Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
A Perfect Disaster
Chapter 1: Twist of Fate
Hillwood apartments
In the year 2025
The city of Hillwood hasn't changed much over the years. There were some changes as there were more buildings, more families had moved there or away during the years and some updates here and there but life was basically unchanged in this large city.
The same could not be said for one of its own residents however.
In a small, rundown apartment downtown, a middle aged blonde woman had just returned home from a long, hard day of work. This woman was a fifth grade teacher at P.S.118 and she was beginning to feel yet another migraine form.
"Oh…"She groaned as she fiddled with her keys and unlocked her door.
Today her students had been especially rowdy, and she basically nearly lost it when one of the students, Wolfgang Jr, had put a bunch of frogs in her desk, forcing her to call the principal to give him detention.
Yet again…
"Why me?...'The woman thought bitterly as she took an aspirin.
She looked to the living room and frowned when she saw her husband of 12 years, Patrick, asleep on the couch. She rolled her eyes, it's been two weeks since he lost his job and he promised that he would look for work today…
She hated being the sole breadwinner.
"Excuse me…'The woman said as she poked him awake. When that didn't work, she decided to be rougher.
"Hey!..."Patrick groaned as he got up.
"I thought you said that you had the lead on a new job today?..."The blonde lady accused.
"I am…and I did…I went down to the News stand for a supervisor position and they said they would give me a call…'Patrick explained…. "I also got a lead about a singing gig at a nightclub, if it goes well, we won't have to worry about bills ever again…" Patrick said with an excited tone.
"But until that happens, we have bills to pay and I shouldn't have to do that alone….You would think that a man with a bachelor degree wouldn't have such a hard time getting employed…"She said critically.
"Cut me some slack Olga, you think I wanted to be canned just because the junior high cut off the music program this year?!...'Patrick said defensively.
"No but maybe if you didn't slack off, Mr. Johnson wouldn't have put you in that 10 percent…I mean, our rent is due in two weeks and Lisa and Logan have college to think about….'Olga said with her arms folded.
"They are twelve years old Olga and what are you talking about slacking off?!...'Patrick said defensively.
"Just…Just get dress, remember that it's Friday and we are taking the twins to see my parents…"Olga said as she rubbed her temples.
"Why do I have to go? You know your parents can't stand me…"Patrick whined.
"Don't be silly, mummy and daddy don't hate you…they…they just think you can work a little harder is all but they do see you as their son-in-law…'Olga said hesitantly.
"Yeah right and I am sure when your dad says "Olga, this guy is a deadbeat" or "You ruined your life staying with this hack" really means I love you…"Patrick said sarcastically.
"You're being silly again…Mummy and daddy are family and we are going to see them…"Olga said, while on the inside she thought… "Daddy, will be less angry if he sees his grandchildren…maybe he will help with another loan…"She thought to herself.
Go get the twins…"Olga ordered.
"They're not here….They said that they were going to be playing with Andy and Megan today…'Patrick explained.
"And you didn't go with them?...'Olga accused, not liking that her lazy husband left their kids and their cousins alone.
"Hey, they aren't alone…You're sister and her husband are with them…They said that they could take them to the park while I did my interview…"Patrick explained.
Olga didn't seem satisfied with that answer. She merely went to grab her cellphone and dialed her sister's number. After a few moments of ringing, she finally answered.
"Hello…" Was heard on the other line.
"Hello Helga, it's Olga…How are Lisa and Logan?...'She asked.
"Oh they are fine…We're home right now…The kids played a mean game of baseball at the park today and me and Arnold got it all on tape…'Helga said, sounding proud.
"That's nice…I'm going over there to pick them up…'Olga explained before hanging up.
She sighed and rubbed her temples, her migraine still in overdrive. Just her luck that her children were with her sister again.
Don't get her wrong, it's not like she didn't like Helga…She was her baby sister for heaven's sake and she loved her with all of her heart but …Olga couldn't explain it but she didn't always feel comfortable going over to her sister's house, not that there was anything wrong with her house. It was a very nice two story house that almost seemed colossal compared to Olga's cramped little apartment…not that she was comparing homes or anything. Olga was honestly couldn't be too surprised that she could afford it, given that her husband was an anthropologist and Helga made the best-selling author's list for her novels.
Yet again….
