I wrote a special chapter for Christmas. I'll keep you in suspense a little longer about Arnie and his reaction.
Enjoy reading this chapter.
Christmas was coming. The shops that were beautifully displayed with gifts and decorations.
The shopping streets were illuminated with elegant lights on the facades, the Christmas trees that showed off with splendor on the squares and on the street corners.
A man dressed as Santa Claus raising money for charity.
Everything was covered in the white magic called snow. Here and there were a snowman or children having a snowball fight.
Christmas was coming and Helga scoured store by store with Phoebe, looking for a gift for Arnold.
Helga and Phoebe knew that Arnold and Gerald had already bought them a Christmas present.
A mystery since boys often had trouble coming up with a gift for their girlfriend.
But now it was the other way around, at least for Helga. Phoebe had already found a gift for Gerald.
Helga wanted a gift for Arnold that he could use, so a useful gift.
But what do you give someone who already has almost everything? Well everything, that's what Arnold said, that he already had everything.
Helga sighed deeply and Phoebe looked at her.
"Do you have a certain amount that you stick to?" Phoebe asked since she knew that Arnold and Helga were saving.
''About 20 dollars. You can do a lot of that, but not if your boyfriend already has everything.'' Helga said, a bit irritated.
'Have you ever seen Arnold's wallet? That falls apart in misery. Why don't you buy him a new one?'' Phoebe suggested and Helga hugged her best friend.
''Genius! Let's go to the department store to find a nice one.'' Helga said and with Phoebe by her side they headed towards a large building.
Meanwhile, Stella, Miles and Gertie were busy in the kitchen preparing a lot of food.
Since the Patakis came to eat, they also had to take into account that Olga was not allowed to eat raw food.
Phil and Mr. Hyunh were moving the furniture and adding more chairs and tables.
The Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room and there were already presents under it since Bob and Miriam had already visited and Stella and Miles couldn't resist putting some presents under it.
Ernie came in with extra wood for the fire and placed it next to the fireplace. He saw that there were already more chairs and tables.
''It's a good thing Suzie and Oskar aren't there. At least then Christmas won't go to hell.'' Ernie said.
"We still have Bob Pataki, but he'll hold back with Arnold around," said Phil.
"Did Mai also come for Christmas?" Ernie asked Mr. Hyunh.
'' No. But she will visiting me with New Years.'' said Mr. Hyunh happy.
"I'm happy for you." Ernie said sincerely and the gentlemen happily continued with their activities.
Upstairs in Arnold's room, Arnold and Gerald were wrapping presents for their family and friends.
They were all small things but it was the thought behind them that counted.
Only Gerald was a klutz when it came to wrapping presents so Arnold did that for him and within an hour Arnold was done.
''Thank you man. I would have been in so much trouble.'' said Gerald.
'' Don't mention it. Besides, you have to go now. Otherwise you'll be late to your own party.'' Arnold said.
''Damn! Later and tell me how Helga reacted to her present!'' said Gerald as he takes the bags full of presents.
"I will!" said Arnold as he starts wrapping his presents.
It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon when the doorbell rang at the Boardinghouse. When Phil opens the door he sees the Pataki family.
'' Welcome! Come on in! It's cold enough already. Be careful not to fall over the cat.'' Phil said as the family enters.
Bob wore a black shirt and a green tie, a color that matched Miriam's green dress.
Miriam looked beautiful with her teased hair and neat make-up.
Olga wore a purple dress and had her hair in a braid with gold glitter in it. She also had purple eye shadow and red lipstick.
"Wow..." Arnold mumbled as he came down the stairs.
Helga stood there with her hair loose, wavy and with light make up. Her light pink dress that reached her knees was beautiful because of the many glitters on it.
Helga blushed but laughed and walked to Arnold who firmly pressed his lips to her hair.
"Hey Football Head.." Helga greeted softly.
"Hey beautiful.." he greeted her back.
In the background, Olga was completely swooning with her belly that was already clearly visible.
Arnold walked over to his 'in-law' family and took Olga's hand and kissed it. Olga giggling. Arnold did the same to Miriam and he punched Bob.
'' Hey Bob, Miriam and the girls, are you going to sit at the table? Dinner is almost ready.'' Stella said.
In a few moments they were all sitting at the table and enjoying the food.
As a starter there was baguette with different butters and 2 types of soup.
