CHAPTER 2: BROKEN LEG, BROKEN FRIENDSHIP
Charlie Brown was brought home. He was on crutches and his leg was in a cast. His parents called Marcie's and told them what their daughter did to their son. They had grounded her until further notice as a result. But that was the least of her problems. Now, according to Sally, he didn't want anything to do with her after she had kicked him and nearly broken his leg. While it wasn't a serious fracture, it did enough damage that he needed a cast to let it heal. And with summer around the corner, that meant no baseball games for the year, which upset him even more. Marcie really made a mess of things.
Linus had come over to see how he was doing. He rang the doorbell and Sally came to answer it. She was happy to see her Sweet Babboo, but was worried about her brother, at the same time.
"I'm glad you're here, Linus," she said, sadly. "Not just because you're my Sweet Babboo, but I'm worried about my big brother."
"That's why I'm here, Sally," said Linus. "To see how he's holding up." And Linus walked in.
"He's been upset that he won't be able to play baseball this year because of Marcie," Sally explained.
"Well, I'm also here to go over how we're going to do things for the team this year with him out of commission," Linus replied. They had made it to his room.
"I'll leave you two to talk," said Sally. She went back to the living room. Linus went inside Charlie Brown's bedroom. He was in bed with his leg in a cast, sulking. While Linus was used to Charlie Brown being depressed, this was different. He was very much that, but there was some anger behind it, as well. Anger towards Marcie, who landed him in that predicament in the first place.
"Hey, Charlie Brown," he greeted.
"Hey," said Charlie Brown, flatly.
"You doing okay?"
"Been better. My leg is in a cast so to prevent my leg from fracturing any more than it already has, thanks to Marcie and her kicking me in the shin. Now I won't be able to play with you guys on the team this summer. Even if this dumb cast gets removed before the end of summer, I still won't be able to join for the last few games we'll have. But, I'm sure the team won't mind. In fact, they'll probably thank Marcie for kicking me, saying that they have a chance to win."
"Have you talked to her at all, Charlie Brown?"
"No, and I have no plans to. This isn't the first time she's kicked me in the shins, Linus. The first time she did it was another time she invited me to the movies, and all I asked was what was playing. She took offense and kicked me. Then when I tried to rectify the situation, she kicked me in the other shin!"
"Good grief!"
"Then I mentioned my cold cereal was getting soggy another time, and she did it again! For a girl who supposedly likes me, she's beaten me up more than your sister has! But this time, when she kicked me and landed me in the situation I'm in now, this was the final straw for me! I don't want to see her, let alone talk to her, Linus. I'm sorry, but I don't want another kick that will cause me to have my leg amputated!"
"That would have to be a devastating kick, Charlie Brown. Maybe a kick from the Incredible Hulk or Superman would do that kind of damage, but not a seven year old girl."
"She fractured my leg. It did some damage! Right now, I don't want her near me at all." Linus sighed. It was rare that Charlie Brown would cut off communication with anyone, given the fact that he would usually try to make as many friends as he could get, but Marcie really did a number on him that he didn't want anything to do with her. That kick may had just cost her their friendship.
NEXT CHAPTER: REMORSE
