Chapter 2: We can work it out
The next day, Arnold woke up a different teen; he had a mystic energy flowing through his body. He took a shower and left to school. On the bus he imagined the trip to San Lorenzo, the plane, the seats and even the people he would sit next to. He pictured himself next to the window watching the cloudy sky.
That day he had Algebra class first 'what a drag' Arnold would usually think but this time he really longed for class, not because he wanted to hear that 'x+x= 2x' but to share his ideas with Gerald.
"Hey Gerald!" Gerald was about to greet but Arnold continued.
"So I was thinking of going to Principal Wartz's house and ask him to take me with him, maybe after school, wanna come?"
Gerald was nervous "Hey man, aren't you… I mean…. We just saw him yesterday… maybe you should wait a while…"
"I know, I know!" Arnold snapped, he was talking fast as a little child who had just learned something new "but I have to go, I have to know when he is leaving"
Gerald could hardly concentrate on his work cause Arnold wouldn't stop talking, in his life had he ever seen Arnold that shaken up. Gerald would hear over and over the same things "the airplane…..I'll take the map and search north…. I have to buy a compass, I don't want to get lost…. Oh! I have to learn some Spanish, well, I know some words like hola and adios"
"Well, you sure got a lot of work to do" said Gerald, thinking Arnold wasn't serious.
The day passed slow for Arnold as he desperately waited for the class to end. The bell rang and he galloped away. As he shifted through the halls with million things on his head he bumped hard on to someone "Auuw!" as both fell on the ground. It was Helga with her pink ribbon, pink dress, her unibrow and her long funky shiny blond hair.
"Arnold!" she sighed "I mean, watch were you're going football headed weirdo!" she mocked.
"Oh Helga, I'm sorry! Didn't see you" he replied as he got up and lent a hand. Helga took it, she noticed Arnold wasn't upset about her attitude and saw some kind of happiness in his eyes, like some kind of frenzy waiting to escape. This made Helga unable to think straight.
"A….. ok…next time I'll… I will…"
"Sorry Helga I've got to go! I'm off to see Mr. Wartz, bye!" and ran like a happy puppy on spring time.
Did he say Mr. Wartz she heavily thought Did he mean Principal Wartz? What does he want with that stupid goon? And those questions tortured her for the rest of the day.
Arnold met up with Gerald who was with Phoebe on the bus stop.
"Are you ready? Oh, hi Phoebe!" Arnold waved.
"Hey Arnold" she said with her joyful tone.
Arnold turned to Gerald and asked "So are you coming Gerald? You can come too Phoebe, if you want to…."
"Where are you guys going?" she asked.
"We're going to visit Mr. Wartz, remember him? Our grade school Principal"
"Yes Gerald, I remember…" she rolled her eyes with an annoyed gesture.
"Well Arnold wants to see some stuff, let's go" he held her hand and ushered her into the bus.
Phoebe sat quietly, listening to Gerald and Arnold's conversation. When they arrived, Arnold rang the doorbell once…twice…about to ring it again but Gerald stopped him by saying:
"Relax man, he'll come out"
The door opened and with a grumpy voice Wartz said "Ah, Who's there? Oh, it's you… what do you want kid?"
"Hello Principal Wartz, it's me, Arnold, I wanted to talk to you, do you have a moment?"
"Well, I am very busy, what is it you want to talk about?"
Arnold bit his lip and played around with his fingers "Amm… about your trip to San Lorenzo"
"What about it?" he rushed.
"Well, emm…. I was…. Well I wanted…" Arnold sighed "Can I go with you?"
"You what?" Wartz scratched his ear sceptical "You want to travel with me?" and began to laugh loudly and finally said no as he slammed his door.
Everyone stood still, neither Gerald nor Phoebe dared to say a word.
"This is not over! I will come every day if I have to!" Arnold's anger showed. A window above the door on the second floor opened.
"Oh really? Is that so?" Wartz happy face came out of the window as he flushed a bucket of water on Arnold "Get out of here slacker!" he shouted.
"Fine!" Arnolds face turned red as he shoved Gerald and Phoebe and walked down the stairs. Once again they had nothing to say until Arnold suddenly said strangely happy.
"It's ok, I'll come back tomorrow ha ha ha"
Gerald and Phoebe looked at each other confused.
"Oh Arnold, you always looking for the positive side of everything" Gerald said to which Arnold responded.
"Well, someone's got to do it" with a crescent shaped smile.