Chapter 2: Secret Revealed
Monday after school in Wolfgang's house. Wolfgang and Helga are busy setting up the three plants in the house. Helga finishes putting one by the windowsill in the kitchen, just as Wolfgang finishes with the one by the living room window. They both decide the last one will be set in Wolfgang's bedroom window.
Wolfgang: Ok, what types of music did you choose for each plant?
Helga grabs the cassettes from one of the end tables in the living room and glances at the titles.
Helga: Well, one of them is classical and the other is heavy metal.
Wolfgang grabs one of the cassette decks that he retrieved earlier from his room and replaces his cassette with the heavy metal one. He sets it next to the plant by the living room window and turns it on. Helga can see Wolfgang cringe as the awful music blares through the speakers.
Wolfgang: Holy cow, how can people listen to that crap? (rubs his ears) It's like permanent ear damage waiting to happen.
Wolfgang wanders over to the living room and places the other cassette deck with the classical tape and turns it on.
Wolfgang: (sighs and says to himself) This is more like it.
Helga: (looks at Wolfgang quizically) I never pictured him much of a classical fan. Of course, I can't picture him as much of anything besides a bully who likes to boss kids around and tease them to death.
Helga realizes what she is thinking and stares mischiviously at Wolfgang.
Helga: (chuckles and says to herself) Now I have something on Wolfgang.
Wolfgang glances over his shoulders at Helga, who's staring intently at him. He shakes himself from his dream world and glares at Helga.
Wolfgang: Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer.
Helga lowers her eyes at Wolfgang and crosses her arms over her chest.
Helga: (sarcastically) Just hand me a camera, and I'll be glad to take your picture. But then again, taking a picture of your face might accidently break the camera lens. And I wouldn't want that to happen. (smiles sweetly)
Wolfgang walks over to Helga with his fists clenched tightly. Just before he gets too far, the hanging clock over the dining room table chimes 4 times.
Wolfgang: (grabs his coat) I have to be somewhere about now, so you know the way out.
Before Helga has a chance to say anything, Wolfgang pushes her out the door. Helga crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Wolfgang as he locks the door. He runs past her, jumps on his bike, and races down the street.
Helga: (thinks) I wonder where he's off to in such a hurry? I could follow him and find out.
Before Helga can make a final decision, Stinky and Sid see her on Wolfgang's stoop and run over to her.
Sid: Wow, you've actually been in Wolfgang's house! What's it like?
Stinky: Is it full of dirty laundry, rats 'n cobwebs, and rotting trash like the folks say?
Helga glares at Sid and Stinky and jumps off of Wolfgang's steps.
Helga: It's none of your business what his house is like. If you want to know so badly, why don't you ask Wolfgang? Criminey!
Helga hops on her bike and heads home while Sid and Stinky stare after her. Just as she's about home, she spots a flier nailed to one of the telephone polls. Helga parks her bike next to the pole and reads the flier.
Helga: (outloud) Do you have a special musical talent? Auditions are being held from 4-6 Monday through Friday at Caudell Hall. Please come and share your musical gift! 1st prize winner will receive $500, 2nd place winner will receive a year's pass to Dinosaur Land, and 3rd prize winner will get a $50 gift certificate to spend at any mall of their choice. The last day to try out is Monday. If you have any questions, please call Rita Preston at 555-8767.
Helga: I wonder if that's where Wolfgang went to in such a hurry. (looks at watch) Oh, crap. I can't go and find out anyway. I better be home in time for Dad's beeper commercial or I'll never hear the end of it.
Helga races down the street and gets home just in time. Meanwhile at Caudell Hall...
Mrs. Preston: Taylor, the drums go over here. Dawn, bring the guitar over in front of the drums, and Stacey, set the microphone over by me.
Wolfgang walks up to the microphone and taps it.
*feedback*
Wolfgang: Testing, testing.
Wolfgang's voice echoes throughout the auditorium.
Mrs. Preston: Ok, Wolfgang. You've been to every audition and today's when I choose who will be in the competition. Are you ready to show your stuff?
Wolfgang looks out across the stage at some of the people who have come to see the chosen ones for the show. Among those is Mrs. Matthews.
Mrs. Matthews: You can do it, Wolfgang! Make your momma proud!
