Chapter Five

The following days Charlie Brown felt different, he wasn't sure how to describe it but it felt like he had a whole new perspective of the world. He felt like he had something in him, that empty void that was in his stomach felt like it was filled with something, whether that thing was good or bad, he couldn't tell.

The musical production was supposed to meet Monday and Wednesday, nothing major happened during Wednesday's meeting, they did get up and start to move around on the stage with Charlie Brown nervously stuttering through his lines. He couldn't help it! No matter what he tells himself, he can't seem to let go of those feelings he had for her. He had them for years and they're now forever part of him and there's nothing he could do to get rid of them.

Don't think like that! I'll learn to let them go! It's only for my own good! Charlie Brown thought to himself.

It was Thursday, the test for History was tomorrow ending their Great Depression unit.

"And remember, We'll be starting our World War Two unit on Monday. So be ready to take notes." The History teacher, Mr. Smith told the class as they left to go to lunch.

"I'm going to D- my way through this unit." She lamented following the group to their lockers, "I barely paid attention during the World War One unit. There's no way I can make it through this one." Peppermint Patty exchanged her textbook out with her lunch sack, "I barely even remember anything from that unit."

"I just hope we don't have to do an in-depth chapter over the Holocaust." Charlie Brown shuddered as they made their way to the cafeteria.

"I don't think so, but if we do, we can always excuse ourselves and go to the library if it becomes too upsetting." Linus explained, "I never enjoyed learning about the Holocaust either, but those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it."

The group sat down at a table, Peppermint Patty sighed as she removed the rubber band from her French Fries.

"My dad told me if I can't pass my classes, I can't do any spring sports and I have to go to summer school." She sighed nibbling on her fries, "I was looking forward to doing baseball and Track and Field.

"Sir, you're already doing the musical, doing sports along with the musical will take up most, if not all of your time." Marcie explained, "You won't have time to do both spring sports and the musical and have time to study."

"What do you know about sports, Marcie?" Peppermint Patty dipped her French fry in ketchup, "Doing sports is really important you know, it's a good source of exercise and in this day in age, us developing teens need all the exercise we can get."

"But sir, sports are not a top priority." Marcie lectured, "School must come first, once you get school out of the way, then you can do other stuff Like sports. It'll fill up your schedule! You'll never keep up! Do you want to go to college and get a good job?"

"Just because your parents believe that school matters the most, doesn't mean I have to." Peppermint Patty stuffed more fries into her mouth, "also, stop calling me sir."

"I can't stand it."

"If it helps, I can come over to your house tonight, and we could do a study session together." Charlie Brown offered, "I'm also having a little trouble studying for the test too."

"You must kinda like me, eh chuck?" Peppermint Patty smiled coyly at Charlie Brown.

"If it's ok with you guys, is it ok if I join?" Linus asked, tossing out the note from his mom after briefly reading it over.

"Sure! A study party! That would be great!" Peppermint Patty agreed, "We'll also get pizza and root beer."

"Schroeder, do you want to join?" Charlie Brown asked Schroeder.

"Thank you, but I think I'm good." Schroeder declined, silently unscrewing the lid of his thermos of leftover spaghetti off, "I have to give a piano lesson tonight to a kid who doesn't respect the masters who helped shape and influence the music we know today."

Back last year, Schroeder thought it would be a great idea to give piano lessons under the thought that he would be able to teach kids about the art of classical music, and hopefully have them develop an appreciation for the art form and it's artist, under the condition that they do not meet at his house. It was more of a way to help him cope with the turmoil that was going on in his household, and clear his head from his parent's constant fighting and focus on something he loved.

Keyword: Thought.

Either the kids are having a hard time learning and not paying attention to their teacher, or Schroeder is too impatient and doesn't fully grasp the concept that just because he was playing at a virtuoso level when he was five, doesn't mean other kids can. In fact, he got a bit frustrated at a kid during one lesson because she kept on forgetting where middle C was even though he showed her ten times. It got to a point where Schroeder got so frustrated that he grabbed his old toy piano out of the closet, and had that girl play that for the rest of the lesson. Schroeder went through a total of five bottles of aspirin in the course of the first year. He was not expecting teaching piano would be this tedious. He thought his students would pick it right up, and they'll breeze right through the book, which is not the case, the kids were way more interested in lifting the lid up off of his second hand upright piano and looking inside than actually sitting down, and learning chords.

And to think he was getting paid for all of this.

"Ok, but feel free to join us if you change your mind." Linus added finishing his peanut butter sandwich.

"So we'll meet up after school at my house?" Peppermint Patty asked, stuffing her garbage in her paper sack.

"Sure! We have a ton of root beer at my house thanks to my dog, I'll bring a bottle of root beer over." Charlie Brown tossed his apple core in his lunch sack, he got up and started heading over to the trash can.

"Oh! While you're up chuck, can you throw my trash out?" Peppermint Patty handed Charlie Brown her garbage. He took it.

"Can you also throw mine out too?" Linus handed Charlie Brown his lunch bag.

"Do you mind throwing mine out too Charles?" Marcie handed Charlie Brown her garbage. Schroeder added his to the pile. Charlie Brown sighed and went over to the trash can and threw everyone's garbage out. By then, the bell rang signaling everyone to go back to class.

"See you tonight Chuck!" Peppermint Patty waved to Charlie Brown as she left the cafeteria.