CHAPTER 2: PRACTICE TIME!
The next day, Charlie Brown and Snoopy were getting ready for the first day of training. It was Saturday, so no school was in session. Charlie Brown had gotten his glove and bat out of the closet. Snoopy was doing the same in his doghouse. As he was heading for the door, he turned to Sally, who was laying on the couch, curled up under a blanket in the fetal position with a sad look on her face. She didn't even face her brother.
"Okay Sally, Snoopy and I are off," Charlie Brown announced. "We'll see you later today."
"Okay, have fun," said Sally, meekly. She was a wreck after all that went down. She couldn't go see Linus or Eudora. After what had happened on Valentine's Day she was lucky that she wasn't in the hoosegow. She knew she messed up and she was truly sorry for what she had done. And she was afraid that not only did she ruin her friendship with Linus, though he probably would be more forgiving, but that she ruined any chances of reconciling with Eudora. She felt worse than Lucy did when she was ostracized by the school after the Homecoming incident.
By the time Charlie Brown and Snoopy arrived at the ball field, they noticed everyone else was already there. He was smiling to see that his team showed up early this time around. Frieda immediately went up to greet them.
"Good morning, sweetie," she said, planting a kiss on Charlie Brown. "Ready for a whole new season?"
"I'm ready, Frieda," said an eager Charlie Brown. "I feel like this is our season. Things have been going great for me. Especially when it pertains to us."
"Oh, Charlie Brown," cooed Frieda. Then a huge kid walked up to the two of them. "Hi, Charlie Brown, hi Snoopy, hi Frieda."
"Oh hi, Ox," said Charlie Brown and Frieda. Snoopy gave a quick wave to Ox.
"So where do you want me, Charlie Brown?" he asked.
"For right now, Ox, you will be an auxiliary player. You will be our big slugger, so to speak. If any of the kids get hurt on the field, you will take over their spot."
"Well we're ready, manager," said Lucy, walking up to the kids.
"All right, everybody," said Charlie Brown. "We'll begin practice. Take your positions. Ox, since you're new to the team, you'll observe today."
"Okay, Charlie Brown," Ox complied. And the team began practicing.
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
A-roundin' third, and headed for home
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel
Oh, put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
Watchin' it from the bench
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out
So say hey, Willie
Tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio
Don't say it ain't so
You know the time is now
Oh, put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all
A moment in the sun
(pop) It's-a gone
And you can tell that one goodbye!
Oh, put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield
Oh, put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Put me in, Coach
I'm ready to play today
Look at me, gotta be centerfield
Yeah!
NEXT CHAPTER: A BABBOO NO LONGER SWEET
"Centerfield" written by John Fogerty
© Wenaha Music Company