CHAPTER 4: EMERGENCY MEETING

"He did WHAT?!"

That was Krissy's response to what had transpired between Franco and Zac after the rest came back to the Grandin household. Everyone was talking about the fight that occurred at Zac's place.

"He punched him square in the face, Kris!" fumed a still-angry Patty. "My own boyfriend! Acting like THAT to the natives here! It's like he forgot we're just visitors here!" She turned to Andrew and said, "Drew, I'm so sorry for what Franco did to your friend."

"Hey, it's okay, Patty," assured Andrew. "What 'appened between Zac an' Franco is just between them. It has nothin' t' do with me, even though Zac is m' best friend. And I harbor no ill will toward Franco."

"Well I wish I had that attitude," lamented Patty, "because as far as I'm concerned, Franco's in the doghouse! No offense, Snoopy and Gracie."

"None taken," said Snoopy through his thoughts.

"Where is Franco now?" asked Charlie Brown.

"Who cares, Chuck?!" fumed Patty.

"WE do, sir!" Marcie chimed in. "Sure what he did was awful, but Franco is still our friend! Just because YOU don't want anything to do with him doesn't mean the rest of us feel the same! Krissy, did he come back here?"

"For a minute," Krissy replied. "He said he was going to the burger place for a root beer. He didn't say too much else."

"Linus, Franklin, want to come with me?" offered Charlie Brown. "He could use some company from his friends for a bit. Snoopy, you can come, too. Skylar, you stay with the girls."

"Sure, Charles," said Skylar.

"I better see how Zac's holdin' up," said Andrew. "I'll see you later, Jadie."

"Okay, Drew," said Jadan, who then kissed her boyfriend. "Give Zac m' love."

"Will do," Andrew replied. He left for Zac's house.

"Well we're going to bring Franco back home," said Linus.

"He can take his time!" retorted Patty.

"That's enough, Patty!" scolded Frieda. Peppermint Patty stormed back to the room and slammed the door. Frieda sighed. "And I thought Lucy held grudges too much."

"Patty could give Lucille a run for her money, Frieda," Marcie stated.

Later at the burger place, Franco was drowning his sorrows in root beer. He almost ordered something to eat, but consequently wasn't hungry. Charlie Brown, Linus, and Franklin walked in.

"Franco?" said Charlie Brown.

"Charles, Linus, Franklin," said Franco, seeing his friends. "I thought you hated me like Patricia did."

"Well you would have to do something worse than pummeling someone to make us hate you," said Linus. "Trust me. Lucy delivered her fair share of punches to me over the years, so I would know."

"And, between us guys, sure Zac is a nice guy, but he did have it coming for flirting with Patty like he did knowing you two were dating," added Franklin.

" Danke meine Freunde," said Franco. At that moment, Snoopy walked in, dressed as the World War I Flying Ace, ready to quaff a few root beers. Woodstock had also joined him. Snoopy sat down next to Franco.

"Poor chap," Snoopy said through his thoughts. "Must have been a poor blighter who was down in the trenches. I'd feel like that if I was stuck down there, too."

"Let's say we all have some root beers with Franco," suggested Charlie Brown.

"Good idea, Charlie Brown," said Linus. "Waitress, four more root beers, please?"

"Sure thing, mates!" said the waitress. She soon brought out four more root beers for the boys. They toasted to friendship and drank their root beers, as did Snoopy. Woodstock shared Snoopy's, though his belly swelled up due to his small size. After hanging out, they finally went home.

NEXT CHAPTER: SECRET'S UNCOVERED