CHAPTER 3: WELCOME TO VIRGINIA BEACH!
Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock were riding in the back of Charlie Brown's grandfather's van to the beach house they would be spending the whole summer at. They rode down the coast and saw a lot of activity going on from kids getting food at the beach stands to teens laying out in the sun. They knew they would be having some fun, for once. For Charlie Brown, this was the change of scenery he needed. Plus, since no one, aside from Linus, Snoopy, Woodstock, and his grandparents, knew who he was, he could start with a clean slate with the kids in Virginia Beach.
After unpacking, Charlie Brown and Linus sat on the back deck of the house watching the beach and ocean waves crash into it. They were beginning their long summer, and Charlie Brown was determined to make it a good one without drama, or at the very least, as little drama as possible. Linus looked over.
"Penny for your thoughts, Charlie Brown?" he asked.
"Just thinking, Linus," Charlie Brown replied. "I want to have a good summer, for once. I know nothing is ever perfect. If that was the case, I wouldn't go through 90% of the things I go through. But, I want to have a decent summer for a change, and being here at my grandparent's summer house is a good start."
"I understand what you're saying. Lucy would have had us sent to camp. I still have no idea how she pulls that off without our parents even knowing."
"I have no clue, Linus. I'm just glad we don't have to endure any of that stuff, as well as dealing with losing every baseball game we played."
"Now you can relax for a change, Charlie Brown." And both boys sat back and watched the waves crash along the beach.
The next day, the boys, Snoopy, and Woodstock all got up to go to the beach. They were dressed in their swim trunks and was looking forward to seeing what kids they might meet. They also heard about a sand castle building contest that was happening, and Linus thought about entering it. They walked up to the stand where people could sign up for the contest.
"WA WAA WA WAA WA WAAA WAA," said the person behind the stand.
"Yes, sir, we were wondering what do you do if you want to join the sand castle contest," Linus said.
"WA WA WAA WA WA WAAA WAA WA."
"Oh, we just sign in here?" And Linus grabbed the pen and signed his name. "Charlie Brown, do you want to enter?"
"No thank you, Linus," said Charlie Brown. "I'm not that great at it. You, however, are a master at it. I will be there for support, but not participating."
At that moment, Snoopy put some ink on his paw and placed it on the sheet. The boys watched.
"Well, Snoopy's joining the competition, at least," Charlie Brown observed. And they headed for the beach. They saw a lot of kids building a variety of sand castles. Snoopy found a spot and Linus did as well. Charlie Brown just laid out his beach blanket and watched as his best friend and dog join in on the contest. Soon, a pretty strawberry blonde-haired girl came up to him.
"Excuse me," she said. Charlie Brown looked up at the newcomer that just joined him. She was dressed in a frilly pink swimsuit. "Would you care to join me on the boardwalk for a sundae? My brothers are busy with this sand castle contest, and I don't like going somewhere alone."
"Uh, okay, sure," said Charlie Brown. And he went over to Linus and said, "I'll be right back, Linus. This girl wants me to join her for a sundae."
"Way to go, Charlie Brown," said Linus. "I knew you'd meet someone here, eventually." And he went with the girl to have a sundae with her.
NEXT CHAPTER: GETTING TO KNOW HER