Chapter Text
Thursday
“Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you to the back door?” Twelve year old Arnold Shortman asked his girlfriend as they stopped at the front entrance of her father’s beeper store/the family’s current residence. The store lights were off, which was surprising because closing time was six and it was only five thirty. It was mid November so the sun had already set nearly an hour earlier and the alley behind the building was dark. Two of the three lights by the back door burnt out a few weeks earlier.
“I’m sure.” Helga insisted, shoving her cold hands in her jacket pockets. The temperature had dipped the last couple of days and she hadn’t been able to find any of her gloves or mittens, probably lost when they moved from their brownstone to the store. They had to get rid of a lot of things before the move. Not wanting to clue Arnold’s family into just how bad her family’s financial situation was getting, she complimented Grandma Gertie on her knitting skills and thankfully Gertie offered to knit her mittens, scarf, and a hat without Helga having to even ask. Arnold was nearly giddy when he offered to surprise her by picking out the yarn colors his grandmother would use. “You didn’t even have to walk me home.” She pointed out.
“I know.” Arnold smiled, shrugging. “But I wanted to.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I‘ll see you at school tomorrow.”
“Bye. See ya tomorrow Football Head.” Helga tried to wipe the dopey grin off her lips as she turned and made her way to the back entrance of the beeper emporium. She still couldn’t believe Arnold, the boy she loved since she was four, was her boyfriend. Since she and her classmates arrived home from San Lorenzo things really started to look up for Helga. Socially anyway; her family was still a dumpster fire. Surprisingly, Helga was choosing to see the cup of life half full instead of empty. Now that her feelings for Arnold were out in the open her other emotions started to level out and she knew she was becoming a much more pleasant of a person. Sure, she could still be quick to anger but she was starting to be able to check herself before verbally spewing out her negative emotions. She had a ways to go, but the way Helga’s classmates interacted with her now she knew she was heading in the right direction.
“I’m home!” She called out as she locked the door behind her. She wasn’t all that shocked when no one answered. Since she ate dinner at the Shortman’s Helga went straight to her storage closet bedroom. The room was tiny. Just enough room for a twin sized bed and a small dress that pulled double duty as her night stand. She turned on her radio and started her minimal homework for the night.
Friday
Helga grabbed a banana from the store’s break room to eat for breakfast on her walk to school. Luckily her lackluster packed lunches weren’t really an issue anymore, her family’s income qualifying her reduced priced hot lunches. It was a bit tricky for Helga to sign up for this because she knew Bob’s pride wouldn’t allow it. (Helga was sure Bob would rather see her starve than admit they needed help. Or that his bad business decisions cost them their home.) She snuck the paperwork for it with other things Bob had to sign and since when it came to his younger daughter he never truly paid attention to what she was doing, so he easily signed whatever she asked without actually reading it. As long it was costing him money.
“Bye! I’m going to school now!” She called out, rolling her eyes heavily when she didn’t get any form of a response. “I might as well talk to a wall.” She murmured to herself as she made her way outside to the crisp fall air. As she walked to school her anger towards her parents slowly dissipated, putting her in a much better mood by the time homeroom started.
Without any plans Helga went straight home after school. Arnold was spending the night at Gerald’s and Phoebe was going out of town with her parents for the weekend. Rhonda had half-heartedly invited her to spend the night with her and Nadine. Helga considered, but politely declined because she got the impression Rhonda and Nadine wanted some best friend quality time. She didn’t want to be a third wheel.
She was surprised to see the beeper store was closed when she arrived home. It was hours before the normal six o’clock closing time. “Bob?” She called out after throwing her coat, backpack, and shoes by the back door.
No answer.
“Miriam?”
No answer.
“Olga?’
Still no answer.
Helga groaned, slightly annoyed that her so-called family decided to do something without her. It’s not like she wanted to do anything with them, but still, it would have been nice to be at least asked.
She made her way to the breakroom, digging in the freezer for some pizza rolls to cook in the toaster oven since they didn’t have an actual stove. They made do with the toaster oven, a hot plate, and microwave. At least they had a full sized refrigerator/freezer. Albeit there was slim pickings inside. Someone really needed to go grocery shopping soon.
After her pizza rolls were done Helga spent the night having and Evil Twin marathon on television, sprawling out on the couch and enjoying the night to herself.
Bob, Miriam, and Olga still hadn’t returned home before Helga went to bed at elven.
Saturday
At some point of night Helga was awoken by the click of the electricity going out. Opening one eye she saw the red numbers of her alarm clock flashing 12:00 AM. Groaning, Helga pulled the covers over her head, quickly falling back to sleep.
She awoke hours later. Because the power went out and there were no windows in the back of the beeper emporium, Helga was unsure what time it was. She dug for a flashlight in the dresser drawer closest to her bed, one she normally used to read in the middle of the night. She flipped it on and walked to the door, trying the light switch. Nothing happened, the room was still dark other than the light coming from her flashlight.
She frowned. Why in the heck did the power go out anyway? There wasn’t a storm the night before, was there? Helga hadn’t heard any thunder. She shivered. Since the power was out there was no heat and it was cold. She pulled out a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants put the garments over her nightgown. Using the flashlight she checked the time on the wall clock in the breakroom. It was seven in the morning. Much earlier than she normally woke up on the weekend, the cold air must have had something to do with that. She was about to leave the breakroom when the light of her flashlight shone on the very end of the counter next to the door.
Suddenly it was blaringly obvious that Miriam’s blender was missing. A sinking feeling started at Helga’s throat making a hot, anxiety ridden trail to the bottom of her stomach. She blinked rapidly. When was the last time she actually saw her parents and sister? Thursday morning? No. It was actually Wednesday. The last time the beeper store actually closed at six. With trembling legs Helga dashed to the supply room that Olga was staying in. Without knocking Helga swung the door open.
Her jaw dropped. Olga was not sleeping in her bed. All that was left was an empty bed and dresser. Even Olga’s bedding was gone. All the trophies Olga piled on top of her dresser were gone. Next Hegla stumbled to the back room, where Bob and Miriam slept. Their bed was empty as well, stripped of the sheets and comforter. The makeshift closet they had set up in the corner absent of any clothing.
The flashlight fell from the trembling eleven year old’s hand as realization truly hit her.
Her family was gone. They left and didn’t bother bringing her along.