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

2. (42) The expensive price of going on I - Enjoy the moment

I was so happy when my dad gave me this journal to follow their tradition about writing about his adventures and learnings, and to be honest… after saving my neighborhood and facing The Sombra, dating Helga… I really thought that the big emotions were over… but life is a good teacher and always is here to demonstrate that actually you can learn more and do it better… Everything started during our second week at our new school, Helga was very excited…

– Bartlett Junior High School "BJRS" - Friday september 17 1999 - Noon

A really excited Helga was walking to the cafeteria, with a big present in her hands and a bigger smile on her face. After surprising everybody around her, she sat down with her friends and Arnold.

- Wow, you're so happy that I feel scared. - Gerald joked. - 12:10 pm. We lost her.

- Yeah, why are you so happy? Please tell me that you didn't find a better guy to date? - The blonde joined the joke.

- Oh yeah football head, because, after a long wait of 8 years to call your attention, I discovered that you aren't as good boyfriend material as I had thought and I started dating the first guy that I found out in the hall.

- You… what? - The speech of the girl was so convincing that his boyfriend stopped his laugh.

- Criminy football head! I was joking in the same stupid way that you two… just forget it.

- Is this what I think? - Phoebe smiled.

- Yes… I finally had enough money…

- Oh I got it! Is that the present for little Craig?

- And we have a winner! - Helga made fun of the guy with a fake voice of a game show host. - Of course Arnold, after working and saving money for 6 long months… I did it!

- I don't understand you sis, why did you work so hard if your grandma is rich enough to buy an entire store?

- Because, my friend with long hair… Craig deserves a present bought with real work, is better in that way.

- Sis… you're maturer than us.

- That word actually doesn't exist babe.

- Yes Pheebs, I know, but our sis here deserves her own word.

- Oh you're so eloquent!

- What can I say… I'm the king of eloquence! - Gerald said with a false modesty and then, the sausage of his hot dog landed on his t-shirt, making a rain of laughs around his red face.

Yes everything was so perfect… that Friday, we'll finally enjoy the cheese fair, after a year of absence in the city. I can imagine us, in the wheels, gaining presents for Helga, enjoying some cheese, and maybe the tunnel of love… why not?

- Hey Arnold! - A pair of female hands woke him up from his dreams. - Are you here on Earth with us? - They were finally at the fair that night.

- Oh sure Helga! Sorry. - A shy smile appeared on his face. - Let's start with some cheese?

- So original.. you know… - Now she was the shy one. - Once Pheebs told me that if you take a few turns and look through the hole in the cheese, you will be able to find your love... how stupid isn't it?

- Oh that legend… I remember it…

- Oh wait, Pheebs is calling me. - She took her cellphone and walked a little looking for a better signal.

Arnold looked at the woman selling the cheese and he couldn't resist it. He bought some, and then, he started turning, to finally see Helga's face laughing at whatever her friend said in their call.

- Is she… always was she… - He said with mixed feelings, a certain happiness and surprise!

- What's wrong, football head?

- Nothing… it's just I'm excited to start with the fun, let's go. - And to think that it took me to discover her until I was 9!... - Thought with fun the young man. - Come on, we have a lot to do!

Taking his official and recognized girlfriend by the hand, the guys went on all the attractions at the fair, the bumper cars being Helga's favorite, there was a certain insane pleasure in every hit she gave to the others, Arnold loved the Ferris wheel, after all, was where he and Helga officially began their relationship a year ago, a wonderful year, according to him.

Helga shared his happiness. After years of unsuccessful pursuit behind Arnold, they finally enjoyed the fair together and voluntarily, which was the best.

Finally, to end the perfect date, they took a ride in the tunnel of love, making sure to share seats this time. And in the end, everything turned out just perfect.

- See you tomorrow at Craig's party?

- You got it sweetheart!

And a sweet and chaste kiss closed the perfect date. Helga looked at him stunned for a moment. They both smiled at each other blushingly and sweetly, until she closed the door of the house she shared with her grandmother.

- What a perfect date... oh my beloved angel with golden strands, with you by my side, nothing can go wrong.

And then later that weekend, Helga would learn the valuable lesson of never challenging fate with that phrase.

— Home House: Happy Moments – Saturday september 18 1999 - Morning

As happy as the day before, Helga arrived early at the Home House, ready to give her little friend the birthday of his life. It would also be the first time he would see her with her little change and she wanted to see his reaction. She knocked on the door and was greeted by a tired look from Mrs Scott.

-You woke up early, eh Helga?- The woman said, trying to calm the baby who was crying in her arms.

- It's a special day Scott, where is Craig?

