It's Your Summer, Charlie Brown!
By Sean Mahoney
Chapter 1: Sunday
Dear Pencil Pal,
It's been so long since I've last written to you. I guess you can say that I've been somewhat discouraged from writing to you since you haven't replied to any of my letters. I remind you that our correspondence isn't meant to be one-way. Anyway, I'd first like to apologize if my handwriting is worse than usual in this letter. I am writing it on the bus as we are speaking. You see, I am going to camp for the next two weeks and I've decided that every morning I'd write you a letter and then send them all at the same time. You see, so much as happened to me recently and I just really need to put it all in writing and send it to someone! I hope you don't mind.
Anyway, I must say that I have always hated going to camp. I feel like it is akin to being drafted. I know my parents make me go so I can be out of their hair for two weeks and I feel that is very unfair. Camp is just another place for me to show how incompetent I am at everything. I'm hoping that things might be better this year though, seeing as certain things that happened in the past week have for the most part improved my life. However, I'll have to write about that at some other time because our bus is pulling up to the rest stop right now!
Hope all is well,
Charles "Charlie" Brown
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[Charlie Brown]
My name is Charles Brown, but most people call me Charlie Brown. Another name for me seems to be blockhead, because that's what most people think I am. I'm really not popular at all, not many people like me…and for good reason. I can never do anything right, I always mess up whatever I do. I am not good at anything. I have a passion for baseball and am even the manager of our town's Little League team but we are notoriously bad. We've won three games in our entire career, and one was by forfeit. I guess the best word you can use to describe me is simply blah.
But surprisingly, despite how blah of a person I am, there are people who deeply care about me. I didn't really recognize this until recently, but knowing this has really helped me out. In fact, the past week alone has pretty much changed my entire life.
You could say the person I am the closest to isn't a person at all. I've had my dog Snoopy for as far back as I can remember. He's extraordinarily intelligent for a dog…he's smarter than most people I know. He's got quite an imagination too. He doesn't really respect me as a master, but I know that when push comes to shove, that he does love me.
My best 'human' friend would have to be Linus van Pelt. Linus is the guy who is able to keep me from being too depressed every moment of my life…or at least he tries to be. He's a very thoughtful guy: he's always reading books about theology or philosophy. All that stuff is way over my head, but he seems to know what he's talking about. Linus isn't without his eccentricities though: he still clings to his security blanket and seems to have this obsession with fictional beings. He worships a "Great Pumpkin". Things like that make him the target of some ridicule too, but not nearly to the extent that people make fun of me.
One of our mutual tormenter's is Linus's sister, Lucy van Pelt. Many people regard Lucy as a tad psychotic and I am one to agree with that assessment. Lucy is bossy and violent; it's her way or the highway. She's not all bad I suppose. I regularly visit her for psychiatric help…although Linus constantly tells me that it's a total rip-off. I know deep down we care about each other…as friends! The thought of dating Lucy creeps me out! But despite her crabbiness and her tendency to pick on me, I know that Lucy does count me as a very close friend.
Speaking of sister tormenters, my sister Sally certainly rivals Lucy. I guess you can't say that she's a really bad girl, just really lazy. Sally likes to take the easy way out of everything and anything possible. She's constantly trying to get me to do things for her or let her get away with things; and it usually works because I'm such a pushover. She is in love with Linus: referring to him as her sweet baboo, and torments him probably worse than she does me.
Another good friend of mine would have to be Schroeder. Schroeder is a very private person. Although you may not see it when first looking at him, Schroeder is a genius. He is an excellent pianist and lives his life in emulation of his idol: Beethoven. He's been a good friend of mine for years and is a mostly sensible guy. He's stuck up for me a couple of times in the past. The problem with him though is that he has very little patience. Unfortunately for him, Lucy is crazy about him and he wants nothing to do with her. I don't think I blame him.
