It's Your Summer, Charlie Brown!

by Ballz Mahoney

Things seemed to start to actually go well for Charlie Brown, until he had to go to summer camp. Charlie Brown must now deal with a tyrannical activity director, bullies, a conspiracy against him, and even that strange thing called "love".

3. Monday: The Hike

It's Your Summer, Charlie Brown!

By Sean Mahoney

Chapter 2: Monday: The Hike

Dear Pencil Pal,

I should consider myself lucky that at least I am at camp with my friends this year. There is nothing lonelier than being at summer camp without knowing anybody which has happened plenty of times for me. I'm not exactly the most outgoing person, so it can be very difficult for me to make new friends. Even when I do try at camp it would usually end in me humiliating myself.

However I must say that one of the rare times I was able to come out of my shell at camp really paid off in the long run. I was already feeling really lonely that year when I decided to take a walk in the woods. As I was walking I heard somebody crying. It was another boy about my age named Roy. He was also very lonely at camp so I decided to introduce myself to him and for the most part we hit it off. He was a fairly nice guy although truth be told after those few weeks at camp I never really saw him again. However, it was thanks to him that I meet one of the greatest people in my life. I'll have to talk about that next time though as I am already running late for today's nature walk!

Your Friend,

Charles "Charlie" Brown

P.S. Please Respond to my letters!

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[Snoopy]

Joe Cool's off from school. Camping by the lake, keeping it cool.

There's nothing a college student likes better than summer vacation. A break from school and a chance to catch up on some R&R as well as chick-eyeing. I'm taking my little freshman buddy, Woodstock, over to the lake from some early morning swimming. Hopefully we'll run into some early morning swimmers of the female persuasion. I've got my swim trunks and my flippy floppies as well as all of the other essential gear required for a day out at the lake. Maybe I'll try my hand at fishing again, that's sure to impress some chicks—as long as the rookie here doesn't mess things up for me again!

Ah there's some fine specimens over there. Violet and Patty I believe. They laid some towels out on the small beach on the lake and must be catching some early morning rays.

Hello ladies, how are you this fine morning?

"Ugh, it's Charlie Brown's stupid dog. Just ignore him Patty: you don't want to encourage this kind of behavior." Hmph! That Violet is such an uptight snob. Patty however gets up and begins to scratch me behind the ear! Oh such a great sensation! She knows just the spot!

"Oh I don't know Violet, I think it's kind of cute." She continues to scratch that spot! It's euphoric! Absolutely heavenly!

"You've got to be kidding me! What do you know Patty?" Patty stops scratching! Why!?! No please, don't stop! It feels so good! Please!

"I guess you're right Violet." Don't give in Patty! Just cause Violet says so doesn't mean you have to stop scratching me! Woodstock is staring at me like I'm going crazy while Violet and Patty begin to pack their things.

"Let's get out of here Patty, we have to go on that stupid nature walk anyway." Ack! I forgot about that! I wouldn't want to miss a rousing hike in this beautiful forest! I might as well jump into the lake. I kick off my flippy-floppies throw my towel and jump in the…

COLD!

COLD! COLD! COLD! COLD! This lake is freezing! I got to get out! I got to rush towards my towel and…

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Patty and Violet are laughing at me! I look down and…oh no! My swim trunks came off while I was in the water! I'm stuck in this cold water and if I get out I'll be in front of the girls without my swim trunks!

Woodstock! Hand me my towel now!!

"IIII IIII I'I IIIII II II IIII III IIIIIII IIIIIII!! Hahahahaha" Ugh that stupid bird! He's relishing in seeing me embarrassed! I'll show him later. Patty has died to down a soft giggle though Violet is still bursting at the seams.

"Look at this stupid dog! He's embarrassed that he lost his swimsuit and now he's going to stay in the freezing cold water because he likes to pretend he's a human. Only Charlie Brown could own such a stubborn, stupid, mutt! HAH!"

I'll have you know I'm 100% beagle missy! It's no use, the two of them are already walking away. Now I know what the round headed kid means when he says that Violet's last "hah" is what always gets you.

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[Charlie Brown]

I don't know how I'm going to last two weeks eating this toxic "health food". We were given a bowl of what they say is "hot cereal" but I am pretty sure it's the same stuff we ate last night for dinner. Peppermint Patty is shoveling it down while Marcie, Linus, and I spoon down as much as we can stomach without gagging. Snoopy was given a bowl as well, but he has already thrown it to the floor in disgust. They are serving orange juice to drink, so I am having as much of that as possible since that'll have to do as my breakfast for today. I'll need all the energy I can get too since I have to go on a nature walk all day today.

