Thank you Historia70 for writing this out since I know how difficult it was for you to do so.
Things went in slow motion as soon as the paramedics came who did try to resuscitate her but announced the inevitable. The thing that Helga already knew. Bob came demanding answers and even she didn't remember even calling him she was slowly going into shock. She didn't remember how she ended up on the couch as a cop came over to ask her questions. Did she answer him? She had no clue. She vaguely remembered Bob looking over to her for once and coming over to remind her she was stronger than this. She guessed that since the authorities were over he had to put his dad front up for the world to see, but she did look at him.
"Mom is so pretty and didn't deserve this to happen." She had a feeling her voice sounded like a robot, but after she caught the slight whimper she knew she did.
Bob spared her a sympathetic gaze at her words. "No she didn't."
Helga turned her head away from him knowing he will soon turn cold and demand her to act like a damn Pataki.
"I'll call Olga." Bob said as he left her as quickly as possible. The cops looked over to him before they looked to her.
Seeing a gurney come in and placing her mom in a body bag had Helga curling up in a ball. "Mom." She squeaked out. Hearing the zipper go up and the gurney take her out, Helga was amazed that the two cops that came up to her to speak to her were more father figures to her than her own father in just a few words.
Only after everyone was gone, Helga was silently begging those cops to come back to protect her from the monster that lived in that house. A monster that was currently staring her down as if she had anything to do with her mother's death.
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Helga didn't show up to school and hearing once from her that she'd rather be at school while sick than stay at home any day made Arnold worried so he texted her. It was only at lunch when Phoebe came in mid-way through locating them at the bleachers with a stricken face on her.
Gerald went up to her immediately to bring her in his arms. "Babe, what's going on?"
Phoebe sniffed. "That was my mom." She took in a few breaths to try to calm herself so she can speak. "Miriam Pataki passed away this morning."
Everyone in the group gave a shocked gasp at that.
"Helga is the one that found her." Phoebe didn't want to imagine it but knowing how sensitive Helga was she knew she was taking it really hard. "She's not answering the phone so who knows. Oh god." She buried her head in Gerald's chest.
"Oh that poor poor girl." Rhonda stated looking down at her feet.
"Gosh what do we do? I have no clue what to do." Stinky lamented.
Arnold was listening to his friends having no clue what to say or do. "We be there for her. Helga needs that most of all. She needs to know we all care for her."
"Arnold is correct. She'd appreciate it." Phoebe affirmed.
"What if we all go there and tell her that after school." Sid suggested.
Arnold shook his head. "Helga is one that won't respond to that right now."
"How do you know?"
"Helga is never one for attention and she is more than likely in shock right now so you must understand how she feels." Phoebe suggested. "She hates when people treat her with kid gloves. She likes being treated normally. Yes she'll appreciate us being there for her to support her, but Helga is most of all a very proud girl."
Arnold was searching for something on his phone feeling it to be possibly cheesy to send, but he sent it anyhow to Helga hoping she'll see it whenever she did. It was a song. Arnold really wanted to go to her and comfort her like she did with him when she sung to him on his dark day.
Bob said he was heading to the airport to pick up Olga. Helga was surprised he bothered to say anything at all to her, but seeing it was his favorite daughter coming into town for a little bit of course he would still announce it. As it was Helga had no clue how she ended up in her room laying on her bed. She heard her phone vibrating like crazy and with the most stiff movements she found herself staring at her screen seeing the concerned question of Arnold's on why she wasn't there. Then she saw a song that he sent. Curious she opened up the attachment to hear something inspirational at least if she was inclined to want to lean that way. She was touched by the sentiment even if she didn't smile. Sighing, Helga thought of a song to send him and did so. It fit her mood and what happened today. Feeling chilled all over again, Helga got up so she can crawl under the covers.