The main course was grilled ham with honey mustard sauce, supplemented with salads, baked potatoes and vegetables.
And for dessert there was white chocolate mousse with orange sauce, vanilla ice cream with fruit and whipped cream or crème brulee.
Ernie and Bob were in deep conversation together about running businesses.
Olga and Mr. Hyunh talked about his country's volunteer work during the time of war.
All in all, the dinner was a great success and Bob couldn't suppress a belch, much to Miriam's embarrassment, but Miles and Phil laughed and Gertie was just happy that he had enjoyed it.
After dinner, Helga and Miriam helped clean up. Stella and Miriam cleared the table, Arnold and Helga did the dishes, which together brought back a lot of memories.
''The table is now completely empty. When you're ready, let me know. Then I can start making coffee and tea.'' said Stella.
"That's good, Mom." Arnold said as he cleaned a plate.
As Stella walks away and Helga dries a cup, she stops moving and looks at Arnold.
Arnold looks up and sees Helga looking at him with a question in her eyes.
"What's wrong Helga?" Arnold asks a little worried.
''Arnold, we both know that we will be together forever. Would Stella mind if I called her Mom and Miles Dad?'' Helga asked and Arnold felt warm inside. He had never thought of that himself. Certainly not because Helga always calls her parents Bob or Miriam.
"Isn't that a bit strange since you call your parents by their first names?" Arnold asked and Helga thought.
''That is true, but I have been calling them mom and dad for some time now. It's a bit difficult, isn't it?'' Helga thought.
"You know, Helga, maybe there will come a time when it will all work itself out," Arnold said.
'' Who knows. What I know for sure is that I washed the dishes slowly as you can see.'' Helga said with a sigh and Arnold raised an eyebrow.
"And for what reason do you do that?" Arnold asked. Why would Helga wash the dishes slowly?
''Did you see that cake Olga brought? As soon as they cut a piece out, we will know the sex of the baby.'' Helga said and Arnold almost dropped a glass from his hands.
'' How? How could that baker know that?'' Arnold asked in surprise and Helga shook her head.
'' Olga had an ultrasound where the gender could be seen. Olga didn't see that. The doctor wrote it down and put it in an envelope. Olga gave this envelope to the baker and then the baker knows what color it should be.'' Helga explained.
''Okay, but why were you slowing down? I don't see the connection.'' Arnold said.
''Because our parents want to know too much. They don't leave Olga alone and almost forgot to pick up the cake. And the bickering over whether it will be a boy or a girl..." Helga said in an irritated tone.
''You know what I think? That there's a girl who just wants a moment with her boyfriend..." Arnold said with a grin as he pulled the plug out of the gutter and dried his hands.
Helga dried the last of the cutlery, put the tea towel away and placed her arms around Arnold's neck.
"Since when can you read minds?" Helga asked with a smile.
"Since you are my beauty." Arnold said before he placed his lips on hers and both forgot the world around them.
"How long does it take to clean a few plates?" Bob asked.
"They are indeed busy in the kitchen for a long time," said Ernie.
''It was quite a lot of washing up. Maybe they can't clean the pans properly.'' said Olga.
''Shall I see where they are? Maybe I can get the coffee running already.'' Stella said.
'' Wait a second. I want to test something out..." Phil said and everyone looked at the old man.
''ARNOLD! HELGA! YOU TWO ALREADY HAD DESSERT! STOP HAVING SEX-ONDS!'' shouted Phil with a big grin and everyone was holding in their laughter because they knew what was coming.
In a few seconds, Arnold was standing next to Phil with a red face.
''GRANDPA! What are you doing?! We were still cleaning the kitchen!'' Arnold said embarrassed..
'' To clean? How dirty was the kitchen?'' Phil asked when Helga walks in and sits next to Olga.
"The kitchen was wet from all the suds..." Helga said with a grin that Arnold didn't see, Helga took this chance to tease him and Phil noticed.
Phil hit Arnold hard on the shoulder. ''Well done grandson! You make me proud!"
It took a moment for Arnold to realize what Helga had said and with red ears and cheeks he turned towards Helga.
"Just wait, your turn will come soon." Arnold said and everyone laughed.
The coffee and tea were there and in the middle of the table was a large square cake with white fondant and the blue icing said ''boy'' and the pink icing said ''girl'' with all kinds of question marks around it.
