Cecille and the red shoe, a Hardly boys adventure

I kind of like referring to Arnold and Gerald's amateur detective episodes as 'Hardly' boys adventures, which of course were inspired by the Hardy boys mystery novels.

There's been considerable discussion about the return of Cecille, but the burning question is how to do it. Seems kind of lame to just have Helga drop telling hints about the incident. So, I propose another Hardly boys adventure. Arnold almost certainly kept the red shoe that Cecille (Helga) left behind. On its own, though, it isn't much of a clue. So Arnold might have just accepted it as a keepsake of a crazy night, stowed it somewhere, and then more or less forgot about it.
That's where Gerald comes in. Always Arnold's reliable wing man, Gerald slid in to romance the real Cecille and steer her away from what was turning into an ugly, awkward situation. We never find out what happened to Gerald and Cecille after they went off screen, so it's open to interpretation. Being the smooth operator that he is, Gerald probably became friends with real Cecille and kept in contact with her (no offense intended against Phoebe, but Gerald is a ladies man... or at least he tries to be.)

Here's the score: Gerald tells Arnold about his latest phone call/letter/e-mail (whatever) from real Cecille and asks him whatever happened to the blond girl. Arnold pulls out the shoe and wonders the same thing himself. Gerald proposes they do a little detective work, but Arnold shoots him down-- saying that they don't have any leads. Gerald asks him if there's anything he can remember about the girl. Arnold gets that goofy dreamy smile on his face-- Gerald shakes him back to reality-- and Arnold says that she had a really weird hairstyle at the start of the night. Like, weird in a fancy way. Fake Cecille also had a fake accent, so he supposes she wasn't really french. Gerald suggests they check out hair salons.

After questioning the stylists at numerous places, the boys turn up empty. No one wears their hair in the fashion Arnold remembers. Then, nearby, a lady with a poodle walks out of the same dog salon Helga mistakenly went to. Arnold says that the poodle looks just like Cecille. Gerald makes a wise crack about his choice in women. Though dubious, they go into the dog salon and ask the stylist if he'd ever had a human customer. He surprises them by saying, yes, he has. A very determined young mademoiselle came in and demanded one. Here the trail goes cold again, because the stylist can't really tell them anything useful. He doesn't remember what she was wearing-- only that it was very unstylish.

Arnold and Gerald sit on the curb outside the store racking their brains for some other kind of lead, something that they missed. Cue Helga to stroll by. She asks them what terrible problem someone ELSE is having that has do-goody Arnold so down. Arnold explains about the red shoe and shows it to Helga. Helga's eyebrow goes up in surprise, but she glosses it over as best she can.

I'm not sure where to go from there. I'll think about it some more. Suffice to say that at the end of the episode Arnold has the chance to learn who Cecille really is. Then decides not to.

I really like that idea!
I'm sure Arnold kept Ceciles letter (which Helga wrote partially), they could try to find out who the handwriting belongs to (maybe even compare it with the pink book XD)
I think Arnold believes the mysterious girl to be older than them (5th or 6th grader when they were in 4th grade?) cause Helga stuffed a bra and used a lot of make-up at first.. Maybe that could be the reason he won't suspect Helga.

I wouldn't mind if someone were to take the idea in a new direction if they so chose. I just thought another Hardly boys adventure would be appropriate in the sixth season and this seemed like the best opportunity. The possibility of Helga shadowing the boys throughout their investigation while trying to sabotage their efforts also appeals to me.

Maybe they could check the writing in the letter, that's a good point, but I'm unsure if they'd think to make a connection between Cecille and Arnold's poetic secret admirer. They compared the handwriting of every girl at their school (except Helga for the purposes of plot) and never found anything conclusive. It's more than likely by this point Arnold and Gerald consider the pink book an unsolved case with no leads.

Arnold does have a thing for older women. Depending on the episode timeline (and if we take the book episodes into account) Arnold may very well suspect Helga of being Cecille... but suspecting isn't knowing. It's generally agreed upon that Helga and Arnold get together in the Jungle Movie.
I think it's reasonable for us to toe the line of discovery as long as we don't actually cross it. That's only my opinion, though.

Well, remember that the 6th season takes place after the 1st HA! movie. So, Arnold already knows that Helga likes him (even though they're both pretending that it never happened). So, it is very plausible that he would suspect Helga.

What if now they have P.E and everyone have to change their shoes for tennis and Arnold and Gerald sneak in while their gone and check everyones shoe size and they steal the shoes that are the same shoe size as Cacile and see which girl reports that she is missing the shoe and that is a possible suspect.

Possibly dresses as girls XD

Ive heard of a chinese cinderella version where they leave the shoe out in the open and someone is hiding to see what the people do. Usually the girls try it on but it doesnt fit. When the Cinderella comes along she reconizes her shoe and takes it away. She puts in on to verify the hiden soldier that it is hers and the prince ( Emporor ? ) and her get married and live happily ever after!

