Time for a brand new story in the Hey Arnold department... and I don't know if that story has been told before, but I'm going to do one anyway... concerning sickness! Anyway, enjoy!

Inside the kitchen, Arnold's grandfather, Phil and Arnold's grandmother, Gertrude were busy as per usual, preparing breakfast for Arnold, or Gertrude was as Phil was looking at the clock. Even though both guests were pretty old, they still had the sanity to know that something was off today.

"Isn't it a school day today?" Phil asked, looking at the clock.

"You know, it is." Gertrude said, blinking oddly. "I wonder where Kimba is."

"Yeah, it's not like Arnold to be late. He's always on the dot for breakfast! I better get up there and see what's up." Phil said as he got up and started to go upstairs towards Arnold's room.

Phil then pulled down the stairway as he walked upstairs and knocked on the door. "Hey Shortman, ain't you up yet?"

A groan was heard from the other side of the door as Phil blinked. "Shortman?"

Phil opened up the door and his eyes widened as he saw the blonde haired football headed boy getting himself out of bed, but his face looked a bit sluggish and sickly as he looked up and said, in a rather sickly voice. "I'm up, Grandpa. I'm ready to go to school..."

"Uh... are you feeling okay, Arnold?" Phil said in concern.

"Never better..." Arnold said in that same sickly voice, holding his head and groaning. "Of course I woke up to a little headache, but I'm sure it'll pass... and I feel a bit wobbly..."

"Arnold, I think maybe you're sick." Phil frowned in concern.

"Me? Sick? No way, I'm not sick. I can get better in no-" Arnold quickly sneezed and sniffled. "...That was nothing. I'm... fine..."

Phil frowned as he shook his head. "No, you're not, Shortman. You're too sick."

"But... I can't be sick today. I have a lot of things to do for a lot of friends..." Arnold said. "I need to be there for them..."

"I insist, Shortman. You need rest, and you need it now..." Phil said as he pushed Arnold a bit towards the bed. "Besides, I'm sure you can afford to miss a day of school. I'm sure the others will understand you can't come..."

"But... people always rely on me for help..." Arnold groaned, climbing into bed.

"I know they do, and you're a great advice giver, but I don't think it's safe for you to go out there when you're sick like a dog." Phil said. "Don't worry, your grandmother and I will be home, and we'll give you anything you want. You just rest on your bed."

"A... all right. Just one more thing... Gerald was going to come over to the boarding house so we can walk to the bus together. When he comes over... could you give him this?" Arnold groaned as he pulled out a list.

"Eh, what's this?" Arnold's grandfather asked, examining the list. "Looks like a checklist."

"It is. Usually, I keep one with me every morning just so I have some time for all my friends... just to make sure each and every one of them is satisfied that I at least have some time for them... I just need you to give it to Gerald, let him know I can't be in and he's going to have to do some of the things I do today..." Arnold groaned, turning his head towards the wall, coughing.

"Don't you worry about a thing, Shortman. I'll tell your little friend what's going on and I'll give him the list..." Phil gave a smile. "You just lay down and rest. I'll come back in with some juice, tissues and a bell."

"The juice and tissues I understand, but why..." Arnold sneezed before he could finish his sentence.

"Oh, the bell is for in case you need anything. Ring it, and me or your grandmother will come right over." Arnold's grandfather smiled.

"That... sounds nice..." Arnold sighed miserably as Phil walked out of the room.

Outside the boarding house, Gerald was walking up the steps of the boarding house when he realized that Arnold had not come out yet. "...Since when is Arnold not out of the boarding house when I come here to pick him up?"

Gerald rang the bell in concern, wondering what was going on as he waited. Pretty soon, Arnold's grandfather answered the door, with Gerald jumping out of the way, all the dogs, cats and Abner the pig running out of the house in excitement.

"You think I'd be used to this by now..." Gerald sighed, turning to Phil. "Hey, Phil. Is Arnold in?"

"Will you stop calling me-" Phil started... then sighed. "Sorry, boy. Arnold's sick today. He can't come to school."

"What? Really? Is he okay?" Gerald asked.

"I think it may be just a cold. I'm sure it'll last for about a day, maybe two days, tops." Phil explained.

Gerald gulped uncomfortably. "This isn't good..."

"I could let you go see him, but I don't think you want to catch what he has..." Phil said.

"I'm talking about school today. See, today is usually a time when people would come to advice for Arnold, usually for when they think they've done something wrong or they're in the middle and got caught in a situation they think they can't get out of..." Gerald sighed. "I don't know what would happen if people hear that Arnold is sick today... I fear it might be catastrophic..."

"Aw come on, he's just going to miss a couple of days of school! How bad can it be?" Phil smiled. "Oh... but if you're so worried, Arnold did want me to give you this..."

Phil then pulled out a list as Gerald looked it over. "What's this? 'MY FRIDAY CHECKLIST FOR EVERY PERSON IN PS 118'."

Gerald looked down the list and whistled. "Wow, Arnold must know his Fridays perfectly that he has to provide a checklist for it..."

"I can't quite understand the list myself, but I'll tell Shortman you received it. Have a fun day at school!" Arnold's grandfather smiled.

"I will. And I'll make sure to bring Arnold's homework after school." Gerald said as he turned to leave.

"Be sure you do that." Arnold's grandfather smiled as he closed the door.

As Gerald started to walk towards the bus stop on his own, Gerald was examining the list as he looked it over. "Wow, Arnold must really be prepared well for his Fridays... shame he's sick and all..."

Gerald's eyes widened. "I get it! Since Arnold's sick, he can't do the usual things, which is why he entrusted the checklist to me! He trusts me to do his work for one day, to make sure the balance is in order, even without him around. Well, I can do these things no problem! How hard can they be?"

As Gerald saw the bus coming in, Gerald took a deep breath as he walked in and paid his bus fare with a smile. For today, Gerald was going to be the Arnold in the school!

I'll end the first chapter here for now! How did you guys like it? Like I said, I don't know if there was already a story where Arnold gets sick and someone else takes over his daily routine, but I'm going to keep going with this idea! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!