Getting into his truck, Arnold finally had a chance to pull up her text since she sent an attachment allowing him to listen to it. It was a beautiful sounding song filled with so much heartache. Everything else seemed to stop making a sound as his mind wrapped around his friend's pain. Calling up he wasn't surprised to get her voicemail.
"Helga I almost thought of a poem to recite to you, but the words are caught in my throat. You are my amazing friend with this big heart. I wish I can hug you or sing to you. To comfort you in your time of need. Just know I'm here for you 24 hours a day whenever you want, Swan." Sighing he ended the call hating the fact he now had to head to work. He prayed he didn't have to work up front today.
Helga heard Olga running into her room with her usual fanfare as she cried with the usual high squeak she normally did. Helga knew her mascara was running like it always did. Olga continued her squealing till she eventually slinked away out of the room just to be with Bob doing God knows what. Looking at her phone which was clutched tightly against her, Helga saw she had a voicemail from Arnold. His voice was comforting to listen to. She wished he was here instead of the other family members.
Arnold hated work today. It was long and full of too many questioning people on other days he wouldn't mind helping out, but today it especially bugged him so as he dragged himself inside the boarding house and had a conversation with his grandparents about Helga, he eventually made it up to his room where he methodically took his clothes off, put a robe on so he can take a quick shower, and come back up there simply to lie down and stare up through his ceiling. His thoughts were only on one person alone.
Helga couldn't sleep and she didn't recall how she ended up out of her house to find herself in front of the Sunset Arms. Heading into alley, she climbed up the fire escape to open his hatch and slip in. She knew she surprised him when she slipped under the covers next to him.
"I keep seeing her face." Arnold wrapped his arms around her. "Why her?"
"I don't know. I wish I did. I just know it isn't fair." He whispered into her hair.
"Olga came into town. I feel more alone now."
"You have us. We are here for you. I'm here for you." Kisses her forehead. "I'll always be there for you, Helga."
Helga knew he would be. He'd be one of the few that ever will.
In the morning she was already gone making him sit up and almost weep for his friend. Arnold wondered if there was gonna be a funeral.
Helga had her door open just a bit to overhear Bob and Olga speak about the funeral happening tomorrow. After they did Bob kept going on at how proud he was over Olga's accomplishments and how Helga would never be achieve half what she has already done. Olga tried to tell him he was speaking nonsense about Helga, but wanted to hear him gush more about her. It was like her mom never passed away yesterday since it was still the Olga show. Shutting and locking her door, she went back to her bed to lay down.
"Baby sister can I talk to you?"
Helga hated her voice. In so many lifetimes it felt like she tried to tolerate her, but Helga ended up wanting to push her away still. Slowly she did get out of her bed to open her door just to open it up a crack.
"The service is tomorrow at 10. Do you have anything to wear?" Olga inquired with that whiny voice.
Helga simply nodded her head as she continued to stare blankly at her.
"I'm sorry that you were the one that found mummy."
Helga begged to the higher powers for her not to break down again she can't take the dog whistle high pitch right now.
"I understand why you are the way you are right now and I want to say that I love you. You can call me anytime you want." Olga offered.
Helga believed deep down she loved her, but the way she ignored the abuse against her and mom saying Helga was making it up was sickening. "How long you here for?"
"I leave after the funeral. My job doesn't allow that many days." She sniffed. "Oh baby sis!" She started wailing again.
Helga didn't have it in her heart to hug her. If it was Phoebe or Arnold, yes. Her, no. "I'm tired and haven't had sleep since..."
"Oh yes yes, I understand. Please rest. Are you hungry?" Helga shook her head. "Oh well just know I'll make plenty just in case you do get hungry."
Helga nodded her head there before closing the door back up. She missed Miriam already.
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Finding out when the funeral was Arnold and the rest agreed to go there in support of Helga. Sitting down, Arnold scanned all around to see plenty of blondes that looked more like Miriam's or Olga's. That had to be Miriam's side of the family. Helga held some resemblance to them, and didn't want to say she looked like Bob since to him he looked like a monster inside and out. Helga was her own person in his own opinion.
