Chapter 16: Of Romance And Bar Binging.
Rebecca's first birthday in Sparkyville was definitely one for her to remember for the rest of her life,not only was there a shocking surprise party thrown for her by Charlie Brown,not only did Snoopy write her a very special song that Freida and the rest of the girls performed on stage,and not only did she rediscover an important photo of hers that she thought she had lost in France,but she and Ed had finally come together and officially become a couple. It was around 9:00 PM and the party had long since come to a satisfying close,most of the guests had already taken their leave of the place and headed back home for the night,with the only ones staying behind to help clean up the house being Lucy,Linus,Violet,Peppermint Patty,Marcie,Rebecca,Ed,Snoopy,his family,Woodstock,and Amy.
"You know,you sure know how to throw a good party Chuck. I haven't had a fun night out like this in a long time." Peppermint Patty enthusiastically remarked with glee as she put the now empty pizza boxes in a garbage bag before Violet couldn't help but agree with the tomboy while she got on a ladder and helped take down the decorations off the walls and ceilings with Lucy "I actually have to agree with you,I had an absolute blast tonight and it's not even New Years yet."
"Well I can assure you that I've done all the partying I can handle for one holiday season. So don't be shocked if I don't come over to the New Years party." Linus chuckled and playfully agreed with Violet while he put a small piece of cake in a ziplock bag for Rerun before his sister merely shrugged her arms and nonchalantly retorted "All right then,I'll just bring Rerun along instead,it's about time we let him go to a New Years party. We just gotta keep him away from the champagne."
"Uh,Lucy,we're too young to be drinking champagne,I think we just labeled the root beer bottles that so we'd feel more grown up." Marcie raised an eyebrow and corrected Lucy on her little mistake as she cleaned off the snack table to which the latter perked up and replied a little awestruck herself "Hmm,I knew that stuff tasted oddly familiar." before Sally suddenly noticed that the soundstage and DJ were completely gone and brought it up in confusion "Hey,where'd the soundstage and DJ go?"
Immediately afterwards the gang's attention would be diverted over to the backyard when they heard what sounded like a huge ruckus going on outside as they all headed out to the backyard to see Snoopy and his family shoving both the soundstage and DJ system into his doghouse all at once,but what was even stranger than the sight of six beagles trying to shove such a large item into a small doghouse,was that after a few more moments the thing slid right inside the opening like it was nothing.
"Sometimes I have to wonder if that doghouse is enchanted." Charlie Brown rolled his eyes and meekly asked in awe of the display as the six beagles came strolling back into the house like nothing had happened at all before Ed stretched out his arms and yawned "Well,I don't know about the rest of you fellers,but I think I'm gonna head on home for the night." to which Charlie Brown lightly nodded his head and obliged "Alright that's fine,you can all go actually,I can handle the rest."
"Are you sure Charlie Brown? We don't need your house looking like a train wreck again." Linus raised an eyebrow and asked just to be sure if Charlie could finish the place up by himself as the boy nodded his head and confidently reassured him "I'll be fine Linus,believe me when I say that I'll do a better job with cleaning rather than setting up." to which Lucy yawned and instantly excused herself while she headed out the front door "Well I think it's time I finally take a nap then,I gotta get my beauty sleep for the big show tomorrow."
"Make sure to bring your A game tomorrow Chuck." Peppermint Patty sternly requested as she and Violet followed Lucy outside before Marcie added while she also headed outside "Good luck in the show everyone,we'll need it." to which Linus lastly encouraged Charlie Brown and Sally before he headed home as well "Remember we have all day tomorrow to practice,don't be afraid to speak up if you need to."
Now that almost everyone had left,all the guests that remained in the Brown household were Rebecca and Ed as the former turned towards the man of the house and once again showed her gratitude for the party "Thanks again for the party Charlie Brown,I really had a good time tonight." before Ed nodded his head and agreed "Yeah as long as you improve your ability to multitask,you can easily make this your career choice when you grow up." to which Charlie Brown smiled and retorted while the couple headed out the front door "Hey it's really nothing you two,see y'all in the morning."
"You too Charlie Brown!" Rebecca called out and bid Charlie Brown farewell one last time before she and Ed started to make their way back home,leaving only Charlie Brown,Sally,Snoopy,his family,Woodstock and Amy left behind as the boy's sister stretched out her arms and bid her brother good night "Well I'm heading off to bed big brother,you really did a good job with the party tonight. Maybe when my birthday comes around,we can do it again." to which the boy chuckled and jokingly obliged " Sure thing Sally,good night."
