Stella strolled down the street from the flower shop. She was in a wildly pleasant mood today. It was her day off, and she managed to get a whole 8 hours sleep in without the annoying, Oskar complaining to Suzie about fixing him up some food or asking for money. How that woman could stand a man like that, she'll never know. She was grateful about having a man like, Miles around. He was a bit of a jokester, but he was a hard worker, and caring to boot.
Thinking about him brought her to think about the rest of the family. Phil, had been complaining more about a pain in his hips. Gertie was still as vibrant as ever. Arnold, she had to boast, was raised to be that perfect child. He hardly complained. He always did his part. He was deeply caring. He already was in a deep relationship with, Helga.
Stella didn't mind that he was already in a very serious relationship with, Helga. They were both very responsible, and knew to hold off on anything premarital while still in High School. Stella absolutely loved that girl. She never complained when asked to lend a hand around the house. She would sometimes cook on the weekends. She was very mature for her age. Stella and her always ended up talking about serious subjects, and she wasn't surprised at how informed, Helga was. Not surprising since that girl could always be found with her nose in a book more than on a computer.
The thing she didn't like was, Helga's past. She hated how her father treated her. How can anyone do that to their own child was always beyond her. She hated seeing children being rushed in after a particularly harsh beating. It angered and made her sad at the same time. Stella hated how her own sister came into the house to speak so stupidly to her. Stella was so close to rushing into that room to stop it. She hated how upset, Helga got. It tore her own heart to hear her so upset. Just as Miles and her were about to go into the living room, Arnold came swiftly past them to halt it.
Shaking her head at the memory, Stella wanted to think happy thoughts, but was interrupted by someone running into her. Knocked to the ground, she looked up to find a very disturbing man in front of her. His large fists were clenched. His brow furrowed into deep lines. He almost literally had flames shooting out of his eyes. He didn't even care to look at whom he ran into.
"Excuse me?" Stella frowned. She was already irritated by this man. "You ran into me."
"Huh?" Finally those eyes fixed on her. His unibrow furrowed more as he studied her. "Uh yeah... Whatever."
"Whatever?" Standing up quickly, Stella couldn't believe the size of this guy. "Could you please look out where you are going."
He looked about ready to strike her. He also recognized her. "You're that broad from the paper. The one who came back from San Lorenzo."
Broad? She hated it when men said that. "Yes, it's me, and you are?"
"None of your damn business, lady." He gruffly said as his fists clenched tighter.
Putting one hand on her hip, Stella will think back on why she chose to stand up to his brute later. "Hey, you have no reason to be rude to me. What gives you the right?"
Suddenly she was against the wall in fear as he backed her up against it. He raised his fist up to shake it in front of her face. He was breathing like a bull in her face. "I have every right in the world." Slowly, he backed up, and sauntered away from her. Stella heard a very distinct word come from him. "Criminey."
Stella's eyes went wide. Could that of been, Helga's dad? Taking a swift turn, she ran back to the boarding house, and rushed into the kitchen to find the picture they put up after, Helga found out that he escaped. Looking at the picture, Stella made a soft exclamation before contacting the police about him.
"Hello? Yes, my name is Stella Shortman. I live at the Sunset Arms on Vine Street. I like to report a fugitive that I just ran into." Pausing, Stella took a deep breath. "Yes, his name is Robert Pataki. His daughter, Helga lives here." Pauses again. "Yes, I'll wait for the cops to arrive. Thank you."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Hey Arnold. Can I speak to you?" Stinky called out as he approached him at the beginning of lunch.
Receiving a kiss on the cheek, by Helga, Arnold smiled at his friend in a knowing fashion. "I assume you want to speak more alone than this."
"You guessed right."
Turning away from the cafeteria, Arnold and him walked to the furthest edge of the grounds, near the stands. Stinky told him that he ran into, Lila and Brainy at Mighty Pete. Said that they were making out pretty heavily when he caught them. He told him how, Lila said that she was pregnant, and being upset with her, he shamed her. Stinky also told him what, Brainy said back to him.
"I made a huge mistake, Arnold. I'm so ashamed that I don't even know how to speak to her." Stinky admitted as he looked down in shame. "Lila isn't a bad person. She's innocent in spite of this, and yet I shamed her."
"Now I know why she's been so down today." Itching the tip of his nose, Arnold had to admit something too. "Look, I know about her and Brainy. Helga, Phoebe, and Gerald knows too, but no one else. Lila is going through enough and what you did was wrong. Why did you do it? Do you still have lingering feelings for her?"