"I just know that this nature walk is going to be a disaster, Joe Agate is going to ruin everything!" Peppermint Patty exclaims as she starts to eat Marcie's bowl of food. There are actually going to be two nature walks occurring today. Peppermint Patty and Joe Agate are going to take the younger kids on a leisurely nature walk through the forest on a nice safe path. That leaves Shermy and Molly Volley to lead us older kids on a much more rigorous hike in the mountains.

I mutter, "At least you don't have to deal with Molly Volley all day…" Snoopy gives me a look of desperate agreement. To be honest I'd take Molly Volley over Joe Agate in a heartbeat, but that still doesn't change the fact that this day is going to be dreadful.

Marcie piques up, "I don't know what you boys have against Molly Volley; she seems nice enough."

Linus replies, "I've seen her matches with Snoopy! She makes Julius Caesar look like Cinna the Poet!" Peppermint Patty and I look at each other blankly.

"I think you lost them Linus...but I get what you're saying. Even still, I don't see any indication of why we should be dreading today"

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"Come on you lazy pieces of garbage! Let's form up single file! I want to see you guys marching!"

Marcie taps me on my shoulder, "I'm sorry for ever doubting you guys!" We haven't even left the camp and Molly Volley is already barking orders at us. Shermy is keeping quiet and letting her take charge, just what we need. Our group is sure a dynamic one. Of course there is me, wearing the same exact clothing as yesterday without any of the stuff we were supposed to bring: a hat, sun block, bug spray, etc. Luckily Marcie, who is carrying a huge backpack chock full of stuff, has enough sun block and bug spray for the both of us. Marcie's mom is one of those really overprotective mothers who always make her pack much more than she'll ever need. I suppose it came in handy this time. Linus is here too; he's going on about how at least we'll be closer to nature today although I doubt we'll be able to tell with Molly Volley bossing us around so much. Patty and Violet are here as well though they are pretty close to Shermy and not bothering me for once. I know Violet is complaining about having to be in the woods. There are two other faces here who I haven't seen in a rather long time. Both of them are old acquaintances of Snoopy…I certainly wouldn't call them friends…and they are arch-enemies of Molly Volley. I speak of non-other than "Bad Call" Benny and "Crybaby" Boobie: both mixed-double opponents of Snoopy and Molly Volley. I don't know either of them very well but I've seen them play Snoopy a couple of times. Benny is something of a bully. He's no where as mean as Joe Agate or Thibault, instead he's one of those guys who likes to always start something. He's also something of a complainer: he gets his nickname from his tendency to call every shot out in tennis. However in terms of complaining, no one can ever beat "Crybaby" Boobie. Never in my life have I seen anybody complain so much as this girl. And it's not just that she complains, she complains loudly with her head turned to the sky. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen her eyes because her face always seems to be turned at a 90 degree angle.

"THIS SUN IS TOO BRIGHT! I CAN'T GO ON A HIKE OR ELSE I'LL BURN!"

"SHUT UP CRYBABY!" That might be Molly Volley's catchphrase! "Listen everyone and listen well 'cause I'm only gonna say this once! I'm here to lead a group of winners, not wimps!" She gives me an angry stare that burns through to my soul. I can feel myself begin to recoil until Marcie puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry Charles, this isn't going to be so bad."

"We are going to be hiking through the mountains today! There is a path…but we won't be taking it 'cause last I checked we aren't a bunch of wussies! Well at least most of us!" She gives me another glance. Am I really that pathetic that somebody that barely knows me already can pick this up about me?! "We are going to dominate this mountain! It won't be easy, but it'll sure build character! We'll be climbing rocks, charging through rivers, and braving uncharted territory!" I think the uncharted territory bit was an exaggeration…I hope! "NO ONE COMES BACK TO CAMP UNTIL I SAY SO! I want to see all of your faces in the dirt! We're going to build some character today!"

I think for the first time in my life Violet and I are on the same page. Our eyes meet; the look of absolute terror apparent in each of our faces. She mouths to me, "We're dead, Charlie Brown." I nod at her and then sigh.

"Bad Call" Benny of all people nudges my elbow and whispers, "Bet old fat legs here just needs to lose some weight and wants us along for the ride." That wasn't a good mood. Before I could even try to tell him to be quiet Molly Volley explodes. She's very insecure about her weight and must have attuned her ears to pick up whenever anyone says anything about it…no matter at what frequency!

