It was a typical fall school day at PS 118. School was coming to a close and Mr. Simmons had divided the class into groups to discuss the book they had just finished reading. Mr. Simmons had grouped Rhonda, Helga and Phoebe with Arnold.
Arnold didn't like being grouped with three girls and no boys, especially since one of them absolutely hated him. Fortunately, Phoebe had the floor, so Helga was silent at the moment. In fact, she was staring at her something in her math book. She noticed that Arnold was looking at her, snapped shut her book and said angrily, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, sorry."
Phoebe was in the middle of making a very long point. Arnold was trying to listen, but his mind simply wasn't there. He was having a bad day and was eager for the weekend to start.
He always tried to have a positive attitude, but today wasn't his day. Helga had tripped him at lunch and he had fallen straight to the ground with his lunch tray in his hands.
His shirt was stained with tapioca pudding among other things. He sighed.
Before Phoebe finished, Helga interrupted, "So what do you think Football-Head?"
"Huh? Oh. Um what?"
"Of Pheebs's analysis of the main character? Duh!"
"Uh sorry Helga, I wasn't really listening."
"Well personally, I think that the main character's flaw is his lack of style. I mean, he was booed off the stage because his clothes were dull and even worse were filthy!" Rhonda chimed in.
"Put a sock in it, Ms. Fashion!"
Buzz!
The bell rang and Arnold let out a sigh of relief.
"Now kids, good discussions so no homework this weekend as a reward!"
The class let out a soft cheer and hurried out the door.
Arnold walked home with his best friend as usual.
"So what are you doing this weekend Arnold?" asked Gerald.
"Um, well I'm not sure. The weather's not too good so we can't play baseball on Saturday. I was thinking about going to a movie, maybe Space Wars IV, I hear it's great. Want to come with me?"
"Tonight, sure. Sounds cool."
"Ok, I'll meet you there at eight."
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"Hey there, short-man, how was your day?"
Grandpa was usually reading the newspaper when Arnold came home and today was no exception.
"Good, no homework this weekend."
"Well what do you know? That's great!"
"Yeah! Gerald and I are going to a move tonight."
"Which one?"
"Space Wars IV"
"You kids and your new-fangled movies! It's all too much for me!"
Arnold laughed and Grandpa turned back to reading the newspaper.
"Come back down for dinner in an hour, short man."
"Ok, I will Grandpa."
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