All of the people I just described are all very important to me but there are two others who have a very special place in my heart. One is my friend Marcie. She's a very quiet girl with big glasses. Most girls I know either take pleasure in humiliating me or don't give me the time of day. Marcie is different: she is very kind to me and wants me to genuinely be happy. She's without a doubt the sweetest person I know. She's also very intelligent. I suppose some people might consider her a nerd, but they are just jealous of her. Marcie is always there for me when I'm depressed and always does her best to try and make me feel better.
Marcie's best friend is a girl named Patricia Reichardt, though we all call her Peppermint Patty. Peppermint Patty is something of a tomboy: she would rather play a game of baseball or football than begin to think about doing anything considered girly. She pretty much trumps me at everything we do. Despite that however, she is really close to me. Like me, she is actually a very sensitive person and we usually confide our problems in one another. For the longest time I had feelings for her, but I never really let them manifest. It turns out now that we are something of a couple. It's kind of funny that the events that led to this all happened within the last week.
It all started actually exactly one week ago on Sunday. I was dreading having to leave for camp in seven days. To make matters worse, I only had two more days of school left. Most kids would be celebrating such circumstances, but I was lamenting that I had never spoken to the Little Red Haired Girl yet.
The Little Red Haired Girl was my biggest crush. It's the classic tale of unrequited love. She was everything and I was nothing. I could never bring myself to talk to her because I knew she would never want anything to do with me. That Sunday, before being slaughtered by Peppermint Patty's baseball team, I promised Linus that I would talk to her the next day in school.
That next day, Monday, I chickened out. To make matters worse, Peppermint Patty got mad at me later on because I didn't stand up for myself and my friends when these bullies started bothering us. The following day I got Linus mad at me as well when I chickened out from talking to the Little Red Haired Girl again. I felt like dirt that day, but luckily with the surprising aid of Lucy I was able to patch things up with Linus and the next day Peppermint Patty forgave me. That night we had a very small romantic moment and I started to realize that I really liked her.
The next day, after dealing with a very angry Schroeder (we won't even get into that) Peppermint Patty and I went on a double date with Marcie and Linus (I thought the two of them were a couple but I think Linus just did it to help me get with Patty). Peppermint Patty and I had a really great night until I saw the Little Red Haired Girl. Instead of realizing how happy I was with Peppermint Patty, I started obsessing over the Little Red Haired Girl again. I actually went and talked to her and made a complete fool out of myself. And as it turns out, the Little Red Haired Girl was going out with some other guy anyway. Needless to say I was really depressed. I didn't think anybody would ever see anything in a blockhead like me. Some of my friends tried to cheer me up the next day but it was Peppermint Patty who made me realize that things weren't bad for me. She told me how she really felt about me and made me realize how much better she was than the little Red Haired Girl (whose name is Heather by the way). It took me some time to work up the courage, but I eventually did Peppermint Patty how I felt about her (in fact, that was only yesterday).
Once I did that, the two of us went on a "date" and had a really great time with each other…that is until those bullies from before returned and started picking on us. However, I surprised everyone when I actually stood up for myself and Patty and decked Thibault (that snot nosed, chauvinistic, punk with the really cheesy sideburns) in the face. Granted, I got knocked out by the other guys straight after but the point was Peppermint Patty knew that I was willing to fight for her and that I really did care about her. And if anything, it gave Snoopy yet another chance to play hero which he loves to do oh-so-much.
Unfortunately all that happened yesterday and today was the day I had to leave for camp. I had a series of misadventures on my way here involving a really horrible burger, getting framed for theft, being left behind in the middle of nowhere, and a suicidal motorcycle ride with Snoopy. Things didn't fare much better once I got to camp. My luggage was lost and one of those bullies from yesterday dad's works at this camp so he's going to make my life miserable. But when I ran into Peppermint Patty and Marcie merely two minutes ago I realized that things weren't going to be so bad. And that brings us to where I am now: outside with Peppermint Patty and Marcie.
"So Charles how was your trip here this morning?"
"Ugh, I'd rather not talk about it Marcie, it's been a very long day."
