Episode 15: Spring Fever

CHAPTER 1: PICNIC PLANNING

"So Sparkyville Park will work for our picnic?" asked Charlie Brown to Frieda over the phone.

"Yes, it should, Charlie Brown," said Frieda on the other end. "I will bring some sandwiches, potato chips, and sodas for us to enjoy. You can bring the blanket and umbrella."

"Sounds good," said Charlie Brown. "I look forward to our picnic tomorrow. It will be a nice day. Plus the rest of the gang will be busy as well. Marcie and Hans are going to a Tiny Tots concert, Franklin and Melanie are going to the movies, Linus and Eudora are going to the museum, and Peppermint Patty is shopping for Franco's birthday, which is on Sunday."

"What about Sally? What is she doing?"

"That I couldn't tell you. Sally's off probation, but Eudora's still not talking to her. I think it will take some time before they make amends, like it did with Lucy and me."

"I understand. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, sweetheart. Love you."

"I love you, too." And Charlie Brown hung up the phone. Unbeknownst to him, Snoopy and Woodstock were listening in on their conversation and snickered to each other silently.

Elsewhere, Peppermint Patty was going over a list of possible ideas for Franco's birthday gift. Lucy was walking by and noticed Patty coming her way.

"Patricia," she said. "What are you up to?"

"Oh, hey, Lucille," greeted Patty. "I was just going over a list of possible gift idea for Franco's birthday on Sunday."

"Uh, would you need any help?" asked Lucy. "You don't have to accept it if you don't want it, especially after… you know."

"It's okay, Lucille," assured Patty. "Actually I could use the help. Marcie and Hans are going to the Tiny Tots concert tomorrow, so I can use any help I can get. Meet me at my house tomorrow morning around 10 sharp."

"Will do," said Lucy. This was Lucy's chance to really get back in Peppermint Patty's good graces after the Homecoming incident, and she was determined not to mess it up.

In another part of town, Cobra was walking by herself. She was thinking about how her life had turned out. She and Rattler completed their sentence and the charges were removed from both of their records, and Rattler was finally done with serving her detentions. After the tragedy that cost Margaux (Python) her life, she was at a crossroads herself. She and Rattler were offered to join up with their one-time rivals the Spiders, but was considering following Lucy's lead and giving up the gang life. Cobra, for the first time in a while, didn't want to cause any more trouble.

Lucy had just got back after talking with Peppermint Patty. She was surprised to see Cobra, her former Serpent Sisters leader, sitting at her psychiatric booth.

"Cobra?!" she said in astonishment.

"Hey, Lucy," she greeted, sadly.

"I never thought in a million years you would show up at my booth," Lucy said. "So what's on your mind?"

"Well I've been doing some thinking," Cobra began. "After everything that's happened with us and Python getting killed, I was thinking about ending the Serpent Sisters."

"Wow!" said Lucy.

"Black Widow even offered me and Rattler places in the Spiders. Can you believe that? After you left and Anaconda now in Juvie for killing Python and trying to kill you, she figured it was just the two of us left. Rattler said she would do whatever I chose to do, but I'm thinking of going straight. We finished our sentence of removing the graffiti off the walls of the remedial school. And with the cops now watching what we do, what else is there to do but go legit?"

"I see what you mean, Cobra. All I can say is do what's in your heart. If you feel that the Serpents Sisters is over, it's over. If you want to join up with Widow and the Spiders, it's up to you. I think the only question you can ask yourself is, 'What do I want out of life?'. So what do you want out of life, Cobra?"

"I think I want to live long enough to get married and have a family of my own and be successful."

"I think you have your answer." Cobra started to put a nickel in the can, but Lucy stopped her.

"Don't worry, Cobra. This one's on the house. Your money's no good here." And Lucy smiled at her former boss. Very rarely does she not accept her usual five cent fee.

"Thank you, Mamba," said Cobra with a smile. "I'll see you around." And Cobra left for home. Lucy sat back on her booth and smiled.

"Lucy, ol' girl, I think you're back!"

NEXT CHAPTER: WHEN MICHAEL MET SALLY