A few chuckles echo throughout the auditorium and Wolfgang blushes.
Wolfgang: Mother!
Mrs. Preston: Ok, Kris is ready on the drums and Alex is on the guitar. Our back-up singer, Joel is ready. How about you, Wolfgang?
Wolfgang: Yes, ma'am. (clears throat) I'm going to sing part of a song called, Do You Believe In Magic?
Kris gets the tempo going with his drums and Alex starts playing the guitar.
Wolfgang: Tonight in my hand, I place this magic ring. If I wanted to fly, I'd close my eyes and go away 'cause I can go back in time to save the one I love. This magic ring will take me to any place I think of. Do you believe in magic? (back-up singer - *Do, do you now?*) Do you believe in dreams? (back-up singer - *Do, do, do you now?*) I believe my wishes are held inside this ring. Do you believe in magic? (back-up singer - Do, do you now?) Do I believe in dreams? (back-up singer - *Do, do, do you now?*) I believe my wishes are held inside this magic ring.
*short pause* Kris still playing drums and Alex still playing guitar.
Wolfgang: I know I've got these tests I must prove. When I prove myself right before my eyes will it be you? I can go back in time to save the one I love. This magic ring will take me to any place I dream of. Do you believe in magic? (back-up singer - *Do, do you now?*) Do you believe in dreams? (back-up singer - *Do, do, do you now?*) I believe my wishes are held inside this magic ring.
*fades out*
Wolfgang waits and is shocked with what he gets. The people in the auditorium, including his mother, stand up and clap loudly.
Wolfgang: A standing ovation? Wow, guess I was better than I thought.
Mrs. Preston smiled over at Wolfgang and writes something down in her notebook.
Mrs. Preston: Well, it looks like you're in the competition, Wolfgang. Congratulations.
Wolfgang: (smiles) Wow, this is so totally excellent!
Mrs. Preston hands Wolfgang a piece of paper.
Mrs. Preston: This has all the information you'll need for the competition. If you want, you can come back tomorrow and help me out a bit.
Wolfgang: I'd love to, Mrs. Preston, but I have somewhere else to be tomorrow. I'm working on a science fair project for school.
Mrs. Preston: (smiles) Don't worry about it, Wolfgang. (glances at her watch) Well, I have a few more auditions to listen to. I'll see you back again, two weeks from this Saturday, okay?
Wolfgang: Sure thing, Mrs. Preston.
Wolfgang meets up with his mom as they leave the auditorium.
Mrs. Preston: (calling after Wolfgang) You take care of that voice now, Wolfgang. We wouldn't want you getting sick.
Wolfgang turns around and waves to Mrs. Preston.
Wolfgang: Don't worry, I'll take care of my voice and myself. (thinks) I just hope Helga won't be the death of me.
The following Monday at Helga's house. Wolfgang brings over the plants, the cassettes and the cassette deck, as well as the project paper and notes they've been keeping from the earlier week. Wolfgang sets them on the stoop and knocks on the Pataki's front door.
Bob Pataki: Could you get the door, Olga? I'm right in the middle of watching one of my beeper commercials.
Helga: Sure, Dad, but it's Helga! H-e-l-g-a. HELGA!
Bob Pataki: Right, right.
Helga, groaning, walks up to the front door and opens it. Wolfgang grabs the plants from the stoop and wanders inside.
Helga: (sarcastically) Come right in, Wolfgang! Make yourself at home.
Wolfgang: (smiles) Thanks. Anyway, where should we set these up in your house? I brought everything with me including the paper on the plants reaction to heavy metal, classical, and absolutely nothing.
Helga: Let me think. How about we put one of them in the kitchen window, atop the piano in the sunroom, and one in my bedroom.
Helga grabs two of the plants from Wolfgang and puts them in their places. Wolfgang sets up the cassette decks and turns on the music. Wolfgang makes his way upstairs with the other plant and stops at the top.
Wolfgang: Which bedroom is yours, Helga?
Helga shrieks and races up the stairs, blocking Wolfgang from opening a door.
Helga: (groans) Criminey, Wolfgang! This isn't your house. You just don't go barging in, thinking you have run of the place. You have your rules at your house, and I have mine. And the #1 rule at my house is, no boys allowed in my room!
Wolfgang rolls his eyes and hands Helga the last plant.
