Disclaimer: Craig Bartlett is the creator and he and Nickelodeon have the rights of the show


20. A frost to remember: The war for surviving

— Sunset Arms-Family room –

Everybody had chosen a place on the floor, wrapped themselves in each blanket while looking at each other in silence.

With the low temperature, and the boiler failure, the huge house was beginning to feel freezing. Stella's quieter voice broke the tense silence in the room.

- Phoebe, Helga, Did you finish cooking the food?

- I'm afraid not Mrs. Shortman. - The black-haired preteen said with sadness in her voice. - It will take you at least two more hours... I'm sorry.

The air in the room was filled with even more sadness, until Arnold got up and took his Walkman and turned on the cassette with the song "Happy together, by The Turtles."

- Guys, I think my mom is right, we'll be together and incommunicado for a while longer, let's make it more pleasant and less tortuous for everyone.

I know that maybe it sounds like cheesy advice, the kind that I always give... but...

- It's the best we can do today. Is the best advice bro... and the most effective... truce?

Arnold smiled at the brunette and did the classic greeting with his best friend, as they all began to sing the song together, smiling at each other.

- And you solved everything again with your positivity, eh football head?

- What can I tell you, Helga? It's my gift!

- Well done son. Now the best thing is that we go to look in the rooms of Mr Hyunh and Ernie, I know they will understand... - Stella was interrupted by crying.

- I'm sorry, Mrs. Arnold's mom... I ate everything!

- WHAT? - They all shouted in unison at Harold's declaration.

- You're gonna die pink boy! - Helga declared while little by little all the annoying and hungry people began to surround the crying boy. When they were about to catch him, the electric light suddenly returned, after a small explosion, the boiler started working again.

- The light! We are saved! - Arnold announced and everyone began to celebrate!

- Come on girls, let's go finish the meal before something else happens. Arnold, prepare this place to eat together and sleep on the floor.

- Sure mom! - Arnold took Helga by the hand to stop her walking a bit and whispered in her ear. - I will save a place for you by my side. - She sighed in response and resumed her walk.

- How do you think that It happened Arnold? Was it impossible for the service to return so soon?

- Well Gerald, there are some questions that have no answer.

They both smiled at each other as they arranged the rest of the blankets. On the roof, Pookie left her equipment with which she had repaired everything and laughed triumphantly!

- Happy 4th of July everyone!

By screaming, she startled Sid who was using the emergency stairs of the house to change rooms and fell to the ground.

- Someone help me! - The green cap boy shouted uselessly.

His camera sank in the snow and turned off.

A guy who was playing with his dog, find the camera and then, he turned it on, watching all the material on it, but in reverse:


– Sunset Arms - Arnold's room —

- Did you hear that? The boiler exploded. - The chubby boy was totally nervous.

- Don't worry Harold, my dad is here and he knows what he is doing.

- Oh sure! He knows what he does... please! The man slept for 10 years, what can he know about something?

- Hey! Are you talking about my dad! - The blonde got down from the chair and faced his annoying friend.

- Please guys, we have to be united, we're now as a family, we need each other. - The clumsy boy tried to calm things down.

- Hi Harold, hi Eugene, do you need some help? - Gerald smiled.

- We're fine, thank you.

- Sorry Arnold, but I asked my friends.

- Oh, sorry I forgot that we aren't friends anymore! - Arnold turned to avoid looking at him.

- It's perfect to me that you remember it! - The brunette answered him.

- Now I knew it!

- Hey Gerald, take your turn, Arnold and I were discussing first!

- No, people. Let's be smart and bring it off. - Eugene added.

- Oh, so now the talking bad luck guy is going to preach to us!

Among all the boys they began to push each other, until Eugene tripped and they all fell down Arnold's stairs.

Stella, Suzie, and the girls ran to see them all fall to the ground.

- You saw Pheebs, I told you! Free entertainment.

- Everyone is fine?

- Yes mom... it seems so. - Arnold answered, embarrassed.

- But what the hell were they thinking! You were asked to join as a team! It is expected that we will be together until tomorrow! This is serious guys, you're older. It's time they started acting their age.

The doctor's speech was interrupted by the abrupt appearance of her father-in-law and Oskar, who were having a similar fight.

- See what I mean... you could end up like this. - The desperate woman knelt down and separated the men. - That's enough dad, let's all go to the family room and rest a bit.

- But Mrs. Shortman... I still have… - Harold tried to defend himself.

- I SAID NOW, ALL TOGETHER AND IN PEACE! - The woman yelled effusively and everyone ran away in a hurry.


– Sunset Arms - Basement- Boiler —

The boiler area was beginning to smoke, the Shortmans were trying to repair it as soon as possible, while Oskar looked at them sadly.

- Hey grandpa, let me help, I know I can.

- Forget it Kokoshka, you've done enough. - The tired old man shouted.

- I think my dad is right this time.

- But if I don't fix it, how am I going to impress Suzie?

- You would help her by leaving her alone! Why the hell do you think she didn't tell you she came back.

- Because that's how women are, grandpa, they're confusing, when she hides, it's because she wants me back... Hey, look... this screw fell out...

- Oskar NO! - The men shouted before the boiler exploded a little and went out completely.

