HEY ARNOLD!
FAN-FICTION STORY
By Megawacky Max

Original found at - http://megadimension.freeservers.com/fanficing_beatles02.htm

Part 2: The great meeting

Arnold and Gerald are in the park throwing a baseball to each other. Gerald looks quite bored.

Gerald: (Bored) Man, this is boring! Where is everybody? We are the only two kids in the whole park!

Arnold: (A bit bored too) Yeah... Maybe you're right, Gerald.

Gerald: (Stops throwing baseball) Maybe?! MAYBE??!! Arnold, look around you! Do you see any other kids? NO! We are the only two kids in this park!

Arnold: (Sighs) Well, so, what do you want to do?

Gerald: (Calms down) I really don't know... We could go to Dino Land.

Arnold: It's Saturday. I'm sure Dino Land is totally full of kids. I really want something more... relaxing.

Gerald: OK, so, let's go fishing!

Arnold: (Smiles) yeah, why not? OK, then! Let's go fishing!

Gerald: You're on, buddy!

The two of them do the special "Secret Handshake".

Arnold: I must go back to the boarding house to pick up my fishing rod, and some other equipment.

Gerald: I'll follow you.

Arnold: So, let's go!

Arnold and Gerald leave the park and run to the boarding house. At that same moment, Helga and Phoebe enter the park.

Phoebe: (While running) hurry up, Helga! Arnold's right here!

Helga: (While running) I'm doing my best, Phoebe!

Phoebe and Helga stop running. Phoebe looks to the place where Arnold and Gerald were a few minutes ago.

Phoebe: (Confused) I don't get it. They were here just a few minutes ago!

Helga: There's only grass, Phoebe! Maybe you need new glasses!

Phoebe: Helga, they WERE here! I'm sure of it!

Helga: So, where are they NOW?

Phoebe: They can't be far! Let's see if we can find them!

While Phoebe and Helga try to find Arnold, he and Gerald are already in the boarding house. They are in Grandpa's fishing room.

Arnold: (Thoughtfully) Hmmm... Gerald, what kind of fishing rod must I use?

Gerald: That depends ... what kind of fish do you want to catch?

Arnold: It doesn't matter, Gerald. I just want to have fun! I'll take this one.

Arnold grabs a ten-foot fishing rod.

Gerald: Wow! That's what I call a fishing rod!

Arnold: I've got the fishing rods, a net, some fishhooks ... I think we're ready to go.

Gerald: Let's move, Arnold! Watch out, fishes! We have a fishhook with your name on it!

Arnold and Gerald exit the fishing room. Grandpa is in the hall and stops them.

Grandpa: Wow, wow, wow! What's all that stuff? Are you going to start a fishing war, or someint?

Arnold: No, we are just going to fishing, Grandpa.

Grandpa: (Thoughtfully) Hmmm, sounds nice, Short-man. I would like to go with you, but I've gotta fix some problems here.

Gerald: (Sarcastically) Oh, that's too bad. Sorry, Phil. And now, let's go, Arnold!

Arnold and Gerald keep moving, until Grandpa says...

Grandpa: ... Some REALLY BIG problems.

Arnold: (Stops walking and turns slowly to his grandfather) Do you... want me to help you?

Gerald: (Bemused) WHAT?!

Grandpa: Well, now that you mention it, I do need some help here!

Arnold: (To Gerald) Sorry, Gerald. We can go fishing this afternoon. Alright?

Gerald: Well... Yeah, whatever you say, Arnold? See you later, man!

They do the "Secret Handshake".

Arnold: Bye, Gerald!

Gerald leaves the boarding house. Meanwhile, back in the park, Helga is fed up with the search.

Helga: That's enough! I'm sick of looking for that stupid football head! I'm going home!

Phoebe: But, Helga, they MUST be around here!

Helga: Listen, Phoebe... I'm tired. Do you hear me? I'm TIRED! That means I'm FED UP with this stupid search! They aren't here!

Phoebe: They must be! Well, in that case, I'm going home too. See you later, Helga.

