward the top of the hill.