"Ha, that sounds like a typical day for you Chuck!" Yeah, tell me about it…
"Well anyway, it's great to see you guys; after the day I've had I really need to see some friendly faces!" That puts a smile on both their faces; I guess sometimes I can say the right thing. "So how did you two fare? Hopefully better than I did."
"Eh it was a fairly uneventful bus ride. Marcie here was flipping out about queen snakes for a while because of Linus. You really got to drag that kid back to reality Chuck."
"You know that's easier said than done." The three of us share a laugh. It's nice to be with Marcie and Peppermint Patty after the rough day I just had. I know that camp is going to be bearable with the two of them here, especially now that Peppermint Patty and I are something of an item.
Suddenly the P.A. system begins to cackle. Obviously it's not exactly state of the art and has seen better days, "Would all tent monitors bzzt meet at the camp director's office for group training. Repeat, would all tent monitors please meet at the camp director's office for group training."
Peppermint Patty flashes a look of shock on her face. "Ack, I better get going guys, I don't want to be late."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh I guess I forgot to tell you Chuck, I decided to become a tent monitor again this year to pick up some extra bucks. I'm going to be monitoring the younger girls this year. I like doing this kind of thing Chuck, makes me feel like I'm helping those younglings out. It's how I met Marcie as well."
"That's true sir." Peppermint Patty makes that same annoyed face that she does whenever Marcie calls her 'sir'.
"Wow, I guess that's pretty cool Patty. Good luck at your meeting!" Peppermint Patty and I give each other caring hug and she's off. Man I can really get used to that! I notice that Marcie is just kind of staring at the ground. It looks like something is bothering her.
"Her Marcie, what's up?" She snaps out of it and looks at me.
"W-what? Nothing…" It sure doesn't seem like nothing.
"Is something bothering you Marcie? You don't seem like your normal self."
"Oh, it's really nothing Charles, but thank you for your concern." I know something is the matter and I want to help. Marcie is always there for me whenever I am feeling down (which is often).
"Well, it really seems like something is bothering you…if you want to talk about it just let me know." She smiles at me and nods her head.
"Well, we have an hour until orientation. You want to go with me to see if they changed this place at all since last year?"
"I highly doubt they did, but I'd love to Charles."
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"Wah-wah-wah! Wah waaaaah…:" Orientation is always a brutal ordeal: listening to the adults drone on for two hours about safety procedures and the like. I'm surprised that I lasted the entire lecture without falling asleep. The whole time Peppermint Patty was making faces at me from behind the adult. She was up on the stage since she's one of the four tent monitor's. Apparently she has also taken up the job as being the activities coordinator for the little kids, which means that she's going to be pretty busy for these next two weeks. There are three other tent monitors: Shermy, Joe Agate, and this girl who looks really familiar. I look over to Snoopy to see him trembling in fear. I can't understand why…
I assume one of the three of them will be the activities director for the kids my age. I guess that's something of a relief. Don't get me wrong, I really like Peppermint Patty, but I know for a fact that she'd drive us all to exhaustion!
The adult who apparently runs the trading post introduces Joe Agate, his son, as the tent monitor for the younger boys. I really feel bad for Linus's younger brother, Rerun, because Joe Agate is not good news. I first met him last year at camp where he was cheating kids out of their marbles. In a rare moment of victory for me I was able to beat him at marbles and win back the one's he cheated out of Rerun. For the first time in my life I was a hero. Joe Agate didn't take his loss to me so well and has been consistently bullying me ever since.
The adult is now introducing Shermy as the tent monitor for the older boys. That is not news to me; I bumped into Shermy earlier today. I've known Shermy longer than I've known anybody else. When we were toddlers we used to be pretty good friends, but as the years went by we stopped talking to each other. I guess Shermy is an alright guy, it's really hard to tell since I barely talk to him. From when I saw him before, he seems to take his position as tent monitor seriously which I suppose is commendable.
