Gerald´s crisis

That afternoon, the fourth-grade kids were gathered in the Arcade, around a gaming machine, staring at Gerald who was about to break a mark, 50 consecutive wins in one game, break the record not only meant put his name in the highest level of players but too achieved the special bonus, bonus that no one had achieved in the world, just had to get to victory number fifty and he was on victory forty-eight. Ge-rald was relaxed despite the hours elapsed. He was sure of his victory.“Wow two more and the bonus is yours.” Stinky said enthusiastically.“I say that he loses.” Harold said.“I say that he achieves.” Iggy said. The kid was smiling, he achieved, it was a game very familiar the “Killer Queen” a fighting game, was the first arcade game he played, Gerald was very good at this game and always chose the same cha-

racter “Alphonse” a warrior wearing a two-handed sword. He had lost count of the times he had completed the game and the number of beatings he had given to their peers, Arnold included, but never achieved the fifty wins.Helga came at a run and then went into the circle looking for Phoebe.“Phoebe I need you.” She said touched her shoulder with her index finger repeatedly.“Wait a minute Helga, Gerald is about to get a bonus and I want to see.”“I do give a damn, I need you urgently.” Helga Said.“Please wait.” Phoebe said and Helga was angry because she does not pay attention.“Phoebe.”“Helga I want to see, this is important.” Phoebe said and Helga impa-tient was not going to wait until Gerald finished the round. “If I win to this idiot, you are going to ignore me.” She said and ever-yone turned to see her, even Gerald sharpened ears.“Nobody can win at Gerald.” Sid said.“Much less a silly girl and slug” Complement Harold.“Well.” Helga said by going to machine the “Killer Queen” and pu-lled out a coin.“This game is not for girls.” Sid said and Helga ignored him and cast the coin immediately the game was resumed and Helga began to ma-nipulate the controls.“Helga you cannot win me” Gerald said “I will not have mercy on you for being a woman.”“Gerald is right he is very good at this game.” Arnold warned.“Let’s see.” Helga said, choosing her character, Diana warrior who drove two swords. The fight began and as Gerald warned Alphonse gave him the beating of her life to Diana, the bar of life began to drop dramatically, but Diana could beat him and slowly lowering the bar of life of Alphonse, after a minute of combat, Alphonse already had the battle won only one more beat and Diana was history.“It’s your end.” Gerald sentenced and attack with his character but the character of Helga fought back and jumped back. Helga then executes

a few quick movements on the machine panel and then releases the joystick and then turned to Phoebe.“Ready we go!” Helga said and her friend watched in amazement.“But you have not yet won.” Phoebe replied“Yes, I win, believe me.” Helga said smiling. In the game, Diana attacked at her enemy with a series of spectacular kicks completing a combo of three hundred hits consecutive, Alphonse was defeated instantly and then came the sign “Diane win”“She won.” Sid said stunned“I cannot believe it.” Stinky said.“Helga wins Fatality!!” Helga said and turned to Phoebe “Now we go?” Arnold overwhelmed contemplates to Helga.“I did not think that played so well, I did not know that technique” Ar-nold said, then turned to Gerald strange and paralyzed with the hand on the stick “Gerald? Gerald? Are you okay Gerald?”The boy did not answer the call of Arnold was staring at the sign of “game over” and the counter of zero wins. Gerald was about to break the handle of the machine. His bonus went to hell with his honor.“Phoebe, I need you seriously.” Helga said and then Gerald turned on his heel and pointed a finger.“Where are you go?!” Scream a point hit to Arnold with his hand, he would have beaten if Arnold did not dodge.“Direct at my house. Why?”“You’re not going anywhere, I want the revenge!” Gerald demanded.“After.” Helga said boring.“No, I want revenge.” He insisted altered.“Gerald calm.” Arnold said.“Come show me that it was not luck.” Gerald said, ignoring his friend.“Luck was not I tell you.” Helga said, and things heated up.“So?” Gerald was furious.“If you want I can show you.” Helga accept the challenge and return to the podium, returning to fight along her character Diana, Gerald chose to Alphonse and turned fight, engaged in a relentless struggle,

whose outcome could not be more catastrophic, 20-0 for Helga. Ge-rald could not do anything against the technique of Diana’s ruthless. At the end of the Pataki got bored.“It’s over I’m outta here” Helga said after her 20th consecutive vic-tory “I have calluses on my hands.”“Revenge!” Gerald demanded.“Demons! We know who is better here there is no point to continue”“Revenge!” “Get over it you’re not going to win” Helga said “Go get a life, loser.” She walked toward the exit.“Go back and fight me!” Gerald challenge, but Helga did not stop left out of the establishment. Gerald knelt totally defeated, surrounded by children who watched with scorn and pity.“I’m finished!” said raised his hands to heaven “I was defeated in my own game and for a girl! I do not deserve to live!”“Gerald calm down, it’s just a game.” Arnold said.“I’m history is over!” Gerald said and his hands dropped to the ground and just missing a reflector that light his tragedy.

