Chapter V – Good Grief! Band Camp is Coming!!
Charlie Brown stood on his pitcher's mound, focused on his baseball game. He was determined to strike out the next batter. The wind up....the pitch....CRACK The batter hit the baseball and Charlie Brown and the rest of his team watched helplessly as it soared over second base, over the outfield, and over the back fence, to score yet another homerun for the visiting team.
"Good grief!" Charlie Brown whined. "Twenty-seven to nothing, and it's still only the first inning!"
The final months and weeks of school had finally passed, and summer vacation was now in full swing, as was baseball season.
"Charlie Brown! Charlie Brown!" called Lucy as she sprinted from across left field. "I have a great idea!"
"Oh boy...here we go again," he said to himself.
"I have a great idea to help us win games! Why don't we get the marching band to come and play for our baseball games? We can have a pep band, and they can cheer us on and maybe we'll win!" Lucy spoke excitedly.
"But marching bands not normally play for baseball games. Just football. And besides, most of or baseball team is in the band, so how would they be able to play baseball and an instrument at the same time?" Charlie Brown said.
"That's a very good point, Charlie Brown. We could win some games by having the band here," Lucy said in a thoughtful tone of voice.
"What do you mean?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Well, if the band was here, you would be playing mellophone, and not pitching. Any game where you're not pitching is practically a guaranteed win for us."
"Good grief!"
The rest of the baseball game went as per usual, with Charlie Brown's team losing fifty-nine to four. Charlie Brown sadly dragged his feet on the ground as Linus walked home with him after the game. Charlie Brown was upset. It seemed no matter what he did, or how hard he tried, things just did not work out for him. He really wanted to win the game that day, just as he wanted to win all of the games before. But they always turned out the same. They always ended up losing embarrassingly.
"Don't worry Charlie Brown," Linus said, as he tried to comfort his friend. "Maybe we'll win the next game."
Charlie Brown was used to these speeches from Linus. After every game, Linus always seemed to have something similar to say to try to help Charlie Brown feel better about losing the baseball game.
"I don't know Linus. I just can never seem to win at anything. Not just baseball, but everything and anything. In fact, I never even seem to come close." Charlie Brown lamented.
"Well, Charlie Brown," began Linus, "I think I have some news for you that may be of some consolation. I spoke to Mr. Dunlap the other day. He says he wants to take us to band competitions this fall. He said if we work really hard, we will have a good chance at winning. So...you may just find yourself on a winning team yet, Charlie Brown."
"Hmm..." Slowly, Charlie Brown forgot about his sorry mess of a baseball game and slowly began to smile. Just the thought of being on a winning team of any kind absolutely thrilled Charlie Brown. And the fact that the Little Red Haired Girl would be apart of this win would make it even more special. "If I work really hard, maybe the Little Red Haired Girl will notice and be impressed. Maybe if we go to band competitions and win, the Little Red Haired Girl will be so excited she'll come running up, and she'll throw her arms around me and she'll give me a great big hug! I can see it now. It would be so great." Charlie Brown thought to himself.
His thoughts were interrupted as he noticed Linus standing next to him giving him a very strange look. "Charlie Brown," he said. "Why are you standing there hugging that telephone pole?"
Suddenly, Charlie Brown realized that through his fantasy of getting to hug the Little Red Haired Girl, he had let his imagination get out of control and he was actually hugging the telephone pole as he and Linus were waiting to cross the street. Upon realizing this, Charlie Brown turned bright red with embarrassment, and released his embrace on the telephone pole and tried to bring the conversation back to the original subject.
"So what's this about band competitions?" Charlie Brown asked.
"Well, Mr. Dunlap said that band competitions are when a whole bunch of marching bands get together during the fall, and they all perform their field shows, and get judged and scored based on how well they do. Mr. Dunlap said that our band just may be good enough to score first place at a few of the contests. But we're going to have to work really hard before fall even gets here. That's why we're having band camp in two weeks...so we can make sure we're ready." Linus explained.
"Band Camp! Good grief!" said Charlie Brown.
By this time the two were in front of Charlie Brown's house. Charlie Brown invited Linus in for some cookies and milk, an offer to which Linus eagerly accepted.
Sally noticed the two entering the front door and happily greeted Linus as she said, "Has my Sweet Babboo come to ask me to see a movie?"
Linus grinded his teeth together in frustration and yelled, "I am NOT your Sweet Babboo!! And I wouldn't take you to see the garbage scow float down the river!"
"Isn't he the cutest thing?" Sally said, admiring Linus.
Charlie Brown and Linus went into the kitchen, where Charlie Brown's mother served the two cookies and milk.
"Since I have band camp this year, maybe my parents won't make me go to summer camp this summer," Charlie Brown said to Linus. He really didn't want to go to summer camp.
"Maybe," Linus said. "But Mr. Dunlap said it is going to be a lot of hard work. We are going to have to memorize all of our music, and learn marching drill for all four songs."
