Hello there, guys! So, you're probably wondering why this story is being updated this September. Well, this is all part of a ploy for you guys to go to the polls and cast your votes for November's part of the "Complete One Incomplete Story a Month" project! And the theme this time is the Runner-Ups that were close, but didn't quite get in! However, just because this story gets a mention doesn't mean that it won't be an author's note, oh no! We're still going to have a chapter, it's just to let you know that this story is up for contention!

That being said, "Sick Daze" is up for nomination! And from what you know of the story, Arnold is sick, and it's up to Gerald to fill his duties for the day! Let's see how he's doing so far, shall we? Anyway, enjoy!

Back in PS 118, Gerald was looking over his list again as he blinked. "'Now go to Nadine and ask for... an apple?' That's... mighty unusual, but okay."

The tall haired kid looked around for a moment before spotting Nadine getting her books for class. Gerald carefully approached the girl and coughed as the spider haired girl turned to him. Nadine gave a small sigh, "Oh boy... what can I help you with, Gerald?"

"As you may know, I'm currently going around the school, doing the usual things Arnold does, and well, he says that normally, he asks you for an apple." Gerald explained. "Do you happen to have any apples with you?"

Nadine paused, before shaking her head. "Sorry, I don't have any apples... but I do have some spare oranges if you like."

Gerald looked a little confused. "Could you excuse me for a minute?"

The boy immediately took a couple steps back as he pulled out his list once again to console it. "'If she doesn't have an apple, and offers an orange instead, take that.' Man, you are so specific, Arnold..."

Gerald then turned as he offered his hand. "I'll take the orange, then."

"Cool!" Nadine grinned as she handed Gerald the orange. After thanking the girl, as Gerald walked off, he looked over the list again and noticed the next item on the list. "Doesn't Helga have enough food already?"

"How do you feel?" Phoebe asked as she and Helga were once again near her locker, some of the books and her lunch bag had been switched around.

"Oh, you know, aside from that mental breakdown, things are going all right." Helga shrugged. "I guess you can say I'm... okay."

"Got it all out of your system, huh?" Phoebe gave a small smile as unaware of the two, Gerald was sneaking over towards the two and carefully opened the lunch bag, before slipping the orange in.

"Y-" Helga's ears twitched a bit, as if she heard a sound. She turned around fast, only to note that her lunch bag was opened and that nobody seemed to be around. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, then shrugged as she turned back to a confused Phoebe. "Yeah. Taking a few deep breaths helped wonders."

"So, still having plans on visiting Ice Cream?" Phoebe gave a small smile as Helga put the lunch bag back in her locker as she closed it.

"Depends on how sick he is." Helga shrugged.

"I know you, Helga. You're going to visit anyway, regardless." Phoebe giggled as the two girls started going off, with Gerald silently watching.

Gerald had no idea what Helga OR Phoebe were even talking about, but he didn't care, for at this time, he was looking over the list. "Okay, next item on the list, make... wait, 'make sure Iggy isn't sneaking around near you? In fact, stay as far away from him as possible'?"

Gerald looked at the list with an unimpressed look on his face as he looked around, muttering, "I knew Arnold was always paranoid about Iggy since the 'Bunny Pajamas' incident, but not this bad to hold a grudge..."

He shook his head as he examined the list, and paused. "'Gym class is next, and I usually help Coach Wittenberg with making sure everybody exercises. So, just go along with it...'"

Gerald couldn't help but cover his face and groan. "Oh no... and here I was hoping I got all the easy stuff out of the way... I'm just glad Arnold is staying at home..."

Meanwhile, back at the boarding house, up in Arnold's room, the boy had carefully stepped over the string that was attached between the bell and the bed post successfully and at this very moment was carefully placing a makeshift ladder near the skylights as he slowly climbed towards the glass. He just couldn't lay around in bed, he needed to do something today! And he wasn't going to let his sickness stop him from helping people out.

Arnold narrowed his eyes, looking determined as he kept climbing... though his arms were feeling a bit weak and his head started to get woozy, he didn't care. All he wanted to do was get out and enjoy the-

"AH-CHOO!"

