Chapter 4: Slice of (Camp) Life

The very next day, the boys, girls, Barney, Snoopy, and Woodstock were all working on their rafts when they finally saw the bullies raft. "Whoa. No wonder they win every year." Shawn said when he saw the high tech motor boat with radar and sonar.

"I'm jealous." BJ said.

"It's so pretty." Sally said.

"TOO pretty. How did they afford it?" asked Lila.

"I have no idea." Heather said. "How are you, babe?" she asked a half-lidded Charlie Brown.

"I'm fine, Heather. Never been better."

"Chuck, you look awful." Patty said.

"Fine. I barely slept."

"What? How?" BJ asked. "We slept great."

"Is it because some of these guys are heavy sleepers?" asked Barney.

"No. Juan's snoring kept me up." Charlie Brown said.

"Didn't keep us up." BJ shrugged. "Well, not for the whole night."

"Guys..." Juan blushed.

"Don't feel embarrassed, Peppermint Patty's a louder snorer." Lucy reassured.

"I'm not that loud!" Peppermint Patty huffed.

"Uh, Patty, as a friend and fellow baseball team member, I have to be honest with you: you snore like a mountain lion." Carlos smiled. "Sorry."

"Barney, could you and Snoopy meet all of us after we finish our rafts for a nature hike?" Heather asked. "We really need to talk our very best friend."

"Oh, okay." Barney shrugged.

"Now look here, I do NOT, in any circumstance, snore like a mountain lion!" Peppermint Patty hissed.

"Guys, let's not fight, okay?" Heather asked. "Let's just act civilized and keep our eyes on the prize: ice cream of all flavors."

"Now we're talking. I can taste it, already!" Peppermint Patty licked her lips.

They then went back to work. "You know what? I think we need to make a few more adjustments." Linus said. "The tubes are too big."

"Where should I put my piano, Charlie Brown?" Schroeder asked.

"Put it anywhere you can find, Schroder." Charlie Brown shrugged.

"We don't have room for a piano!" Kenneth protested.

"Yeah. We only need the essentials." Linus said.

"Then if we're so short on storage, maybe we don't need to bring your blanket." Schroeder shot back.

"Just put it over there." Linus sighed, as BJ brought a jar of pickles onboard. "Really?"

"In case we get hungry." BJ reassured.

Carlos then snuck over to Lucy and tried to flirt with her again. "Do you need any help with those oars?" Carlos smiled.

"Nope." Lucy blinked.

"Say, I like your shoes a lot. They look cool." Carlos said, making Lucy blush. She then rushed over to Heather.

"Heather, I think Carlos likes me." Lucy whispered excitedly. "But I'm worried it'll make Schroeder jealous and the two might over me." She then smiled at the thought. "That might be fun. Might."

"Oh my!" Heather gasped.

"Ooooh!" Baby Bop giggled, clapping in excitement.

"I haven't been this excited ever since Schroeder told me 'thank you' when I gave him his first gig at the PTA benefit concert." Lucy smiled.

Meanwhile, Barney, Snoopy, and Woodstock had just finished inflating their raft. "Good job, Snoopy and Woodstock. Now let's see how well this raft floats!" Barney smiled.

"Okay. Who's heaviest? I'm 30 pounds, Woodstock's about 10 pounds and Barney's 70 pounds." Snoopy said. "You first, Barney. We'll see if this bad boy can hold 110 pounds."

"Okay." With that, they pushed the raft and Barney into the water. The raft held Barney and his weight. Snoopy and Woodstock went next and amazingly, it held all of their combined weights. "We did it! Good job!"

"Yay!" Snoopy and Woodstock cheered.

Meanwhile, Peppermint Patty stood by with an air pump. "Ready?" she asked Baby Bop.

"Ready!" Baby Bop smiled. Peppermint Patty then pumped, but saw that Baby Bop didn't insert the pump into their raft.

"AUGH!" Peppermint Patty groaned.

"I'll take care of it." Lila offered with a smile. She then inflated the entire raft with her mouth, blowing it up amazingly fast, much to everyone's surprise.

"Wow! Lila, you could blow up a hundred balloons!" Kathy smiled.

"Or a bouncy castle!" Julie smiled.

"Oooooh!" Baby Bop squealed. "Hop, hop, hop!"

"No time to Baby Bop Hop, we need to focus. Otherwise, those scumbags will win." Sally said.

"Okay." Baby Bop sighed.

"Do you think it'll be more fun if Carlos and Schroeder competed for my affection by using the air hockey table?" Lucy smiled to Heather and Min.

"I suppose." Min grinned.

"As long as they don't really fight." Heather said.

Meanwhile, the boys were ready to finish their raft. "Alright! All together now! One big breath!" Charlie Brown said.

"Alright!" BJ smiled.

The boys then blew a deep breath and inflated their tubes. "We did it!" Kenneth panted with a smile.

"Yeah. You know what's gonna make it all worth it?" Carlos smiled. "Me beating Peppermint Patty at air hockey in that fun tent."

"Yeah! Or playing in the ball pit!" Linus said.

"Maybe swimming." BJ said, kicking off his shoes and socks and jumping in the lake. "Come on, boys! The water's great!"

"Maybe later dude." Schroeder grinned. After BJ swam for awhile, he dried off and then joined the boys as they and the girls approached Barney and Snoopy.

"Ready for our hike, Barney?" Lila smiled.

"Why yes!" Barney smiled. "Woodstock, a little traveling music, please."

Woodstock smiled and began to whistle.

Barney, Barney's friends, and Peanuts Gang:

I love to go a-wandering

Along the mountain track

And as I go, I love to sing,

My knapsack on my back

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-mi

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-ra-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-mi

My knapsack on my back

I wave my hat to all I meet

And they wave back to me

And blackbirds call so loud and sweet

From every greenwood tree

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-mi

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-ra-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

Barn-a-ri, Barn-a-mi

My knapsack on my back

"Woo!" Lila grinned.

"Here's a nice resting spot." Heather smiled as they found a nice tree to sit by. The kids, beagle, bird, and dinosaur then began to rest.

"Barney, you're our very best friend, and right person to trust with what we're gonna suggest." Charlie Brown said.

"Those bullies, the ones with the number one tent, have won it by cheating in every game." Lila said.

"Tsk tsk." Barney sighed, clicking his tongue against his teeth. "When will people learn?"

"I have no idea! But we hope it's this summer." Sally said.

"Listen Big Purple, we need you to check on those villains any chance you get. And if you see them trying to sabotage our chances, please try to fix them." Peppermint Patty said.

"After all, they might quit if they know how amazing you are!" Lucy smiled. Lucy then noticed everyone staring at her. "Speaking for us all." Lucy corrected.

"Why of course I'll help. It always makes me happy to help friends." Barney smiled.

"Thanks!" Charlie smiled before hugging the dinosaur. "Alright people, let's head back to camp and get ready for tomorrow!" The kids nodded as they, BJ, Barney, Baby Bop, Snoopy, and Woodstock headed back to camp.


Later that night, as everyone else was asleep, the bullies and Brutus were up to no good. They then stole all the air out of the boys and girls rafts. What they didn't know was that Barney, who left his and Snoopy's tent to get water, was watching them. "Tomorrow morning, those losers are in for a big surprise!" the lead bully laughed with his friends before sneaking back to their tent.

Barney sighed before approaching the boys raft. With one big breath, he blew the tubes back up, and they were stronger. He did the same thing to the girls raft. "Much better." Barney smiled before going back to his tent.