"And the best part is," interrupted Charlie Brown, "I get to spend all of that time around the Little Red Haired Girl."
Linus looked out the kitchen window and took notice to a commotion taking place in the backyard. "Charlie Brown...what on earth is going on?"
At that moment, Snoopy was in the backyard barking orders to Woodstock and several other mechanics. His Sopwith Camel was still a mess from his last encounter with the Red Barron. The World War I flying ace had not been able to fly any missions since the supplies delivery mission, and he was very upset his mechanics had not been doing their job.
"Get this thing fixed by the end of the day or else I'll have you all court marshaled!" Snoopy barked at the birds/mechanics.
When Snoopy was this upset, there was only one thing that could make him feel better. He left the birds/mechanics to their work, and came into the house through the back kitchen door, where Linus and Charlie Brown were continuing their discussion.
"And so I thought that maybe.....maybe....maybe......" Charlie Brown began to loose track of his sentence as he saw Snoopy come up to the table, grab a big plate, and fill it up with chocolate chip cookies. He then took out a glass from the dishwasher and filled it up with milk. As he left the kitchen he turned and gave an innocent grin to Charlie Brown.
"Snoopy!" Charlie Brown called, "Dinner is in an hour and a half! Wouldn't you rather have the cookies after dinner?"
"It's unfair to the cookies to keep them waiting that long!" Snoopy thought as he returned to the back yard.
Charlie Brown and Linus just looked at each other with amazement.
Sally then entered the room through the back door. She was coming from the garage with a hand full of stuff. Charlie Brown and Linus looked at her. She was carrying a tent, a sleeping bag, and some bug repellent.
"Sally, what are you doing with all of that camping equipment?" Charlie Brown asked?
"I heard you and Linus talking about going to Band Camp, so I'm getting ready for it!" She said with a simple simile.
"Oh good grief...no no no no NO!" said a frustrated Charlie Brown, and turning to Linus he said, "Linus, YOU explain to her...." Charlie Brown was getting very tired of his sister constantly getting things mixed up.
"You don't need all of that stuff. Band camp is just were we take a week or two and practice and get ready for the marching band season," Linus attempted to explain.
"Isn't he the cutest thing?" Sally said totally ignoring the explanation as she left the room.
"Is she like this all the time Charlie Brown?" Linus asked after she had left.
"ALL the time," Charlie Brown said as he rolled his eyes.
"Well, don't worry about it too much. We'll just let Mr. Dunlap deal with her!" Linus said.
"That's not a good idea, Linus. She will drive him crazy."
Charlie Brown stood on his pitcher's mound, focused on his baseball game. He was determined to strike out the next batter. The wind up....the pitch....CRACK The batter hit the baseball and Charlie Brown and the rest of his team watched helplessly as it soared over second base, over the outfield, and over the back fence, to score yet another homerun for the visiting team.
"Good grief!" Charlie Brown whined. "Twenty-seven to nothing, and it's still only the first inning!"
The final months and weeks of school had finally passed, and summer vacation was now in full swing, as was baseball season.
"Charlie Brown! Charlie Brown!" called Lucy as she sprinted from across left field. "I have a great idea!"
"Oh boy...here we go again," he said to himself.
"I have a great idea to help us win games! Why don't we get the marching band to come and play for our baseball games? We can have a pep band, and they can cheer us on and maybe we'll win!" Lucy spoke excitedly.
"But marching bands not normally play for baseball games. Just football. And besides, most of or baseball team is in the band, so how would they be able to play baseball and an instrument at the same time?" Charlie Brown said.
"That's a very good point, Charlie Brown. We could win some games by having the band here," Lucy said in a thoughtful tone of voice.
"What do you mean?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Well, if the band was here, you would be playing mellophone, and not pitching. Any game where you're not pitching is practically a guaranteed win for us."
"Good grief!"
The rest of the baseball game went as per usual, with Charlie Brown's team losing fifty-nine to four. Charlie Brown sadly dragged his feet on the ground as Linus walked home with him after the game. Charlie Brown was upset. It seemed no matter what he did, or how hard he tried, things just did not work out for him. He really wanted to win the game that day, just as he wanted to win all of the games before. But they always turned out the same. They always ended up losing embarrassingly.
"Don't worry Charlie Brown," Linus said, as he tried to comfort his friend. "Maybe we'll win the next game."
Charlie Brown was used to these speeches from Linus. After every game, Linus always seemed to have something similar to say to try to help Charlie Brown feel better about losing the baseball game.
"I don't know Linus. I just can never seem to win at anything. Not just baseball, but everything and anything. In fact, I never even seem to come close." Charlie Brown lamented.
"Well, Charlie Brown," began Linus, "I think I have some news for you that may be of some consolation. I spoke to Mr. Dunlap the other day. He says he wants to take us to band competitions this fall. He said if we work really hard, we will have a good chance at winning. So...you may just find yourself on a winning team yet, Charlie Brown."
