CHAPTER 3: SALLY BROWN; THE NEW "FAILURE-FACE"

With Charlie Brown gaining some actual popularity among his fellow students, Sally, by contrast, was being ostracized. It didn't help that she was doing worse in school than she was back in their old town. She couldn't grasp on to the most simplest lessons for some reason or other. When Monday rolled around here is how her day went.

9:00 AM: Show-And-Tell

Sally stood at the front of the classroom ready for Show-And-Tell. She had a big bag with her. She began, "For Show-And-Tell today I brought this laundry basket. Why a laundry basket you ask? Well besides bringing your laundry in it, you can use it for different sports. You can use a laundry basket for hockey, soccer, and even basketball. You don't even have to jump to dunk the basketball in the hoop!" The kids looked at each other. One boy raised his hand.

"Are you yanking our legs, or are you really this stupid?!" sneered the boy. And the kids in the class laughed. The teacher restored order and reprimanded the boy. Then she told Sally to go back to her desk, which she did so, with her head hanging down.

10:15 AM: Recess

Sally was playing on the playground in the sandbox when the same boy, with some of his friends, began to taunt her.

"Hey there, dummy!" he said, snickering. "That's our sandbox. Leave NOW!"

"I was here first, muscle head!" yelled Sally.

"Ooh! I'm shaking in my boots!" laughed the boy. "Look there's all of us and one of you! Exit that sandbox or do we have to get tough?!" Sally didn't believe it. This boy was threatening a girl. Not even her brother had to endure that. Sure, back in Sparkyville, he received his fair share of name-calling and admonishment, but, with the exception of rare slugs from Lucy and one threat from Thibault, he never had to endure a threat of a beat-down. She reluctantly got out of the sandbox. But not without a final warning from the brat.

"Oh, before I forget, you tell anyone about this and I'll do worse than what he had planned on doing if you hadn't left the sandbox!" he laughed, with his friends also laughing. Sally was near tears at that point and ran off. One of his friends, who was not laughing but glaring at the jerk, looked back at Sally and felt sorry for her.

12:00 PM: Lunch

Sally was sitting alone with her lunch. Something her brother used to do back at their old school. But Charlie Brown at least had the chance to watch the little red-haired girl from afar, pinning for her. Sally didn't have THAT luxury. Linus was hundreds of miles away, and she didn't know, aside from possible visits from him or chatting with him online, if she'd see him again. Sally finished her lunch and went back to her classroom while the other kids played for a while before class went back in session.

3:30 PM: After School

Sally and Charlie Brown were walking home. Snoopy was in the backyard writing a letter. Charlie Brown was curious as to who he was writing to. He figured it wasn't any of his business and he and Sally went on about their business. Snoopy continued writing.

"So if this letter finds you, friend of friends, I am ready for you to move in with me in Kansas City. Hopefully you'll find the place.

Your friend,

Snoopy"

Snoopy placed the letter in an envelope and went to the nearest mailbox and mailed the letter. He went back home and sat on his doghouse hoping that Woodstock would get the letter.

NEXT CHAPTER: MORE DRAMA FOR SALLY