"You knew and you didn't tell me? Why?"
"It wasn't our business to tell." Arnold replied simply. "It isn't your business either. The thing is, they made a mistake, and they will bring this child into the world. Lila and Brainy need all the support they can get, so please apologize to them both. In private, mind you."
Nodding his head, Stinky thought to do this after school at least. "Alright, Arnold, I will. I'll even be there for her if I can."
Smiling at him, Arnold spotted, Helga waiting for him with a sandwich in her hand. "That's the right attitude, Stinky. I know you can do this."
Helga wandered up to the both of them putting a sandwich in both their hands. "Eat up, boys. Hey, Stinko, Sid wants a word with you."
"Why thank you, Miss Helga. I'll speak to you both later." Opening up the plastic wrap, Stinky began to dig into his roast beef sandwich.
Waiting for him to leave, Helga tickled Arnold under his arm. Laughing, she then wrapped her arms around his waist. "Rhonda said that we are a sickenly sweet couple."
"Did you tell her to suck an egg?" Feeling another tickle from her, Arnold lifted her up. "You're being bad."
"Ah... You are just upset that I squirt gunned you again."
He wasn't all too upset at that move she did this morning, but mockingly he easily maneuvered her to bring her over his shoulder. "Yeah I am so now I'll walk around with you like this for the rest of the day. Be careful, Swan, because I might place you in the pool later on."
Slapping him playfully on his rear, Helga started giggling. "I'd like to see you try." She dared him even as her phone was going off. Laughing renewed, Helga told him to answer her butt.
Swiftly with his other hand, Arnold reached into her pocket to produce her cell. Checking the i.d, he saw it was from the boarding house. "Hello?"
"Arnold? Where's Helga?" Stella asked.
Hearing the urgency of her voice, Arnold replied, "She's with me right now. Are you alright?" Carefully, he let Helga back down.
"Yeah I am. I ran into her father on the street today. Don't be surprised if the police go there to question or anything else with her." Stella informed them.
"Arnold, what's going on?" Helga wondered. The way his face looked like right now made her grab the phone away from him. "Hello?"
Stella smiled a bit in spite of her nerves. "It's Stella, honey. Um, I ran into your father on the street. I already called the cops and I won't be surprised if they head over to the school for you."
In spite of the news, Helga inquired if she was alright, hearing her say she was, Helga still heard the shakiness of her voice. After all this time with La Sombra where she was completely steady, it was strange to hear the quaky voice. "Alright... Uh thanks, Stella for telling us."
"Are you working tonight?"
"Yes." Helga still needed to make rent in spite of her being engaged to the families son.
"Perhaps you should call in sick. I don't want anything happening to you." Stella urged.
Helga went silent as she handed the phone back to, Arnold. It was hard to think when too many memories sifted inside her brain.
Hesitating a little as he studied, Helga's frame, Arnold told his mother that he will speak to, Helga, and will see her later. Hanging up, Arnold didn't want to approach her while she was really tense. "Helga?"
Turning abruptly, Helga waved her hands around in the air. "Aren't I allowed to not have this stupid drama in my life? I just want to live without the fear of him hanging over my head. Isn't it bad enough that I have him as a father? Haven't I suffered enough?! For heavens sake! I don't even have my own mother anymore and she was the only family I had."
Stomping her foot into the ground, she wanted to hit something so badly. Needed to get her rage out before she set it against someone who didn't deserve it. She saw how, Arnold wanted to approach, but stood there while she vented. "I love your family and I'm happy they think of me as a part of the family, but I still need to make rent."
"Helga, stay home. You are a part of the family and rent isn't being asked of you anymore if you haven't noticed." Arnold pointed out.
"Nothing in this life is for free." She countered almost too casually. "I have noticed and I appreciate it. I just want to help out."
This time he closed the gap between them. "You do, Helga. Everyday you do and that is incredibly important. You help with cleaning and cooking. We find that important."
"I'm scared, Arnold. Scared of so much." Helga admitted as she bit her lower lip a little. "Scared of having a child like him. I don't want that. Scared I'll be a horrible parent. I know it's too early to think that, but I do. I have thought this way for a long time."
Wrapping his arms around her, Arnold kissed the side of her head. "Helga, it won't happen. I know it won't happen. You are kind and sweet. You can kick butt, but most of all you have this great nature inside of you. I already see the type of mother you will be one day. You are strong."
What if, Bob hurts them in the process of getting to her? What if he hurt his mom when she ran into him? Bob had to be stopped, then after that, she'll slap her sister's face.