Next to be introduced is good ole' Peppermint Patty. As the adult introduces her as the tent monitor for the young girls and activities directors for all the young kids I can see her beaming with pride. I know she's going to do great; this is the kind of thing that she lives for. I'm really happy for her.
The familiar looking girl is being introduced now. She is kind of chunky and looks rather intimidating. I know I've seen her somewhere before. Apparently she's to be the older girl's tent monitor and the activities director for all of the older kids. When the adult states that last part Snoopy looks like he is going to faint…where have I seen this girl before. Obviously Snoopy knows her.
"Wah…wha…wah…Molly Volley" …oh no…that's why I recognized her. This is really bad news! Our activities director is none other than Snoopy's old mixed doubles partner: Molly Volley. Molly Volley is as obsessive with athletics as Peppermint Patty and has a temper that can rival Lucy's! She can't keep a mixed doubles partner because eventually she ends up getting so frustrated that she beats them up! She and Snoopy eventually had a falling out and I just know that she's going to go hard on all of us!
Linus nudges me and whispers, "Is that who I think it is Charlie Brown?"
"Unfortunately, yes!"
"Oh no...It was nice knowing you, Charlie Brown!"
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[Lucy]
Two weeks! Two full weeks without my blockhead brothers and wishy-washy Charlie Brown. Camp is such a beautiful thing; I get two full weeks without Linus or Rerun to get in my way! This is why I always convince mom and dad to send those two along. I've had to go in the past but I've managed to get out of it the past couple of years.
Rerun I can handle, he stays out of my way and mostly keeps to himself. Linus on the other hand is nothing but a pest! He thinks he's so smart constantly quoting that Bible of his! Meanwhile all he does is walk around and suck his thumb and cling to his blanket! What a wimp! He's never going to make it in the real world! I on the other hand am a woman of ambition! I know what I want and I know how I'm going to get it! You may laugh at me now but we'll see who laughs last when Lucy is the Queen of the World! This is the kind of attitude you need in this world, and that's something that Charlie Brown can't seem to pick up on! That blockhead is all talk and no action, he just sits around moping when he could be taking charge and getting things done! Then again, seeing as he isn't really good at anything I suppose I can understand why he doesn't ever take charge, he'd just screw it up! But them's the breaks! I'm not going to miss that blockhead anymore than I'm going to miss my good-for-nothing brothers! I'm so sick of having to listen to all of his depressing problems! He has nothing to be sad about: it's his fault he's such a drip! If anyone has problems it's me! There's just so much that gets in my way that it really gets me angry! That stupid beagle is going to be gone too, thank goodness! I'm getting sick of him showboating around thinking he is so great. Charlie Brown needs to teach that dumb dog to learn his place!
These two weeks are going to be so great! No Linus trying to change the channel on me! No Charlie Brown bringing me down with whatever problem he has for the day! No Snoopy getting on my last nerve! Heck, I don't even have to deal with that Peppermint Patty upstart either! How could things get any better?!
I'm going to visit my boyfriend Schroeder every day! Schroeder is this cute guy who plays the piano. He's really good at it and all but that's about all he does! I'm going to make him stop and notice me in the next few days! You'll see! Also my friend Frieda is having some party on the 4th of July. I'm sure it'll be a drag since Frieda will spend the whole time talking about her "naturally curly hair" and it'll probably be next to impossible to get Schroeder to come, but I'll do my best to find a way.
What am I talking about?! I'm Lucy van Pelt! Of course I'll find a way!
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[Charlie Brown]
Dinner at camp is always an…experience. Marcie, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and I are sitting at the end of a table, somewhat distancing ourselves from the other kids poking our "food" with our spoons. I'm not exactly sure what is in this bowl. It's grey and lumpy. At least we got a slice of bread and butter with it. Personally I'm going to try and save that for last so I can get the taste of this…substance out of my mouth.
Linus stares down at his bowl, "I know Socrates said 'Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat', but this is absurd!"