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY BENNY!?! REPEAT THAT AGAIN!!"

Benny grins and opens his mouth, that idiot is going to try and make this lunatic even angrier! However Linus quickly whips his blanket around Benny's mouth and then quickly whispers in his ear, "Don't bother Benny, it's really not worth it!"

Linus lets Benny free as Benny gives him an angry stare…however it seems he is listening to reason as he then shrugs, "Nothing Molly, I didn't say anything."

She grunts, "Yeah, we'll see about that! If anybody else even THINKS about my legs again I'll slug them! Now anyway…..what is that?!"

Molly Volley is interrupted by the sound of rustling bushes. Suddenly a sword cuts through the bushes!! Well, a wooden sword at least. The wielder of the sword is none-other than Snoopy: dressed up in a safari hat and a brown leather jacket!

"Well, well, hello partner." The look of absolute horror in Snoopy's face as Molly Volley addresses him shows that he has already forgotten about whatever role he had put himself in this time…

Well maybe he hasn't forgotten seeing as he has just drawn his wooden sword at Molly Volley! "What the heck is this? Give me that sword!" She effortlessly grabs it from Snoopy's paw and chucks it into the woods. "Get this straight partner, I'm not dealing with any funny business from you: got it!?"

Snoopy shakes his head quickly. When she turns her back on him he sticks his tongue out at her, "BLEAHH!!" A furious Molly Volley turns around and swings at Snoopy, which he quickly ducks. It seems all that practice from dodging Lucy's punches has paid off.

"I don't know Charlie Brown; I think this Molly Volley may be even more unstable than my sister!"

"It's going to be a long day Linus, a very long day."

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[Peppermint Patty]

There really is nothing like the great outdoors…except when you have to deal with a snot nosed punk like Joe Agate while babysitting a bunch of little kids! This nature walk is a lot more difficult than I expected it would be! First of all these little kids won't stop asking the stupidest questions! "Are we there yet sir? "Are there any queen snakes out here Peppermint Patty?" (that one came from Linus's brother Rerun!) , "Why is the sky blue?", "Why are the leaves green?" (Actually I think I can remember Marcie trying to explain that one to me once…something about the sun and a phoniesymphonizer or whatever it's called), "What's a zamboni?" A bunch of the kids: I think their names are Milo, Leland, Austin, and Ruby; won't shut about baseball. Now I am a girl who loves her baseball but this is supposed to be a nature walk! Plus Linus's pest of a little brother, Rerun, has been following the other girls who I have known from a previous year: Sophie, Clara (who I swear could be Marcie's younger sister), and Shirley. He's a nice kid but he sure seems to take a keen interest in these girls. Isn't he a little young for that nonsense?

"All right kiddies! Let's all split up for the moment and do some exploring! Whoever can find the coolest thing is the winner!" Of course the biggest headache is my partner, Joe Agate. The whole day he's been doing everything in his power to get on my nerves. He's been telling the kids to do stupid things all day, some of them dangerous like right now! What would happen if one of these kids gets lost!?

"No one listen to him…again…I don't want anybody to get lost." The kids have picked up on the fact that they shouldn't listen to Joe, but it still gets on my nerves that he's making this extremely difficult for me.

"It might be too late for that Peppermint Patty, it looks like one of the kids is missing, haha!"

WHAT!?! No way! This makes me really angry! We are supposed to be responsible for the safety of these kids and this idiot is off trying to get them lost! I grab Joe by the shoulders and push him against a nearby tree, "What-the-heck-is-wrong-with-you?!? One of the kids is missing now because you can't stop causing trouble! I have every mind to report you! You need to be removed of your position!"

That piece of slime merely smiles, "I wouldn't do that, let's not forget that my dad here owns the trading post. I can very easily change the story being that you were the one who lost the kids. My dad's trading post rakes in quite a bit of money for the camp; who are they going to believe: the son of the trading post owner or some snot nosed tomboy?" Why is it that total jerks seem to be given these positions of power while the nice ones have to suffer? "I'd unhand me now, maybe it's time you started looking for that kid."

In a way that toad is right. I shouldn't be bothering with him right now when there is a little kid lost. I take a roll call and determine that Leland is missing and then begin to set out looking for Leland. I know it's a bad idea leaving the other kids in the care of Joe Agate, but there is nothing I can do right now.

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It takes me about 15 minutes, but I eventually hear the laughing of a little boy in the distance. I make my way through bushes and find…good grief! I found Leland all right! I found him playing in a patch of poison ivy! This is going to be some day!

