CHAPTER 2: RANDI AND JANET
At lunch, Frieda was walking around the big cafeteria. She was carrying her lunch on a tray. Luckily, Lucy didn't have lunch that period, so she could meet some of the other kids at the high school. She noticed some sophomores waving at her. They were two girls. One was Asian with red streaks in her hair, and another was Black with blue streaks in her hair. She went over to talk to them.
"You're new here, aren't you?" said the Black girl.
"I am a freshman," Frieda said.
"Cool," said the Black girl, with a smile. "Care to join us?"
"Sure," said Frieda. "I don't see any of my regular friends in this lunch period."
"Hey no problem," said the Asian girl, "we like meeting new faces." And Frieda joined the two girls for lunch.
"So what's your name, girlie?" asked the Black girl. "My name is Randi. And this is Janet."
"My name is Frieda," the naturally-curly haired girl replied.
"Nice to meet you, Frieda," said Janet.
"So what do you think of Sparkyville High so far?" asked Randi.
"It's a pretty nice school," said Frieda. "The teachers are nice and I haven't had any problems so far."
"Cool," said Janet. "We're in 10th grade right now so this is our second year here."
"I see," said Frieda, with a smile. Charlie Brown and Linus had the same lunch as Frieda. They noticed that she was talking to her new friends.
"Isn't that Frieda talking with those girls, Linus?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Yeah it is, Charlie Brown," said Linus. "She can always make friends right on the spot."
"I wish I could make friends like that," lamented Charlie Brown.
"Chuck?!" It was Peppermint Patty and Marcie. "I was hoping we had the same lunch period! How are you, pal?"
"Pretty good, Patty," said Charlie Brown.
"Actually, I'm now going by the name Tricia now," said the tomboy. "I also dropped the 'Peppermint' name, as well. That was fine when we were younger, but now that we're in high school, time for a mature name. And no name is more mature than Tricia."
"We couldn't agree more," said Linus.
"So how are you liking high school so far, Charles?" asked Marcie.
"Pretty good right now, Marcie," said Charlie Brown, with a smile. "People pretty much keep to themselves and not bother you like when we were younger."
"That's great, Charles," said Marcie, who then kissed the blockhead on the cheek. She always had a soft spot for him.
"Watch it, Marcie!" warned Tricia.
"Just a friendly peck, sir," said Marcie. "What's that between friends?"
"Okay," said Tricia. "Anyway, are you in Phys. Ed., Chuck?"
"After lunch," said Charlie Brown.
"Great!" said a happy Tricia. "I'll see you there later!" And the two girls went to sit at a table."
"Tricia?" laughed Linus.
"Whatever works for her," said Charlie Brown. The boys found a spot to sit down at, when a familiar troublemaker decided to start in on them.
"Well, well, well, it's Charlie 'Frown'," the kid said.
"Good grief!" sighed Charlie Brown. "Thibault!"
"In the flesh, kid," said Thibault. "Still as pompous as ever, I see!"
"What is your issue with me, dude?" asked Charlie Brown. "Never once did I say that I was better than you or anyone else!"
"You didn't have to say it, Brown!" sneered the curmudgeon. "Just your condescending attitude alone speaks volumes!"
"Is he for real?" asked Linus.
"Zip it, nerd!" said Thibault to Linus.
"Try saying that to my face, asshole!" sneered Linus.
"I'm in your face, douche!" Thibault snapped back.
"Break it up, toad!" Molly Volley had showed up at the right time. "You've been a problem since you've got here! Maybe a trip to the principal's office will straighten you out!" And Thibault was ceremoniously dragged out of the cafeteria by Molly, much to all of the kids relief.
"I can't stand that kid," said an upset Charlie Brown. "He needs to be lobotomized."
"Amen, brother!" agreed Linus. "That dude ain't right!"
NEXT CHAPTER: MORE "LUCY" PROBLEMS