- In his room, plotting.

- What? But he hasn't behaved like that for months.

- He's barricaded in his room, he won't come out for anything in the world. See by yourself.

- We'll see about that.

Helga walked down the hallway in the half-light. The 8 doors of the rooms were closed, and not a single voice of the children could be heard, only the crying of the baby that was disappearing into the distance. The light bulb that turned on and off gave a somber atmosphere to the place.

- Hello?... Craig. Ah! - The blonde screamed as she felt how a rope tied her legs and raised her, turning her upside down. - Come out, cowardly dwarfs, I will eliminate you one by one! - She bellowed, upset.

- Helga! I didn't know it was you, I thought it was the intruders.

- The intruders? What are you talking about, Craig?

- That gift is for me?

- It was... put me down!

- Oh sure, sorry!

Craig put a cushion under her and freed her from her little trap made with some jump ropes .

- Happy birthday dwarf, I guess!

- The scale locomotive I wanted! - He said excitedly.

- Yes, although I don't know if you deserve it now... what is all this? I thought savage Craig was left behind?

- They... want to take me... The Scotts want to take me to Scotland...

- What! - Suddenly the blue-eyed girl's heart skipped a beat, not expecting that bitter news at all, especially not that day.

- You have to save me Helga… I don't want to leave Hillwood… or leave you behind…

Not far from that sad scene, Arnold was having a special breakfast with one of his best friends, the only woman who will never make Helga Pataki jealous for spending time with her boyfriend, and I'm talking about Sheena's grandmother, do you remember her? Well since Arnold reunited her with family, she lives again in their house.

- So today is the birthday of that little demon? - The sweet old lady put some jam in her toast.

- Yes and Helga is totally excited, she worked in her dad's new store all summer to buy him a present, something that he really expected at christmas for years.

- You know Arnie, it doesn't care how "rude" she pretends to be, she is so sweet like my peach jam.

- Yes.. I totally agree with you, and… - Their chat was interrupted by a funny "fart ringtone" coming from his pocket. - Talking of the devil… she selected that ringtone, without my permission, of course. - The boy's cheeks started coloring. - Hi Angel, I'm here with Bernie and… what? Don't worry, I'll come, see you there!

- What happened Arnold?

- Is Craig, a couple wanted to adopt him and move together to Scotland, and they are terrified.

- Oh poor Helga, go with them and help them. It's a total injustice to force someone to live in a place that they don't like. I've some plans to help you later.

- Perfect Bernie! Are you sure that you are ok, you know…

- About hanging out? Don't worry friend, I'm old enough to decide if I want to leave the house. - The old woman winked at him.

- Ok, we'll be waiting for you!

- Don't worry Arnie, and take some cookies with you.

- Are you so generous, 7 cookies, not 6 or 5, eh?

- Oh shut up and leave, they need their hero! See you soon!

- See you Bernie!

Arnold wrapped the cookies in a napkin, put them in his backpack along with his own gift for Craig, and walked out the front door, but not before saying goodbye to Sheena.

- Are you leaving already, Arnold? I haven't even brought you the organic cocoa cups!

- I'm sorry Sheena, a problem arose, but your grandmother told me she would see us later, around 4... do you think she can come?

- Don't worry Arnold, she's much better! She hasn't had one of her crises in a long time.

- I'm so glad to hear that Sheena! I'll see you later!

With renewed hope, young Shortman walked to where he was needed. For now, the 3 of them had to resolve the situation... After all... How bad things could be!

Another lesson our blond friend was about to learn about karmic phrases.

— Home House: Happy Moments – Saturday september 18 1999 - 1 pm

- Hello? Anyone is here? - Arnold opened the door in front of him slowly, but no sound could be heard. - Helga? Craig? It's me… a friend…

- Arnold… are you here!… The Big Craig needs you. - A little girl appeared from an unknown place.

- Sasha? What is happening here? Where is Mrs Scott?

- She is an enemy now... come with me... we are not safe here.

- Ok... if you say so... whatever that means.

The two walked down the narrow hallways of the Home House, which seemed uncomfortably longer in such darkness.

Little feet could be heard in the distance, disturbing the green-eyed teen a little.

- Here... this is where you should go.

The girl slowly opened the door, revealing a gagged Mrs. Scott with pillows in her mouth, babbling for help.

- What? - Said the frightened blonde, while the door instantly closed in front of him.

- I'm sorry you saw that, it was around here, in room 2.

The door was open again, but this time revealing an organized group of children taking notes of the speech that Helga, their new leader, was giving.

- Helga… sweetie… What are you doing? In addition to an apparently successful coup d'état.

