CHAPTER 4: A NIGHT AT THE ARCADE

Later, after dinner, Charlie Brown, Frieda, Sally, Michael, Heidi, Snoopy, and Woodstock all went to a local arcade where they also had rides, games, and attractions. They looked at everything to do and was wondering where to start. The warm Florida air was inviting and people all around were enjoying the nighttime activities.

"Anyone up for some go karts?" asked Michael.

"Sure," said Heidi.

"I'm game," added Charlie Brown.

"Definitely!" Frieda chimed in.

"Looks like we're doing go karts first," said Sally. And the teens all grabbed unlimited ride wristbands and then got in line for go karts. Snoopy walked up decked out in racing attire.

"Snoopy always seems to overdo it, does he, Charlie?" asked Heidi.

"Heidi, to say he overdoes things would be an understatement," Charlie Brown retorted. "Whenever he dresses up like this, he envisions himself as a world-famous whatever he's doing. Right now he's the world-famous stock car driver about to win the big race. And his alter-ego is now Joe Speedway."

"Man!" laughed Heidi. "I knew Snoopy could be a lot, but wow!" Snoopy went over and kissed Heidi on the cheek.

"I always try to get him to be a little like a normal dog and go out and chase rabbits from time to time," said Frieda. "It's almost like pulling teeth with him." The kids had made it to the front and went into their go karts. Once the light turned green, everyone drove out on the track. Snoopy and Woodstock were in the same car, though Woodstock was holding on for dear life as Snoopy whizzed through the curves and turns of the track. Everyone had fun racing on the go karts.

The next activity they came across was a mini-golf course. It was there that the kids ran into Dex, much to Heidi's joy.

"Oh, hey, everyone!" Dex greeted them.

"Hi, Dex," cooed Heidi.

"Who is this guy with the weird hairdo?" asked Sally.

"Oh, Sally, this is Dex," said Charlie Brown. "He's a new friend of Heidi's here. Dex, this is my sister Sally and her boyfriend Michael. And this is my dog Snoopy. He's kind of peculiar."

"I see, with the crazy outfit he's wearing," observed Dex. "It nice to meet you folks."

"Likewise," said Michael.

"So, what are you up to, Dex?" asked Frieda.

"I was about to do some riding on the roller coaster," said Dex. "You care to join me, Heidi?"

"I'd love to, Dex," said Heidi, who was obviously smitten by the boy.

"I think it's one less person for mini-golf," said Michael.

"It's fine, Michael," said Charlie Brown. "Heidi's obviously liking this guy. We have enough to play mini-golf, anyway." And the rest went to play mini-golf.

After riding the roller coaster, Heidi and Dex went to get some ice cream from a nearby booth. As they ate their ice cream, they got to know each other.

"I never knew my mother," said Heidi. "She kind of left my dad and I when I was pretty young. He raised me all my life, and we've always been close as daughter/father goes. I don't think I'd ever want a relationship with her if we ever did meet."

"Yeah, it was my pops that left my mom and I, in my case," said Dex. "But I did know him, and he still visits from time to time, but we're not that close. I mean, I spend time with him and that's good, but he walked out on us. She never asked him for a divorce or anything, he just kind of split."

"At least you know your father. I never knew my mother."

"So I take it no siblings with you, eh?"

"Nope. My dad did date some women who had children of their own, though. Some were nice and some were terrors. Only one was a huge sociopath. A boy named Opie. He was the son of this lady my dad dated named Victoria. Now Vicky, as she was called, was fine, nothing wrong with her. But Opie liked starting crap and liked to mess with me. No matter how many times I told him to stop, or Vicky herself told him to stop, he just couldn't, or wouldn't, whichever the case may be. Finally one day, I kicked the little bastard in the groin. I didn't do any damage to him, but he finally got the message that I wasn't the one to mess with."

"Damn! That kid learned the hard way!"

"In more ways than one." After they finished their ice cream, they went to meet up with the rest, who was gathering their stuffed animals and prizes. Snoopy was taking his winnings out with a forklift. Dex looked confused.

"Was your dog just driving a forklift with a bunch of prizes?" asked a bewildered Dex.

"I told you he was pretty unusual, Dex," said Charlie Brown.

"We're about to head back to camp," added Sally.

"Well, it was good to see you all again," said Dex. Turning to Heidi, he said, "Especially you." Heidi blushed deeply, and the rest took notice. While Charlie Brown and Frieda smiled, Sally looked with an eyebrow raised.

"Have a good night, Dex," said Frieda.

"See you later, Dex," said Michael.

"See you, Dex," said Heidi, softly.

"Hopefully tomorrow," said Dex, smiling. "I'll be surfing first thing in the morning." And he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek, making her smile big. Charlie Brown and Frieda grinned at each other. They knew they had fallen for each other. The romantic mood was broken by some obnoxious kid screaming, "GET A ROOM, YOU TWO!"

"WHY DON'T YOU MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU BLOCKHEAD?!" Sally yelled to the heckler. "CAN'T YOU SEE MY COUSIN HAS FALLEN IN LOVE?!"

"Oh brother!" sighed Charlie Brown. Heidi's face turned red with embarrassment.

"It's okay, Heidi," said Dex. "I feel the same for you."

"Y-You do?!" said Heidi, mood brightening. Dex nodded. She immediately planted a kiss on him, and he picked her up and twirled her around. "And I will see you tomorrow after I have breakfast."

"I was hoping you'd say that," said Dex.

"Well, we should get going," said Charlie Brown. "See you later, Dex."

"See you, guys," said Dex. "And I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful." He gave Heidi one more kiss.

"See you tomorrow, Dex," she sighed with love.

NEXT CHAPTER: WHIRLWIND ROMANCE