It's About Us

Poem Circle

Helga pressed the doorbell of the boarding house five minutes past 6. Phoebe had come along and was standing next to her. When the door opened, there stood Arnold's mother. A woman with an odd-shaped head like her son. However, she had chestnut brown hair with streaks of grey that she wore proudly.

"Helga sweetie!" Arnold's mother reached out and hugged her. "What are you doing here? Arnold didn't tell us you were coming over. I would have gotten games out to play."

Arnold's mother has become like a real mother figure towards Helga. Over the past 3 years, ever since Helga helped Arnold save his parents, she has spent more time over at the boarding then even her own home. It warms Helga's heart to know that if anywhere, she was welcomed here.

"Stella Darling, remember Arnold said she was coming over to help them with the English project." Arnold's father: a tall, good looking, rugged man with gray-streaked blonde hair: emerged from the kitchen.

Just like Stella, Arnold's father had also become more of a parental figure that Helga's own parents. All the time that she spent with them, both of Arnold's parents had come to love Helga and started to treat her as one of their own. Helga couldn't have been happier.

"OH!" Stella allowed Helga and Phoebe to enter, closing the door behind them. "I forgot. Welcome Phoebe. Everyone is here already. Go on up."

"Everyone?" Helga didn't like that word.

"Yeah! You see..." Stella started to explain but was cut off by her son.

"MOM!" Arnold was peeking down from the top of the railing. "Come on up Helga, Phoebe."

"Everyone?" Helga repeated, still not liking the sound of it.

When Helga got to the top of the staircase, Arnold was already at the opening to his room. Normally, they would show some kind of affection towards one another. Especially since it was only him, her, and Phoebe. Which meant that he was about to drop a bombshell on her. Causing her to get angry.

"Um, Helga. Before you get angry, just listen..." Arnold was at his door, ready to open it to his room.

After the door swung opened, Helga saw why Stella said everyone. Sitting down spread-out all-over Arnold's floor, was their whole crew. Everyone that they hang out with from their class. She could only look at the ground. If she looked at anyone, they would fear for their lives. 

"Who did this?" She asked through clench teeth.

"Well, you see." Arnold kept looking at Helga. "Gerald and I were talking on the bus ride home about how you were coming over to help. It seemed that everyone kind of overheard and asked if they could join."

"And Mister Has to Help, couldn't say no. Am I right?" Helga still talking through gritted teeth.

"Well, I didn't think you would've minded. With them being our friends." Arnold reached out to place his hand on Helga's shoulder.

Helga recoiled before Arnold could lay a single finger on her. Refusing to look at anything except for the ground, she turned around and made a B-line to leave. Arnold followed closely, wanting to explain himself. They rushed pass Phoebe, who just closed the door to give them some privacy.

"Don't worry. Arnold will convince her to help us." Phoebe said confidently as the door latched.

Arnold grabbed ahold of Helga forearm at the top of the stairs. "Helga. Talk to me. I didn't think..."

"YOU'RE RIGHT YOU DIDN'T!" Helga yelled while prying Arnold's hand off her. "All you care about is helping everyone you can. Leaving no room for anyone's else's opinion. You know how I feel about my poetry. Helping you, Phoebe, and Gerald would've been fine. I would've complained but none the less would've been happy to help. However, putting me on the spot like this. It's not okay"