CHAPTER 3: THIS SPUD'S FOR YOU

Snoopy, disguised as Joe Cool, was working as a hallway monitor on the lookout for the kid who had been placing potatoes inside Ox's locker. He patrolled where the 8th Graders lockers were so that he could catch the culprit in the act. As instructed by Ox, Snoopy wouldn't bust the guilty party right then and there, but take some photos and provide the evidence.

As Snoopy waited, he spotted an obnoxious-looking kid walking up towards Ox's locker. He pulled out a camera and got ready to take pictures. After looking around to see if the coast was clear, the kid pulled out a huge potato sack and somehow opened up Ox's locker. Then the kid placed hundreds of Idaho potatoes, some russet, some sweet potatoes, and even some yellow potatoes, into the locker. He managed to keep them from spilling by keeping the locker door halfway open as he placed the spuds in. Snoopy took quite a few pictures of this jerk. When he was done, he closed the locker and scurried off, laughing hard. Snoopy went to the photography black room to develop the pictures.

Woodstock was in the room waiting for Snoopy, as was Andy and Olaf. Snoopy pulled out the negative for them to develop. And the beagles and bird were off to reveal who the culprit was. Later at Joe's Café, Snoopy, Olaf, and Andy showed Ox and the rest of the gang the pictures of the Potato Bandit.

"So that's him, huh?" said Ox. "He looks familiar."

"I already know who it is," announced 5. "It's that awful jerk Broderick! You know the one who all last year kept making fun of me for being gay."

"Leave it up to that fathead to start trouble!" fumed Sally.

"But why would he mess with my Oxie?" wondered Patty (Swanson).

"Because he's evil incarnate, Patty," said 5. "He's bigoted, mean-spirited, rude, crude, sexist, and an all-out jackass! He probably heard about Ox not liking potatoes due to being from Idaho and figured he'd be an easy target."

"But Ox is bigger than all of us," said Charlie Brown, "and Broderick, well, even Thibault, Jose Peterson, and Rerun tower over him!"

"It's usually the smaller ones who cause the most trouble, Charlie Brown," said Violet. "And it don't get smaller than Broderick."

"The real question is, how do we get even with the runt?" asked Lucy.

"I may have an idea," said Ox. "Maybe I should show him that I'm not a pushover like he assumes I am."

"I get where you're going with this, Oxford!" said a smiling Violet.

"I do, too," added Shermy. "Will you need any help?"

"You and Matt can be my backup," Ox replied. "But I may need the rest of your help, as well."

"Just name it, Ox," said Charlie Brown.

"If it means taking down 'Rottenrick' you already know I'm on board!" added Sally.

"Me too, hun!" said Frieda.

"Okay, here's my plan," Ox began. And Ox began to tell his plan about catching Broderick in the act of sabotaging, and confronting him at the same time so he couldn't deny any wrongdoing. And as Ox talked more, the more the gang liked the plan. Soon, Broderick would have to pay the piper!

NEXT CHAPTER: VAUDEVILLE COMES TO SPARKYVILLE