CHAPTER 2: THE REUNION FOR THE AGES
The next day, Charlie picked up Violet and the two of them went to the union building where the rest of the gang was meeting up. Violet had talked to Patty and she and her husband, Mark Lucas, would be there setting up. Charlie called Tricia and Roy and let them know that he had just got in town. They would be at the union building for the reunion, as well. Nobody knew if Linus and/or Rerun would show up because of the drama behind their family and the hatred the brothers had for their sister. Charlie, for his part, was hopeful that both of them would be there, but at the same time, didn't expect them to come, either.
When they arrived at the union building, they were immediately greeted by Patty. "Violet! Charlie! It's so great to see you two!" They all hugged each other. Patty had become a doting wife and stay-at-home mother to twins. Mark, her husband, worked at a computer company and made about six figures, allowing Patty to care for the children.
"Well come in, you two," she said. And Charlie and Violet went in and saw the place decorated with streamers and balloons. Refreshments were placed on the bar. They saw Patty's husband, Mark, hanging up a cluster of balloons.
"Mark, honey, look who's here!" announced Patty. Mark came over to greet them.
"Charlie!" he said. "Great to see you again, man!" And they shook hands.
"How have you been, Mark?" greeted Charlie.
"And the lovely lady with him is my childhood bestie," said Patty.
"You're Violet Gray?" said Mark.
"That's me," said Violet. "It's finally nice to meet you, Mark. Patty has told me a lot about you."
"Hopefully nice things," joked Mark.
"Oh you!" said Patty, playfully swatting her husband. Turning her attention back to Charlie and Violet, she asked, "So how did you two end up hooking up together?"
"We ran into each other at LAX," said Charlie. "I was on layover from Vallejo. I still own the restaurant. And we caught up all day yesterday."
"I noticed the two of you are holding hands," said Patty with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, Patty," Violet began, "since the both of us were single, and Michael ended up playing for the same team, so to speak, Charlie and I decided to see where the two of us dating would go."
"Wow, I am so happy for you two," said Patty. "Secretly, I thought you two looked cute together when we were kids."
"I thought so, too," agreed Violet, kissing Charlie on the cheek. Just then someone else walked in.
"We're not late, are we?" It was Sally and Schroeder.
"Sally," said Charlie, seeing his sister and future brother-in-law. "So glad to see you!"
"I'm glad to see you too, big brother," she said. The two siblings hugged each other.
"So good to see you, Charlie," said Schroeder.
"Schroeder how are you, man?" said Charlie, shaking his hand.
"Pretty good," he replied. "Just busy teaching those high school kids about anything besides what's on the radio. And still playing with the Philly Orchestra."
Sally and Schroeder noticed the dark-haired woman with Charlie. "Hey, big brother," Sally began, "who's this lady with you?"
"You already know her, guys," Charlie announced. "It's Violet. We ran into each other on the way back home at LAX."
"No way!" said Schroeder. "It's been a long time, Violet. Good to see you."
"You too, Schroeder," said Violet, as she hugged him and Sally. "So, are you still playing Beethoven?"
"You know it!" he said with a smile. "But I am also playing some Bach, Mozart, and some of the other great composers."
"Hey Sally, Schroeder," greeted Patty. "So glad to see you two!"
"How are you, Patty?" asked Sally.
"Pretty good, Sally," said Patty.
"Will we see those adorable twins of yours?" asked Violet.
"One of these days, I promise," Patty replied. At that moment, more people started showing up. Pig Pen came in first, followed by Shermy, then Frieda, 5, 3, and 4. Then Tricia and Roy walked in a few minutes later.
"Oh my god, Chuck!" she said, seeing her old friend. "I am so glad to see you!" She immediately hugged her former crush.
"How have you been, Tricia?" asked Charlie.
"I've been doing great, Chuck," said Tricia. "How about you? How's life in Californ-I-A?"
"Great, Tricia," he said. "I'm still running the restaurant, things are great in Vallejo, plus I reunited with this lovely lady here." He pointed to Violet. Tricia didn't recognize her.
"Do we know each other?" asked Tricia.
"It's Violet Gray," said Charlie.
"How have you been, Tricia?" asked Violet.
"Wow! It's great to see you, Vi!" said Tricia.
"Charlie how are you?" said Roy, greeting his former campmate.
"Great, Roy," said Charlie. "I see you and Tricia are happy."
"We are, man," said Roy with a smile. "Tricia has come a long way since school. She's become a hit at the gym as a personal trainer. I'm about to become manager at the shop. Things are going pretty well."
"Well I'm happy for you two," Charlie replied.
