Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
"No way..." exclaimed Gerald, on the steps of Sunset Arms with Arnold. "I don't believe it...your last name is Shortman?"
                          
Arnold rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Gerald..."
                          
Gerald shrugged him off. "Ah, I'm just kiddin' with you, man. Seriously, that's some pretty amazing news. Your parents are alive..."
                          
"I know...after all these years...I didn't know how to react when I first found out...but now that I know...I'm going to find them..."
                          
"How?" asked Gerald. "You said that you can't tell your grandparents, so how will you get from here to San Lorenzo?"
                          
"I don't know," Arnold admitted, sighing. "Maybe we can fundraise...there's always the Campfire Lasses?"
                          
"Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea—our house is still getting egged since the last time we dealt with them..."
                          
"Hmm, maybe you're right..." Arnold paused for a moment to ponder the situation..maybe I could enter an essay contest?"
                          
This time it was Gerald's turn to roll his eyes. "Yeah, right. Like that would work."
                          
"We could hold a yard sale....?"
                          
Gerald simply shook his head in response. By now, Arnold was getting exasperated. "Well, we have to do something..."
                          
"But suppose you do raise enough money to go to San Lorenzo," reasoned Gerald. "Then what? You can't just leave without telling anyone."
                          
Arnold went silent. "I hadn't thought about that...."
                          
"Maybe you could wait until you get your driver's license. Just tell your grandparents that you're going on a hiking trip, buy your tickets, and then—"
                          
"But I don't wait that long, Gerald! I haven't a moment to lose. I have to get to them now...even it does take a miracle."
                          
No closer to the truth, the two friends stood and walked away from the boarding house. After they had left, Helga appeared from the side of the building, having finished eavesdropping.
                          
"Oh Arnold, my football-headed little romantic,"swooned the lovestruck nine year-old. "I, too am aware of the insurmountable task laid out before you. For I was there that fateful night you had uncovered the truth about your dear mother and father...hiding under your windowsill as your soul laid bare for your grandparents to bear witness! If only there was some way I could help you achieve your miracle, while staying faithfully at your side....
                          
Suddenly, Helga detected the sound of wheezing down her neck. Annoyed, she raised her fist square into Brainy's face, knocking him to the ground. Helga looked up to the sky and saw a blimp advertising for Big Bob's Beepers. Her eyes lit up and she grinned as inspiration struck.
                          
Later that night, Sid awoke in his room to the sound of his phone ringing. He clumsily knocked the handset off the receiver, then slowly brought it to his ears.
                          
"...Talk to me..." he said, still drowsy.
                          
"Am I speaking to Sid?" came a distorted voice on the other end of the line.
                          
Slowly Sid sat up on his bed. " Yeah...." he yawned. "Who's askin'...?"
                          
"Never mind that..." replied the voice, who was actually Helga at a payphone, using the same apparatus to deepen her voice as in the first movie. "Tell me - how would you like to make an easy 50 bucks...?"
                          
 Several days later, at P.S. 118, Principal Wartz is sitting behind his desk and playing with action figures, when the door suddenly burst open. Flustered, Wartz quickly brushed the toys aside and grabbed out a pen and paper in a feeble attempt to feign productivity. Helga enters the office and approaches his desk.