* * *

Phoebe reached at Helga after a block.“Helga amazed.” Phoebe said very surprised“Do not be surprised Phoebe, I’ve played this game all my life” ex-plained Helga, walking hurriedly “Defeat Gerald was very easy, but thanks to that idiot I lost a lot of time, Phoebe need to lend me the homework of tomorrow.”“The homework of math? Did not you? It is very long.” Phoebe said“Why do you think I have such hurry, let’s go.” Helga said and walked toward the house of her friend, who stopped in the middle of the si-dewalk.“Ok.” Phoebe agreed with resignation and followed.

* * *

The next day, Gerald came to school, stopping at the threshold, would be a difficult day but had to face adversity. Deep breath and made his entry into the building, when Gerald entered, all eyes fell upon him.“The loser has entered at the building!” Wolfgang said pointed towards Gerald “people, greet to the loser that defeated by a girl.”“Loser!!” Chorused the mates fifth grade and Gerald shrugged trying to turn a deaf ear, but it was impossible, all mocked until the girls, the support of his best friend did not help anything. The torment pursued them to his classroom.“Good morning Loser.” Sid greeted him “Leave me alone.” Gerald said sitting at his desk.“How are we going to call? You loser, a girl win you.” Harold said in the next row.“You do not say anything; also a girl kicked your ass.” Gerald replied. Crossing his arms bothered without turning toward the fat.“Yes but not as humiliating.” Harold said, eating his lunch box. The boy was fed up with this situation as he wished to smash the culprit of it all, Helga. He wished to finish her both virtual and real. She entered the classroom, bouncing with joy and immediately went to the desk of Gerald.“How are you, Loser?” Helga Asked mockingly.“I ready to the revenge, Pataki.” Gerald warned frowning.“Oh but that aggressiveness” commented Helga and sat on the desk of Gerald “Right?”“Revenge! Today at 4 in the arcade, same place, same game.” Gerald dared.“I have no money.” Helga said.“I’ll lend you.” Gerald said.“What you’ll need to dig your grave.” Helga said and her words alte-red to Gerald, he imagined in the world the “Killer Queen” rose from his chair and killed at Helga with his sword.

“I do not think, this time I´m ready.” Gerald said defiantly.“So you have a secret technique?” Helga asked coming towards him.“Why not come to find out.” Gerald said also approaching and stood looking face to face with Helga, growling as two rabid dogs. Stinky then rose from his chair and pushed Helga, she fell on Gerald, Stinky confused, turned to see what had happened.“Willikers!” He said when he saw Helga on Gerald, with lips glued in a big kiss, kiss that was watched by all their classmates. An excla-mation mocking and laughter filled the place. Helga and Gerald im-mediately separated, nauseated, Helga clutching her neck with both hands, and Gerald spitting.“Yuck!” Gerald shouted and Helga turned to him angrily.“Miserable, erased the last vestiges of his sweet lips with your foul mouth!” Helga cried raising her fist. The classmates did an exclama-tion of surprise.“Is say...” Helga corrected “was crap.” The Pataki disgusted and upset met Phoebe, who made a face of disgust and left the classroom and then she look at the backseat of Ge-rald, Arnold was with both hands under the chin with an unreadable expression.

* * *

Phoebe was angry, very angry, did not like what she saw, Even though it was her best friend, she hate it profoundly.“Phoebe waits.” Helga begged and followed her into the bathroom for girls.“Let me...” she said, and pulling the door shut in her face.“Do not make a show, it was an accident.” Helga explained, opening the door.“To me not it seemed.” Phoebe said her back with arms folded close to mourn.“It was an accident I swear by all the demons.” Helga swore and Phoebe abruptly turned to her“Would you like that I kiss Arnold.” Phoebe said and Helga was im-

pressed with the words.“Do not blaspheme!” Helga Said “just to mention, I will kill you.”“You imagine how I feel. Phoebe said. She arrived in the classroom when she saw that scene.“Listen Phoebe, look at me, you think that I like” Helga pointed with both forefingers “Would rather kiss a pig’s ass.”“Helga.” Phoebe said annoying.“You’re not the only one left affected, believe me, I was extremely prejudiced” Helga Said “How I will recover the candor both cost me to steal? The fate has in charge of erasing all traces of his lips; I do not have any memory, now.”Phoebe left her fury.“And as I will overcome, not be the first to kiss my true love?” Phoebe said and then looked to Helga“If you hit me, we are at peace?” Helga said.

* * *

His first kiss was with the devil; Gerald could not be more dissatis-fied with destiny.“Is horrible!” Gerald exclaimed sadly sitting in the stands in the cour-tyard “Humbles me, makes fun of me and gives me the kiss of death!”“Bad luck.” His friend Commented with extreme seriously and Ge-rald turned to Arnold.“And why are you so serious?”“You prefer that I laugh at your misfortunes?” Arnold Said.“No but…” “It not was nice scenery if you want to know.” Arnold said with one hand under the chin, almost in the pose of the “Le Penseur”.“Needless to say it, I kiss Helga G. Pataki, was horrible! Gerald said in disgust.“It’s not so bad.” Arnold commented.“Not?!” Gerald replied jumping the stands “It is not wrong to kiss the ugliest girl in the world? Do not tell me that you liked?”“Not.” He refused

“Oh great! Gerald said with his hands behind “but, I will remove this humiliation, I defeat Helga in “Killer Queen” and I recover my honor ... let’s go Arnold, We have much to do.” Gerald walked away, while Arnold sighed heavily, following him.

