CHAPTER 3: HERE'S TO NEW STARTS
Pig pen and Frieda were relaxing at his apartment. He was settling back in since his accident and being paralyzed. Frieda, for her part, was ready to make a new start with him and stay loyal and faithful to him. Plus, she was ready to help him with whatever he needed, but, at the same time, he wanted to stay as independent as possible, only needing help when he needed it. Though, as far as getting around, he would have to rely on her for transportation due to his license being suspended.
Pig Pen was sitting on the couch. He was able to move himself from his wheelchair to the couch fine. Frieda was laying in his lap. He wondered what his future would be like.
"You know, Frieda," he began, "this accident had gotten me thinking."
"What about, babe?" she asked.
"About our future. Despite not being able to walk anymore, I don't want to live my life like it's over, but I do want to live my life like it's the last day. You get what I'm saying?"
"I think I do."
"Whatever happens to me, I want you there with me, 100%! I don't want to be limited to this wheelchair and what I can do. That's why I am going to strengthen my upper body and even work on some regenerative work on my legs, in case I do regain some use. I'm not holding my breath, but there's always a possibility."
"You're right, Matt. And I do want to be with you in this journey. You and me against all odds."
"Exactly!" The two of them kissed. "I love you so much!"
"I love you too, honey! What better way to start living life than going to the park this nice early fall day?"
"I'm game!" And Pig Pen hopped himself back into his chair and he and Frieda headed for her car to go to the park for a day out together.
Elsewhere, Charlie was taking Scotty for a walk around the neighborhood. While out, he ran into Rerun, Lucy and Linus's baby brother. Ever since coming back home and disclosing that he was terminally ill, he had lost a lot of weight. Rerun, as he got older, was always thin, but now he was starting to look skeletal.
"Rerun, you doing okay?" he asked.
"I'm good, Charlie," said Rerun between coughs. "The effects of the chemo. It's keeping the cancer from getting worse than it already had."
"I'm actually surprised you're still moving around!"
"Yeah, I try to get some fresh air, though my mother rather me stay in bed." Rerun looked at the new beagle pup. "Is that one of Snoopy's relatives?"
"Close, but not quite," said Charlie. "This is Scotty, my new dog. I did get him from the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, which is actually a new Daisy Hill since the original was torn down years ago when Snoopy was still alive. The daughter of the original owner formed a new puppy farm and used the name."
"Wow, that's pretty cool," said Rerun, smiling. He started to feel a little woozy. Scotty whimpered a bit, and Charlie managed to grab his arm to hold him up.
"Whoa, take it easy, Rerun," he said, concerned. "Maybe I should escort you back home. You had enough fresh air for today."
"You sound like my mom right now, dude."
"Well, they say mother knows best. And yours would freak if anything happened and no one was around." And Charlie brought Rerun back to the Van Pelt house. He worried about what would happen to the young man. Aside from his globetrotting, he really didn't live a full life at all. Charlie knew Rerun was on borrowed time. It wasn't a matter of IF, but WHEN the end would come for him.
NEXT CHAPTER: CLOSING ARGUMENTS
