Journey On Charlie Brown: A Peanuts Jukebox Musical
Chapter 11: Forgiveness
Charlie Brown's 3 week recovery had changed him,he knew that he was a blockhead that couldn't do most stuff right,but he accepted it and was no longer ashamed of it thanks to Ed. Unfortunately he had to take the journey home on foot since he was all out of money for a bus or train,it took another 3 weeks for him to get him totaling at a whopping 9 weeks he'd had been away from home. He did a brief detour to Highsky to see if Heather was home but was met with nothing as she was still at his house,this recovery of hers was taking a long time,and who could blame her? It was a grueling hike that took him through miles and miles of woods,a brief run in with two of Snoopy's brothers Andy and Olaf since they were on their way to Hollywood,and a near exclusive diet of fish and berries. However despite how much of a pain it was,what kept him going was the thought of making it home and hopefully setting things right with Heather,and most importantly his friends assuming they hadn't forgot about him. Despite his determination he was soon on his last legs,he had run out of rations and his sleep schedule was nowhere near passable as he would constantly be awoken by insect bites and just plain uncomfortable sleeping arrangements,he was on the verge of giving up until he saw a familiar sight,it was his school. He got a relieved smile and his slow trudge turned into a full out sprint as he was so close to home.
Soon he made it back to his neighborhood and he was so glad to be back home,the place he'd swore he'd never return to when he left had now become the equivalent heaven's gate opening as he whispered to himself happily "You did it Charles,your home."
But celebrating would have to wait as his biggest priority was setting things right with his friends,but he had no idea how to do it as he paced back and forth through the fields under the blue moonlight. The first thing that came to mind,was Heather. Heather was the only person who saw the goodness in him aside from Linus before he left,and he knew he had to at the very least apologize.
"Heather,I don't care if me and you will never get back together,I just want to let you know how I feel." He thought to himself as he stared at the front yard of his house.
Meanwhile Heather was laying on a air mattress upstairs wide awake despite how late it was,at least 1:00 AM,her recovery was taking a long time as she tried to forget Charlie Brown by being alone,but every night in her dreams she saw him. She quietly tiptoed to a window to do some thinking.
She sighed and thought "This time away from Charlie Brown hasn't been helping. What you did was horrible,but I don't blame you either. No,they were trying to change,and you wouldn't let them. Ugh,what am I gonna do?" Soon a angel and devil appeared on her shoulders,the angel looked like her of course and had a harp and robe whereas the devil had a robe as well but with devil horns,a pitch fork,and red skin.
"Come on,easy up on the poor guy. He had been beaten to the ground by his friends and while he was too harsh,they did have it coming for a while. The angel said graciously while the devil laughed mocking "Your not honestly believing this joker are you? He knew his friends had come to bring him home and he spat in their faces. You need to move on from him,he's a total doofus." As Heather was looking out the window she caught a glimpse of Charlie Brown pacing back and forth,she gasped as the angel continued "Look,he's probably here to apologize and prove himself to you.
"No he's just here to guilt trip you into falling for him again,forget about it girl."
Forget about that guy,forget about the way you fell into his eyes
Forget about his charms,forget about the way he held you in his arms
Walking on airs obnoxious,the thrill,the chill,will make you nauseous and you'll never get enough,just forget about love
Heather got away from the window and paced throughout the house as she thought more and more about his sudden return.
Forget about romance,forget about the way your heart begins to dance
Then you feel the blush,when he's spouting out some sentimental mush
Love really is revolting,it's even worse than when your melting,enough about this fluff,just forget about love
(I had almost forgotten the way it felt,when he held out his mine,my heart fell a flutter)
Oh how I shudder(the first time we kissed) it won't be missed
Forget about his touch(I can't forget about his touch) in the scheme of things it doesn't matter much(it matters so much)
Your better on your own,a meal becomes a banquet when you eat alone(mmmmmm)
Loves filled with compromises and don't you hate those big surprises?
(A cosy rendezvous) oh please (candle light for two) oh jeez (look your calling my bluff I can't forget about love)
Heather quietly walked outside to a nervous Charlie Brown. When he saw her come closer his stomach churned and his face became pale white,he didn't know what to say to her and he just rambled on out of impulse.
"Heather,I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked to them like that-"
"Charlie?"
