Hey Arnold – Back at home (Chapter 19)
Fanfiction written by djddt
All rights by Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett
Helga was one week in the intensive care. For some days it did not look good for her.
But she recovered much enough, to be relocated to a normal station.
Three students of P.S.118 were on their way to the hospital.
„Stinky, are you sure we should really do this?", Sid asked.
„Of course sid! Why not? A classmate is ill!", Stinky answered.
„But it's Helga of all people!", Sid yelled.
„And she does not deserve a visit? Or what do you mean?", Stinky asked.
„Well, she is just…", Sid wanted to say, but was interrupted by Harold.
„Shut the f**k up, Sid!", Harold bellowed, „Helga is okay, capisce!?"
„WHAT?", Sid screeched, „And that from YOU?"
„Yes, from ME!", Harold answered, „First Patty had to push me to apologize to Helga, but Helga accepted it since then we come along much better!"
„Right! Helga is also just human and we have not made it easy for her all the years!", Stinky added.
„She has not made it easy for US either!", Sid mentioned.
„Yes, but since we don't pick on HER anymore, she is not picking on US anymore!", Stinky said, „Have you not noticed that?"
„Uhm...now that you mention it...yeah...you're right!", Sid answered.
„We should have treated her better sooner!", Harold said, „But i was the worst of us three!"
Harold sighed. Since the halloween party he was overthinking his behavior very often.
They arrived the door to her room and knocked gingerly.
Out of the room they heard a weak „Come in!" and entered.
When they spotted Helga, they were shocked.
She looked pitiful. Pale and even thinner than normal.
„What do YOU want here? I'm too weak to get into a fuss, sorry!", she said quietly.
„Uhm...we just wanted to check how you are!", Harold said carefully.
„Yes, honestly!", Stinky added, „We worried about you!"
Both were looking at Sid, but he did not know what to say.
„Like you can see, i am very miserable, but thanks for caring!", she answered.
Harold approached the bedside table and placed a little floral bouquet on it.
„Here, for you!", he said.
„Oh...that's nice, thanks!", Helga wondered.
„That's the least we can do.", Harold said, „Patty is coming later, too!"
Helga smiled.
„So, we have to go!", Stinky said, „Get well soon! We are missing you at the class!"
„Thanks!", Helga said.
They were leaving, but suddenly Sid turned back and said „Get well, Helga!" and quickly left the room.
Helga had to laugh a little. Somehow she could not be mad at him, for saying nothing before. She even did not expect a visit from them, anyway.
Some minutes later, it again knocked on the door.
„Why don't they just install a revolving door?", she thought to herself.
But when she saw WHO entered, she smiled brightly.
„Helga!", Arnold called.
„Arnold!", Helga called, but very weak.
Arnold kissed her hand tenderly and asked: „How are you?"
„Not that well, but i am still alive!", she smiled.
„I was so afraid!", he whined.
„So were we!", Stella and Miles said, following him into the room.
„Hi Stella. Hi Miles.", she said, glad to see them again.
„I could not imagine a life without you anymore!", Arnold said.
„And without YOU i would be in the madhouse already!", Helga answered.
„Don't say that!", Arnold said shocked.
„But it's true!", Helga answered, „You preserved me of getting insane all the years!"
„We all missed you very much in the borderhouse!", Stella said.
„Even Abner was sad all the time, missing you!", Miles added.
„And in the beginning he was afraid of me.", Helga laughed, „But i'm missing him, too!"
„You are part of our family now!", Arnold smiled.
„Yes…", Helga sighed, „...and i cannot thank you enough for it!"
„It's giving and taking!", Stella said.
„We are all standing together!", Miles added.
Helga teared up and she said: „I...i…uhm...maybe this sounds corny now...and...and...you maybe don't believe me...but...i love you all!"
Now everyone teared up.
Arnold, Stella and Miles hugged Helga with caution.
„We love you too, sweety!", Stella said with shaky voice.
