The Mystery of Emily

CHAPTER 1: DANCING WITH NOBODY

"So, Emily, do you come here often? I always thought you were a great dancer."

The kids were looking at Charlie Brown strangely. He was dancing by himself and talking to someone who wasn't there. None of them knew what to think of what they were witnessing.

"Can we continue to-" Charlie Brown immediately snapped out of his trance. "Where did she go?"

"Where did who go, Charlie Brown?" asked Linus.

"Emily," said Charlie Brown. "She was just here!"

"Boy, Charlie Brown, you're acting dumb, even for you!" said Violet.

"You were dancing with yourself, you blockhead!" added Lucy.

"You were acting strange, Chuck," agreed Peppermint Patty.

"I'm inclined to agree, Charles," said Marcie.

"But, she was right here!" said Charlie Brown.

"He's finally cracked up!" whispered Lucy to the others.

"I believe Charlie Brown did think he was dancing with someone named Emily," said Linus. "While I agree it looks odd, even by Charlie Brown's standards, but there may be more to this than we know."

"What do you mean, Linus?" asked Schroeder.

"This all started when Charlie Brown started taking dance lessons at that dance school on the west side of town," Linus explained. "According to him, even Snoopy has seen this Emily."

"Well, that beagle of his is insane as he is," Lucy retorted, "so, I see how it would make sense that Snoopy would see this Emily like his owner."

"I'm going to dig a little further into this whole situation," said Linus. "There must be a reason for why Charlie Brown and Snoopy can see what we can't. I think this is more than him going crazy. From what I heard about that dance school, it's haunted."

"Haunted?!" said the kids.

"Okay, so now you're into paranormal activity, little brother?" asked Lucy.

"Do YOU have an explanation for this, I mean aside from Charlie Brown acting weirder than normal?" Linus shot back. "You, big sis, always seem to have the answers to everything. Explain this, you're so smart!"

"Yeah, Lucy," agreed Schroeder. "What's your answer to why Charlie Brown is dancing with a girl only he can see?"

"I thought we had enough competition with the little red-haired girl," lamented Peppermint Patty to Marcie. "Now we have to contend with invisible girls for Chuck's affections."

"She may be a poltergeist, sir," said Marcie.

"You may be on to something there, Marcie," said Linus, listening in. "I'm going to go to that dance school and find out the history of it and why Charlie Brown all of the sudden is dancing with invisible girls."

"Good luck, Linus," said Pig Pen. And Linus left the gang, and headed for the dance school. They continued to watch a confused Charlie Brown try to figure out where his dance partner disappeared to.

NEXT CHAPTER: UNCOVERING THE MYSTERY