"Hmm..." Slowly, Charlie Brown forgot about his sorry mess of a baseball game and slowly began to smile. Just the thought of being on a winning team of any kind absolutely thrilled Charlie Brown. And the fact that the Little Red Haired Girl would be apart of this win would make it even more special. "If I work really hard, maybe the Little Red Haired Girl will notice and be impressed. Maybe if we go to band competitions and win, the Little Red Haired Girl will be so excited she'll come running up, and she'll throw her arms around me and she'll give me a great big hug! I can see it now. It would be so great." Charlie Brown thought to himself.
His thoughts were interrupted as he noticed Linus standing next to him giving him a very strange look. "Charlie Brown," he said. "Why are you standing there hugging that telephone pole?"
Suddenly, Charlie Brown realized that through his fantasy of getting to hug the Little Red Haired Girl, he had let his imagination get out of control and he was actually hugging the telephone pole as he and Linus were waiting to cross the street. Upon realizing this, Charlie Brown turned bright red with embarrassment, and released his embrace on the telephone pole and tried to bring the conversation back to the original subject.
"So what's this about band competitions?" Charlie Brown asked.
"Well, Mr. Dunlap said that band competitions are when a whole bunch of marching bands get together during the fall, and they all perform their field shows, and get judged and scored based on how well they do. Mr. Dunlap said that our band just may be good enough to score first place at a few of the contests. But we're going to have to work really hard before fall even gets here. That's why we're having band camp in two weeks...so we can make sure we're ready." Linus explained.
"Band Camp! Good grief!" said Charlie Brown.
By this time the two were in front of Charlie Brown's house. Charlie Brown invited Linus in for some cookies and milk, an offer to which Linus eagerly accepted.
Sally noticed the two entering the front door and happily greeted Linus as she said, "Has my Sweet Babboo come to ask me to see a movie?"
Linus grinded his teeth together in frustration and yelled, "I am NOT your Sweet Babboo!! And I wouldn't take you to see the garbage scow float down the river!"
"Isn't he the cutest thing?" Sally said, admiring Linus.
Charlie Brown and Linus went into the kitchen, where Charlie Brown's mother served the two cookies and milk.
"Since I have band camp this year, maybe my parents won't make me go to summer camp this summer," Charlie Brown said to Linus. He really didn't want to go to summer camp.
"Maybe," Linus said. "But Mr. Dunlap said it is going to be a lot of hard work. We are going to have to memorize all of our music, and learn marching drill for all four songs."
"And the best part is," interrupted Charlie Brown, "I get to spend all of that time around the Little Red Haired Girl."
Linus looked out the kitchen window and took notice to a commotion taking place in the backyard. "Charlie Brown...what on earth is going on?"
At that moment, Snoopy was in the backyard barking orders to Woodstock and several other mechanics. His Sopwith Camel was still a mess from his last encounter with the Red Barron. The World War I flying ace had not been able to fly any missions since the supplies delivery mission, and he was very upset his mechanics had not been doing their job.
"Get this thing fixed by the end of the day or else I'll have you all court marshaled!" Snoopy barked at the birds/mechanics.
When Snoopy was this upset, there was only one thing that could make him feel better. He left the birds/mechanics to their work, and came into the house through the back kitchen door, where Linus and Charlie Brown were continuing their discussion.
"And so I thought that maybe.....maybe....maybe......" Charlie Brown began to loose track of his sentence as he saw Snoopy come up to the table, grab a big plate, and fill it up with chocolate chip cookies. He then took out a glass from the dishwasher and filled it up with milk. As he left the kitchen he turned and gave an innocent grin to Charlie Brown.
"Snoopy!" Charlie Brown called, "Dinner is in an hour and a half! Wouldn't you rather have the cookies after dinner?"
"It's unfair to the cookies to keep them waiting that long!" Snoopy thought as he returned to the back yard.
Charlie Brown and Linus just looked at each other with amazement.
Sally then entered the room through the back door. She was coming from the garage with a hand full of stuff. Charlie Brown and Linus looked at her. She was carrying a tent, a sleeping bag, and some bug repellent.
"Sally, what are you doing with all of that camping equipment?" Charlie Brown asked?
"I heard you and Linus talking about going to Band Camp, so I'm getting ready for it!" She said with a simple simile.
"Oh good grief...no no no no NO!" said a frustrated Charlie Brown, and turning to Linus he said, "Linus, YOU explain to her...." Charlie Brown was getting very tired of his sister constantly getting things mixed up.
"You don't need all of that stuff. Band camp is just were we take a week or two and practice and get ready for the marching band season," Linus attempted to explain.
"Isn't he the cutest thing?" Sally said totally ignoring the explanation as she left the room.
"Is she like this all the time Charlie Brown?" Linus asked after she had left.
"ALL the time," Charlie Brown said as he rolled his eyes.
"Well, don't worry about it too much. We'll just let Mr. Dunlap deal with her!" Linus said.
"That's not a good idea, Linus. She will drive him crazy."