Hearing the organ playing and a coffin being wheeled in with a couple of casket bearers. Followed behind it was Bob appearing as the picture perfect solemn family man and then Helga and Olga walking side by side. Stopping at the front all three slid in as the Priest came in to officiate the wedding.
Helga felt the blood rushing all through her and coursing through her ears as if she was going down the rapids. This was far too surreal to a point of her wishing to beg someone to pinch her. She felt eyes in the back of her head, but she dared not look.
Soon she felt a tug on her sleeve from Olga to tell her it was time to leave making Helga wonder how can time both drag on so slow and so fast at the same time? As she stood up and trailed behind Olga she caught sight of her friends. Friends who were distraught and were here to actually support her. Did she finally manage to find a group of people to really care for her? It was something she deeply craved for. She knew Miriam loved her and when she was sober those gave her great moments with her till it came crashing down because of Bob. Moving past her friends aisle, Helga saw Arnold's hand reach up to hers to clasp it gently before they both let go. The current was such a welcoming feel to her right now.
They had to drive to the cemetery where Miriam will be buried. Rhonda thought to have a limo to drive them to be on the safe side. Getting to the place and watching Helga walk with her head down as they went to sit down. Everyone else filed behind them as they waited on the priest to speak. That is when the waterworks happened to the highest degree from one person alone; Olga.
"Mummy!" Mascara running and head thrown back as a handkerchief was at the ready to blow her nose. "Why?"
Arnold couldn't believe the show she was putting on and how her father was acting towards it by consoling her. Helga just sat there like a statue. He knew she was in shock by what she told him the other night.
Olga turned her body abruptly from where she was crouching to regard her sister. "Oh baby sis! I still wish you didn't find her like that! OH my heart goes out to you." Running up to her Olga wrapped her thin arms around Helga's waist.
"Olga... Please." Helga gritted out her teeth in frustration.
Leaning over to Phoebe, Arnold asked, "Does she go off in hysterics like this often?"
"Actually yes. I remember she did it over a loose thread. It was ridiculous." Phoebe answered seeing how uncomfortable Helga was right now.
Arnold thought that was some hard core theatrics.
Soon after she was laid to rest, Helga walked over to her group of friends. "Thanks for coming guys." She said softly as she looked at Patty covering Harold's mouth up. "Why are you doing that?"
Patty smirked a bit. "Did this to prevent him mentioning about food again."
"Nice." Helga almost laughed. "Sorry Harold but this isn't that type of funeral." Hearing Olga coming up to her in her wailing fashion she groaned. "It is more like that type of funeral." Flashing her two best friends a withering look she turned around to go over to Olga.
"At least you-you-you have daddy. Daddy takes good care of you." Olga weeped out.
Still with the blind eye, she thought. Helga looked to see how far away Bob was as he spoke to relatives she really honestly didn't know. "You never believed us. Dad hits me. Hit mom."
"Oh don't be silly, daddy would never do that." Olga waved her hand in front of her.
This raised an ire in Helga. "You say you love me but this isn't love Olga. Love is believing me because this is something I would never ever make up. Love is not allowing dad to lay a fist on me or mom. Of course you wouldn't know this because he worships you and tells me every day that I'm shit. Love is not forcing me to marry a would-be rapist because it would teach me, as he so quaintly puts it."
Olga gasped at the words. "No I don't believe you. You are making up lies."
Stepping close to her face, Helga hissed. "Then you never loved me. We are no longer sisters. I do care for you deep down and I wish you well, Olga, but I can't tolerate this blind eye any longer. I can't. I wish you also a pleasant flight back home." Hearing Bob call for them both she tried to fight off her snarl. "Daddy dearest is calling."
Olga was dumbstruck as she turned to head back to the limo. Could what Helga and mummy say to her be true?
I did warn everyone in the original summary that bad things will occur.