Hey Arnold: I Promise You That

First Day in Sixth Grade

Arnold awoke to the sound of silence. He laid still in his bed, feeling motionless and lost. For a moment, he couldn't figure out where he was or what was happening in his bedroom was it a dream? Or was there something that I forgot? Suddenly, he sat up, gasping. He realised that he did forgot and he had to find the thing that he'd lost.

Arnold jumped out of bed and headed towards the stairs, calling out for his parents. When we went down the first and second flight of stairs, he quickly ran into the hallway before stopping in the kitchen. However, he wasn't walking into a peaceful meeting.

Standing next to his Grandpa, Arnold could see all the House Attendants demanding what they wanted for their breakfast. Even Arnold's Grandma got involved, holding a sign above the air which said, Strike! Grandpa didn't say anything; he was tired of listening to their complaints and he wasn't going to do anything about it.

Nor Grandpa, Grandma or the others paid any attention to Arnold and he could really see it.

Arnold's eyes began to fill with tears, knowing that everything was a dream and his parents weren't in the kitchen or the Boarding House. Then -

"Breakfast is served", cried a voice. "Eggs in a Basket".

Arnold saw a familiar figure walking into the kitchen, and was followed by another. The couple were carrying plates of fried eggs that were stuck to extremely brown toast, which they then placed them onto the table.

"Don't you mean Toad in a Hole?" asked Grandma.

"We call it Eggs in a Basket", replied the woman. Smiling, she and her husband, gazed into each other's eyes; they were happy to be home and they couldn't ask for more.

And nor could Arnold. Jumping for joy, he ran towards them. "Mum! Dad! You're back!"

"Hey Arnold!" Both parents welcomed their son with open arms. The three of them were back together and this time (Arnold hoped), it was for good.

Arnold's Mum dried her son's eyes before kissing his forehead. She and his Dad knew the trauma he had to deal with for the last 10 years of his life and the shock of disbelief when Arnold woke up every morning when they weren't in the kitchen for breakfast.

"Where you having the same dream again? Where you never found us?" his Dad asked.

"Yeah, the same dream I've been having all summer", replied Arnold.

"It's not dream, Arnold", said his Mum. "You really came and rescue us. And now we are really back home with you". Arnold and his Dad, Miles looked at Stella with glittering eyes. She was right; both she and Miles were reunited with Arnold - their son. Still smiling, she turned to her beloved boys. "What do you say that we go on an adventure today? I read that the city Botanical Gardens has a new Rainforest exhibit".

"Sounds great, but it's actually the first day of school". Arnold desperately wanted to spend more time with his parents, but he was too excited for school.

It was the start of a new beginning.

Arnold had a memorable summer. Since his return from San Lorenzo, Arnold was reunited with his parents and he fell in love with a girl who hated (but secretly loved) him. He even saw his best friend ending up in a relationship with his girlfriend's best friend.

Between the five of them, Arnold managed to spend an equal amount of time with them. Arnold was happy. He never felt more happier in his life.

~

"Look! Look at it!"

In a small and damp room, a sleepy girl awoke to the sounds of giant screams, which echoed around the apartment. She felt a punch inside her stomach when she heard her "alarm clock" go off; and that meant one thing.

"Sarah! SARAH!!!! Come and have a look this!!!!"

Moaning very loudly, Sarah climbed out of her sleeping bag and walked out of the living room whilst putting on her dressing gown.

Sarah was a troubled 11 year old who lived with her stepfamily. She was recently orphaned and with her stepmother and stepsisters, they were forced to move from London to Hillwood, following an unexpected situation that happened a year ago. The family were rich, thanks to her stepmother's business in the fashion industry. After the move (and feeling shocked), she went broke and was unable to pay off her debts. Sarah's stepmother, Cassandra didn't blame herself for the incident; after all, she thought, it wasn't my fault.

She, her daughters and Sarah all lived in a block of flats, on the opposite side of Vine Street. It wasn't a grand place and it was very crowded but Sarah didn't mind. All she cared about was attending her family's "needs".

In the kitchen, Sarah was greeted by a stubborn Cassandra and her bad tempered daughters, named Bonnie, Annabelle and Mary-Belle; they starred at her when Sarah entered the kitchen. This only meant one thing - Sarah was in trouble.

"I expected you to help clean the laundry and help your sister's for their first day at High School but I see you decided to neglect them and your chores". She forced a dirty shirt in front of Sarah's face to show how bad she was. "Thanks to you, we have no clothes to wear for the rest of this week!"

"Thanks to you, I've got a stain on my new skirt I was going to wear today!" whined Annabelle.

"And my new socks!" screamed Bonnie.

"I'm sorry, Bonnie", Sarah replied. "I was getting ready for school".

"Oh, yes", said Cassandra sarcastically. "I forgot about your first day at PS18.

"I'll let you off this time but make sure you start running the washing machine once you get back. And before you go to school, you have to cook us breakfast and organise the girls' bags".

"Yes, Cassandra", said Sarah. As she made her way to the fridge to collect a carton of eggs, her stepsisters began to snicker behind her back. Sighing sadly, Sarah collected the carton and starting the cooker. Thinking inside her head, she began to think about how her life ended up like this. Before she moved to America, Sarah never knew that her family would show her their true colours and it broke her heart when they started the cruel treatment towards her. How I wish I was back in London now, she said to herself. Although she dreamed of going back, Sarah knew it was impossible now, but one day she will come back and soon, she'd be happy once again.