***

Gerald buy the copy of the game, and then he went to Sunset Arm and put the cartridge into the console to play and train and so defea-ting Helga.“Well here’s the plan, I will play until I can stop this deadly technique and you’re going to help.” He said and handed the joystick to Arnold.“Do not think you’re taking this seriously?” Arnold asked boredom.“It is honor, Arnie, Helga left me as a fool, the rat must die!” Gerald exclaimed raising his fist.“Hey!” His friend claimed, insulted.“Sorry man, I’m so exalted, she exasperated me.” Gerald apologized and beginning the game by pressing the button of “star”. They cho-se their characters Alphonse and Diana and started the fight, Gerald controlling to Alphonse, hit with rages at the character controlled by Arnold and beat him to exhaustion, but the boy survived the attacks of the enemy and before losing, managed that Diana execute her deadly technique and defeating Alphonse. Gerald turned to him looking ha-tred.“What?!” I see Helga and I learned the commands. Arnold said, Ge-rald was angry at first but then excited.“Again.” He said and returned to play. After round 25, Gerald ma-naged to stop the deadly technical of his enemy and when he did he could defeat him. When Gerald sees in the screen “Alphonse win”. He is feeling immensely happy.“Yes!! Yees!! Yeeees!!” Gerald said throwing the joystick to the ground and raised his arms as if he had been declared world cham-pion “I win!! I Wiin!!” “Congratulations” congratulate Arnold with some sarcasm in his voi-ce “and now what?”

“The next is Helga.” Gerald said.

* * *

Gerald challenge at Helga in the arcade, she could not refuse, they gathered in front of the machine “Killer Queen” looking like a pair of cowboys engaged in a duel to the death, while a wheel of children were around.“This is the final fight; here we confirm that such loser is Gerald.” Sid said“Gerald you are exaggerating a lot with this, it’s ridiculous, just is a game.” Arnold told looking the boy very upset by the words of Sid.“Hey! Who are you? You are his friend or is his mom.” Wolfgang said pounding his arm. The boy save silent while Gerald and Helga taking position and put their hands on levers and buttons.“You will see, after this you will need psychiatrist.” Helga said“That remains to be seen.” Gerald said and beginning the fight, the two characters were very evenly matched, and neither let her guard down. A round won Alphonse and the other won Diana. At the be-ginning of the third round, the fight was match, but then the advanta-ge was Alphonse, Diana was losing power dramatically but that was what wanted Helga, when Diana was at the critical point, Helga made her movement and Diana attacked but to her surprise, Alphonse stop-ped her technique with his sword in a single movement, Helga was stunned, her character is complete disadvantage, a single hit of his enemy and would be the end. The audience was ecstatic.“Hasta la vista, baby!” Gerald sentenced making his last move that would end the fight but suddenly the screen of machine goes black. The electric fluid, failed, leaving all in darkness for a few seconds. When returned the electricity and machine came back on, Gerald was about to slit his wrists.“Ladies and Gentlemen Helga G. Pataki American patriot, undefea-ted in the game of “Killer Queen” with 21 wins in total, officially withdraws from combat.” Helga said with the arms up claiming to be an absolute champion.

“Noo!” Gerald exclaimed in disbelief. Helga once again declared him as the absolute killer queen.

* * *

Gerald had no other choice but to live with defeat, He learned that not every time is won but the experience he had was valuable, Gerald enrolled in an arcade championship “Killer Queen” and was winner , beating the end, nothing less than the invincible Diana. Gerald put the trophy in his room and admired it with pride, before his older brother Jeimi O stole it to store your tools. Helga continued her life. One day passing through the Arcade and stared at the machine, she was throw a coin at the machine and cho-se Diana, was ready to kick butt, when someone challenge to a duel, when activate the second player, Helga looked back and saw beside Arnold.“Oh! Want me to kick your ass, masochist.” Helga said, while Arnold chooses a character called “Prince” who brandished a sword.“I’m not an easy enemy Helga.” He said and started the game. “I knew that the loser of Gerald won the tournament of the best gamer in town.” Helga said while her characters hit to character of Arnold.“Yes, but Gerald still annoying for to lost.” He said and Prince retur-ned the hit to Diana.“Nothing to be done, I am the best!” Helga said “Nobody can earn me, much less a dumb Football Head”“Do not underestimate, Helga.” Arnold said and in the dashboard, the rivals executed their super technical, the screen shine, and then the two characters were in K.O. The kids looked at the screen and looked among themselves.“Well, that was a draw.” Arnold said and they smiled.

To be continued…