Chapter 2: What We're Gonna Do
As everyone was filling out the papers, Sally whined. "WHAT A TRIP! HERE WE ARE, DOING A PAPER! WE COULD'VE STAYED IN SCHOOL!"
"Don't worry, kid. They just want to find out something about us." Peppermint Patty reassured. "They have to know what sort of things we like to do. I'm gonna put down a lot about baseball."
"Me too. They'll probably make me captain of the team. Do we have to write about our favorite foods?" BJ asked.
"I doubt you can roast pickles." Lucy sighed.
"That would be very interesting though." Lila commented.
Baby Bop sighed. "I don't know how to write. What do I say?"
"How come you don't have trips where you stay home?" Marcie asked Baby Bop.
"Good idea. How come we don't have trips where we stay home?" Baby Bop asked the room. The kids giggled.
"I'll write for you, Sissy." BJ smiled.
"Thanks." Baby Bop smiled.
Peppermint Patty sighed. "After all the trips we went on with Big Purple, I'd think you'd know. But if you want a better way of life, Marcie, you always have to cross an ocean. Or a desert. Or a mountain. Sometimes, however, your whole life can be changed by crossing a crowded room."
"That's a romantic thought, Sir. Is it original?" asked Marcie.
"I don't think so. And stop calling me 'Sir'." Peppermint Patty said.
"I'm going to write about wanting to be a great model for Sissy." BJ explained.
"Hey, Charlie, give us a hint. What did YOU write?" Lila asked.
"Well, I don't know if I should. It's kind of personal, you know." Charlie Brown said.
"Oh, come on, Charlie Brown. We're all close friends. So, what did you write?" Shawn asked.
"Well, okay. I decided to come to camp because even after everything I've gone through, I don't think I've ever been much of a person. I thought maybe going to camp would help me grow up and maybe even make me into a leader. I could use leadership qualities." Charlie Brown explained.
"That's interesting, Charlie Brown. I believe in you." Shawn smiled.
"You can say that again, Chuck. No harsh feelings, but you couldn't lead your dog on a leash." Peppermint Patty commented.
"Attention, everyone, attention! All campers must be in their tents by 2200 hours." The speaker explained. Everyone headed in their tents: Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder, Franklin, Shawn, Kenneth, Jason, Carlos, Juan and BJ headed to the boys' tent whilst Peppermint Patty, Lucy, Sally, Marcie, Heather, Lila, Min, Tosha, Julie, Kathy and Baby Bop headed to the girls' tent.
"You know; I've never made a bed in my life." Juan commented. "Do they have directions?"
"Say, it's a little chilly in here." Carlos shivered.
"Where's the thermostat?" asked Franklin.
"Hey! We're supposed to be roughing it, boys. There is no thermostat in a tent." Charlie Brown said.
"Yeah, and we're supposed to learn how to do things for ourselves." Jason added.
Meanwhile, in the girls' tent, Peppermint Patty and the girls finished setting their beds. "Okay gang..." said Peppermint Patty. "I suggest we run this tent in a democratic fashion the first thing we'll do is to elect a tent leader. We'll have to prepare the ballots and we'll do it democratically and vote to see who the leader is. One ballot, one vote. However, we can't pass the ballots until we vote who will pass the ballots. This will be done very democratically." Said Peppermint Patty. "Let's see...I vote Lucy and Min to prepare the ballots."
"Wow. I did not expect that." Said Min.
"Wait a minute!" said Lucy "You can't vote unless we have the ballots."
"If we can't vote on who will pass the ballots, how will we have the ballots to vote?" asked Marcie.
"Yeah. Who cares." Said Sally.
"All in favor, say 'aye'." Said Peppermint Patty. Most of the girls said aye, expect for Lucy and Sally, who said no. "It's settled. Lucy and Min will pass the ballots. Lucy, Min, prepare the ballots." said Peppermint Patty as Lucy and Min passed the ballots. "Mark your choice for me or against me."
"Wait one darn second, Peppermint Patty. I think there should be some nomination." Said Julie.
"Good idea, Julie. I nominate myself. Any further nominations? If not, then the nomination is declared close. Alright, let's vote." said Peppermint Patty as she removed her hat. After everyone had voted and put the ballots in the hat, she declared, "Okay, Marcie. Take the ballots and tally 'em up."
