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HA: Journey To San Lorenzo 2

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Introduction

Arnold stared blankly up at the blue sky through the glass ceiling as the clouds drifted slowly past him. With his hands behind his corn blonde hair he closed his eyes slowly, letting out a deep breath. It was October fifth…another year had already come and gone. He'd had his first love, had his first heartbreak, he'd finished his first year of high school, and preformed on stage, he'd had his first kiss- though- he wasn't too sure if he should count that attack on his lips when he was in grade school a kiss.

Yes, Arnold had done all of these things, all without them.

It was times like this that he felt all of his emotions jumble into a huge pot, and by the luck of the draw he'd choose a random one to feel that day. The first couple of years he sobbed into his pillow the entire night, the next, felt angry that they had not done everything they could to return to him, on one deluded anniversary he was filled joy when he found his father's map in the back of his journal.

His brows furrowed together as he scoffed at his own foolishness. Even though he had the map what did he think he could do with it? Grandpa couldn't afford to pay some of the apartment bills, let alone fly him down to San Lorenzo.

Arnold sighed to himself as he took his cap off and stared upon the little blue hat.

This year as he reached into said metaphorical hat he had found an interesting lack of emotion within his body. He felt nothing, nothing but emptiness and a numb sense of enlightenment.  He placed his hat down on the bed, turning on his side as he stared at the drawer where his parent's picture lay.

He reached out for it but at the last moment slowly let his hand fall.

With almost a look of fear in his eyes he sat up, before carefully and pointedly, closing his eyes. He tried to let his mind go blank, he tried, without the crutch of the picture, to remember what his parents had looked like- how they talked- how they smelled….

Dandruff shampoo….a cinnamon-y perfume… a tuff of blonde hair, pink lips kissing his head…then-

He opened his eyes quickly.

Nothing.

His heart suddenly began to race his chest as he felt sweat build on his forehead, slowly slipping down his cheek. Nothing. He couldn't think of anything else he remembered about his parents. His foot twitched as he looked around rather desperately, what color eyes did mom have? Did dad have a high or a low voice? How did mom usually wear her hair?

His worst fears were coming true, his stomach turned as he felt his chest tighten, he was forgetting about his parents…

Arnold nearly launched himself to the drawer as he threw it open, grabbing the picture frantically. His green orbs searched the picture quickly, scanning in every detail his mind could process. He had hoped that the image would trigger everything that he was trying to remember- but of course only a few memories stuck out in particular.

A flash of being carried in warm eyes down the boardwalk- blowing out a birthday candle as they looked at him with proud eyes. With a sigh of relief the young boy leaned back into the bed, holding up the picture as if it were some sacred relic. The sunbeams hit behind it, causing an almost angelic frame of his laughing parents.

"Mom…Dad…where are you…why didn't you come back?" He whispered sadly.
A knock at the door brought him out of his head as he stuffed the picture back into its drawer near his bed. He leaned back and placed his hat back upon his head.

"Come in." He called out. He didn't even have to turn his head to know who it was at the door, and a small smile crawled to his lips as he heard the familiar voice greet him.

"Hey short stuff..."

"Hi grandpa." Arnold answered sitting up to look at him. Grandpa walked over to him cautiously as he sat down on the bed next to him, ruffling his bangs out of his face idly with a comforting smile.

"How're you holding up?" He asked in his usual chipper voice. Arnold shrugged, forcing a smile before looking back down at the floor.

"I'm alright." He answered. Grandpa nodded, watching Arnold with a sad nervousness as he leaned back a bit.

"Grandma's making miso soup with pineapples; you want to sneak out with me and go grab a burger?" he asked with a light hearted smile. Arnold caught his grandpa's eyes before shaking his head some.

"No thanks Grandpa, I think I'm just gonna go to bed early tonight if that's ok." He whispered. Grandpa stood up slowly, not taking his eyes off of the young boy.

"You sure Arnold? It could be fun." He answered.

"Yea I'm sure…" Arnold whispered lowly.

"Well alright then, sleep tight Arnold." Arnold turned away from his grandpa as he curled a bit into his bed. The door creaked as it started to close. Grandpa poked his head in one last time and cleared his throat to get the young boys attention.

"That reminds me Arnold, there was s a package for you at the front door, it looks important, has your full name and everything." Grandpa mumbled searching through a cabinet drawer at the bottom of the stairs. With a gallant 'aha' he pulled out a thin but heavy parcel.

"Yes sir, addressed to a Mr. Arnold Phillip Shortman" he mused handing it over to the boy. Arnold blinked looking at it for a moment in confusion before carefully sliding his finger through the glue so that it would open. With a quick reach inside he pulled out a barrage of forms, nearly slipping from his fingers as he read the title.

Win A Free Trip To Beautiful San Lorenzo!

"Grandpa this is it! This is what I've been waiting for!" He yelled out, nearly glowing with happiness as he pushed the papers at the old man. He fumbled with them for a moment before grabbing his glasses out of his pocket to read the small print.

"Now just, just wait a minute Arnold, it says to win the trip you need to write an essay about San Lorenzo's culture, geography, or attractions in a way that will appeal to teenagers. Some sort of gimmick to attract tourist or something." Grandpa mumbled.

"So?" Arnold asked, obviously not seeing the problem. He leaned over to see where Grandpa was reading and pointed out some of the text.

"Look, they're legit grandpa; they're even offering to take the entire class of the person who wins!" Arnold yelled excitedly. Grandpa slowly twisted his face up as he tried to word what he was about to tell him carefully, lest he ruin the boys self esteem.

"Well, that's just it Arnold…no doubt thousands of kids like you received this letter, and they'll all be writing essays for it too…" He whispered drawing it out.

"…don't you think I'm good enough to win Grandpa?" Arnold asked, his face growing sad as his shoulders started to slump.

"No! No, no no, that's not what I meant short stuff, you're a great kid, and very smart, it's just- well…you're not the BEST writer out there, and you'll be going out against a lot of kids who probably enter this sort of thing all the time…" He reasoned.

Arnold slowly nodded, understanding his point. With a groan he rubbed his temple.

"Well then what am I supposed to do? I can't just not enter!" He said angrily. His grandpa nodded at that and put the papers back down on the bed.

"What about asking that Phoebe girl to help you? She's really smart isn't she?" He asked. Arnold sighed nodding some before holding onto the sheets tightly.

"Well yea, but honestly writing is about as good as mine…"

"What about Gerald? He's really creative, maybe he can help you." Grandpa added.  Arnold nodded once more but did not seem to perk up.

"He's creative but he hates writing essays, says they rely too much on facts and there isn't enough room to write freely…"  He quoted.

"Well…I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to help you Arnold, just give it time, you have a month to complete the application so- just think about it, I have a good feeling about this" he said happily, patting the young boy on the back. Arnold nodded, a look of determination crossing over him as he made a fist with his hands.

"I'll win this contest, and then I'll find my parents, you just see gramps!"
The Jungle: Journey To San Lorenzo

Based off of what my idea of the Jungle movie would be like, story is completed on Fanfiction.net, I will be posting the other chapters soon.

Arnold has always been desperate to find his parents and with time running out he makes one last attempt at making his wish come true, however complications arise when he learns the true nature of why his parents haven't come home.

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MightyMorphinPower4's avatar
Exllcent c hapter here aw poor Arnold