Arnold yelped after sneezing as he slipped and fell down, the make shift ladder breaking and falling apart as it rained down. Unfortunately for the football headed kid, one of the items fell straight on the bell, ringing it, which got the attention of his grandfather. Upon hearing the noise, he immediately rushed upstairs to Arnold's room to check out what was going on. Phil crossed his arms, looking pretty unimpressed as he shook his head. "Still trying to get out, huh?"

"I can't help it, Grandpa." Arnold said in a very sickly voice as his grandfather lifted him up and took him over to the bed, tightly tucking him in. "I just got to get out there and do something... I can't just... lay down in bed..."

"I get it Shortman, I really do." Phil looked down towards his grandson in concern. "But just remember what I said, you need to make sure you rest. Now please stop trying to escape. I don't want to pull out the handcuffs and cuff you to the bed!"

Arnold's eyes widened a bit as Phil gave a chuckle. "I'm just playing you, Shortman, but seriously, I might just do that..."

The football headed kid looked at Phil wearily as he paused. "Uh, Grandpa, I don't suppose you have any sick stories to share?"

The old man paused to think... before grinning. "You know, Shortman, I don't believe I ever told you about a friend I once knew, named Ichabod!"

"Ichabod?" Arnold tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh yeah, Ichabod. Probably one of the best kids in my years. Me, Jimmy Kafka and he were always getting into a little trouble together, just the three of us. It was early days, you understand. Well, one day, Ichabod came down with a bad case of the flu." Phil explained.

"Oh my." Arnold said in surprise.

"Yeah, it was terrible. Jimmy and I arrived to pick him up, but Ichabod's mother said that we could see him, but we couldn't take him out, due to his flu. But me and Jimmy were so determined to get him to come out, we managed to create a dummy out of old pillows and a basketball, and successfully sneak him out unnoticed. Once we succeeded, oh man, did we have a lot of fun that day! Going to the movies, swimming out in the lake..." Phil chuckled. "Even bowling in the bowling alleys, heh heh… Unfortunately, due to his sick health, we got him even more sick... and it spread to the both of us, so we managed to get Ichabod's flu."

"Ouch..." Arnold winced as Phil laughed.

"Don't worry about that, we were all better after about three days, but it was terrible, just laying in bed, not being able to eat much save for soup, it was not a fun day for the both of us, and if we had just listened to Ichabod's mother about not taking him out while he was sick, we wouldn't have been in that scenario." Phil laughed. "But we managed to learn a lesson. Being sick is no fun, and getting your friends sick is even less fun. Let me tell you, Shortman, I sure learned that lesson hard that day!"

"I can bet." Arnold laughed a bit... before coughing hard.

"My point is, sure, I know it's hard to move around when you're sick, but you need to lay down, relax and sleep. That's all you need. So please, Shortman, just stay in bed and rest. I don't know how many times I need to emphasize that..." The old man said as he looked concerned for his grandson.

"All right, all right, I got the picture..." Arnold said as he laid his head down. "I'll resist temptation..."

Phil laughed. "Good boy. You just relax and watch a little TV, while I get some more soup!"

Arnold nodded a bit as he watched his grandfather go downstairs. The boy paused as he took the remote, giving a small sigh.

"Maybe Grandpa's right. Maybe I just need to take my mind off going outside..." Arnold smiled as he turned the TV on, trying to watch some cartoons.

Unfortunately for Arnold, a slice of life cartoon was playing where a young kid was using bedsheets to carefully sneak away outside. Arnold narrowed his eyes and sneezed as he changed the channel, this time to an old movie.

"I don't care what my doctor says, I'm busting out of this joint! And my disease ain't going to stop me!" An insane patient from within the TV gave a sinister laugh.

Arnold shut his eyes as he changed to a different channel, this time, to a game show. Arnold gave a sigh of relief as he put the remote aside to relax... only when he tried to sleep, the host asked this trivia question, "What is the name of the movie where the main character gets sick and manages to escape, wanting a normal day out in the world!"

Arnold gritted his teeth in frustration as he shut the TV off, before holding his head and coughing. "Ugh... I need to get out of here..."

And that's the end of this chapter! How'd you guys like it? If you're interested in seeing this story continue, wait on Saturday when the poll for November's Complete One Incomplete Story A Month choices come in, and vote if you'd like to see it continue! What does Arnold have planned? Will Gerald ever manage to finish up that list? Find out next time! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, everyone!