There was wrapping paper everywhere that had been torn off to unwrap presents.
Arnold was moving all his cards, money and photos from his old wallet to the new one.
On Helga's wrist was a charm bracelet with a blue cap, a pink bow, a baseball and a pen hanging from it as charms.
Olga was sitting at the coffee table, on the floor with a knife.
"Well everyone, here it goes!" Olga said nervously and cut the knife through the cake.
She cut a piece and placed the knife at the bottom of the piece of cake and lifted it up, blue cake was visible. Olga was expecting a boy.
Bob jumped up, grabbed Miriam's hand and was lifted off the couch. Then Bob started dancing with Miriam singing, "We're having a grandson."
Helga hugged Olga and the others clapped and congratulated Olga.
Olga smiled broadly and started dividing the cake and placing it on plates, which Helga then handed out.
When everyone is eating the cake, everyone starts talking about what Olga, Helga and Arnold were like as babies and what color eyes the baby would have.
''I'm sure the eyes will be blue since me and Eric have blue eyes. I think the hair will be a surprise.'' said Olga.
"Has that Eric guy even contacted you?" Ernie asked and Olga shook her head no.
The atmosphere changed a bit until My. Hyunh came up with the question for a name. "Do you have a name for your son yet?"
''At least I know Bob, my father's name that my son will bear as a middle name. But I don't have an idea for a first name yet. One name is not the same as another name.'' Olga sighed.
"I think Eduard is still a good name, it sounds good too." Bob said and Helga threw a pillow into his face.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey young lady, what do you think you're doing?" Bob asked.
"Dad, that's child abuse to name your son Eduard and Bob." Helga said sarcastically.
Before things escalated further, Stella intervened.
''It has to be a name that sounds good together with the name Bob, right? And that it can also be a serious name?'' Stella said and Olga nodded.
"I've had a name in mind for a while now," Arnold said cautiously.
Everyone became quiet and looked at Arnold.
"Why didn't you say anything, Arnold?" Miriam asked kindly.
"Uhm, it's a Pataki occasion, right?" Arnold said.
"Arnold, you are already married into us, so say what you have to say." Bob said with a small blush and Helga brightened up at what her father said.
''Okay, thank you. Is that okay, Olga, if I suggest a name?'' Arnold asked Olga.
''Of course, maybe I will like it.'' Olga said with a smile.
''I thought of the name Benjamin. And there is a reason for that. You can abbreviate it to Ben. So the full name is Benjamin Bob Pataki but abbreviated as Ben Bob Pataki...'' Arnold said carefully.
There was silence for a moment until Olga stood up and gave Arnold a hug.
''I like it, Arnold. A very nice name even and the idea behind it.'' Olga said and Arnold smiled.
"Arnold, you are too good for us... Ben Bob Pataki, I love it so much." Bob said with tears in his eyes.
Everyone agreed, Benjamin became the name for the little one and Olga was very proud and happy. This was the best Christmas ever.
Later that evening, when everyone has gone home and Arnold and Helga are still cuddling after their lovemaking and Arnold is playing with Helga's hair, he feels her cheeks pull into a smile on his torso.
"What is it?" he asks.
"You made Olga happy by naming the baby," Helga said.
'' Don't mention it. Hopefully you will have less trouble with it if we ever start expecting a little one.'' said Arnold.
"To be honest, I already have a name for a boy and a girl." Helga said and Arnold half stood up, causing Helga to also half stand up and looked into Arnold's eyes.
"Can I know the names too?" Arnold asked and was answered with a grin.
"Hair boy, when the time is right and I am Mrs. Shortman and there is a little Shortman in my belly, I would like to share the names with you." Helga said teasingly.
Arnold rolled Helga onto her back so that he was on top of her.
''Then I'll have to wait patiently. In the meantime, we can just keep practicing..." Arnold grinned as he grabbed the familiar package from the shelf and tore it open.
"Then we certainly still have 5 or 6 years to go... to practice..." laughed Helga.
Arnold also laughed and placed a lock of hair behind Helga's ear as the two of them became one.
'' Merry christmas. I love you, Helga."
'' Merry christmas. I love you, Arnold."
What do you think of the Christmas special? And the name for Olga's son?
I would like to wish my readers the best Christmas and embrace what you can share with your loved ones around you.
Merry christmas!