Ooh Ooh I like this Idea ^^
If we do this one then Arnold could gather a lot of clues that would lead him to believe it's helga, but then think its just a "coincidence" like he does in the urban legend episodes!!!

estoy yo de agreement vamos Hacerlo es una idea de Gran Una Pero Que sospeche de helga DESDE Principio n ° ONU Como En El episodio de El libro rosa dónde son los cantantes ni Siquiera ven la firma.

What if Arnold and Gerald are trying to figure it out and come up with no leads so Gerald goes home for the night. We see Arnold laying in bed, thinking about the hit and misses with the girls when he thinks briefly about Helga's confession? He sits up and adds Helga to the list of posabilities then for the next day of investigations. Maybe Gerald would be doubtful when he sees it but they test it out by coming out with the leaving the shoe out idea of peachcake21's. They could take shoes or leave the shoe out in public. Maybe at one point a guy comes up and tries it on or something, then leaves it (much to Arnold's relief). If Helga finds it, she probably freaks out and thinks they dropped it while looking for Cecile. She sees her chance to get it back before they find out and swipes it but the guys see her. She is heading back home when they catch up with her and confront her. She freaks out again but notices a charity or something nearby and comes up with an excuse that she was just going to donate the random shoe out of the goodness of her own heart, of course she says this with pure sarcasm...
The guys ask for it back, she forks it over, but they both discard her as a possibility since they bought her story and she's off the hook but the guys are still left with the event unsolved.

There's my two cents. xD It sucks but I wanted to offer it up.

I know I'm not Staff yet, but I just had to say that I adore this idea. I was even thinking of writing a fanfiction somewhat like this a while ago with a Cinderella spin. XD

Anyway, I really like the idea of them finding out that someone got their hair done at the Poodle Grooming place. XD And Gerald commenting on his taste in women...XDXD Hilarious!

Anyway, as the original Valentine's Day episode is one of my all-time favorites, I'd love to see a "sequel" to it, so to speak. <3

And about him not suspecting Helga...I don't think he should until the very end, when Helga inadvertently says something almost exactly like something "Cecille" had said. Then he's like, "O_O.............Nah." XD

I think this is a really good idea; but I have a few problems with it.

I think that the story of Helga and Cecile was so cute, that it just shouldn't be tampered with. I mean, having Arnold's imagination of who Cecile is open ended is in my opinion pretty good for an ending (especially because Cecile was Helga ).

If that one thing was used more than what was used for that Valentine's Day episode alone, I honestly think it would lose the sweetness that got me to practically fall in love with Helga and Arnold... (like Helga's bow: if Arnold said he liked it all the time, the sweetness of the first thing he said to Helga in preschool would just go down the toilet xD)

Howeverr, I'm in love with the idea of Arnold trying to go detective over something that Helga's obsession started up. *giggle* Especially because it brings back a plot line or character that would have probably almost been forgotten after all those extra seasons. <3

Yeah, I agree that he shouldn't figure out who "Cecile" was. But it would be really fun to see him try. x3

What if Grandma helps Arnold? Not the whole time. Like if Arnold and Gerald do their own thing and Gertie is doing her thing (more for gag)

Grandma: I know your one of those trouble makers that hang out by Che Pierre and Che Paris! So I'm not letting you leave withought any answers!
(next scene shows a squirele sitting down)
Grandma: Well?
(squirrel leaves)

Well?
P.s I forgot the grandma's name! HELP! WHAT IS IT!

Grandma's name is Gertie.

And I ADORE the idea of Gertie yelling at a squirrel. That is pure genius. <3

Yeah I forgot for a while, THANKS!

Is this a valentines day episode or any random episode?

sereosly i'm confused XD

It's related to the "Valentine's day" story but it's alltogether random...if I'm not confused at all too lol

join the club!

Club...? What club? I'm slow a bit lol
From a discussion I see it shouldn't repeat the "Valentine's day" 'cause it can loose it's sweetness so.

It's a figure of speech,
you said you're confused, i'm confused so instead of saying "i'm confused too" I say "join the club"
bottom line, there is no club and it's a way to say ". . . yeah me too"

Anywho, Yeah it should just be some random episode

Oh...sorry lol Made a note

Nice to know!

Yeah, we Americans/English-speakers have really strange idioms. XD

You know, I wonder who came up with "As fun as a barrel full of monkeys!"
I could never get over that one XD

Back to the topic. . .

I've never seen a barrel full of monkeys...can't say if it's a fun in reality lol Especially if you're near this thing...

me neither, I guess it would be more deadly than fun, but lol I don't get that expression either XD

Ahahahahah!!!)))) I think it will just be "XР". "Let's be closer to nature".

Okay...going into the theme generally...xD
I'm lost...I can't remember if it was discussed how'd Arnold remember of that red shoe Cecille/Helga has lost?