Wolfgang: Sorry, Helga. You don't need to have a cow.
Helga: (glares at Wolfgang) You need to have some manners! Of course, I wouldn't expect much from someone such as yourself.
Helga pushes Wolfgang out of her way and into her room, slamming the door in his face. Helga sets up the plant in her bedroom window and looks around quickly. She tiptoes over to her closet, opens the door and walks inside to the very back. Just as she turns on the light, her Arnold sculpture that she has spent so much time and effort on, is revealed.
Helga: Oh, Arnold. All these days pass by and I still have not found the courage to express my true feelings. (sighs) One of these days, my love, I shall lead you astray, no more.
Helga reaches over to kiss her sculpture, when she feels eyes staring at her from inside her closet. Helga panicks and then screams as loud as she can. Helga jumps from her sitting position and tackles the intruder to the floor. Before the intruder has a chance to make a sound, Helga grabs a sheet from her closet and tosses it over the intruder.
Helga: I got you now, Wolfgang!
Helga drags the intruder out of the closet and closes the door. She walks over to her bedroom door and opens it, and is shocked at what she sees.
Helga: Wolfgang?!?
Wolfgang glances up from a piece of paper he's reading and looks at Helga.
Wolfgang: You look like you've seen a ghost.
Helga lets go of the sheet covering the intruder.
Helga: If you're here, Wolfgang. Then who is that?
The sheet is pulled off by the intruder and is revealed to be Phoebe. Phoebe gasps for air and stands up shakily.
Phoebe: Thanks for the warm welcome, Helga.
Helga walks over to Phoebe and hugs her.
Helga: Oh, Phoebe! I'm so sorry! I thought it was Wolfang and...
Wolfgang raises an eyebrow at Helga.
Wolfgang: Oh, so you think that after you told me to stay out of your room, that I'd still go in there? Man, that's pretty harsh, Helga.
Helga: Can you blame me? I mean you're always...
Phoebe: (interrupts) Helga, could I talk to you for a minute?
Helga and Phoebe go back into Helga's room to talk, while Wolfgang heads downstairs. Wolfgang sits down at the kitchen table and listens to the classical music playing. Bob Pataki wanders in from the living room to fix himself a snack when he notices Wolfgang.
Bob Pataki: You must be Helga's little friend that's helping her with this science project.
Wolfgang stands up from the table and looks directly into Bob Pataki's eyes.
Wolfgang: (sternly) Do I look little to you?
Bob Pataki: (laughs) You got a lot of guts, kid, to be standing up to me. (grabs a soda from the refridgerator and hands it to Wolfgang) I want to tell you a story about how I...
Helga, followed by Phoebe, race down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Helga: Sorry, Dad, but Wolfgang needs to go. (glances over at Wolfgang and points to the door) Now!
Wolfgang takes the soda and grabs his things.
Wolfgang: Nice meeting you, Mr. Pataki. Maybe you can tell me your story next time I come over.
Bob Pataki: You better be planning to stay awhile, because I have lots of stories to tell you. (punches Wolfgang in the shoulder)
Wolfgang chuckles half-heartdely. Helga, Wolfgang and Phoebe walk out the door and stop just at the bottom of the steps.
Helga: Wolfgang, you better get going to that place that you need to go to.
Wolfgang looks at Helga quizically.
Wolfgang: What place?
Helga: Um, you know that place you have to go to at 4 every afternoon.
Wolfgang raises an eyebrow.
Wolfgang: No, I don't.
Helga: Yes, you do.
Wolfgang: (growls) No, I don't!
Helga: (sighs) Fine, Wolfgang. Be that way. (to Phoebe) Thanks for the little talk, Pheebs. I feel a lot better.
Phoebe: (smiles) Sure, Helga. (looks at watch) Well, I better be going. See you tomorrow in class!
Phoebe walks home while Wolfgang wonders if Helga knows something that she's not telling him.
Wolfgang: (thinks) Does she know where I've been going every afternoon?
Helga: (thinks) I'm so relieved that the intruder turned out to be Phoebe and not Wolfgang. Oh, gosh, if it had been Wolfgang...oh, I don't even want to think about that!
Wolfgang wanders over to where his bike is, and hops on.
Wolfgang: I guess I'll be seeing you back at your house tomorrow.
