School's finally out. Helga could hardly believe it. The year just seemed to float on by so quickly. It was hard to believe that starting this coming Fall, her class would be entering the fifth grade.

Fifth graders seemed so much bigger to her before: like when Wolfgang would always tease and bully her peers (not that she didn't do it as well). Helga was never one to be afraid of Wolfgang like the others, but they were still bigger and taller than her, and older. She could understand why her class mates would be afraid of them. Now, they wouldn't have anything to fear, since they'll be entering the fifth grade next year. Even though Wolfgang and his friends will still, and always, be a year ahead of them.

Helga looked up at P.S. 118 one last time as a fourth grader, and smiled slightly. Students were leaving the school building, hurriedly, excited about their summer vacations.

"Are you going on vacation, Helga?" Phoebe asked, looking up at her dazed friend.

"Nope," Helga said, sighing. "Big Bob says that the new cell phones are 'selling themselves' now, and he doesn't want to leave the Beeper Emporium. So my vacation is a 'No Show,'" Helga finished sourly, slouching a bit.

"I'm sorry, Helga," Phoebe apologized, feeling sorry for her best friend because she has to stay home all summer.

"It's okay, Pheebs." Helga said as she walked off campus, Phoebe following behind her. "Where are you going for vacation?" Helga asked.

"I'm going to see my Grandma in Japan!" Phoebe pipped up proudly. Helga was a little disappointed that her best friend would be gone for most, or maybe all, of the summer; while she'll be stuck in the house with Olga, a sleeping Mariam, and a busy father.

"That's nice, Pheebs," Helga said walking up the porch steps of her house.

"Bye, Helga! I'll write you!" Phoebe said.

"Sure thing, Pheebs," Helga said waving as she closed the front door behind her. Ignoring Big Bob's shouts at Mariam and Olga's cheerful salutations as she entered the door, she walked upstairs to her room...knowing that she was entering the new world of complete boredom.

Arnold was so happy. Grandpa had agreed to go to San Lorenzo and even try to use the map that was left behind in Mile's journal. Arnold had just recently found the map that might lead him to his parents. It made him overjoyed. He could finally see his parents again. Arnold had no memories of his parents, since he was so young when they left, but he was determined to make memories with them...as soon as he could.

His grandparents and himself would be leaving the day after tomorrow to the airport to assign their flight. Arnold was glad that his grandparents were outgoing, abnormal, and willing to do anything, no matter how crazy it was. After all, crazy was Grandma's middle name(hypothetically).

Arnold had promised to write to Gerald while he was away. Gerald was going to visit the rest of is family in California at the beach. Gerald said he would be staying at his mother's older sister's, his aunt Charlotte. He had given Arnold the mailing address so they could write one another.

Gerald had already left with his family, he had gotten out of school early, since they had a long drive ahead of them.

Even though Arnold was excited about the day after tomorrow, he was a little bored just staring at the sky from his bed. He should probably get out of the house for a while and get some fresh air. He decided that the park would be the best choice to go to for that.

"I'm going to the park, grandpa!" Arnold shouted from the door loud enough for Grandpa to hear him in the kitchen where he was feeding Abner.

"Okay, Shortman!" Grandpa shouted back, "Be back before dark though!"

"I will!" Arnold shouted back opening the front door. He knew his curfew, no need to worry about that.

As Arnold was walking down the steps of the Boarding House, he couldn't help but notice a blurry image of pink sitting on the sidewalk near the boarding house, and playing with what seemed to be the grass from the corner of his eye. He turned to look at the figure, and saw that it was Helga. She seemed to have made notice of his presence too. However, when he looked her in the eyes, she scowled at him as she always did.

"What are you looking at football head?!" she barked.

"Why were you at my door step?" Arnold asked skeptically.

"I don't know..." Helga mumbled. Even though she knew why, she certainly wouldn't tell him the reason. "I didn't want to stay at my house, since Olga is home," she started, saying Olga's name in an annoying sing-song voice.

Arnold just blinked at her. He knew that Helga couldn't stand Olga. Helga and her older sister, Olga, were complete polar opposites. Arnold has wished before that he had a brother or sister, but seeing how Helga and Gerald take it, maybe being an only child wasn't such a bad thing.

"So are you doing anything this summer, Helga?" Arnold asked her, changing the subject. Maybe that'll get her thoughts of Olga off her mind, or so he hoped.

"Nope," Helga said smacking her lips as she said this. She pulled herself up from the dirty sidewalk, putting her hands on her hips, and leaning in next to Arnold's face- they were probably only an inch or two apart. Feeling uncomfortable, Arnold backed away a little.