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[Lucy]

"If we get married, we can get one of our kids to play the piano and then we can dance to our song every night as he played it", such a beautiful, romantic, thought if I do say so myself. Too bad that blockhead, Schroeder, ignored it completely. It's pretty much the classic lazy afternoon scene here at Schroeder's. I am leaning on his toy piano trying to make conversation with Ludwig Jr. while he completely ignores me and plays Beethoven non-stop. As of now he is playing The Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, op. 13 commonly known as Pathétique. For years I've been doing my homework on Beethoven, and if I ever showed Schroeder at least half of what I knew, it'd be sure to blow him out of the water! But if I did that, he would have won all of the arguments we had about Beethoven and him not being so great! I don't know why Schroeder wants to imitate his idol so much. Yeah, so he was a great pianist; why bother trying to copy him? If Schroeder really wanted to show off his talent, he'd branch out on his own!

The "when we get married bit" never seems to get any response out of Schroeder anymore. It used to get him riled up at least, but now he just ignores it. I got to try a different angle. "So Schroeder, did you hear about what happened between Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty?"

Without missing a beat, "Of course I did, anyone with half a brain could tell they liked each other for years. It's just about time Charlie Brown convinced himself to go for it." Aha! He fell for it! I have Schroeder where I want him now!

"Don't you wish more people in the world would realize their true feelings and admit them to one another? Don't you think it would just be wonderful if more people did that Schroeder?"

Without so much as looking up he responds with a curt, "No. Things are just fine the way they are in the world thank you very much." Rats! His "indifference" to me is really starting to tick me off!

"You know Schroeder. Let me ask you something…" Maybe I shouldn't say what I'm about to say…it's really quite nasty…but when has that ever stopped me before!? I have a point to make darn it! "Beethoven may have been a great musician, but was he happy?" The piano playing stops! There is nothing but silence. I know I got to him this time!

Wooosh!

Suddenly the piano disappears right from under me and I feel my head slam onto Schroeder's floor: yet another common scene at Schroeder's house.

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[Charlie Brown]

"She can't be serious, she just can't be serious." Violet mutters to Marcie and I. "Shermy, you have the power to stop this! Don't let her make us do this!" We have stopped at a stream with no way across. It isn't exactly rapid water, but the current is still considerable. Molly Volley thinks we should all cross the river by swimming across.

Shermy shrugs leans on a tree, "It doesn't really bother me either way. Besides, everyone could use the exercise." I'd be happy at Shermy for not listening to everything Violet wants if the circumstances were different. There is no way swimming across this stream can be safe! Plus, I only have one pair of clothing! I don't want to get it all soaked.

"Come on you wussies! Let's see some spirit!"

Marcie hesitantly speaks up, "Um….sir…..are you sure this is exactly the safest thing to do?"

"Sir!?! Sir!?! What are you trying to say about me, huh!?!" Erk! Marcie just made Molly Volley furious! As Marcie nervously tries to say how she calls her other friends sir, Linus taps me on the back.

"Psst Charlie Brown, Snoopy and I have an idea." I look down at Snoopy who is pointing at a fallen tree trunk. "We can try and carry this to the edge of the stream and use it as a bridge!" The trunk is pretty thick and long. Should be able to work as a bridge but it looks too heavy for the rest of us to move.

"WHY YOU ROTTEN SCOUNDREL! HOW DARE YOU SAY I'M A MAN!!!" Molly Volley is shouting at "Bad Call" Benny; he really doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. Of course he shows no signs of relenting.

"Violet and Patty demanded I help you guys with whatever you're doing…they refuse to swim that stream." It was Shermy, I guess I can be happy about Violet getting her way once in a while. The four of us lift the trunk and begin to carry it to the edge of the stream. I glance over to see the Molly Volley has already pushed Benny into the water and is currently arguing with "Crybaby" Boobie.

"But I don't WANT to get wet!"

"SHUT UP CRYBABY!" And with that Boobie goes into the water. The sounds of her screaming almost halt the four of us, but she safely gets to the other side despite being completely drenched.

Snoopy barks the order for us to drop the trunk and we…OWCH!!!

Dropped it right on my foot of course… Either way the trunk now connects the two banks…more or less. Molly Volley sees what we are doing and begins to yell, "You guys are such freaking pansies!" She then jumps into the stream and swims to the other side, stretching as she gets out, "Come on guys! It's refreshing!"

Snoopy stares at her and gives his famous, "Bleah!" catchphrase.