"Let's go…"Olga ordered as she took her coat and practically dragged her reluctant husband down to their car, which was the same car Olga had kept since college.
She would never admit to anyone that the reasons she kept her car…which her father had bought her as a present for graduating high school…was for financial reasons rather than the sentimental reasons she told her parents and sister. Not to mention it was the only car she and her husband had between them.
Unlike Helga and Arnold. They both had two cars, a black Mazda and a Toyota Chrysler respectively that were both relatively new-ish and in good condition.
Not that she was comparing cars either.
Olga had absolutely no problem with going over to her sister house.
Really!
Elsewhere
Olga and Patrick had pulled up into a nice little suburb on the nicer side of the city. There were numerous nice looking homes with well-maintained lawns. They soon pulled up to a two story colonial home. They went up to knock on the door. Soon they saw that it was Arnold who answered the door.
"Hi Olga…Patrick…"Arnold greeted politely.
"Hello Arnold…How are you?..."Olga said, trying to be somewhat social.
"We're here for the kids…"Patrick said, getting to the point.
"They're in the living room…"Arnold said as he invited him in.
Olga tried not to look directly as they passed by the decorations and photos of her sister and her husband. She however caught a glance of the picture of Helga when she graduated from Brown University, top of her class in the literary department. She also saw the picture of her award dinner when she made the best sellers list for the first time 8 years ago. She should feel happy for her. Her sister was a talented writer and everyone adored her work, all the trophies she had in her home were proof of that.
"Haha…'The sound of children's laughter was heard as they entered the living room.
Olga saw her son and daughter in the middle of playing with their cousins with a board game and Helga was keeping an eye on them and her one-year old baby son Henry in her arms.
"I win again…" Lisa said happily as she turned to her partner.
"Girls rule!..."Megan, a five year old little blonde girl with a bow in her head, said happily.
"Two out of three…'Andy, an oblong headed fourth grader demanded.
"Yeah, your luck won't last forever…"Logan said.
"If you want to lose again, be my guest…'Lisa said determined.
"Yeah…"Megan said excitedly.
'Excuse me, but we got company…"Arnold announced.
"Hey Olga…"Helga said half-heartedly as she continued to play with the kids.
"Lisa…Logan…It's time to get home…"Olga said as she looked at her kids who suddenly frowned.
"Can't we stay longer mom, I was just about to beat Lisa…"Logan whined.
"In your dreams…'Lisa said as she stuck her tongue out to her brother.
"Were too…'Logan said.
"Both of you stop that…please…We should get going…"Olga insisted though her kids looked upset.
"Can't we stay mom, auntie Helga and uncle Arnold were just about to put on Evil twin…'Lisa asked.
"No, first we have dinner with your grandparents at six and you both have to get on with your homework…"Olga said seriously.
"I already did my homework mom…Auntie Helga helped me out a lot in math…"Lisa said.
"Me too, Uncle Arnold helped a lot …"Logan said smiling.
"Oh…How nice of you both to help them…'Olga said, though anyone else would have noticed that it was a little forced.
"Oh, it was no trouble at all…'Helga said as she kept rocking Henry in her arms.
"Now come along…"Olga insisted once more and saw her reluctant children say goodbye to their cousins and get their items.
Olga didn't try to look directly when she saw Logan give Arnold a hug or Lisa kissing Helga on the cheek before saying goodbye and getting in the car. Once in there, the family of four didn't talk. So Olga felt obligated to start the conversation.
"So, how was your day?...'Olga asked and as always,, her kids started talking all excited by all the things they did with their aunt and uncle.
Lisa and Logan talked amiably about how much fun they had playing baseball with them at the park, making cookies and playing board games all day. Olga tried to feel happy that they had fun but she couldn't help but think that they might like being with their aunt and uncle a little too much.
Olga worked long hours 5 days of the week and on the weekends, she was swamped with lesson planning and over time she was forced to do since Patrick got unemployed but on the few times that she was free to spend with them, they always seem to be either with their cousins Andy and Megan or with her sister and her husband, going to places like the movies, the park, the aquarium and even Dino land and they always seem to be very happy and excited when they were with them.
Something Olga rarely got to see when it was just her, the twins and Patrick.
If she didn't know any better, Olga would have felt that they might have preferred Helga over her…I mean Helga and Arnold over her and Patrick.
