Chapter 5: How About This?
Arnold you make my girlhood tremble, my senses all go wacky, someday I'll tell the world my love, or my name's not Helga G. Pataki.
Helga's eyes fluttered open just as she was hearing some familiar words. She sat up to rub them when she saw her sister holding a familiar book.
"Oh hi baby sister! I'm glad you're awake! I was just going through this box of books I found in your closet! Would you like me to read them to you?" Olga offered…
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Helga screamed, not knowing how much she had read (let alone out loud).
The Boarding House
Arnold sat in his kitchen, still wondering why Helga hadn't shared any of her personal information with him.
"Still feeling blue shortman?" Phil asked, while taking a seat beside his grandson.
"Yeah, I just don't understand why she feels like she still has to hide things from me."
Phil then turned his head to see his wife chasing their pets down the hallway with a fly swatter.
The elderly man then turned back to look at his grandson and replied "Not everyone likes sharing things. Take your grandma over there. Just because she doesn't mind being upfront doesn't mean I want to hear about it."
"I guess. Do you think we could go to the hospital to see her?" Arnold asked, knowing the risk he was taking. Helga hadn't shared her problem with him, but eventually he'd find out what it was.
"Sure we can shortman! They have the best things in those gift shops! Fake flowers, funny cards, goofy animals!"
"Uhh right grandpa."
Hospital Room
Helga laid on her bed, clenching the sheets, as she listened to Olga continue to read her poems.
"Would you put those freakin' books down! What the heck made you think you were even allowed in my closet anyway?!"
Rather than listening to her sister, Olga continued to read Helga's poetry.
The flustered girl laid on the bed, harshly rubbing her eyes. Every bonding experience with Olga was just another humiliating moment.
Where's that doctor with the anesthetic?
Gift Shop
"Oohh! Get her this shortman!" Phil insisted.
Arnold turned to see his grandpa holding an angel.
"Uhh I don't know grandpa?"
Phil shrugged his shoulders and replied "What? Her go kart's name was 'Helga's Angel' wasn't it?"
Surprised by Phil's memory, Arnold still felt that it was more of a memorial gift. "Well yeah…"
"Oh fine. I'm going to look at the t-shirts!"
After rolling his eyes at his grandfather, Arnold went up to the cashier and asked "Can you help me find something special for my girlfriend?"
The service clerk began showing Arnold around the shop "We've got stuffed animals, blankets, candy, flowers…"
Nothing seemed to stand out to him however. He didn't want to walk in there empty handed. Eventually, he decided to head over to the card section.
After a few minutes had gone by, he went to find Phil, still looking at the shirts…
"Get a load of this shortman!
"I can see the light!"
Flip the shirt around
"Whoops! Forgot to turn on the gas!"
Arnold rolled his eyes as he continued listening to Phil get a kick out of the shirts. "I think I'm ready to go see her grandpa."
"A card? We could have just gotten your grandma to make her one of those at home. You're no fun!"
Helga's Room
Helga at last had the strength to sit up. No longer being able to listen to Olga blab her personal thoughts anymore, she screamed "Criminy! Put those stupid things down!"
"But aren't you happy we're bonding?" Olga asked in a confused tone.
"You stealing my personal items is not bonding! You're here because Bob didn't want to miss work, not because we agreed to hang out together!"
Tears began streaming down Olga's face, just as Phil and Arnold were entering the room. The unhappy girl raced out past them.
While Arnold stood confused, Phil said "I told you they wouldn't be happy with just a card."
Arnold walked over to his girlfriend to ask for all the information he had been missing out on, while Phil took a seat in the chair Olga had been sitting in.
Rather than answering Arnold, Helga's eyes stayed focused on how close Phil was to her box of poetry.
He then had a good idea of not only what was in there, but why Olga ran out of the room crying. "Uhh grandpa."
"What is it shortman?"
"Do you think Helga and I could have a little privacy?"
Phil stood from the chair as he replied "Sure, why not. Don't make her any sicker!"
"Grandpa…"
Arnold turned to see Helga twiddling her thumbs, not sure of what to say. "So, the whole class made some cards for you."
Helga's eyes immediately widened as she asked "What?! Did Simmons tell those freaks why I'm in here?!"
Arnold placed a hand on Helga and replied "No, Phoebe wouldn't even tell me why you're in here."
Helga wiped her brow with relief, knowing so far, she had nothing to worry about.
"I'm a little hurt you lied to me though. I was going to find out eventually that you were in the hospital."
Helga rolled her eyes at the pitiful look on his face and replied "Look, if I had just hit my head, or broken my arm, I would have been happy to share the news. This is an embarrassing situation though!"
"Too embarrassing to even share with me?"
Helga crossed her arm as she muttered under her breath…
It's a cecostomy
Arnold wasn't sure what to say at first. He understood it was embarrassing for her; the type of thing she didn't handle well.
"When you think about it, it is better than hitting your head."
Helga cocked her brow at his optimistic behavior and scowled "Are you crazy?!"
"What if you lost your memory again? It may have been temporary last time, but if it happened again, it might be permanent. You wouldn't want that would you?"
The frustrated girl sighed as she watched the sweet boy rub her hand and replied "I guess not football head."
Helga swooned as she felt him kiss her on the cheek. She immediately came out of it when she glanced over to see her box of books still sitting in the corner of the room.
Arnold saw the scowl on her face and asked "So, how'd Olga find your poetry books?"
"Pttss…Ms. Mary Sunshine decided to welcome herself into my closet! She managed to make straight A's in school without knowing the meaning of the word privacy?"
Arnold started to laugh when he heard "Ready to go shortman?"
Phil entered the room to add "Your girlfriend's sister is in the gift shop. I think she was trying to find some sort of an apology card. I told her she'd have more fun in the t-shirt department hehe."
"Tell her to stay there for all I care." Helga smirked.
"Will do!" Phil said excitedly, while grabbing his grandson.
Before walking out, Arnold said "I'll see you soon hopefully. Feel better!"
After watching him walk out, Helga laid back down on her bed with her hands over her heart…
"What happened to it?!"
Car Ride
"Well thanks for taking me grandpa."
"Sure thing shortman. Like I said, if all you're shooting for is a card, just get your grandma to make one for you! Hehe."
"Yeah, but I think I know what to get her now…"