CHAPTER 2: LUCY MEETS PYTHON

At Lunchtime it didn't get any easier for Lucy. She ate by herself. Charlie Brown was with Frieda, of course, Linus sat with Eudora, and Rerun was with Piper. Violet made it known to Lucy before lunch that she wasn't welcomed at their seats. And everyone else didn't want to sit with her there. She had to eat lunch by herself. She was very unhappy. She now was feeling the ramifications of her actions just to make Charlie Brown look bad at the expense of the football team. Peppermint Patty wasn't talking to her either. She made it clear if she tried to contact her, expect a shredding. So she was on her own.

After school, Lucy walked with her siblings back home. Linus and Rerun were talking about how Linus should go on a date with Eudora.

"Why won't you go on a date with her?" Rerun asked.

"Two words: Sally Brown," said Linus. "The girl's under the delusion that we're together, even though we're not. And Eudora's her best friend. I would love to go on a date with Eudora, but I'm afraid Sally would make it impossible."

"If you care about her, and she cares about you, why should it matter what Sally thinks?"

"It isn't about what she thinks, Rerun. She's just nuts!"

Lucy's wasn't listening to her brothers talking. She was too depressed. No one except for a few folks spoke to her all day. Never had she felt so low in her life. No one even came to her psychiatric booth; not that she was in the mood for patients in the first place. After they got home, Lucy immediately went to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. When she was alone, she fell on her bed and started crying uncontrollably.

The next day was more of the same. Charlie Brown and the rest were talking amongst each other, virtually ignoring Lucy. When they got to school, Lucy walked by herself to her class and sat down, not talking to anyone. No one wanted to talk to her, anyway, unless they had to for something important. Lucy sighed to herself. The strange girl that was watching her the day before walked in and sat down next to her.

"Hey," the girl said.

"Hello," said Lucy. "Do I know you?"

"Not really," the girl replied, "but I know who you are. You're Lucy Van Pelt. You are the girl who tried to ruin her team's chances of winning a couple of years back because you wanted to embarrass that round-headed kid, Charlie I believe his name is."

"Yeah. So?"

"Well they call me Python."

"Python? What kind of name is Python? That's not a girl's name; that's a kind of snake!"

"It's actually a handle I earned," Python said. "You may have heard of the Serpent Sisters?"

"The most feared female gang in Sparkyville?!" said a shocked Lucy.

"That would be us," Python replied. "The leader of the Serpents was impressed with you when she heard about the scheme you cooked up for that Charlie kid. She figured we could use a girl like you in our ranks."

"Me as a member of the Serpent Sisters?" wondered Lucy. "I don't know."

"You don't have to make up your mind right now," said Python. "Just don't keep us waiting. I'll give you a few days to think it over. It looks like you could use some friends. And the Serpent Sisters will provide plenty of friendship. Just think it over, Lucy. I'll be in touch." And Python left the classroom just before the other kids came in.

Lucy thought about what Python said all day. For the first time in a while, she wasn't thinking about the Homecoming fallout, at least not to the degree that she was. She decided to put it in the back of her mind, at least for now.

When she got home, Lucy was watching TV when Linus and Eudora walked in. Lucy was amazed to see Eudora and her brother together. She had to see what was going on.

"Hey guys," she greeted. "So what brings you here, Eudora?"

"Me and Linus are having a study date," said Eudora.

"We decided to help each other out with our homework assignments," added Linus.

"Can I talk to you for a second, Linus? We'll be right back, Eudora." Linus and Lucy went into the next room over.

"Are you sure you want to start dating Eudora?" asked Lucy. "What about Sally? You know how much she has a crush on you."

"Believe me I thought about that, too," said Linus, "but I don't care anymore. If Sally starts anything, I'm going to tell her once and for all that she and I are not a couple, and to accept it."

"Good luck with that, little brother. She's more stubborn than I am."

"What about you? Have you tried to make amends with Charlie Brown or Peppermint Patty yet?"

"Schroeder told me to just give Charlie Brown some space for a while before talking to him. And Peppermint Patty doesn't even want me in her neighborhood, let alone trying to talk to her."

"Well Charlie Brown may forgive you before she does. She even more stubborn than you and Sally combined."

"That I will agree with. Okay, Linus, I hope things go well with you and Eudora. Just be careful about Sally."

"Thanks, Lucy. And Schroeder's right. Just give Charlie Brown the space he needs right now. When cooler heads prevail, then you can try to reach out to him. As far as Peppermint Patty goes, the ball is in her court at this point." And Linus walked back to get started working with Eudora.

Lucy went back to watching TV. Maybe there was hope, at least as far as Charlie Brown went. Besides that, he's put up with much worse than what she did. She felt optimistic.

NEXT CHAPTER: STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!