Marcie raises her spoon, dropping some of the unknown food on to the table as she stares at it blankly, "I highly doubt that Socrates had this gruel in mind when he said that Linus."
Peppermint Patty however has devoured her bowl and is currently eyeing my portion, "Stop being so picky guys, this stuff is a blend of all the natural vitamins and minerals you need! This is just the stuff we need for two weeks of activity.
Linus begins to mumble under his breath, "I didn't sign up to join the Olympics."
Marcie slides her bowl to Peppermint Patty, "You can have my bowl sir, I can't stomach any more of this."
Patty shrugs, "It's your loss Marcie." She then begins to down Marcie's bowl. I know Peppermint Patty's a health nut and all, but I really can't see how anything this disgusting can be good for you.
As we sit staring at our foul meals I inwardly start to build up my courage. Seeing as I told Peppermint Patty that I liked her yesterday, and that the feeling is mutual, I'd really like to go on a date or something with her. I know that she likes me, so I shouldn't be so nervous but I can't help and feel like I'm going to mess this up…like I do with everything else.
"So um Patty…there's this moonlight walk that I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to." I see Marcie roll her eyes. Last year at camp (the same year I met Joe Agate) Marcie and I went to camp without Peppermint Patty (she had to go to summer school) and Marcie asked me to go with her. I was so nervous that I walked straight into a tree!
Peppermint Patty's face blushes and she looks down at her bowl, "I'm so sorry Chuck but I need to head in early tonight so I can plan out what I'm going to do with my kids for the next couple of days."
I should have known. The minute I try and do something with her she's busy. I better suck up my disappointment though, "Oh okay, that's reasonable."
"We'll definitely spend a lot of time together though Chuck." She then changes her expression to her typical confident and playful face, "And of course we'll spend plenty of that time together alone you sly dog you." I begin to blush; my expression of embarrassment is evident to everyone. Linus gives me a thumbs up while Marcie lets out a very faint yet still audible sigh. "Well guys, I better get going! I still need to get some of my kids moved in and all!" We say our goodbyes and she gives me a quick hug, causing me to blush even more.
As she walks away Linus speaks up, "And you thought you'd never get a girl Charlie Brown." To be perfectly honest I still don't believe that this is actually happening. This is all going to be a dream that I'll wake up from in the morning. It wouldn't be the first time. I've had plenty of dreams where I tell the Little Red Haired Girl or some other girl, how I feel about them and they actually accept me. Then right when I'm happy I wake up!
"Do my eyes deceive me!?! Did someone actually just hug Charlie Brown?" If I'm asleep then my dream just became a nightmare. Two girls approach our table. One girl is a kind of cute brown haired girl with an orange dress. Her name is Patty (not Peppermint Patty) and she is one of the first friends I ever had. I used to be really close to when I was about four years old but as we got older she stopped hanging out with us. She's the best friend of the other girl; the girl who just spoke. This girl has very dark black hair done in a ponytail and wears a green dress. Her name is Violet Grey, and for unspecified reasons, she despises everything about me. Well I suppose I'm not really surprised that she hates me. I mean, not many people like me at all. She used to just be one of the many who would be content in pointing out my every flaw and exposing my every insecurity. I suppose she took a special enjoyment in doing that though because over the years she became worst and most recurring of my tormentors. Even Lucy deep down cares about me in some way; Violet just hates me.
"So have you resorted to getting pity hugs now Charlie Brown?" Violet starts laughing which prompts Patty to join in.
As usual, Linus comes to my defense, "I'll have you know that Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown are an item! I bet you two are just jealous that you couldn't get with him!" Oh man, Linus is just instigating things, there's no way Patty and Violet like me!
Of course Linus's declaration only intensifies the laughter, "That's rich! Us, jealous?!"
Patty then chimes in "Come on Linus; how could anyone like Charlie Brown?" Marcie begins to tense up. I hope she doesn't get dragged into this; Marcie always tries to defend me and then people will start making fun of her. I know it's nice of her and all, but usually people are right when they are making fun of me.
