CHAPTER 3: BATTLE OF THE BULGE

MONDAY:

The week began with Snoopy going on a morning walk with Charlie Brown before school. They had gotten up early so they could get some good exercise in. Snoopy was pretty much sleepwalking the whole time, but at least he was moving, Charlie Brown figured. Then his mother, Maureen took over for Charlie when it was time for him and Sally to go to school.

Snoopy figured he could outsmart the Brown matriarch by bringing some bolt cutters to snap the lock and chain off the refrigerator. But as he got into the house, Maureen was waiting for him. She looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Snoopy just smiled and tried to hide the bolt cutters behind his back. She wasn't having it, though.

"Give them here, Snoopy," said Maureen, holding out her hand. Snoopy reluctantly handed the cutters over to Maureen. She then said, "Charlie had already prepared a meal for you." She handed him his supper dish, which was seemingly filled with his normal dogfood. When he tasted it, he gagged.

"This is low fat dogfood, Snoopy," she announced. "It's lower in fat than your normal dogfood." Snoopy groaned and took the bland meal back out to his doghouse.

TUESDAY:

After school, Peppermint Patty, dressed in workout clothes, was working out with Snoopy, who was struggling with the program. She made sure he was following the exercise regimen that she set forth. At the moment, they were doing sit-ups that would help with the stomach. Snoopy was trying to do one, but his big stomach was in the way.

"You can do it, Snoop, ol' pal!" Patty cheered him on. Snoopy groaned and moaned, but managed to get at least one sit-up in. He was proud of his progress, slow as it was.

"Good job, Snoopy!" said Patty. "Now all you have to do is nineteen more of those." Snoopy then fainted and was out like a light.

WEDNESDAY:

Snoopy was at the end of his rope. He wanted to eat at least one bit of food that was tasty, be it a burger, or a cookie, something that wasn't bland to the taste. While everyone was at school, he managed to sneak away to Joe's Café to get at least one delicious Joe Burger. But Joe, the owner, had already talked to Charlie Brown about Snoopy's situation.

"Sorry, Snoopy," said Joe. "I was told not to feed you while you were on your diet." Snoopy sighed and left. But then, he had a thought. The round-headed kid couldn't have gotten to Ace's Ice Cream Shop, could he? He made a beeline towards the place, as fast as his pudgy body could carry him. When he got to Ace's, Rudy Ace, Sr. was already at the door.

"Can't serve you today, boy," said Rudy. "Your owner told me about your diet, and specifically told me not to give you anything that would be detrimental to your weight loss." Dejected again, Snoopy left the parlor. But then, another thought came to him. The pizza place in the mall! Surely he hadn't gotten to them. Snoopy caught a bus to the mall and made his way to the pizza place. The owner greeted him.

"Ah, Snoopy!" he said. "I take it you want your usual?" Snoopy eagerly nodded. "Okay then, poochie, your usual table is ready for you." And Snoopy sat at his table, not taking into account that school was getting out and the Serpent Sisters had just walked in, meaning that Lucy spotted the beagle waiting for his pizza. Snoopy was immediately tossed out of the pizza parlor by Lucy, who then poked her head out to tell Snoopy something.

"NO CHEATING ON YOUR DIET!" she yelled. And she went back to join her friends. Snoopy then sadly went back home, to eat bland diet dogfood again.

THURSDAY:

Peppermint Patty was working out with him again, this time doing some aerobics, which Snoopy usually liked doing, but now it was hard. Woodstock, Charlie Brown and Frieda joined him this time for support and motivation. It was obvious that Snoopy was having a hard time trying to get in shape, so they did what they could to make it fun for him.

This day, Snoopy was to jog around the block a few times, but wasn't motivated, until Charlie Brown had an idea.

"I found my fishing pole," he said to Frieda and Patty. "I'm going to hang this slice of pizza on it and have him chase it. I'm going to tap into his greedy side."

"That could work, Chuck," said Patty.

"I'm game, sweetie," added Frieda. Charlie Brown walked up to a panting Snoopy, who's belly was hanging near the sidewalk.

"Hey, Snoopy," Charlie Brown began, "come get the pizza!" Snoopy saw the slice of pizza and all of the sudden a burst of energy the dog hadn't had in some time came to him and he started chasing after Charlie Brown with the pizza on the hook. They managed to run quite a few laps around the block. Charlie Brown had found the right motivation for Snoopy. Entice him with one of his favorite foods and he'll do the rest. By the time they were finished, he handed his dog the pizza, which turned out to be a squeaky toy. Snoopy glared at his owner.

"Well I didn't say the pizza was real!" shrugged Charlie Brown. "But you did make your mark as far as your exercise."

"He's right, Snoopy," said Frieda. "You actually got in a good workout today."

"Hey, Snoop, I know you can't stand the flavor of your new food," Patty began, "so Chuck said it was okay to add some chicken broth to your food for flavor. No added fat and it's good for dogs." Snoopy took the broth and went over to his waiting supper and poured some broth over it. He then took one taste, and then he started eating it all up without hesitation.

"I think the broth is a winner, Patty," said Charlie Brown. "Thanks for bringing it."

"No sweat, Chuck," said Patty. And the kids watched as Snoopy ate all of his supper.

FRIDAY:

As the weekend came around, Snoopy was starting to feel the results of his exercising and dieting. His belly was starting to shrink and he was starting to get his energy back. Charlie Brown was worried for a while, but was starting to feel better now that Snoopy was taking his losing weight serious. Snoopy was now going out for walks on his own and even doing sit-ups and push-ups more. And he was no longer struggling to get on his house like he was before. While he still had a ways to go in his weight-loss journey, he was off to a good start.

NEXT CHAPTER: TWO WEEKS LATER…