CHAPTER 4: FEELING OUT ABIGAIL

As Marcie was getting to know Charlie Brown's new friends (and old in the case of Charlotte), Peppermint Patty was oddly quiet, for her. While she did chime in from time to time, she wasn't being the attention hoarder she would usually be. This was because she had her eyes on Abigail, Charlie Brown's new girlfriend. For as long as she knew him, Patty always harbored a crush on the round-headed boy, and now he had a girlfriend to call his own. And it was different from the little red-haired girl. He could never work up the nerve to talk to her. But in the case of Abigail, she told him from Day One that she liked him and thought he was cute. Patty wanted to know more about this girl and how she REALLY felt about Charlie Brown.

When Charlie Brown took Marcie on a tour of the house and showed them where she and Patty would be sleeping, Patty decided to have a little chat with the new girl in his life.

"Abbie, can I talk to you a moment?" she began.

"Sure, Patricia," said Abigail. And they sat on the couch. Patty looked at her for a moment. Abigail looked confused to what this weird girl wanted. Then the tomboy began to speak.

"I'm going to be completely honest with you," Patty began. "I've only shared this with a few people, but I always had a crush on Chuck. He was the first boy I ever felt anything for. Sometimes I've even questioned myself why I had these feelings for him; a kid that I could strike out with three pitches, and was too clumsy to help himself. But as you said, it was his kindness and good heart that drove me to him. And how he treated me with respect. It was my own fault for not being more open with him about my feelings and I always played mind games and threw out hints and. Mostly, tried reverse psychology on him saying he liked me when it was the other way around.

"I guess I'm trying to say is, he has had his heart hurt more times than I can count over a girl he used to have a crush on back in our town. That was another reason he never reciprocated the same feelings like I had for him for me. Plus I'm sure he told you about his ex-girlfriend Peggy Jean?"

"He has."

"Well she kind of left him for another boyfriend, not knowing she broke his heart. Why I'm bringing all of this up is that while it's probably too late for me to be his, I just want to make sure your feelings for him are genuine. Although I can't have his heart, I can't help but look out for him and protect him from getting hurt."

"Patricia, I see you do care for Charles. Let me put your mind at ease. I have nothing but the best of intentions towards him. I genuinely love him, He's a dear boy and a great friend to all. And I would never do anything to break his heart."

When she heard what Abigail had to say, she let the subject drop right then and there. She said, "Abbie, that's all I wanted to hear. Thank you." And the two girls shook hands. Charlie Brown, Marcie, and the other kids came back.

"What's going on, you two?" Charlie Brown asked.

"Oh nothing, Chuck," said Patty. "Just getting to know your girl a little better. You have a winner with her, pal."

"Thanks, Patty," said Charlie Brown. "Well, Marcie will show you where you two will be sleeping while you're here. In the meantime, how about we all go to the arcade?" And the kids, along with Snoopy and Claudette, went to the arcade in the neighborhood. Marcie stopped Patty for a second.

"That was big of you, sir, to let Charles go," said Marcie.

"I just want him to be happy, Marcie," said Patty, getting a little misty. "Even if it's not with me or you, or even the little red-haired girl, he deserves someone who will show him love and not beat around the bush like I did." And the girls left with the others.

NEXT CHAPTER: COMING TO TERMS