Yes, that's it. But she knew that such a thing was ridiculous. She loved her twins and they loved her. They were a nice, perfect family who was just facing a rough patch but once they overcame it, things will be absolutely perfect….
'Yeah…Perfect?…"Olga thought as she kept her eyes on the road and tried to avoid a pothole.
She knew she didn't have a perfect family for many reasons. Her husband has been in and out of employment for the last few years. She met him about 5 years after she graduated from Bennington. It was after she decided to quit teaching to pursue an acting career in Broadway. Patrick Sherman was an aspiring rock star. He was so handsome and dreamy when she met him and when he dedicated his latest song to her, Olga's heart was stolen right there.
They got married after 6 months of dating and it was a great surprise to Olga that her father and mother didn't like Patrick. She had thought that they had needed time to adjust to him like with her ex-fiance Dough but her father always voiced his disapproval of her Patrick.
"Olga, you can't be serious…A wanna-be musician…Do you wanna starve on the streets?!...'Her father's booming voice echoed in her mind.
"No Olga, don't make the same mistake I made….'Her mother's crying voice echoed.
Olga was heartbroken that they wouldn't give their blessings but she made her choice and she knew that she wasn't in the wrong. She was in love and she was an adult and she could make her own choices. She married Patrick at the age of 29 years old and a year later she got pregnant with her twins. Olga honestly didn't expect to become a mother so soon, she had been hoping to try and work a little longer on her dream of Broadway but that wasn't in the cards anymore. With her not having any roles for Broadway and Patrick's music career not taking off yet, she had to go back to teaching to support her babies and she pushed Patrick to get a more steady job as well.
Now if only he could keep it for more than a few years and stop dropping everything just because he thought he had a chance for fame or because he didn't like something about his job and decided to quit.
That was her first problem…the next one was her children, especially her daughter Lisa.
Lisa was a bit of a problem with her. She loved the girl but she…she…Olga didn't know where she went wrong with her. Lisa was so unusual for a Pataki child, getting C's on her report cards, getting into fights and detention on a near regular basis and acting so…not ladylike. Olga had tried to put her in ballet, piano lessons, violin, and gymnastics and train her for the spelling bee just her own parents did for her as a child but Lisa just didn't do well in them. Instead of becoming the top ballet dancer, she had two left feet and quit after only 3 lessons. Instead of becoming a budding pianist virtuoso like her mother before her, she barely seems to grasp the basics, her instructor said it was from lack of interest and Olga tried to get her daughter interested but she was so hard headed. She said that she didn't like piano, violin or ballet…She said that she wanted to be on the baseball team and Olga cringed at that.
It was such a…boy thing and not appropriate for a young lady, especially the child of Olga Pataki-Sherman. What's worse was that she came in second place in every spelling be she entered. Olga didn't understand what she was doing wrong with the girl…She would have asked her parents for help but she didn't want to worry them and think that their perfect daughter couldn't handle her own family.
"Are we there yet?...'Logan whine out of boredom.
"Not yet, we will be at Grandpa and Grandma's house soon…"Olga said, trying to not lose her patience as kept driving.
All the while, she wondered how this had become her life.
Olga was once the golden girl of Hillwood. She had brains, beauty and charm yet how on earth did she get here? She was supposed to become the toast of Broadway yet she is now living in her old home town in a cheap apartment with a husband that her parents can't stand and a pair of twins she can barely control and things are different for her baby sister who is no longer the same little girl she once was.
Helga had grown up to be such a beautiful and successful young woman. She married a successful man and her kids Andy, Megan and Henry seemed to be very well in grades, extracurricular activities and social lives. Olga should have been happy for her baby sister's success but she couldn't help but wonder how that could happen to Helga when the opposite had happened to her in comparison.
Living in a cheap, small apartment, working a dead end teaching job, married to a man that she thought was a prince but couldn't hold down a job and with a pair of twins that she wasn't even sure liked being around her most of the time.
"When did it all happened?..."Olga thought bitterly as she kept driving to her parents' house.
-To be continued-
Next time on A Perfect Disaster
Mummy, daddy and Patrick
A/N: This is part one of how I see Olga's fate ending up. There will be more soon. This is just the first glance of what she is living like now. Up next we will see more details about her marriage, motherhood, her relationship with her parents and most of all with Helga.
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)