Lost Cause Diaries #12: The Bitch Is Dead
PROLOGUE
Linus had just heard that his sister, Lucy, was dead. He didn't cry over it, nor did he care. After years of unnecessary abuse at the hands of Lucy, he had cut her out of his life. He was a retired staff sergeant now walking with a prosthetic leg due to being wounded in combat in Syria. And he was married to the nurse who helped him in rehab, named Audrey Hawkins. Linus and Audrey were also expecting their first child as Audrey was over nine months pregnant and due any day. They had moved to Boston, Massachusetts to be closer to Audrey's family and far away from Linus's, with the exception of Rerun, who, after he completed his probation, followed them to Boston. When his mother tells him about his sister's death, he doesn't even give her an answer to if he's coming to the funeral. But after hearing of Lucy's death, he remembered a promise he kept to Charlie when they were kids:
Years earlier…
At the end of the school year, Charlie Brown was having a get-together at his house with his friends. All of his friends had showed up. Silas, Charlie and Sally's father, was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. They had also set up yard games for the kids to play. Snoopy even came out of his house, which had become even more rare since the death of Woodstock, but that day, he seemed to actually have fun for a change. Though they weren't going to get the foot-loose and fancy-free Snoopy the kids had become accustomed to. That part of him died with Woodstock. But he greeted all of the kids with a smile and something of a sparkle returned to his eyes seeing all of them there.
Charlie Brown also invited Frieda's new friends over, and even some of the other upper-class students that he befriended at the high school. When they arrived, Charlie greeted them.
"Welcome to my home," he said with a smile.
"Thanks for having us here," said Randi.
"I second that!" added Janet.
"Help yourselves to any of the food," said Charlie Brown. "We also have games for you to play." And Randi and Janet joined the party. Linus walked up.
"I see Frieda's friends showed up," he observed.
"Yeah, I wanted them to feel at home and part of the gang," Charlie Brown replied.
"That's admirable of you, Charlie Brown," said Linus.
"Unfortunately, I had to invite that bitch sister of yours," said Charlie Brown, trying to hold back his disdain.
"I understand, man," Linus said, sympathizing with his best friend. "Had you NOT invited her, you would have never heard the end of it from her."
"Exactly!"
"Well, Charlie Brown, many of our friends have had their fill of Lucy as of late."
"I know. Even the ones who get along with her are tired of her.
"Well I'll make you a promise today, Charlie Brown. Due to her weight gain, she's going to have ill health as she gets older. So if and when she kicks the bucket, you will be the first to know, as I will be the first to break the news to you. Deal?"
"Deal!" And both boys shook their hands on it.
Back to present
Before turning off his cell phone, Linus fired off a quick text to Charlie, keeping his promise:
"The bitch is dead. Just FYI."
UP NEXT: WE FIND OUT HOW THE REST OF THE PEANUTS GANG FIND OUT ABOUT LUCY'S DEATH