Helga: Yeah, sure... (remembers) OH, YEAH! Phoebe, remember not to tell ANYBODY about me and... er... you-know-who. Can I trust you?

Phoebe: Make sure of that! My lips are sealed.

Phoebe starts walking. On the way back home Phoebe meets Gerald in the street.

Gerald: Hey, hi, Phoebe! How are you?

Phoebe: Gerald? Where have you been? I was looking all over for you!

Gerald: (Surprised) Me? Why?

Phoebe: Because... (then she remembers her promise) ... oh... I forget it. Funny, uh?

Gerald: Hope it was nothing important?

Phoebe: Er... no, it wasn't. Uhmmm ... say ... where's Arnold, anyway?

Gerald: Arnold? He's in his house. Well, he actually could be fishing in the lake with me, but NO, Arnold was too busy.

Phoebe: Oh, what a pity!

Gerald: That's OK. We'll go fishing this afternoon.

Phoebe: Really? (She has an idea) What a coincidence! Helga and I are going fishing too!

Gerald: On the same afternoon?

Phoebe: Yup, that's what I said!

Gerald: Quite interesting. Maybe we could go in the same boat. That would be ... nice.

Phoebe: (To Gerald, with THAT look) ... yeah... It would be nice...

Gerald: Now I must leave. See you this afternoon, Phoebe. Bye!

Gerald starts walking again. Phoebe follows him with THAT look.

Phoebe: ... bye ... (sighs)

A few minutes later, Phoebe is at Helga's room. She's telling Helga the news.

Helga: You WHAT??!!

Phoebe: I told Gerald we'll go fishing this afternoon. Arnold will be there too!

Helga: Why in all the heck did you do that? What's the big idea?

Phoebe: Helga, it's easy. Once in the boat, in the middle of the lake, you'll be able to speak with Arnold! Don't you see?

Helga: (Sarcastic) Oh, yeah, sure! And, what if he goes in the boat with Gerald?

Phoebe: Don't worry about that. I'll take care of him. (She giggles).

Helga: What?

Phoebe: Just trust me. This afternoon you and Arnold will be in the same boat, in the middle of the lake.

Helga doesn't say anything. She's thinking the possibilities of the plan.

Helga: You know, Pheebs ... It's good to have a friend like you. Thanks!

Phoebe: (Smiles) you're welcome, Helga.

Later, that day, Arnold and Gerald are at the docks, waiting for Helga and Phoebe.

Arnold: (Looks at his pocket clock) are you sure they will come THIS afternoon? We've been here for hours!

Gerald: Be patient, Arnold. They'll come.

At that moment, Helga and Phoebe appear. They get approach to the boys.

Phoebe: So, here we are, guys! Are we going to go fishing, or what?

Arnold: Finally! I thought you wouldn't be here in time!

Helga: Zip it, football head! C'mon, let's go fishing!

Phoebe just glares at Helga. The two girls go to their boat, the OLGA 1. Once there, Phoebe thinks it's time to act.

Phoebe: Alright, Helga. Remember the plan?

Helga: Sure, I do! This will be great!

Phoebe: OK, now it's time! Climb aboard!

Helga and Phoebe board the boat and start leaving the coast.

Helga: (To Arnold) hey, football head! See you later!

Arnold: (Angry, to himself) That girl ...

Phoebe: (Whispers to Helga) Now, Helga! Now!

Helga: (Whispers to Phoebe) OK ... Let's do it.

Helga makes a hole in the boat with a pocketknife. The boat starts filling up with water.

Helga: It's done, Pheebs!

Phoebe: So, let the show begin!

Meanwhile, at the coast, Arnold and Gerald are ready to climb aboard their boat.

Gerald: The boat is ready! Let's go, Arnold! Those fishes are waiting for us!

Arnold: Right... (he hears something coming  from Helga's boat) ... wait! What was that?

Gerald: What was what?

Helga: (From the boat) help! Help! We are sinking!

Phoebe: (From the boat) please, help us!