Once Sally left the living room and headed off to sleep for the night,Charlie Brown walked up to Snoopy and happily thanked him and the rest of the animals for their help with the party "Thanks a lot for your help everyone,I think Rebecca really liked that song you wrote for her Snoopy." before he turned around and picked up a small piggy bank off the living room coffee table and continued "In fact to show my appreciation for the help,here's all of my allowance that I've been saving recently. I haven't really been saving it up for anything in particular so I was thinking that you should have it." to which Snoopy grew a large smile,took the piggy bank and happily licked his owner from top to bottom in one feel swoop.
"No problem buddy." Charlie Brown lightly laughed and brushed his little gift for Snoopy aside like it was nothing while he lovingly patted his dog on the head before he continued "Well if you need something to spend it on,I heard the bar you often go to downtown is having an all you drink root beer-" only for him to be swiftly cut off when Snoopy suddenly revved up like a motorcycle and sprinted out of the house and onto the bus at near lighting speed.
"Buffet." Charlie Brown meekly concluded what he was trying to say in a sarcastically surprised tone of voice as Andy sighed and suggested to the others through his thoughts "I think we should probably go with him,I'm predicting that one of us will probably need to drive tomorrow." before they and Woodsock reluctantly followed their brother onto the bus and headed off to the bar,with Amy merely deciding to stay behind and head off to bed instead.
Meanwhile at least a good mile away from the Brown residence,Rebecca and Ed were blissfully walking down the sidewalk and heading back home to their side of the neighborhood as little bits of snow were slowly falling down from the sky. Rebecca was happily leaning on Ed's right arm and shoulder while Ed wrapped his arm around her body in an attempt to keep her warm from the nighttime cold even though they both had winter jackets on.
Rebecca: Kiss me too fiercely,hold me too tight.
I need help believing,you're with me tonight.
My wildest dreamings,could not foresee.
Being beside you,with you wanting me.
Just for this moment,as long as you're mine.
I've lost all resistance,and crossed some borderline.
And if it turns out,it's over too fast.
I'll make every last moment last,as long as you're mine.
Ed: Maybe I'm brainless,maybe I'm wise.
But you've got me seeing,through different eyes.
Somehow I've fallen,under your spell.
And somehow I'm feeling,it's up that I fell.
Both: Every moment,as long as you're mine.
I'll wake up my body,and make up for lost time.
Ed: Say there's no future for us as a pair.
Both: And though,I may know,I don't care.
Just for this moment,as long as you're mine.
Come be how you want to,and see how bright we shine.
Borrow the moonlight,until it is through.
And know I'll be here holding you.
As long as you're mine!
Once Rebecca had made it to the front door of her house and was about to head on inside,she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks and did nothing at all as Ed asked in confusion from behind "What is it?" to which the girl slowly turned around and replied "It's just,for the first time,my life feels…..perfect." before she ran towards him and gave him a hug that he quickly joined in on.
"Good night Ed,and thanks for everything." Rebecca happily bid Ed farewell for the night to which he enthusiastically did the same to her while he patted her on the back "Same to you Rebecca,I think you should go ahead and get some rest,we got ourselves a big day tomorrow." before Rebecca suddenly let go and gave him a kiss on the cheek which resulted in him turning bright red in the face while she nonchalantly headed inside her house like nothing had ever happened.
Meanwhile in the middle of a mostly empty and quiet bar in the downtown area of Sparkyville,Snoopy and Woodstock were both sitting at a two person table,chugging down multiple mugs of root beer and listening to some old WW2 era music through the public jukebox inside,all the while Spike,Olaf,Andy,Marbles and Belle sat in a booth across the room with mugs of their own,but not nearly as many as what their brother and his friend had been having.
"You know Woodstock,sometimes I have to wonder…..are we truly deserving of root beer? It's such a lovely and enticing drink that I think is quite heavenly,perhaps too heavenly even." Snoopy asked Woodstock through his thoughts in a very woozy and drunk sounding voice as the bird merely fluttered around on the table in a daze and retorted honestly unsure "I honestly have no idea,maybe we should ask it and see what it thinks." before he tapped on his still full mug of root beer and asked it "Hey root beer,are we deserving of you?" only for the bird of course to receive no answer.
