Chapter 2: We've no choice

Flashback

Previous Day

After School

Just as the kids were leaving school, Arnold turned to Helga and asked "So, are you ready for practice?"

Rolling her eyes at the idea of the unusual after school activity that needed to be done, she replied "Sorry football head. I've got somewhere I need to be. Make Pinkboy be the catcher. I think we all know how much he hates it."

Rather than listening to her suggestion, Arnold asked "Where is it you need to be?"

Helga found the idea of revealing any type of personal information to be embarrassing to anyone (no matter how close they were).

She didn't like the idea of lying to Arnold, but it wouldn't be the first time she hid something from him.

"Bob's making me help with inventory at the cell phone store. You'd think just knowing Olga was there would be enough to satisfy his uptight self. Instead, he had to drag me into it too."

Arnold found it peculiar that Helga agreed to help, as opposed to blowing them off. "Well, if you won't be at practice, I'd be happy to come help you guys out."

Helga's eyes widened, forgetting how helpful Arnold was. "Uhhh don't be ridiculous! You don't want to be around those freaks! I'll see you later."

The blonde girl then raced out of the building, leaving Arnold wondering if he should go over to the store anyhow.

Doctor

"All I need's a refill on my constipation medication Doc. You can just hand me the slip, and I'll see you in another few months."

Speaking in his raspy voice, Dr. Steiglitz was against Helga's suggestion to simply refill her prescription.

"You've had this problem for three years now, while showing no improvement. If you can't change your diet, I think it's time to consider surgery."

Helga cocked her brow at the suggestion. Taking pills for her problem made her insecure enough. How would the idea of having surgery for it at the age she was make her look to everyone else?

Not being through with his thoughts, Dr. Steiglitz added "In fact, I think we should get your father in here now to discuss this."

Helga threw her face into her hands, knowing Bob wouldn't be any happier about it than she was.

"Mr. Pataki, your daughter's condition hasn't seemed to have improved at all…"

Bob cut the doctor off to snap, "Yeah, what are the pills for then?"

"I think it's time we consider surgery."

While Helga continued to sit there embarrassed, she listened to Bob shout "Surgery! How much is this gonna cost me?!"

Crossing her arms, Helga looked away from her father knowing that would be his biggest concern. Most parents would just be concerned about their child having to go through such a thing. Instead, Bob was angered by the idea of having to pay for it.

"Your insurance should cover most of it. We can have her in here this week. She should only drink clear fluids before then."

"Yeesh! Alright fine. Let's go missy!" Bob growled, while Helga followed out the door with her head hanging low.

Phoebe's House

Phoebe was doing her homework when she heard her mother call "Phoebe dear, the phone's for you!"

"Hello?"

"Pheebs, it's Helga."

"Why hello Helga. Arnold said your family needed your help with inventory this afternoon."

Rolling her eyes at the idea of helping them, Helga replied…

"Come on Pheebs, does that really sound like something I would agree to?"

"Well I suppose not?"

"I won't be at school for a few days this week, so I'm going to need you to pick up my homework."

"Certainly Helga. Is anything the matter?"

"This quack doctor insists on having surgery instead of just refilling my prescription like a normal doctor would do for a patient. Would that not make it easier for both of us anyway?" Helga couldn't help but wonder.

"Well Helga, when a prescription has failed to perform its duties after a certain period of time, it's only natural to go about the problem in a different direction."

Downstairs

"For crying out loud! Surgery? Can you believe this? Bob shouted, thinking about the money to be spent and the time needed to be taken off work.

Miriam sat at the counter partially awake with a cup of coffee in her hand "Oh yeah, it's horrible B. Just horrible."

"Don't worry daddy! Child Cecostomy is a simple procedure. In my child psychology class, there was a girl who was studying to become a nurse. It won't take more than an hour for them to insert the tube."

That wasn't enough good news for Bob however. "Uh huh. So does that mean it's taken care of for good after that, or is this going to be like that therapy crap she went through? A twice a week visit for the entire year!" the salesman scowled.

Miriam sat depressed with her coffee mug, not having cared to look up anything about the procedure. Instead, she just listened to her overly achieving daughter fill in all the blanks for her husband.

"I'm afraid once they've inserted the surgical tube, she will be required to have her system flushed out twice a year."

"Ay-yi-yi! How the heck did this happen?! We eat right around here? Don't we Miriam?" Bob asked, while going through the junk food filled cabinets.

"Oh yeah, sure B."

Seeing the upset look on her father's face, Olga added "If she keeps a balanced diet for a year, she can have the tube removed."

"Well she better!" Bob insisted, while guzzling a bag of pork rinds.

Helga's Room

The worried girl sat in her closet in front of her newly made broomstick shrine. She and Arnold were together now, how could she continue to be so secretive?

Oh my beloved! Even before we were together, you showed me nothing but patience. You spent each day believing a speck of goodness existed inside of me. Now here I am with the chance to prove what a kind, trusting nature I know you possess. Yet I continue to hide beneath the idea of judgment. Judgment from the last person I would ever…

"Baby Sister!" Olga called out.

Having been interrupted from one of her special moments, the preteen screamed "WHAT?!"

"Get down here now missy! We need to talk!" Bob scowled.

Helga slammed the door to her closet, knowing Bob was just looking to use her to blow steam off on, as opposed to showing her any emotional support.

Trophy Room

Helga sat in Bob's chair with her arms crossed, frowning at the floor, while the rest of the family stood in front of her with mixed feelings.

"Listen up missy! Your sister here gave me all the details we need about this whole surgery ordeal…"

Knowing how perfect her sister was, Helga muttered under her breath "Pttss… of course she did."

"I'm not missing work because you can't eat right, so she's going to be the one to take care of you!" Bob scowled.

Olga may not have been happy for her sister, but she saw this as an opportunity to bond with her.

"Just think of the time we'll be spending together Helga! Taking you to the hospital, keeping an eye on your diet, making a list of everything that's okay for you to have, sharing fun secrets…"

Olga went on, not noticing her sister had walked out on her.

The Boarding House

Phil was going through the fridge when he turned to see his grandson having a seat at the table. "Hey, what's eatin' ya shortman."

Arnold rested his head in his hand against the table, as he explained to Phil "I think something's wrong with Helga?"

"Hmm… what makes you say that?" Phil wondered.

"Well, first she wouldn't come to baseball practice. Then when she said she had to help with inventory at the store, she ran away the moment I volunteered to help her?"

"Eh… she probably just thought she was doing ya a favor. NOBODY likes inventory (or anything math related). Why do ya think the long division was where I told ya I stopped in grade school? Hehe!" Phil reminded his grandson, while continuing to take a bite of his sandwich.

Being the vindictive person that Helga was, the idea of no one liking such a thing made Arnold feel the last thing she would want would be to HELP her family with it. They didn't help her with her problems.

When they did, it just backfired…

Olga embarrassing her

Miriam making her feel as though she should be the responsible one

Bob making her feel as though she was just a financial burden

"Maybe; I'm going to bed. Night grandpa."

"Night Shortman!"

Helga's House

Helga laid under her covers with a glass of water beside her bed, as opposed to a soda. It was nice knowing she had someone like Phoebe to not only vent to about her problems, but count on when she needed a favor done for her.

While Arnold was just as trustworthy, Helga felt he would easily leave her if there was ever a reason he could find. Being able to look past her aggressive ways was remarkable! They hadn't been together that long however. Did she have to continue spilling her secrets to him?

Oh Arnold my love, another moral dilemma. This time, brought on by my own doing. Shall I test the strength your emotions for me, and reveal another overwhelming secret about myself, or continue to take advantage of your patience? Be strong my love!