"Out of my way blockhead!" Violet rushes past me, pushing me aside, and crosses the makeshift bridge! Linus mutters something under his breath about her as Patty begins to cross the bridge, followed by Shermy. At least Patty thanked us for our efforts.

As Snoopy crosses Molly yells, "I would have expected more from you, partner!" causing Snoopy to roll his eyes. Linus and I then let Marcie walk across. Linus walks across next and nearly loses his balance as trunk starts to move but he quickly snaps his blanket around a rock and uses that in order to balance himself.

Finally it's my turn. I put one foot on the trunk quickly pull it back as I feel the trunk move. Violet and Molly Volley both shoot me looks of annoyance.

"Come on Charlie Brown; don't make us wait here all day!"

"If yer going to take the easy way around then at least hurry up for the rest of us!"

I step onto the log: it's all right, I can do this. Everyone else made it across no problem, why shouldn't I?

…Because I'm Charlie Brown, that's why. I take a few more carefully timed steps…and end up falling flat on my stomach. I clutch the log trying to crawl my way to the other side. The other kids, minus Marcie and Linus, are all laughing at me. Linus reaches over and tries to give me the end of his blanket so he can try to pull me in. I make a grab for it and…

SPLASH!

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

One of the most familiar sounds: all the kids laughing at me. Everyone is pointing and laughing except Marcie and Linus, who is extending his blanket for me to grab onto. As he pulls me out, I notice that even my own dog is laughing at me. Good grief…not only am I humiliated, but my only change of clothing have been drenched. This has just been a wonderful day.

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This has been another swell day for good old Charlie Brown. Not only did I make a complete fool out of myself in front of everybody, but I also managed to get my only set of clothes drenched. After crossing the stream we still had to hike for a good hour; you'd think maybe my clothes would have dried in that period of time but of course they didn't. The remainder of the trip consisted of Molly Volley yelling at all of us who were, "wimps and would never make it in Wimbledon" as well as Violet and Patty making fun of me for falling into the stream.

"Well at least you washed your clothes eh. I mean if its your only pair they are bound to start stinking eventually." I don't know if Linus was genuinely trying to make me feel better or if that was his idea of a joke, but I shrug it off. The nature hike just broke up and we are leaving the meeting place together…about three hours later than when we were originally supposed to be done with all of this. "All I know is I can eat like five bowls of that food tonight, that hike really worked up my appetite." Ugh, I can't even think about the garbage they are going to serve us for dinner. It makes me want to puke.

"I don't think I am even going to bother with that Linus, I kind of just want to go to bed."

"Are you sure Charlie Brown, you should really eat something." I don't think I can stomach any more gruel though. Plus I'm exhausted.

"That hike really knocked the wind out of me…I really need to just crash."

"If you say so. I'll see you tomorrow Charlie Brown, I'm going to down as much of that gruel as they can give me." Linus and I part ways as I slouch into our barracks. It's empty except for Shermy who is busy writing something. I don't even care if all the lights are on, I just crawl into bed, pull the covers over my head, and plan on passing out. The sooner this day ends the better.

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[Peppermint Patty]

The poison ivy incident pretty much put an end to the entire nature walk. Leland's been sent home already, poor kid. I had a nasty case of poison ivy once, certainly put a damper on my camp experience. Of course I couldn't report that Joe Agate was responsible for Leland running off since his dad was standing around while I was giving my report of what happened. His dad isn't the nicest guy around I'll tell you dad. My pop has told me a bit about him, says that he's involved in some rotten business. I wouldn't doubt it one bit, and I'm sure that son of his isn't so clean either!

Either way, I'm ready to turn in for the night. It's been a busy day and I'm glad it's over. I've taken role call one last time and deal with a minor squabble between Clara and Sophie which should mean I'm set for the night unless Shirley has another bed wetting episode like last night.

Creek

What's that noise? I look up to see the window of our barracks opening! I can make out the silhouette of somebody, a boy it seems, trying to make his way in!

I turn on the light and rush to the window only to startle the intruder! He runs out of my sight as I call at him, "Get back here you creep! Who do you think you are?" I don't know what is going on here but first and foremost my duty is to the girls I am supervising. "There's no need to panic, I'll tell the councilors about this incident immediately. They'll make sure this doesn't happen again." Strangely none of the young girls seem disturbed or afraid about this. In fact, if anything, they seem disappointed. Either way it seems that 'ole Peppermint Patty has her work cut out for her tonight.

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To Be Continued