Only eighteen.

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February 12, 2003.

Arnold quickly runs out the door to walk to school, quickly as to avoid trouble from his grandparents in the living room.

At class, It didn't take so long until Arnold dozed off into his imagination. Dragons in space.

Today,

A new student had arrived.

"Velda Packwood."

Arnold stopped daydreaming.

She sat down next to Arnold.

She was very, very pretty. Blond hair tied into a ponytaik and her eyebrows were a bit bushy, but it made her more gorgeous.

Arnold looked at her. He blushed.

She must've been the most beautiful girl he had seen.

He imagined how great of a life could have with her..

Saving her from evil monsters, he would think.

February 13, 2003.

After school, he began walking home.

Ruth saw him and began to make fun of him and so did Martha, as always.

Ruth had braces, short brunette messy hair and she wasn't friendly, at all.

Martha was a scrawny redhead and her hair was braided into pigtails.

As for Arnold, he was rather average, though his blond hair might be considered wild, as it was standing up on each sides in a way a little hard to describe. His head was a little disformed, making it look like a football, lemon or taco.

The new girl, Velda stepped in.

She scared Ruth and Martha off and walked away.

Now, Arnold was more in love.

February 14, 2003.

Friday.

When he came back home, his grandparents did as they always would.

Yell.

February 15, 2003.

Arnold goes to church with his grandparents.

He sees Velda, and waves.

Velda waves back.

Arnold's grandfather snaps him out of it.

When they got back home,

more yelling.

February 16, 2003.

Arnold had an idea. He did not ask out Velda on Valentine's day.

He didn't care to make a full of himself.

He had gone through so much already.

Just the thought of her saying "yes".;

February 17, 2003.

Arnold sees Velda outside of school.

Bravely, he walks up to Velda and asks her to be his late valentine.

Ruth and Martha laugh at him,

but Velda accepted.

February 19, 2003.

Arnold had been beaten by his grandfather.

He went outside to play with his bestfriend Gerald who was worried.

Arnold told him it was nothing.

Gerald told his mother.

His mother, worried, also confronted Arnold.

Again, he said it was nothing.

They wouldn't buy it.

February 20, 2003.

The cops arrived at Arnold's house in suspicion of child abuse,

but nothing.

His grandparents were angry as the cops were gone.

He tried to avoid them.

He ran up the stairs,

but a lamp was thrown at his forehead.

February 27,  2003.

He tried to assure Velda, Gerald, Iggy, Heidi, and Nadine it was nothing.

He tried to assure everyone it was nothing.

In the hospital,

he was surrounded.

No one could save him.

March 2, 2003.

Arnold's funeral.

Being reminded of this, Ruth and Martha could regret so much.

Arnold Waltz, 2003.Where stories live. Discover now