Violet then sneers, "Any girl who'd date Charlie Brown must be pretty desperate. I guess that makes sense with Peppermint Patty." Patty and Violet don't think too much of her either. It really gets on my nerves when they make fun of her too, but I can't get up the nerve to stand up to them.
Marcie surprisingly stands up. "Charles shouldn't have to listen to you talk to him like that…and neither should I!" Marcie then storms off. Violet, Linus, and I look at her stupefied though something seems to be going through Patty's mind.
"What was that all about Linus?"
"I couldn't begin to speculate."
Suddenly I feel something wet and sticky fall onto my lap! My bowl of…whatever… has fallen on my lap! Violet knocked it off the table onto my lap!
"Opps…sorry Charlie Brown! You really should have finished that before hand!"
The two girls walk away laughing…meanwhile I'm going to have this big stain on my pants the rest of the two weeks...on my ONLY pair of pants since I lost the other one because of Violet! Good grief!
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[Snoopy]
There's nothing quite like fishing on a warm summer night. It's just me, my fishing pole, a rowboat provided by this otherwise dump of a camp, a can of worms, and the serenity of a calm lake at night.
"III IIIII IIII II III II IIIII IIIII!"
Oh yeah, Woodstock's here too. He keeps bothering me about the worms.
Listen Woodstock, I need these worms so I can catch some fish. Trust me a nice fish is ten times better than a slimy worm any day. Just you wait until I cook up some of my world famous smoked trout!
Woodstock gags at me. Stupid bird, it boggles my mind why I keep him around. Anyway I'm supposed to be relaxing so it's best to ignore the birdbrain. I hook a worm (ugh I hate these things, how can Woodstock stomach these!?!) and cast my line. Now it's a matter of waiting. I put my feet up over the side of the boat and reach into my cooler for a nice cold root beer.
"II IIIII IIII II I IIIIIII IIII IIII III III IIII III!!"
Get your own Woodstock! Woodstock glares at me and flies over to the other side of the boat. Of course by fly I mean helplessly flap a general direction since Woodstock hasn't exactly gotten flying down pat yet.
I don't really know how much I'm going to enjoy this camp. I've gone a few times and this place really isn't anything special. Even still I've had some good memories here, like the time Lucy and I got into that arm wrestling fight (and I snuck in a kiss on her heh heh). What I'm not looking forward to is dealing with my old mixed doubles partner: Molly Volley. Ever since we stopped playing with each other I'm sure that she has it out for me and she is an especially violent person. I really don't wish to deal with her. But for now I'm just going to kick back and relax.
"III IIIIII! III III!" Oh wow! Woodstock's right I caught something! I grab my fishing pole and begin to reel it in. This is a big one; it's giving me a lot of resistance. I lean back into the boat and pull with all my might as I turn the reel. I see my quarry jump out of the water, the biggest trout I've ever hooked! Dinner is going to be something tonight! I continue to reel the sucker in fighting all the resistance until... all the tension disappears. The trout got away!
Not tonight! I grab for another worm. I don't' bother looking but the worm I grab isn't slimy. In fact it feels…fuzzy… Oh well who cares. I hook the worm and cast it in an instant! Interestingly enough I already feel resistance from the worm! I look at the worms in the can, there certainly doesn't seem anything special about them, just plain disgusting earthworms.
I hook the trout again! It feels even heavier than before! This is going to be great. I brace myself and reel it in! I meet tons of resistance but I keep reeling. The boat starts shaking from the sheer force of this fish! This is one haul! Almost there!
SPLASH!!!!
I'm drenched but I got the fish on board with its mouth covering my hook! Yeah! I got it! I look over my prize and surprisingly see something moving inside of the fish's mouth! It can't be that worm can it? I open the trout's mouth and…
BAM! Owch! My nose! Something hit me right in the nose! I look down to see a very angry and very wet Woodstock!
