The Kiss That Never Happened
It was Thursday at Seattle Jr. High. It was lunchtime and the students were at
their tables talking. Arnold and Gerald were sitting with Sid and Stinky.
Harold would be sitting with them, but he was sitting with Patty instead. Harold had missed Patty when she had moved up to Jr. High and he had stayed at P.S. 118, but now that he was in the 7th grade and she was in the 9th they could be together once again if only but for a year. The guys were chatting about various things, when Sid said an interesting comment.
�Have you guys realized that Mr. Simmons hasn�t brought us on a field trip
for a while now?�
�I wonder when our next field trip will be. You guys know Mr. Simmons
never goes very long without a field trip.�
�You�re right, Arnold,� said Gerald. They finished their lunches and went back to Mr. Simmons� science class. Mr. Simmons had been moving up in grades with them ever since the fourth grade. He couldn�t bear to leave his most special class and thusly, adjusted his teaching position every year to be with them.
Mr. Simmons stood up and walked to the front of the class, about to give an announcement.
�Wouldn�t it be weird if he was about to announce a field trip?�
�Quiet, Sid,� said Arnold.
�Class, I have some special news!�
�Man, this better actually be special. I�m sick of hearing announcements
that are supposed to be special, but aren�t.�
�Quiet Gerald. You never know what it�ll be special or not, so listen.�
�Tomorrow we are having an impromptu visit to the beach instead of doing the
normal lesson plan! There we will have a science lesson about the various animal and plant life, their own personal habitats, and the special ecosystem that is the beach!�
�That�s just plum eerie, like he read our minds or sumthin! Maybe I�m not
the only psychic around.�
Helga was in front of her shrine, scribbling her heart out into one of her pink books. She stopped for a moment and looked at the shrine.
�Oh, Arnold. Why do I feel that something will happen tomorrow at the beach? Something special, with you, the one I love. Why do I have a strong foreboding feeling in my heart of hearts? Will tomorrow be the day? The day I confess my love and you tell me whether you love me back or not? Oh, please let my ears hear you say that you love me! I don�t think I could bear it if you said you did not share my emotions. Oh woe would be a world where Arnold doesn�t love me!� She was clutching her pink book to her heart, on her knees in front of the shrine. She stopped her tirade and placed the pink book on the stack, done writing for the moment. She plopped onto the bed, imagining a scene at the beach.
The moonlight was dancing on the waves. She lay on her towel, the sands
underneath still warm from the day. She closed her eyes, soaking in the peace. She felt a hand on hers. She looked over. Arnold had lain a towel down next to hers and had put his hand on hers. He was looking at her with flirty eyes. Helga loved that look so much, yet it tortured her. How dare his eyes be so green? But now he was looking at her with purposeful flirty eyes. She gave a quiet gasp. He spoke.
�Helga, I have a confession.�
�Yes?� she replied eagerly. She hoped he was going to say what she thought he was going to say. He leaned toward her. How she longed to meet him halfway, and press her lips against his, feel the glorious touch of his kiss!
�Helga, I lo--�
Brrring! Helga bolted upright. The phone rang again.
�Damn! And right at the good part!� She was too angry to answer the phone.
�Helga? It�s your little friend, Phoebe,� Mirriam called up to her. Helga tried to control her anger before she answered the phone.
�Hey Pheebs. What�s up?�
�I was bored so I just decided to call you.�
�You had to get bored now! I was having a wonderful daydream!� Out loud
she said,
�So what do you want to talk about?�
�I don�t really know, what do you think tomorrow�s fieldtrip will be like?�
Helga�s heart skipped a beat at the thought of confessing to Arnold. She struggled to keep her voice calm and normal.
�It�ll probably be like the rest of the throw pillow�s fieldtrips. Some learning activities he tries to make fun, some speeches on how �everything is special in it�s own environment, and all ecosystems are uniquely them,�� said Helga, imitating Mr. Simmons.
�But Helga, all of the things we learn on our fieldtrips are valid and interesting facts, and his activities ARE fun. I�m sure that those elements coupled with the fact that it will be at the beach, a great cultural and recreational location, will combine to create a fun and fact-filled
fieldtrip!�
�Phoebe?�
�Yes Helga?�
�You read too much.