- Consider yourself dead Kokoshka! - Phil screamed at him.

- Help! - The foreigner began to run in circles while Miles sighed tiredly and went back to his business.


– Sunset Arms - Basement —

- But not only the young ones had problems trying to survive… also the adults had their own problems… let's see! - Sid finished his introduction and pointed to Stella and Suzie looking for canned goods.

- I can't understand, We have almost no canned or packaged food... there were always tons down here. - The blonde kept looking without any results.

- I'm afraid that it's my fault… Miles and I stopped buying it and we started to cultivate everything…

- Oh… we are in trouble now…

- Yes… Snow has buried the greenhouse, we don't have access to it.

- Sounds bad… What about the food of the other guests?

- Well, you are eating from our food, Mr Hyunh and Ernie aren't here and their rooms are closed.

- Maybe if I tried to go out and find some…

- Oh Suzie, don't worry, I trust Phoebe to help us cook everything, let's come back and help her.


– Sunset Arms - Arnold's room —

- Oh craps Pheebs! Everything it's a disaster! With this stupid snowfall we're all stuck here in this madhouse!

- Helga, relax… we're alone now… are you excited, huh?

- Why? To finally be invited to sleep in Arnold's place for their own will and with the both of us agreed… yeah… I just had to wait for 7 years… but yeah!

- And do you think that they'll be ok? You know, for all their problems.

- Don't worry Pheebs, my man is so pure like a little sheep, they will be hugging each other and crying like little babies sooner.

- Oh man! I'm tired of that football head! - The brunette dropped a box with blankets. Meanwhile, without anyone noticing, Sid went downstairs and found a new hiding place to record everything.

- Hey babe, what is the problem?

- Arnold is still crying like a baby… he can't understand.

- Gerald… Do you want a little advice?- The girl with the pink bow smiled wickedly.

- I'm listening to you…

- Well, if you want Arnold to now follow you and not inverse, just ignore him.

- Ignoring him? Does it work?

- Believe me, when he sees how childish and immature you are acting, he'll understand.

- Gee Helga, sounds pretty cool, thanks sis!

- It's just my work, helping others…

- It would be better that I come back with them and start our plan.

- Good luck bro!

- Helga, I don't think that it's gonna end happily…

- Don't worry Pheebs… everything's gonna be ok, we need just… some free entertainment and the TV doesn't work.

Helga smiled at her friend as they both continued to put together a homemade food warmer that the black-haired girl had designed.


– Sunset Arms - Arnold's room —

- I'm Sid, reporting from my hiding place, here… in the room of the boys, everything goes from bad to worse. Hear for yourself. - The boy pointed the camera at his friends.

- Come on guys, we have to put down all the blankets. - Arnold pulled up a chair, climbed up and buried his head in the closet.

- I can help you, my man!

- Forget it, Eugene can help me. - He said totally angry.

- Yeah Arnold, you can count on me! - After taking two steps, the redhead fell to the ground. - I'm ok!

- Ehm… Harold, actually Harold can help me.

- I'm hungry… I need some food… NOW! - Harold rocked in the fetal position, holding back his tears.

- Ok, I can do it on my own.

- C'mon Arnie, you can trust me… I know that I've failed you, I'm really sorry… But you know that…

- Gerald, forget it, now I know all that you think about me… just… keep listening to the radio.


— Sunset Arms - Kitchen–

- We're gonna die! We're gonna die! I'm hungry! I'll eat Eugene and I'll have bad luck forever… I never kissed a girl… I'll die alone and…

- Harold, please, STOP! - Arnold put his hands on his friend's chest to calm him down. - None will die, and remember, my parents were cooking some food, relax.

- Actually dear, the food is raw… we can't eat it. - Stella said, sadly.

- And… I couldn't go shopping - Miles agreed with some worry in his voice.

- Perfect! We're stuck with the hungry Porky! - Helga snorted annoyed.

- Hunger is your problem? Man, don't worry, Suzie is here now, our problems are solved, right? - The Czechoslovak awkwardly pulled the girl into a hug, which she broke seconds later.

- Oskar, I came back here again... but on my own... Now I'm your ex-wife, do you remember?

- Yes, yes, but now you're here… I missed you so much… Have you got some money?

- Oskar!

A whistle interrupted the multiple dramas in the room, drawing everyone's attention to the owner.

- Enough people… we're in an emergency situation… so, we need to pay attention to our actions, so… I'm the leader now… and my first instruction is… Capture Oskar and cook Arnold's pets!

- What? - Oskar screamed, totally panicked.

- Dad, please, let it all to me… - Stella cleared her throat and started her speech. - Ok people, we need to divide our tasks: Miles, dad, check the boiler, Helga, Pheebs, we have to figure out how to cook dinner. Arnold, Gerald, Eugene and… Harold, listen to the radio for information and find some blankets, we will make a shelter for everyone… while Suzie, mom and I… where is mom?

They all turned looking for Pookie, but before they knew it, the old woman was already climbing up the light poles, trying to repair the electrical system.

LOST IMAGE, RECONNECTING SOON…


Well, you are reading my last experiment... I hope that you are enjoying it! You'll see the rest very soon...