It's New Love, Charlie Brown
CHAPTER 1: THE SECRET ADMIRER
Valentine's Day had arrived and for Charlie Brown it was more miserable than usual. The Little Red-Haired Girl had moved away, and Peppermint Patty and Marcie were in Germany on foreign exchange and wouldn't be back until summer. So to say he wasn't in the Valentine's Day mood was an understatement. He already doesn't receive valentines on that day and to him it just a reminder how alone he is.
But Charlie Brown was also sick that day. So it gave him the perfect excuse to stay in that day and not go to school and be even more miserable. If he could he would stay home every Valentine's Day, but he knew he couldn't be sick every February 14th. But this year he figured he lucked out. This year he decided not to get his hopes up and try to get better at the same time. His sister, Sally, walked in to see how he was and if he was going to school.
"How are you feeling, big brother?" asked Sally.
"Not feeling the best, Sally," Charlie Brown replied. "The Little Red-Haired Girl has moved away, Patty and Marcie are halfway across the Earth, plus it's Valentine's Day. I never get any valentines, anyway. On top of that, I'm sick with the flu."
"I'm sorry, big brother," Sally said, sincerely. "I know you miss those girls and Valentine's Day is never good for you. But I hope you have a better day."
"Thank you, Sally," he said, "but the best thing for me to do, besides getting better, is to avoid anything related to Valentine's Day."
"Okay. I'll tell Snoopy to keep any valentines he gets inside his doghouse." And then Sally left for school. Charlie Brown looked up at the ceiling and thought to himself.
"Why do I even bother getting my hopes up?" he thought to himself. "I have a better chance of the team winning at least a few ball games than ever getting one valentine! The Little Red-Haired Girl has moved away and I don't know where she's at. Plus with Patty and Marcie over in Germany until summer there's no chance of me getting anything. Not that I was expecting a valentine to begin with."
Later that day, Linus was walking toward the Brown's house. He rang the doorbell and Sally answered. "Is my Sweet Babboo here to take me on a Valentine's Day date to the movies?" she asked.
"I'm NOT your Sweet Babboo!" he exclaimed. "I'm actually here to see your brother. He asked me to bring home any homework we have and I also have something else to give him."
"He should be up," Sally said. "But if you want to take me to the movies, the weekend is still young!"
"Oh, good grief!" sighed Linus. He headed towards Charlie Brown's bedroom. On the way there he looked outside the window and saw Snoopy driving a forklift carrying valentines. "How can a dog get so many valentines," he thought to himself.
Linus knocked on the door. "Charlie Brown," he began, "are you up?"
"Yeah, Linus," Charlie Brown responded. "Come on in."
Linus walked in and sat in a chair next to Charlie's bed. "I got your homework here. It's only English and Spelling that we had to do."
"Thanks."
"How are you feeling?" Linus wondered.
"A little better," said Charlie Brown. "I'm actually glad I was sick this Valentine's Day. I didn't feel like dealing with not receiving valentines this year, especially with The Little Red-Haired Girl moving away and Peppermint Patty and Marcie overseas. I'm actually feeling less depressed than I would have been had I gone to school and saw everyone else getting valentines and not me."
"Funny you should mention that, Charlie Brown," Linus began, "because you actually got one valentine from someone."
"WHAT?!" Charlie Brown shouted. "Are you serious?!"
"I don't know who it's from. It was taped to your locker and I grabbed it before anyone else could. I didn't open it, either. Here you go." Linus handed him an envelope with a heart on it. Charlie Brown opened it and pulled out a card which also had a heart on it. He read it aloud:
Dear Charlie Brown,
I had always had a crush on you. I've never given you a valentine not because I didn't like you, but because I was too shy and was afraid of what the other kids would've said. But this year I'm not afraid. I've always wanted to tell you how I felt about you the day we met. I will reveal who I am this weekend and I want to treat you to an afternoon at the movies and a sundae. It's about time you got treated with some respect, Charlie Brown. Happy Valentine's Day.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
XOXO
Charlie Brown was beside himself with disbelief. Here was somebody who wasn't Peppermint Patty or Marcie, pretty much professing their love for him. When he finished reading the letter, Charlie Brown said to Linus, "I don't believe it, Linus! Someone at school likes me! I mean REALLY likes me!"
"Who do you think it is, Charlie Brown?" Linus asked.
"I don't know," he responded, "But I can't wait for this weekend to see who it is. I just don't hope it's a practical joke."
Charlie Brown held that valentine and smiled. He was happy and worried at the same time. Happy because someone may like him at school, but was also worried because someone may be setting him up for a cruel joke. He didn't suspect Lucy, because she's more open and honest about her pranks toward him and wouldn't do anything behind his back. All he could do was wait for Saturday.
NEXT CHAPTER:
SNOOPY AND WOODSTOCK GO BOWLING
AND
PEPPERMINT PATTY AND MARCIE IN GERMANY