Arnold: That!!

Arnold and Gerald turn their view to the sinking boat.

Gerald: Oh, that! It's just Helga and Phoebe sinking. (He pauses, then realizes)

Gerald & Arnold: SINKING!!!

Arnold: C'mon! We've got to help them!

Gerald: I'll help Phoebe (smiles) ... but Helga's on her own!

Arnold: (Hurriedly) GERALD! C'MON!

Gerald: (Reluctantly) OK, OK!

The boys push the boat to the water and they both climb aboard. They start rowing to the sinking boat.

Helga: Hey, guys! Hurry up, please!

Arnold: (Angrily) Awww! Just Be patient! We're on our way!

Arnold's boat approaches to the girls.

Gerald: Yeah, that's it! Come on, Phoebe, Helga! Climb aboard!

Arnold and Gerald help Phoebe and Helga to climb aboard. Finally, they are safe in the boat.

Helga: Gee... Thanks, I guess.

Phoebe: Yeah, thanks.

Gerald: (Looking at Phoebe) you're welcome.

Phoebe sneezes loudly.

Gerald: Whoa, what a sneeze! Bless you, Pheebs!

Phoebe: Oh ... thanks again. I think I've got a cold, or something like that.

Arnold: Are you feeling alright?

Phoebe: I... I don't think so. Could you bring me back to the coast, please?

Gerald: Sure, we can.

The guys row to the coast. Once there, Phoebe jumps out of the boat.

Phoebe: Oh... Gerald... May I ask you something?

Gerald: Me? Well, yes. What do you want?

Phoebe: I'm not feeling fine at all. Could you help me back to my house?

Gerald: (Doubtful) Well ... I ... actually ... you see ...

Phoebe: (Slowly, with THAT look in her eyes) ... Pleeeease?

Gerald: (Smiles) Of course. Come on, let's go.

Helga: (Disgusted) Awww! I think I'm gonna puke!

Gerald jumps out the boat too.

Arnold: (Disappointed) Hey, wait! What happened with the fishing?

Phoebe: Why don't you go with Helga? She wants to.

Arnold: Er ... I don't know. What do you think, Helga?

Helga: (Tries to keep from blushing) I don't mind.

Arnold: In that case... oh, what the heck! Alright, let's go! See you later, Gerald!

Gerald: (Calls back) yeah, right, man!

Phoebe: Bye, Helga! Take care! (She winks at her)

Helga: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure, whatever!

Arnold and Helga leave the coast and row to the center of the lake. Phoebe looks at them while they move away.

Gerald: Let's go, Phoebe. You need some rest if you want to get rid of that cold.

Phoebe: I've got no cold, Gerald.

Gerald: (Confused) Huh?

Phoebe: Let's go home. I'll tell you all in the way.

Back to the boat, Arnold is fishing at one side of the boat and Helga is at the other side, also fishing.

Arnold: Too bad Phoebe and Gerald miss this. I'm sure they'll love it.

Helga: (Smiles) ... love... (sighs)

Arnold: (Turns around) What?

Helga: (Back to reality) Er... nothing!

Arnold: Oh ... OK ...

Arnold turns back to his fishing rod. Helga looks at him out of the corner of one eye.

Helga: (To herself) OK, Dear Helga... This is the moment you were expecting all your life. You are in the middle of a lake, alone, just with Arnold's company. Helga, THIS is the moment of truth. (Turns to Arnold) Umm ... Arnold...

Arnold: (Keeps his eyes on his fishing rod) Yeah, what's up?

Helga: Do you...? I mean... Do you ever...?

Arnold: (Inquisitively) Yes ... ?

Helga: Well... I... I... Oh, it's something really hard to say.

Arnold: (Turns his view to Helga) Is it something important?

Helga: I... Uh... (turns her view too and looks at Arnold) Yes. It's very important.

Arnold: (turns back again to his fishing rod) So, tell me. I'm listening to you.

Helga: It's only that ... you see... Arnold, did you ever... fall in love with someone?

- End of part 2 -