"Helga is my study partner," Destiny said. "What, do you hate her or something?"

Wolfgang chuckled. "You know I hate everyone." He moved aside so the girls could enter.

"Where's Mom?" Destiny asked, as Helga looked around the living room. Although the décor was a bit dated, the room was—somehow—clean and welcoming. Wolfgang actually looked out of place.

"She's out back, stupid! Today's laundry day." Wolfgang flopped onto the sofa. A car commercial was playing on the TV.

Destiny turned to face Helga. "I'll lead you there."

They entered a hallway with three white doors. Destiny opened one, revealing wooden stairs. Dirty wooden stairs.

No one's perfect, Helga thought. Especially not whoever raised Wolfgang.

"Watch your step," Destiny said. She held the thin railing as she descended, and Helga slowly followed her down.

The basement was dreary, small and cluttered, with a classic basement odor. Thankfully, they weren't in there long; they quickly maneuvered past all the clutter and through the door that opened to the backyard.

They were greeted by a petite blonde woman, who was standing next to a laundry basket. "Hi, sweetie! How was school today?"

"Good," Destiny said. "I got a study partner. Her name's Helga."

"Ohh." The mom grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Helga."

"You too," Helga said.

"Is it OK if Helga stays for dinner? She wants to help wash the dishes."

Destiny's mom frowned. "Dess, that's your chore. Helga is our guest."

"But moooom," Destiny whined, "Helga wants to do my chores!"

Helga tried not to laugh at the absurdity.

"I'm sure she was just trying to be polite. But she's a guest, she doesn't live here."

"But she owes me!" Destiny said. "She owes me for—"

"I owe her money!" Helga interrupted. "I owe her money that I can't pay back—"

"For a bracelet," Destiny added. "She's doing my chores to pay for a bracelet."

Her mom blinked in confusion. "Well, I...suppose that makes sense. But I'm sure Helga has her own chores to do."

"Actually, I don't," Helga said frankly. "My mom does all the work around the house. My parents barely acknowledge my existence."

Seeing the look of pity on Destiny's mom's face, Helga immediately tried to backpedal. "Oh, you...know how parents are. Always busy with their own problems."

"Please, mom! Helga really owes me!"

Destiny's mom sighed. "OK, sweetie, you win. Helga can wash the dishes tonight."

Helga also let out a sigh. If only I picked a different fourth-grader.


"It was awful, Pheobe! Wolfgang eats like a pig!"

"Shh!" Phoebe hissed, making hand gestures. "You know he's in the same cafeteria as us."

"Oh, he won't hear us." Helga took a bite of her ham sandwich.

"Why don't you try confessing to Wolfgang?" Phoebe suggested. "He might respect you if you come clean."

"Are you kidding?" Helga asked. "You think that's better than doing stupid chores?"

"But Helga," Phoebe said, "you can't do Destiny's chores forever."

"And I won't," Helga said. "Just until the end of the school year. Then Wolfgang will graduate and everything will be fine."

"Until middle school," Phoebe said.

Helga's face fell like a Jenga tower. "Maybe Arnold has better advice."

It didn't take her long to find him, and Helga marched up to him like she owned his table. "Hey! Hair boy! I need your advice!"

Arnold and Gerald exchanged confused looks. She noticed that Arnold was almost finished his sandwich.

"Wolfgang's sister is blackmailing me. If I don't do her chores she'll make Wolfgang punch me...or he'll choose to, because she's his sister. I don't really know how protective he is, but I'm not about to take any chances. How do I get out of this without risking death?"

Arnold stared blankly at his frenemy. "You, uh...lost me after sister."

Helga groaned. "Wolfgang has a sister who is blackmailing me. I have to do her chores or she'll tell Wolfgang that I trash-canned her. Got it?"

"Right." Arnold turned pink. "I think you should start by telling her you're sorry."

"What?" Helga snorted. "Are you stupid?"

Arnold reacted as if he'd been slapped. He started picking at one of his fingernails.

Helga's face softened. Oh, my love...I didn't mean that. You're the smartest boy on the planet, even if you don't always give the best advice.

"Arnold." Helga chose her words carefully. "Maybe apologies work for you, but I'm well-known for being insincere. And saying sorry when you're being blackmailed sounds like a plea to get out of consequences."

"What else can you do?" Gerald asked. "Unless you find out one of her secrets."

"Or one of Wolfgang's secrets," Arnold said. "Not that I think you should do something like that..."

"That's 'cause you're a bab—err, I mean...a good person," Helga said.

Arnold smiled.

"Well, thanks guys," Helga said. "Now I just have to do some investigating." The new question was, where should she look?

A/N: Shout-out to the people who reviewed the first chapter! I appreciate both of you.