Helga nods her head and just as Wolfgang's about to ride towards home, Bob Pataki runs out the house with some money in his hand.
Bob Pataki: Helga, I need you and your friend, Walden, to go down to the music store and pick up a new cassette deck. I...I accidently knocked the one off of the piano.
Helga: Dad! That was Wolfgang's!
Wolfgang gets off his bike and walks over to where Helga and Bob Pataki are.
Wolfgang: Don't worry about it. We'll go get a new one right away. (thinks for a moment) What about the cassette itself?
Bob Pataki goes back inside and retrieves the cassette.
Bob Pataki: It looks fine to me.
Wolfgang takes the cassette from Bob Pataki and looks it over.
Wolfgang: I'm glad this didn't get ruined because it's my...
Helga looks at Wolfgang and waits for him to say what she's been waiting for him to say.
Wolfgang: (recovers) Because it's my mom's favorite cassette. She's had this for years and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to it.
Helga mumbles something to herself and grabs the money from her dad. Bob Pataki waves good-bye and goes back inside to tape another one of his beeper commercials. Helga walks at a much quicker pace than Wolfgang, and soon Wolfgang is almost a block behind Helga. Helga comes to an alley and looks around her. No one is in sight. She ducks into the alley and pulls out her heart locket.
Helga: Oh, Arnold, my football-headed little love god. How I worship you...and yet, how I despise your goody-tooshoes attitude towards anything and everything. How I love the way raindrops cling to your hair after a gentle summer's shower. Oh, how I wish I could speak the words that burn deep in my soul. (sighs)
Wolfgang leans against the brick wall just before the alley entrance and grins.
Wolfgang: (thinks) Oh, man, wait 'til the gang gets a load of this!
Helga puts the locket back into her shirt and walks calmly out of the alley, unknowing to the fact that Wolfgang heard every word she spoke. Wolfgang runs up behind Helga and pretends to be out of breath, just so she still thinks he was way behind her. About 15 minutes later, Helga and Wolfgang are back on Helga's stoop.
Helga: I'm going to go ahead and put the cassette back in here and place it in the dining room window instead of ontop the piano. I don't want Dad knocking it down again.
Wolfgang: (laughs) That sounds like a good idea. (looks at watch) Well, it's getting late, so I better be going. See you again at your house tomorrow.
Wolfgang hops on his bike and quickly rides down the street.
Wolfgang: (thinks) Maybe I'll keep this secret to myself for now. (chuckles) It could prove to be very useful to me if Helga tries anything.
Back in the Pataki household. Helga makes herself comfortable at the dinner table and takes a long drink of milk. About 10 minutes later, the phone rings and Miriam is the first to answer.
Miriam: Hello?
Wolfgang: (disguises his voice) May I please speak to Helga?
Miriam: Helga, dear, you have a phonecall. Make it quick now, 'cause I want you to help me with the dishes.
Helga: (gets up from her seat and groans) All right, Mother.
Helga takes the phone from her mother.
Helga: This is Helga, who's this?
Wolfgang: (still in a disguised voice) There's something I know, that you don't know, Helga.
Suddenly, Helga's palms become sweaty and her heart begins to beat faster.
Helga: (studders) Who, who is this?
Wolfgang: That's not the important thing. But I will tell you this...I know something about you that could ruin your entire life. (laughs)
Helga: Please, tell me who you are! I, I need to know...
Wolfgang: No, you don't. (in the background a clock chimes 7 times) Oh, look at the time. I'd love to stay and chat, but I must go. Oh, and one more thing. Just be careful how you act around some people. You wouldn't want your little secret about the love you have for a certain yellow-haired, football-headed so-and-so to be told to just anyone, now would you? (laughs evily)
Wolfgang hangs up the phone and falls back on his bed laughing uncontrolably.
Wolfgang: (in his normal voice) Oh, man. I can just picture the look on Helga's face. Completely priceless!
Meanwhile...The phone in Helga's hand drops and she lets out an ear-piercing shriek.
In Arnold's home, Arnold and Gerald are having a sleepover.
Arnold: Did you hear something just now?
Gerald sits quietly, listening.
Gerald: Nope, Arnold. I didn't hear a thing.
(click below to go to Chapter 3)
Copyright © Cher A. 1999