The week passed and finally it was Friday, the day of the carnival. It was 6 o�clock and Arnold started getting ready to go. He was trying yet again to impress Lila even though he knew it probably wouldn�t work. He took a shower, shaved his blond stubble, threw on some baggy dark blue jeans and a dark and light red swirl pattern silk shirt, and splashed his neck with cologne.
�Grandpa, I need the Packard!� Arnold called down to his grandpa, who was still as spry as ever for being 88 years old.
�Sure thing, Short man!� Grandpa called back up to him.
�I can�t believe you�re STILL calling me Short man!�
�Well, you�re short, aren�t ya?� Grandpa was right. Arnold was 16 years old and only 5� 4� tall.
�I guess I was destined to be,� said Arnold to himself. He didn�t really like the fact that he was short, but he had learned to live with it. Hey, at least he was a good deal taller than Ernie.
By the time Arnold was ready, it was 6:30 and he needed to leave to pick up Helga and get to the carnival by 7. He came downstairs and took the Packard keys off the table where Grandpa had left them.
�You�re looking spiffy, short man, gotta hot date?�
�Grandpa! I�m just going to go pick up Helga and take her to the carnival.�
�Oooooooooh!� said Grandpa, hinting.
�Grandpa, we�re just friends, and we�re meeting a group of people there, and besides, I�m dressed up for another girl.�
�Ooh, I knew it!� said Grandpa excitedly, �Remember, you have no curfew and you can never have too much fun.�
Arnold smiled and walked out the door.
Gerald had taken his new, red �87 sports car to Phoebe�s house. He was proud of his car. After he had gotten it for his birthday, he had kept it in the garage and tweaked it up to be his pride and shining joy. He installed a loud speaker system, a purple neon light under the belly, he had installed a black light in the overhead light instead of the standard yellow, and for the hood ornament, he had a dancing hula girl in Phoebe�s likeness that he had made in shop class.
Phoebe got in and commented on the changes he had made to his car.
�Um, nice hood ornament,� she said blushing.
�Thanks babe,� said Gerald who felt ten times cooler while he was in his car. He turned up his radio very loudly so the bass was booming, and drove away.
Gerald sat there driving with his right hand on the wheel and his left hand thumping the beat on the windowsill.
�Gerald, do you think we can change the station?�
�Oh, but�. tell ya what, on the way back we can listen to whatever you want, I promise.� He put his left hand on the wheel now, and he put his right arm around Phoebe.
�Ok, that�s agreeable,� said Phoebe.
They finally got to the carnival. Gerald parked his car, leaving on the purple neon light underneath.
�Wow, that�s pretty,� said Phoebe.
�Yeah, it sure is sweet,� said Gerald as they went to the front gate to wait for everyone.
Arnold picked up Helga from her house.
�Wow, Arnold, you look really nice,� said Helga.
�Thanks, you do too,� said Arnold, even though Helga was wearing what she normally did. It was more of a polite comment than a compliment.
They drove to the carnival and chatted about what rides they wanted to go on and what games they wanted to play. Helga secretly wished that she could go on the tunnel of love with him, but she knew he would probably go on that one with Lila, and she would agree even though she didn�t like him like him because she was nice. Oh well, maybe she�d be able to get a go on the Ferris wheel with him at least.
They finally got to the carnival and Arnold parked near Gerald�s car.
�Haha, Gerald must be here already. I�d know that car anywhere,� Arnold laughed. He and Helga walked up to the front gate and saw Phoebe and Gerald, making out, again.
�Ahem,� coughed Arnold.
�Oh, we were just, uh, passing the time,� said Gerald.
�Is Lila here yet?� asked Arnold.
�I�m right here,� said Lila who had gotten to the carnival just behind Arnold and Helga.
�Good, then let the fun begin!� shouted Arnold, and the five of them got their tickets and ran off into the carnival.
�Let�s do all the fast rides first before we eat so Lila doesn�t get queasy,� suggested Arnold.
�Thanks ever so much Arnold,� said Lila who had managed to enjoy the fast rides, so long as she didn�t eat right before them.
�Race ya to the Tilt-O-Whirl!� shouted Gerald, and the five took off running. Helga got there first.
�I win!� she shouted.
�Good race everyone!� said Arnold who had brought up the rear just so he could run behind the bouncing Lila.
�Thanks ever so much, but I know you let me beat you,� said Lila.
�So what if I did,� said Arnold, giving Lila the flirty eyes.
�Arnold, please don�t look at me like that, you know how I feel about that look.�
�Sorry Lila�
They rode the Tilt-O-Whirl, and then dizzily raced to the Power Rocket Roller coaster.
�For some reason I don�t like that name,� complained Gerald.
�Yes, for some reason it displeases me,� agreed Phoebe.
They all agreed it was a bad name for a roller coaster, but put it out of their heads and got on. Arnold had wanted to sit with Lila, but Lila made up an excuse of not wanting to be near anyone if she got sick, so Arnold rode with Helga, who inwardly was ecstatic.
After the roller coaster, they went on a teacup type ride that spun, a hanging boat ride that swung back and forth, and a hanging swing carousel. Lila had sat by herself on all those rides using the excuse that she didn�t want to risk getting sick on someone, even though she never got sick. Helga enjoyed all this time with Arnold very much, but knew it was too good to last.
After they had done all the fast rides, it was dark. The Ferris wheel was bright and lit up. Arnold was going to ask Lila to sit with him on it, but before he got the chance, a good-looking guy noticed her and beat him to it. She gave Arnold a sorry look and sat with the guy. Arnold rolled his eyes and turned to Helga, offering his arm.