„Most important now is you getting healthy again!", Miles said.
„If you need something, i bring it to you!", Arnold said.
„If i remember something, i call you!", Helga answered.
Arnold kissed Helga on the cheek and the three left the room waving at her.
Helga sighed, but smiled contented.
„The three are so lovingly to me!", she swooned, „They really make me happy!"
It knocked again.
„Who is it now?", she wondered, „Come in!"
It were Rhonda and Nadine.
„Hi Helga...oh my god!", Rhonda shrieked.
„Hi Helga, how are you?", Nadine asked.
„Hi, you two.", Helga answered, too weak to get upset by Rhonda's dramatics.
„I'm better now, but still very weak!", Helga said.
„I believe that!", Rhonda said, „I did not want to be mean, honestly!"
„It's okay!", Helga answered, „I am aware of looking bad!"
„But only because you're ill!", Nadine ensured her.
„Thanks, Nadine!", Helga answered.
Rhonda blushed, because she needed to hold herself back hardly.
Helga noticed it and said: „Come on Rhonda! Let it out! Tell me how ugly and unfashionable i am! For the moment, i don't care!", and rolled her eyes.
„Hey, i am not Harold or Wolfgang!", Rhonda replyed embarrassed. „I never said, you were ugly! Because that would be a lie and i don't lie!"
Helga smiled and said: „Uh, that was a hidden compliment! Thank you, Rhonda!"
„It's just the truth!", Rhonda said, „Since you were your hair open, you even look more girlish!"
„I was wearing a pink jumper and a pink bow! Is that not girly enough?", Helga asked.
„Uhm...well...i...okay, you caught me!", Rhonda siged.
„It's okay!", Helga said, „Let us leave that in the past, okay!?"
„I'd like that!", Rhonda answered.
„We don't want to bother you any longer!", Nadine said, „Please get well quickly, school is so boring without you!"
„Yeah, i can imagine that!", Helga grinned, „Thanks for caring about me!"
The two girls said good bye and left.
At the same time Miriam entered the room.
„Hello my little girl, how are you?", she asked.
„Better, but i am still very weak!", Helga answered.
„Yes, i see!", Miriam said.
„And Bob does not care s**t about my wellbeing like always, right!?", Helga grumbled.
„Yes...you know him,", Miriam sighed.
„You know, i am GLAD he did not stomp into here! I need silence!", Helga said.
„Many visitors today?", Miriam asked.
„Yes. Even more than i could have ever imagined.", Helga answered, „Many has changed this school year and i get along with the others much better now."
„I am glad to hear that!", Miriam smiled. „You deserve it after all this years of misery!"
„How are YOU, by the way?", Helga wanted to know.
„Oh...i am feeling better, thanks! The therapy really helped!", Miriam answered.
„Nice to hear that!", Helga said, „I should hate you for neglecting me,…"
Miriam looked sad.
„...but i can't!", Helga said, „It took me a amount of time to realize it, but i know now that it is not your fault, but BOB it the reason for your mental illness!"
„I really never wanted to neglect you, believe me Helga!", Miriam said shivering, „But i lost control! I tried to solve my problems with alcohol and did not notice, it made everything worse!"
„It's okay Miriam, i understand!", Helga said with a light smile.
„You really are much more mature and smarter than other girls at your age, you know that!?", Miriam smiled.
„Thanks!", Helga answerd, „But that makes childhood not always easier!"
„But you had to mature faster, because of Bob and me letting you alone most of the time!", Miriam sighed.
„Yes, that's true!", Helga answered. „I had to survive somehow!"
„Sorry Helga, but i have to leave now, or Bob get's angry!", Miriam said.
„Okay, get home well!", Helga answered.
Miriam left the room and this time no one else antered.
„I hope it's quiet the rest of the day now!", Helga thought to herself. „Right...Patty will show up. But that's okay!"
Sleepy because of the hubbub, her eyes closed and she sleeped a little.