"There goes our brother again on another root beer overdose." Marbles sighed and timidly remarked as he took a big swig of his drink before Olaf licked the lingering bit of foam off his mouth and jokingly replied "If some people have drug addictions,then our brother has root beer addiction,but I can't say that I really blame him however." to which Spike pondered in curiosity while he looked at one of the hanging TV's where a football game was going on "You know I'm starting to wonder if his owner gave him all that money just so he'd be out of his hair,or lack of it for a while."
"Well if that really is the reason he did it,it sure is working since we've been here for almost an hour." Belle rolled her eyes and murmured with a hint of boredom in her voice as she looked at the nearby clock to see that it was almost 10:00 PM before Marbles groaned and added when he saw his brother be handed yet another mug of root beer "And it looks like we'll be here for two."
"Why are you still not giving me a straight answer,what'd I'd ever do to you?" Woodstock angrily asked in bewilderment that his mug of root beer still hadn't answered his question yet before he suddenly felt himself slip on a droplet of water on the table due to all the condensation coming from the mug and nearly ended up falling off the table as he yelped in shock,only for Snoopy to quickly catch him at the nick of time in his paws while he asked in a panic "Whoa there buddy,you alright?"
"Aww thanks buddy,you're my best buddy,buddy." Woodstock laughed and happily thanked Snoopy for catching him as he flew off his paws and back onto the table before the dog scoffed and cheerfully disagreed "No you're my best buddy,buddy."
Snoopy: If you're feeling jumpy,lost or low,I hope you know I'm here.
Woodstock: Life's a little bumpy,call me bro,I'll always lend an ear.
Snoopy: Oh you mean literally!
Both: Buddy! You're my best buddy!
Snoopy: When things get nutty.
Woodstock: Nutty?
Snoopy: You're always there,mon frere.
Woodstock: Touché!
Snoopy: And-
Both: buddy! Who cares if people think it's strange?
You're my best buddy,bud,don't ever change.
"I'm sorry I called you dishonest once Woodstock." Snoopy timidly apologized for one time where he supposedly called Woodstock a liar as the bird flew on top of his nose and replied "Well I can play a little fast and loose with the truth,but you know one thing I never lie about? You!" before he suddenly got all teary eyed and cried out while he hugged his friend as best he could "You're my closest pal!"
Woodstock: When I need a wingman by my side,I'll hitch a ride with you.
Snoopy: Ask for anything man,I'll provide,it's no big whoop-dee-doo!
Woodstock: Sure!
Both: Buddy! You're my best buddy!
Woodstock: When I feel cruddy.
You set me straight,old mate.
Both: So buddy,no matter what the fates arrange.
You're my best buddy,bud,don't ever change.
"Check out these moves man!" Woodstock suddenly requested in an ecstatic tone of voice as he begun doing little dance moves on the table before Snoopy laughed hysterically and retorted "Haha! Oh Woodstock,shall we?" to which the bird nodded his head and instantly agreed with whatever idea Snoopy had in mind "Of course,take a lead!"
"We shall!" Snoopy shook his head and cheerfully corrected Woodstock as he climbed on top of the table and started to dance himself before Woodstock happily joined him "Hahaha! Here we go!" before the two of them started dancing frantically with each other on the table top.
Buddy! You're my best buddy!
Woodstock: Though life gets muddy.
Snoopy: This friendship's clean,old bean.
Both: So buddy! Whatever comes,however strange.
Woodstock: You'll always be my best buddy!
Snoopy: More fun than the silliest putty!
Woodstock: You're never ever a bit fuddy-duddy!
Snoopy: You're something else that rhymes with uddy!
Both: You're my best buddy,bud,don't ever change!
However Snoopy and Woodstock's little song and dance number would be quickly interrupted when they both ended up slipping right off the table and fell onto the floor with a loud,crashing thud,only for the two of them to start laughing uncontrollably for what felt like an eternity instead of cringe in pain,all the while the beagle's family continued to watch them both in awe and confusion as Andy nonchalantly remarked "Yeah one of us definitely needs to drive tomorrow."
"As Long As You're Mine." Copyright Of The Verve Music Group. Written By Stephen Schwartz.
"Buddy Song." Copyright Of Walt Disney Records. Written By Alan Menken And Glenn Slater.