"Okay here's how it went: one vote for Lucy, one vote for Min, one vote for Lila, one for Sally, one vote for Peppermint Patty, one vote for Tosha, one vote for Julie, one vote Kathy, one for Heather, one for Baby Bop and one vote for Marcie." said Marcie. Peppermint Patty shot her friend a look of 'you voted for yourself and not me?' while the rest of the kids sighed.
"Hmm…a tie vote. I guess I'll have to cast the deciding vote." Peppermint Patty explained.
"Oh no you don't." Julie interfered. "Why do we even need a tent leader?"
"Why does the white house have a president?" Peppermint Patty asked.
"Fine. What's our deciding vote?" Julie asked.
"The deciding vote is for me-Peppermint Patty. Peppermint Patty is the leader. I am the leader. It was fair and square." Peppermint patty said.
"Boy. Some vote!" Lucy exclaimed.
"A waste of time." Min huffed in annoyance.
"As elected leader, I suggest we get busy and make the beds." Peppermint Patty stated.
"Hang on. I suggest we propose on if we do or don't make the beds." Lucy said.
"Marcie, prepare the secret ballets." Peppermint Patty smiled.
"Democracy isn't something taught in school for a reason." Kathy whispered to Baby Bop.
"Can't we all get along?" Lila asked.
"Now hear this! Now hear this! Tomorrow morning, everyone will rise at 0500 hours." Beckoned the announcer.
"What's 0500?" Juan asked. "Noon time?"
"Nope; it's five in the morning." Jason explained.
"Five in the morning? Carlos and I don't get up at five in the morning." Juan commented.
"Me neither." Franklin said. "Maybe the three of us should resign."
By evening, Woodstock had just built his nest and everyone was getting ready for bed. Barney was helping Snoopy pitch a tent. "Hey, Snoopy, maybe you can go check in on everyone." Barney suggested. Snoopy smiled as he wagged his tail.
In the girls' tent, everyone was getting ready for bed as well. "Hey! How about that?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"How about what?" Min asked.
"A water bed! Boy, this is great! They really know how to treat a leader in this outfit." Peppermint patty smiled. "I get a water bed. Boy, I tell ya, this modern army is great. Okay, troops, let's get some shut eye. This'll be an experience."
As the girls were getting ready for bed, Lucy sat up in bed. "You know, I hate to admit it, but I can never sleep without having my mother come in and kiss me 'goodnight'."
"I know what ya mean. It's always easier to go to sleep if someone comes in and kisses you 'goodnight', or even if you snuggle a stuffed animal." Peppermint Patty said.
"That's why I snuggle Teddy." Kathy explained.
"Who's gonna kiss us 'goodnight'?" Lila asked as the door opened. In came Snoopy and he leaped from bed to bed, kissing each girl on the cheek. Snoopy then hopped on the water bed, making him and Peppermint Patty bounce around.
"Oh good grief." Peppermint Patty sighed. "Snoopy, quit pushing!"
"Sir, you're making too much noise." Marcie complained. "Can't you just kiss him 'goodnight' and let it go at that?"
"If I ever get off this water bed, I'll kick him; not kiss him!" Peppermint Patty declared.
"Good grief." Tosha giggled as she and Min went to investigate.
"Girls! Help me get off this water bed! Please!" Peppermint Patty asked.
"I don't know." Min shrugged.
"I'll do it." Marcie suggested, climbing on the bed, but got dragged in as well. Min sighed as the three were stuck on the bed.
"Hmm…" Tosha thought. "If we can stop them from bouncing…" she thought as the two tried to stop the bed from bouncing. Sure enough, the bed stopped making 'waves'.
"Phew." Peppermint Patty sighed. "Next time, I'll sleep in a normal bed."
Snoopy then leaped off the bed and dizzily made his way back to the tent. "What happened?" Barney asked. Snoopy explained everything. "Waterbeds, like other beds, AREN'T for jumping." Barney explained. After a while, the kids in both tents were sleeping, as was Woodstock. Snoopy and Barney had prepared some snacks as the former was watching a western on the Adventure Screen.
