The Kids From The Block

The Tale of A+H in a Journal

Nowadays, Arnold writes in a journal, ever since he found his father's in the attic.

Arnold opens his journal and writes,

Today I got mail and its from P.S. 118. I was surprised, because I haven't gotten mail from them in years. It was for a reunion! I want to go but I also don't want to go because, yeah it'll be cool to see the old gang but Helga...

Arnold pauses for a couple seconds, and then resumes,

... I haven't talked to her in years because after that kiss back in fifth grade and people kept teasing us about it, we tried to keep each other away because of rumors. It was fifth grade, okay! Sooner or later junior high came around the corner and still was awkward until a decades dance came. I was in a 70s discothèque outfit that weirdly still fits from 4th grade when I went to the dance with those sixth graders. Gerald did the same, screaming "Black power baby!". Arnold chuckles. It was hilarious. Anyways, we go and we see Helga in a 1980s punk outfit, kind of like what Madonna or Cyndi Lauper would wear.

We stared at each other across the floor. We both wanted to talk to each other, but we just couldn't for a reason. I went to the bathroom and when I came out to the somewhat dark hallway in the school, there she was doing the same. We looked at each other for a couple seconds and then I blurt out, "Hi."

Helga said, "Hey Arnoldo", smirking a bit. "How's it goin'?"

I say its well. Awkward silence comes... And then she spits out, "I miss you. We wouldn't be like this if the class wouldn't shut up about us." I agreed and then she ran and hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. She started walking away and then looked back. She waved and then started talking to Phoebe. Ever since that, we started hanging out more. We went to Wrestlemania together and went to downtown at night and everything is fine, but she just wouldn't be the same at school. It was like she was ashamed of us being together at school and she didn't want anyone to know about us. We had arguments until I made her really explain why. "People would just think differently of me, being soft and whatnot.", Helga said. I thought she was joking and then it hit me: preschool. Ever since I gave her my food and then she got dreamy eyes and people laughed at her, that's how her well-known personality sprang into action.

Anyways, when I thought she cared about us, really she cares about herself and her rep. Ever since that, we stopped talking to each other through middle school, high school and college. And it sucks.

Arnold closes his journal. He gets up to go get ready for a dinner with Gerald and Phoebe at Chez Paris. It's Gerald and Phoebe's 3-year wedding anniversary.