"I have to make things-"
"Shhh"
I can't forget about my heart (I can't forget about my heart)
And how it felt to fall for you right from the start (I'm still falling)
Whatever we may do (whatever we may do) you are there for me and I'll be there for you
I'll be there to wish,to want,to wonder,to find the sun through rain and thunder
A cozy rendezvous? Yes please,candle light for two,oh please enough is enough
We can't forget about love
Heather and Charlie Brown sat on top of the roof as they watched the stars and the devil disappeared as he batted a quarter to the angel. Charlie Brown took this as an opportunity to apologize to Heather.
"Heather,I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have talked to them like that and I need to make things right between us,and I…...I don't know how. I feel scared to go to their houses let alone show my face around them. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" He asked somberly as Heather got a slight smile and said "Charlie,I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted that way either. I just have never seen you like that before,they did kinda have it coming,but they were trying to change and you just went on and on without letting them speak."
"I know. Heather….I met this boy while I was still over there,his name was Ed. He told me to accept my faults and not run from them. That's what I did when I left in the first place,I tried to run away and be someone else when I'm clearly not. This is who I am,I should have realized that earlier because everyone probably hates me now. I don't even wanna go in the backyard to look at Snoopy." He muttered as Heather's face got very saddened,she was reminded of something that not even Charlie Brown knew.
She hung her head and announced regrettably "Charlie? There's something you need to know about Snoopy."
Charlie sat up and turned with a very concerned face as he asked nervously "What is it?"
Heather sighed "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes Heather,please tell me."
"You've been gone a long time,6 weeks,and what you said really…...affected Snoopy."
"Affected?" "What do you mean affected?" Charlie asked as his heart started to beat a little faster.
"Snoopy was so devastated about what happened that he….he…...left."
Charlie's eyes widened as he instantly turned towards the back yard to see that the doghouse was completely gone as he whispered frantically with tears forming "Snoopy's gone?"
"I'm afraid so Charlie,we all woke up one morning to see that he and his doghouse was gone,and in its place was a note. Here." She gave him the note that she had put in her pocket which only had 1 word on it which Charlie read out loud "Goodbye."
He sat in complete silence for a minute before he whispered "I did this."
Heather replied sadly "We all did this Charlie Brown."
They stared at the sky for a little while longer as Charlie Brown thought to himself as he quietly cried "Oh Snoopy,I'm sorry I did this to you. I've always said that I wished you were a normal dog,but that's what made you my closest friend,I just wish I could tell you that now."
He turned and stared into the backyard again and was overwhelmed with guilt when he saw that Woodstock had put his nest in the empty space as a way to pretend that his friend was still here. "Heather,this is all my fault,Snoopy is gone and even though I don't know if me and him will be close again,but I have to set things right for Woodstock and the others. Can you help me?" He asked a little more cautiously as Heather happily replied "Sure thing Charlie. The school talent show is happening tomorrow and it's gonna be shown on TV. If Snoopy's watching wherever he is,he'll see you.
Charlie shrugged with annoyance "The talent show,last time I entered one I ended up being a cow for Sally. But…...if it means I can set things right,I'll take it."
Heather smiled "All right,so what are you gonna do?"
"I don't know,I just want to tell them I'm sorry,i could care less about the show."
"Well maybe you should write a poem or something,or just go on stage and tell them how you feel. It could be considered part of the acting talent." Heather suggested to which Charlie Brown replied "Ok,I guess I can do that. I gotta get to sleep,been out in the wild too long."
"Yeah,i also think it's time I head back home,I've been away too long and I'm sure I'm behind on so much schoolwork."
Charlie chuckled "Okay Heather,at least I know where you are so it's not that big of a deal. I mean I did before,but now I can go there."
They went to the bus stop and as Heather got her things Charlie suggested "You know,I think maybe we could be rushing things. Maybe we should be just friends for now." Heather got a smile and said "Sure thing,I think we're a little young to be like this already,but hey,when we get to that age I'll be right there waiting."
"Goodbye Heather."
"Goodbye Charlie,I'll be watching you on TV." They gave each other a hug as the bus arrived and took off with Heather waving back before it was completely gone.
"I guess the rest is up to me now."
"FORGET ABOUT LOVE" COPYRIGHT OF WALT DISNEY RECORDS