"III IIIIIII IIIIIII!! III IIIIIII IIIII II IIII II II III IIII!! I'I IIIII II IIIIIII IIII III!!!!!"
Ah man, I accidentally hooked Woodstock instead of a worm. That birdbrain deserved it though!
Get over it you wuss!
Woodstock did not appreciate that comment. He glares at me and then starts to smile…
Using all his strength he lifts the trout I hooked over his head! What's he doing!?!
Don't you dare Woodstock! But it's too late. He tosses the trout right over the boat back into the lake. I stare helplessly as the trout darts away from our boat!
"III II III IIII!"
Don't you "Now we are even me!" I'll get you stupid bird! I lunge forward to grab Woodstock but he jumps back. I feel myself lose my balance…
SPLASH!
We plunge into the water! Great, I'm going to smell like wet dog all night.
Nice going Woodstock!
"III'I IIIII II III IIII III!"
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[Charlie Brown]
It took me about twenty minutes but I have finally established a small campfire. I'm kind of feeling a little depressed right now so I figure maybe sitting by an open fire might help me feel better. Might as well take advantage of being in the "great outdoors".
"Hey Charles, mind if I sit with you?" It's Marcie. "I saw you make a fire…and I can't resist a good campfire."
"Well, I'm sure with my luck it'll die out in five minutes, but I'd love it if you'd sit with me." Marcie smiles at me and the two of us sit on a log positioned by the fire.
"You look pretty down Charles, is something wrong." Marcie always knows when something is bothering me; it's not even worth covering it up any more.
"I don't know Marcie, it's just I feel really disappointed that Peppermint Patty is so busy that we can't spend time together. I mean I finally get the nerve to tell a girl I like her and now we can barely even hang out. Before hand we used to hang out all the time."
"Well today has just been a busy day Charles. It's not like this is going to be a typical day or anything. Once she settles into the camp thing you'll see her more. Besides, camp is only two weeks anyway."
I sigh, "I guess you are right Marcie. I'm just so used to things never working out for me that I have this feeling that something is going to happen. I'm probably going to do something stupid." Marcie puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Don't talk like that Charles, you're a good guy. Peppermint Patty is lucky to have a friend like you…and I am too." I don't know. I always feel like I'm more of a burden then a "good guy".
"Thanks Marcie. I don't think I'm much of a guy though."
Marcie sighs, "I really wish you wouldn't talk about yourself like that."
"I'm sorry…anyway I noticed today that you didn't seem like yourself. It seems like something is bothering you. Is anything wrong?"
She turns away from me. "It's nothing Charles. I… just really don't want to be at camp. That's all."
"Oh well I guess I know how you feel. But…are you sure that's all?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it Charles. I'll be okay." I know that something is wrong but I don't want to press the issue. If Marcie doesn't want to talk about it who am I to make her?
The two of us sit together and watch the fire for a while. I just think keep thinking about Peppermint Patty and how now that we finally know that we like each other we can't spend any time together. I also think about other things like how Joe Agate is going to keep bullying me, how Violet has become increasingly cruel to me, how I dread having to do any sort of activity under Molly Volley, how I no longer need to pine after the Little Red Haired Girl, or about getting Marcie to feel better about whatever is bothering her.
Suddenly water douses the fire and steam erupts causing Marcie and I to start coughing. I look up and see Joe Agate with an empty bucket grinning at us.
"What'd you do that for?"
"Your fire is against camp regulations. Just be glad I don't report you to my dad. Let's not forget Charlie Brown that he has the power to throw you out of this camp."
Joe walks off laughing as I mutter, "That might not be such a bad thing."
Marcie takes off her glasses and wipes them on her shirt because the steam fogged them up. She doesn't take her glasses off often but she looks kind of cute with them off.
"It's not fair that his dad works for this camp. He can just go around and do whatever he wants and we're powerless to stop him."
I stare at Joe who off in the distance is forcing some kids at a different fire to give him their bag of marshmallows. "Life never is fair Marcie."
To Be Continued...