- That's just it, football head… we need to attack this situation with force!

- Yeah! - The little "soldiers" said in unison.

- I see, but first, I'd like to talk with you… in privacy.

- Don't worry Shortman, it isn't anything that my guys can't hear.

- Oh Criminy, come with me! - The boy took his girlfriend by the hand and took her with him to the hallway.

- Very good General Pataki, what do you gain from all this? I thought you were over 9 years old.

- I know Arnoldo, it's just... Craig is very worried about this.

- And this will be solved by gagging people?

- Well, it worked with Scott and with you if you keep getting in the way.

- Helga... - He sighed and spoke much sweeter, he knew well that it was his girlfriend's weakness. - Seriously, tell me what's wrong?

- Arnold... he's very bad... I just...

- You wanted to humor him to cheer up his birthday, huh?

- Well yes... it really is like that.

- Oh Helga, my angel with a huge heart, I told you, purer than you think... this is not the solution...

- Last year I couldn't spend his birthday with him, Arnold, and it looks like I won't be able to do it next year either.

- Yeah, I get it... I don't know how you drove me crazy with this, but we'll just play along for a couple of hours, but at 4 we free Scott and face the consequences.

- You are cruel but fair Arnoldo, you win. Why until 4 pm?

- Because reinforcements will be coming at that time, you know, Bernie, anyway , let's go back with your battalion.

And before entering, the boy stopped her, gave her a soft kiss and dragged her with his dreamy face to the room with the little ones.

And I've to admit that that afternoon was one of the funniest in my life… I know, I'm not so old, but I'm not a child anymore, and playing with them, like one like them, was so relaxing, the pretty and big smile of Helga told me that each punishment that we'll face later, it was going to be worth it.

We did plans, traps, ate Bernie's cookies and we watched a movie. Each single moment was so perfect… and I would have paid to know that that afternoon was going to be the last happy afternoon in a long time.

I know I couldn't, but I would have tried to enjoy it twice as much, stop time or something like that.

- There are little criminals! We'll talk! - Mrs Scott's annoying voice was heard in the living room, rattling the window panes.

- Mrs. Scott, we can explain.

- Save the words Shortman... I…!

- Madam... be here! - A cloying female voice joined the conversation.

- Oh Mr and Mrs Mackay, we are here... You can take little Craig.

- No! Never! - The little boy shouted, hugging Helga's legs.

- Hey Scott, can't you see that he doesn't want to leave?

- And we would never force him, we thought he already agreed. - Said the red-haired lady.

- My wife is right, we can still wait until he agrees.

- Well I never will be, intruders!

The boy screamed before locking himself in again and his little friends followed his example.

- Does it have to be just him? - Helga asked the couple.

- Well, we believe that he is the one who needs a family the most, and we would like to be his.

- My husband and I have been trying to have children for almost 10 years, so we think...

- Well, at least know the others, because you can't force them to do anything!

Arnold smiled nervously at the three adults, and joined his girl's footsteps.

- Don't worry Craig, you had permission to spend the night at my grandmother's house, let's go! - Helga said to the closed door in front of her.

- I'll go out in a moment, when they're not there .

- I won't let them separate us, I promise you. Have I ever failed you?

- No, no 1.

- Well, go ahead and prepare your bag. My cell phone rings, let me take care of this Arnoldo and take care of the beasts, okay?

- Yes of course! By the way... when I find my cell phone, we'll talk about my ringtone!

- Guilty as charged, Mr. Football head!

They smiled at each other as she walked away, Arnold felt bad, he saw the sadness reflected in her blue eyes.

- Don't worry Helga, I won't leave you alone… - Arnold said to himself and sat on the floor, opening his backpack to look for his cell phone, when Helga's footsteps, much softer than before, came towards him.

- Arnold... - Helga looked at him even more sad than a few minutes before.

- Don't worry, angel, everything will be fine, come with me, when Bernie comes... - He took her sweetly in his arms.

- Arnold... It was Sheena... Bernie just died while taking a nap... I'm so sorry.

Arnold's hands shook, dropping his backpack.

THIS STORY WILL BE CONTINUING…

Well I'm pretty sure that you maybe are asking about what happened to me this last weeks and Gosh, was a big mixture of a lot of things, first of all, my boss let me so much work that I didn't have a single weekend free the first half on september and later, my loved grandpa past away on September 27, as you can imagine I was totally sad and with my hearth broke, so I couldn't be able to write nothing. So now I'm better and I can write again , so I dedicate this chapter to each single person that had lost someone that love.. and of course, to my grandpa, my second father, You always will live on me...