Hey Arnold: I Promise You That

Love Lasts Forever

August and September had come to their conclusions. October was approaching upon Hillwood. All over the towns, the streets and the park was filling with multi-coloured leaves: red, brown and yellow, steadily falling to the ground. The sidewalks were covered with leaves - and a few conquers.

The town was also in full swing as residents and shop keepers began to hang up their decorations for Halloween. Everywhere you went, there were pumpkins, ghosts, candy and costumes.

Everyone was excited for Halloween - but no one was more excited than Rhonda. In the last week of a September, she learnt that her parents were allowing her to organise a party for her friends.

Rhonda wanted her party to be perfect and in order to that, she had to think of a plan - but it was much to her disliking. And that plan was to invite everybody in her class - including the people she didn't like.

As the school day came to an end, Freya and Sarah were having a discussion.

Freya was telling Sarah about the Liverpool scorer team. Sarah became fascinated with the team - and British football in particular. Freya was about to get to the part about how Liverpool made it to the Champions League when Rhonda came up to them. She carried envelopes in her hand and presented it to the girls. 

"Here's an invitation to my Halloween party, Sarah", she said solemnly. "I hope you'll come. Everyone will love you be there".

"Erm - thank you?" replied Sarah.

"Don't mention it. And remember, it's a costume party, so don't come in with your regular clothes".

"Deffo!" cried Freya.

"Well, see you then", Rhonda walked away with her head held high. Freya and Sarah couldn't figure out why.

"What a divvy", Freya whispered.

"Freya, that isn't kind", Sarah replied.

"Soft Lad, then?"

"Sounds right to me", Sarah chuckled. "So, I'll see you at the party then?"

"Deffo, bestie".

---

After Sarah and Freya said their goodbyes, Sarah walked away from the grounds and headed towards the park. She felt the rays of the sun warming her cheeks and the wind stroking her hair. But that was the least of her problems. 

Sarah had never been invited to a party before, so she didn't have a clue what she should do. Apart from her regular clothes, she had nothing to wear, let alone money to spend. Cassandra will never give her a cent for a new outfit and her stepsisters would make fun of her. The thoughts had rushed into Sarah's head and she started to feel a sharp pain in her shoulder. She was feeling stressed. She needed to calm down.

With some luck, Sarah found a playground. It was completely empty. With no hesitation, she quickly rushed into the area and headed over to the swings. With her backpack still on her back, Sarah sat on the swing and with a small push, she lifted her feet off the ground. Gently, she swung back and forth, taking in the soft cool breeze. Sarah didn't know how long she had been there before. But she didn't care. Sarah doesn't have a lot of time to herself, so it was a rare opportunity.