"Big Bob refuses since his new line of cell phones are 'selling themselves,'" Helga said quotating 'selling themselves' with her fingers. "Plus, Olga wants to 'spend quality time with her family at home'" She added in her annoying sing-song voice again, mocking her older sister's voice.

"Well, I was going to the City Park, want to join me?" Arnold asked her. He wasn't used to going to the park alone anyway. He didn't care if it was Helga or the Jolly-Olly Man, he liked to talk to others and to be social.

"Sure." Helga said sourly, even though she was so happy that she thought she was floating on thin air. 'My love is actually walking to the park with me!' she thought happily as she walked with Arnold.

Once they were at the park, they stopped and sat down on the bench under a large oak tree. Helga was sitting close to Arnold, so close that their thighs were touching, so he scooted away a little. He needed to think of something to say to her fast, before she started to say anything rash.

"The day after tomorrow, I'll be going to San Lorenzo," he said to her, starting a conversation.

"Why?" she asked him a little surprised of why he would want to go to a place so unbearably hot, for her at least. She couldn't stand the heat, she was naturally warm natured, even when it was bitterly cold and everyone was wearing huge fluffy jackets, all she would need is a light one, and that was good enough for her. During the summer, she'd always have the air conditioner blasting cold air on her.

"Well...to say the truth..."Arnold started, he wasn't exactly all that open with Helga. This was some personal stuff that Arnold didn't really like talking about besides with his best friend, Gerald, or with his grandparents, and certainly not with Helga, she had always bossed everyone around, and had an obsession with calling him 'Football Head'. So he was surprised to find himself answering her question: "It's to find my parents."

"I thought they had disappeared, either that or... dead..." Helga said the last part quietly, hoping Arnold didn't hear. Arnold shot her an ice cold glare, stern, and frightful to her. She had never seen him look like that before. Arnold was such a nice, loyal, wise person; he never was angry, except when in defense of his family.

"You know, I'm not in the mood to talk about this right now, Helga," Arnold said in a firm voice and not even looking at her. It made him sick for anyone to talk like that about his parents. How dare she?!

"Wait, Arnold!" Helga shouted at him, "I'm sorry, I had no right to say that!" Helga felt really bad now. Her love has been hurt by her words, she insulted something he cared most deeply for.

"Bye," Arnold said to her, not even looking at her, so disgusted. He really didn't want to talk to her for awhile; luckily he wouldn't be seeing her when he goes to South America. He'll prove her wrong for even thinking such a thing. He marched off back to the boarding house, angry and hurt by her words.

"Hey Short man, I need you to give Mr. Smith his dinner," Grandpa told Arnold, who obediently took the tray, without any questions. Arnold had been completely silent since his meeting with Helga at the park. He had been in his room for a while, so Grandpa didn't notice how upset he was. He had just come downstairs to get something to eat when Grandpa asked him to take Mr. Smith his dinner. Arnold had no need to go upstairs to give it to him, since Mr. Smith had a sort of elevator installed that would go straight to his bedroom. In only two seconds, Arnold saw the plate and glass on the tray empty, except for a note that had Arnold's name written on it.

Arnold took the note form the plate, and handed his Grandpa the tray so he could soon wash it along with all the other dishes. Arnold put it in his pocket to read it later, once he got back upstairs. Since he wanted to read it now, he grabbed a pop tart for his dinner, and hurried upstairs to his bedroom.

Arnold looked across from his room at Room 16, Mr. Smith's room. He wondered what Mr. Smith wanted to tell him. He quickly pulled down the attic stairs, and into his bedroom, the attic. He plopped down on his couch and opened the note.

'Arnold,

I have heard that you and your grandparents will be leaving to South America in search of you parents. Since I've been here when your parents first arrived at the Boarding House, I'm aware of their acquaintance with the Green Eyed People. I happen to know a lot about them, and of their home. I believe that I can help you and your grandparents find the Green Eyed People, the link to your parents. If you need to speak with me, I'd rather you come alone.

Mr. Smith'

Arnold couldn't believe it. How could Mr. Smith have known about the Green Eyed People all along, and not have even said anything about them, since he was 'aware' of his parents' relationship with the Green Eyes? Arnold knew that Mr. Smith wasn't the most social person, but even so, living here at the Boarding House, not saying anything that could help him find his parents, and now he wants to help? It didn't make sense to Arnold, none of this did. But how would he know anything about Mr. Smith? He had never even spoken to him before, but how would he know anything about Arnold's parents? He never spoke to anybody. Mr. Smith was a very mysterious man.