"Thanks, man," said Roy. As everyone was enjoying the reunion, all of the sudden everybody in the room gasp at who entered. When Charlie saw who entered, unlike everyone else who was shocked, he smiled.
"Hey, is this a party or what?" asked Linus, who was with Audrey and Rerun.
"LINUS!" squealed Patty. "I'm so glad you came!" And Patty ran to hug Linus.
"And how are you, Audrey?" Patty asked.
"Aside from my feet hurting from being pregnant, I'm good, Patty," said Audrey.
"I'm glad to see you too, Rerun," Patty continued, hugging Rerun.
"I'm glad to see you, Patty," Rerun responded. They made their way through the crowd of people greeting everyone until they reached Charlie and Violet.
"Now here's the guy I've been looking for," said Linus with a smile. "How you doing, Charlie?"
"Great, Linus," he said, hugging his best friend. "Man, I'm glad to see you."
"Me too, Charlie," agreed Linus.
"Hi, Charlie," greeted Audrey.
"Audrey, lovely as ever," said Charlie, delivering a hug to her. "You taking care of that baby to come?"
"As much as I can," Audrey said.
"And how are you doing, Rerun?" Charlie asked to the youngest Van Pelt.
"You know me, Charlie, just maintaining and living," he said as he hugged his friend.
"It's so good to see you, Linus," said Violet.
"Violet Gray?!" said a bewildered Linus. "You haven't been seen since our grade school days!" The two of them hugged.
"Linus, you are the only one who recognized me," Violet observed. "Everyone else had to look again to see me, except for Patty, who I kept in touch with."
"Well, I always recognize faces, no matter how grown up they've become," Linus stated.
"Violet and I hooked up at LAX on our way here," said Charlie.
"I've been living in Los Angeles since I moved away from Sparkyville," Violet added. "Running into Charlie was fate."
"I believe it, seeing how you two are holding hands," Linus observed.
"We figured since we were both single and not seeing anyone, we'd try dating each other," said Violet.
"Well you'll get no better guy than Charlie Brown," said Linus.
"Thanks, Linus," said Charlie. "Oh, are you going to go to the funeral?"
"I haven't made up my mind on that, yet," Linus said, getting serious. "I did promise Audrey that I at least come to see our friends beforehand. But as far as the funeral, I don't know if I'm ready to deal with my parents yet."
"I understand," Charlie stated. "I saw your father last night after I arrived. I told him what's going on between you, Rerun, and them was none of my business and was between you guys. And I won't try to make you go if you don't want to. I know firsthand the abuse you endured at Lucy's hands."
"I know you do, Charlie," said Linus. "Anyway, let's not talk about our dysfunctional family dynamic today. Tonight, we have fun!"
"You'll get no argument there!" said Violet.
"Linus!" It was Sally coming over to see her former Sweet Babboo. "It's so good to see you." She hugged him.
"How are you doing, Sally?" said Linus.
"I'm doing pretty good," she said.
"Are you and Schroeder going to make the announcement here?" asked Charlie.
"Later tonight, big brother," Sally stated.
"What announcement?" asked Violet.
"Sally and Schroeder are announcing their engagement to wed," Charlie said to his girlfriend.
"Really?!" said an excited Violet. "Congratulations, Sally."
"Thank you, Violet," said Sally, "but keep it under your hat. We want to make the announcement."
"No problem, Sally, I won't say anything," Violet promised.
"Oh, that reminds me," Linus said, "I got to make my own announcement." Linus walked up to a microphone set up for karaoke for later that night.
"Excuse me, everyone!" he started. "I know everyone is here for Lucy's funeral in a few days, but I have one request. Do NOT tell my parents we're here. I don't want them to know right now. I will tell them later, but for right now, I want to remain incognito to them. And that goes for Audrey and Rerun, too."
Everyone agreed not to say anything to the Van Pelts about Linus, Audrey, and Rerun being in town. They all knew how volatile the situation was with Linus, Rerun, and their parents. He rejoined his friends, wife, and brother when someone made an announcement of their own.
"Well, look who's here," said Pig Pen in the crowd. "The Armstrongs!"
"Wait, what?!" said a shocked Tricia. And sure enough, Franklin and Marcie walked into the union building, and started greeting everyone. Tricia hadn't seen her former best friend in years after their falling out. She tried to reach out to her, but Marcie never answered; not even a "Don't try to get a hold of me again"-type of message. Nothing. So, Tricia moved on with her life, reserved to the fact that Marcie didn't want anything to do with her, let alone see her. She was worried how she would react when they inevitably would bump into each other at this party.
NEXT CHAPTER: LARRY VAN PELT'S SECRET PLAN