It's About Us

An Unscheduled Break

Helga stood at the base of the stoop to the Sunset Arms. Phoebe had come up with an excuse, so she just left Helga there. She loved coming here. It's the only place that treats her like her she's wanted. Helga took in a deep breath and steady herself for the talk she will have to have with Arnold. Helga lifted her hand to knock on the door, but it flew open before she had a chance. 

Miles stood in the doorway, smiling widely. "Helga, we were wondering when you'd get here. Come on in! Arnold said you were joining us for dinner. We made your favorite." 

Miles pulled Helga in for a big hug. Love. It was nice. A family. She definitely didn't want to lose this, but something was about to change. Something needed to change. If not, she'd have to give up the only good thing she had in her life.

Helga followed Miles to the dining room. All of the tenants were already sitting around the table. Greeting her as she enters the room. Sound was heard coming from a kitchen. Moments later, Stella walked in with the main course. 

"Helga, darling. I'm so glad you could come for dinner. We've missed you." Stella sat down and motioned for Helga to sit next to her.

Arnold snuck up on Helga from behind. Placing his hand on her upper back, he directed her to the seat next to his mother. The dinner was pleasant, and every question that was directed at her she answered with a smile. She wanted this dinner to go well. Since it could be her last here.

Arnold could see something was off. Helga's smile didn't reach her eyes. He was happy she was here after the afternoon he had, but she was unaware of his day. So, she shouldn't have been upset. After dinner, he'll talk to her about it.

"So, I heard you got a new swimsuit. Arnold was talking about it." Stella said between bites.

"Yeah, it's a very grown-up one." Helga chewed not making eye contact.

"I remember buying my first grown-up swimsuit." Stella reminisced. "Boys started to notice me. It made my confidence grow. It's great to know boys wanted your attention. Especially, if you were like us."

"Like us?" Helga looked at Stella.

"Yeah. Late bloomers. The rough and tumble type. Boyish that don't take no crap." Stella shook her fist in the air.

"So, is it okay if older boys pay attention to you? Like, them giving out their number?" Helga looked embarrassed.

Glancing at Miles before looking to her son, Stella figured out what happened today that brought Helga to dinner. "Helga, did you get attention and a phone number from an older boy today?"

"Yeah, I was in the swimsuit that I ended up purchasing. He said I looked great and then gave me his number. I told him I wasn't interested, yet he still gave it to me." Helga looked upset.

"As you grow up, you'll get more and more attention from boys and men. It's okay to feel uncomfortable about it. As it's also okay to feel flattered. It doesn't mean you give those men the okay to push you to do something you don't want." Stella looked sympathetically. "If you told him that you weren't interested, then throw the number away. He doesn't deserve another moment of your time or thoughts."

Helga took another bite of her dinner. What Stella said rolled around in her head. Knowing that Chad is only the beginning, she wasn't ready to deal with all the unwanted attention. This new figure of hers wasn't what she wanted, but it's hers now. She needs to figure out a way to be strong enough to tell off the guys that push her.

"You are going to throw the number away, right?" Arnold asked, since Helga's silence was worrying him.

"Yeah...of course..." Helga was still distracted but got angry when she saw her answer didn't soothe Arnold. "What's with you?"