Episode 14: Charlie Brown, Superstar

CHAPTER 1: MAKING PLANS

Charlie Brown and Linus were at Linus's house planning the new baseball season. They would have done it at Charlie Brown's house, but Sally was still banned from having any contact with Linus after she kidnapped Eudora to keep her from Linus on Valentine's Day. So Charlie Brown had to go to the Van Pelt's place as a result. Snoopy was with them as well.

"So who do you have down for first base, Charlie Brown?" asked Linus.

"I think I'll have Shermy on first again," said Charlie Brown. "He does a good job. Then you'll be on second, and then Pig Pen on third. Snoopy here will be shortstop, of course, and Schroeder as catcher. I'll have your sister in right field again, Patty in center field, and Frieda in left field. Violet, Ox, 5, and Rerun will be our auxiliary players. Ox, in particular, will be our secret weapon that will guarantee our success this year."

"What do you mean?"

"Well with his size and strength, he is sure to hit some homeruns for us. With him on the team, we are guaranteed to win a few games. I'm not expecting us to win the championship, which would be nice, but I'm sure we will have a decent showing for once."

"So when do we start spring training?"

"Sometime next week. The snow has already melted, so that won't be a problem." And the two boys continued to plan out the upcoming season.

Elsewhere, Peppermint Patty and Franklin were also planning for the new baseball season. Peppermint Patty's team had always been the polar opposite of Charlie Brown's. When his team always lost a game, Patty's always seemed to win. And like Charlie Brown, she had a secret weapon of her own; her boyfriend Franco. Franco played baseball back in Germany before he moved to the US, and he was a star athlete. And Patty was sure he would bring even more glory to their team.

"So what's are lineup, Patty?" asked Franklin.

"Well Franklin," she began, "You will be on first base, Roy on second, Mason on third, and at home plate as our catcher will be Hans. Our shortstop will be my Franco. And our outfielders will be Jake in left, Sawyer in center, and last but not least, Marcie in right."

"Sounds like we got a good lineup," said Franklin. "But who do we have for our auxiliaries?"

"Auxiliaries?!" said Peppermint Patty, incredulously. "Only Chuck's team uses auxiliaries, mainly because of how lousy a team he has, with a few exceptions, namely Linus, Shermy, and of course, Snoopy."

"One of those auxiliaries is Ox," Franklin replied. "And from what Charlie Brown's told me, he's a monster of a hitter. I would advise adding some to our team."

"I'll think about it, Franklin," Patty said, finally relenting. "But I make no promises."

"Fair enough." And the two continued to go over the new season.

Back over near Charlie Brown's neighborhood, Frieda and Eudora were hanging out together. Usually they didn't do things together unless they're on double dates with Charlie Brown and Linus, respectively. And with what happened with Sally kidnapping her on Valentine's Day, Eudora wasn't really hanging out with anyone, besides Lucy when she visited Linus. So for the two of them by themselves was a big deal to both of them.

"So how are you after what happened, Eudora?" Frieda asked.

"I'm okay," said Eudora. "Charles said he was sorry for what Sally did to me and that she's on punishment indefinitely."

"Yeah, she is," said Frieda. "In fact, she's not allowed out of the house unless for school or if the family is going out together. All she's been doing is moping around and not even say anything other than greeting you, in a melancholy fashion."

"I'm sure she's upset by all of this, Frieda," said Eudora, turning serious, "but this girl who was supposed to be my best friend kidnaps me by pushing me into a hole in the ground just so she could have my boyfriend all to herself. In a way I do feel sorry for her, but again, in a way, I don't either."

"Well I, for one, am glad you are safe and sound, hun," said Frieda with a smile.

"Thank you," smiled Eudora. And the two of them walked back toward the Van Pelt house.

NEXT CHAPTER: PUT ME IN, COACH, I'M READY TO PLAY TODAY!