CHAPTER 5: GROWING FEELINGS

The next day, Heidi went back to the beach to meet up with Dex, who promised to show her how to surf. Charlie Brown, Frieda, Sally, and Michael all agreed to let her and Dex get to know one another. Charlie Brown and Frieda were going to check out Snoopy's magic show and what he had been up to, and Sally and Michael were going to continue to look for buried treasure, with the youngest Brown sibling Wyatt tagging along.

Dex was showing Heidi the proper stance on surfing and what to do. He said to her, "First you want to lay on your stomach on the board."

"Okay," said Heidi.

"Then when a wave comes, you paddle like you're swimming, but just using your arms. When you get enough momentum built up, you push yourself up and ride the wave." Dex demonstrated what to do on the board. "Do you think you're ready, Heidi?"

"I think I got it down, Dex." Heidi was a little nervous. She had never surfed in her life.

"Don't worry. There won't be any big waves today." And the two of them ran out into the ocean with their surfboards in hand.

A small wave came and Heidi did as instructed and rode the wave. She started out paddling and then hoisted herself up as Dex instructed her. She managed to do a pretty good job surfing. Sally and Michael walked up and saw that Heidi was surfing.

"Is that Heidi on that surfboard?" asked Sally.

"I think so," Michael responded.

"She's like my brother, with his clumsiness. I halfway expected her to wipeout."

"It looks like she's doing pretty good right now. Plus there's no big waves, either."

And Heidi and Dex came in from the water. Both had rode the wave and Dex was impressed at how good Heidi did out there.

"You did a good job out there, Heidi," said Sally.

"Thanks, Sally," said Heidi. "I almost expected to wipeout when I went out there."

"What did I tell you?" Sally said to Michael.

"Fantastic job out there, Heidi," said Dex, smiling. "You're a natural at this."

"Thanks, Dex," said Heidi, glad she impressed Dex. "I didn't think I'd stay on. My cousin Charlie and I are known as the klutzes in our family. And while I more or less always took it in stride, he used to wallow in his faults. We were always pretty close as cousins, and still are." At, by coincidence, Charlie Brown and Frieda walked up.

"You just missed Heidi surfing, big brother," said Sally to her brother.

"Really?" said Charlie Brown. "How did you do out there, Heidi?"

"Pretty good, Charlie," said Heidi. "I didn't think I'd stay on, though."

"I understand the feeling all too well," said Charlie Brown. "I'd probably lose my balance just from laying on the board."

"It's not real hard, Charlie," said Dex. "If you want, while you're here, I could teach you like I taught your beautiful cousin here."

"You think I'm beautiful?" asked a blushing Heidi.

"Absolutely, Heidi," said Dex. "I'm glad I met you." Heidi was in heaven at that point. Someone was interested in her and was spending time with her.

"Well, what we were coming to see you guys about was Snoopy is about to put on his magic show," said Frieda. "We were wondering if any of you want to join us."

"Sure, we can join," said Sally.

"You want to see my cousin's dog do some magic?" asked Heidi to Dex.

"Yeah," Dex replied. "This I gotta see!"

"Let me warn you, Dex," said Charlie Brown. "Snoopy is no ordinary beagle. Trust me, we're used to his antics, but you may be shocked." And the kids went to the pavilion where Snoopy was performing his tricks.

NEXT CHAPTER: THE BIG MAGIC SHOW