Wanting to know more, Arnold went down to Mr. Smith's room, and knocked on his door, a camera was set outside the room so that Mr. Smith could see who was at the door. Seeing that it was Arnold, Mr. Smith opened the door.

When the door opened, Arnold saw no one, but he entered the room anyway. The door clicked closed behind him, startled, he turned around to see Mr. Smith. Arnold had never even seen Mr. Smith this close up before, never even seen a full view of his face, or what he looked like under the cloak and the hat.

Mr. Smith was a well kept man. He had a dimpled chin, an oblong face, and small eyes. He was wearing a white button down shirt with a tie, and black pants and slacks. Dressed as if he was at a wedding or some other formal occasion. His face was cleanly shaven, not even a whisker to be seen. His auburn hair was slicked back, full of what Arnold guessed was gel and hairspray, he couldn't think of why else it was so stiff.

His room was just as Arnold had expected it to be. Certainly a lot cleaner and more advanced than the other boarder's' rooms, with all of the technology inside the room: cameras, numerous buttons, and videos, showing who-knows-what (since the screens were blank). It was like Mr. Smith had been watching everything from outside his door. Who knew what other cameras were set inside the boarding house? He had always thought that Ernie's room was scary, considering all the explosives he kept in his room, whether they were on shelves or under his bed, but it was no comparison to Mr. Smith's room. Mr. Smith's room revealed his intelligence and how he seemed to keep everything top secret.

"I suppose you wish to talk to me about the Green Eyed People?" Mr. Smith asked him, he had a rather stern, deep voice, that sounded as if it were off a scary movie when a killer calls and someone picks it up to hear that they are going to die. It was a little scary to Arnold. Through his nervousness, Arnold just nodded to Mr. Smith's question.

"Well, I happen to be associated with scientists in South America. They work with my society, and they have been searching the whereabouts of these people."

"You're in a society?" Arnold asked, bewildered.

"Yes," Mr. Smith answered, "My brother and I are the founders."

"What's the name of the Society?" Arnold asked.

"That is top secret," Mr. Smith said quickly, firmly. "Now, sit down," Mr. Smith was gesturing toward a small leather chair sitting in front of his desk. Arnold sat down and watched Mr. Smith go behind his desk and sit down in his large leather chair. He looked at Arnold, betraying no expression. He opened a drawer from his desk and divulged a big manila envelope, labeled 'Green Eyes' He opened the envelope and pulled out a few sheets with maps on them.

"This is the information they have found about them," He said, handing Arnold the papers.

Arnold looked down at the papers and studied the maps. They showed everything about where they lived. This could truly be the real link to his parents, but what about the map that he had? It looked nothing like this.

"Mr. Smith, I have a map, and it looks nothing like this," Arnold said to him.

"Maybe the map you have leads to something else..." When Mr. Smith said this he actually had an expression on his face- he was smirking at Arnold.

"Well...maybe,"Arnold said thinking about it, after all, the map didn't say where it lead to: it was a mystery to him. His parents didn't even know where the Green Eyed People were... so, how could their map help him find his parents if it didn't lead to the Green Eyes? Now he had a map that had been made by scientist who discovered where they really are. "The map I have doesn't even say where it leads to..." Arnold said. Mr. Smith nodded. "And I already know that this is the one that can help me find the Green Eyes...so..." Mr. Smith's smile broadened. "I guess I should use yours instead."

"Good choice, Arnold," Mr Smith said, "But there is one thing you should know..."

"What's that?" Arnold asked him.

"I wish to meet the Green Eyes myself, so I plan to join you and your grandparents in going to South America," Mr. Smith answered.

"Would you like to talk to Grandpa about that?" Arnold queried.

"No, that's alright, Arnold," Mr. Smith said, getting out of his chair and gesturing for Arnold to get up from his chair to leave his room. "I'll trust you to tell them for me," Mr. Smith said, smiling at Arnold before closing his door.

Arnold walked away from Mr. Smith's door, and went back up to his room. Arnold was a little suspicious of Mr. Smith. Why wouldn't he want to talk to his grandparents about this? He'd talk to them sooner or later anyway. He just didn't understand him, maybe he would after they left for South America.

Yet, Arnold trusted Mr. Smith. He seemed like a good guy, like a mature adult. Why wouldn't he trust him? However, a small thought kept asking him the opposite question in the back of his mind, 'How can he trust him?'