CHAPTER 6: AS TIME PASSES ON…
3 Months Later…
Halloween was in full swing. Kids were dressed up trick-or-treating, Snoopy was on his latest battle with the Red Baron, and Linus was busy with his usual ritual of waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. However, one house was busy with preparing a Halloween party. Peppermint Patty had planned a huge party for all her friends after trick-or-treat. Charlie Brown was, of course, on the invite list. She even made it clear to Lucy he wasn't on the wrong list. By now his leg had fully healed and the splint he had to wear a while back was finally removed. He had enjoyed the Halloween festivities. For once, he didn't get rocks in his bag, and he had gotten candy. Peppermint Patty suggested trick-or-treating in her neighborhood instead of his, which usually hands out rocks to him. She had went with him and Sally, who decided to stay as far away from Linus and the pumpkin patch that year. Any other time she loved being with her Sweet Babboo, but around Halloween was the one exception due to her being humiliated one time waiting with him for the Great Pumpkin. So this Halloween was much better for the Brown siblings.
One kid was missing from all the fun, however. Marcie was moping around in her house. She didn't feel like going out and having fun. She only went out for going to school or if she was with her parents. Ever since her conversation with Charlie Brown, she had become something of a hermit, only going out when she had to. While she did talk to Patty at school, that was the only time her best friend saw her, as she knew she still hung out with Charlie Brown at times. And it always hurt whenever she saw him, remembering his words about how she hurt him by thinking the worst of him. For his part, Charlie Brown never said a bad thing about Marcie, or even told anyone she was no good. He didn't even hate her, in spite of what she thought. Fate would change her plans, however, when her doorbell rang.
"We're not handing out candy this year," Marcie shouted to whoever was outside. "Please go away!"
"You're going to have to do a better job of getting rid of me than that, Marcie!" said a familiar voice.
"Sir?" She opened the door to reveal Patty standing on her stoop dressed as an MMA fighter.
"You're still going to my Halloween party, aren't you?" she asked.
"Is HE going to be there?"
"Marcie, of course Chuck's going to be there! Are you still thinking he hates you?! He made it clear he doesn't hate you at all."
"But he's still mad at me, sir! Even if he doesn't hate me, I still hurt him!"
"This is the chance to make it right, Marcie! Enough time has passed. Everyone, except you, has moved on, even Chuck, and it was his shin that got kicked by you. He's been over what happened for quite a while. He wants to see you there."
"Why hasn't he told me that himself?"
"He knows you're still upset about all of this. Who do you think sent me here to get you?"
"I thought you were just coming to convince me to go to your party."
"Well, I am. But Chuck wants you there, as well. We all miss you. Yes, you made a huge mistake thinking the worst of Chuck, but I have been guilty of that on numerous occasions. Remember the Homecoming game? I blamed Chuck for losing, when Lucille was the one pulling the ball away like she always did to him. I've always jumped to conclusions with him. And yes, I eventually realized I messed up and I did apologize."
"But he pretty much forgave you, sir."
"Well, it was different with you, I admit. He halfway expects me to put my foot in my mouth. To him, you were the polar opposite of me. And I guess when you accused him of taking advantage of him, he thought to himself 'Oh no! Not Marcie!' right before the blow to his shin. So I get where he was coming from. But remember he said it would take time for his heart to heal?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, at the risk of sounding cliché, time heals all wounds. And his have healed. And he's ready to finally settle things with you, and this is the chance for you to get back in his good graces."
Marcie thought about what her best friend was telling her. She was afraid of how he would react if she was at the party, but according to Patty, Charlie Brown wants her there.
"Okay, I'll come, sir," Marcie relented. "But I don't have a costume."
"I got you covered, Marcie!" And Patty pulled out a genie costume.
At the party, the entire gang, save for Linus who was still in the pumpkin patch, enjoying Peppermint Patty's Halloween party. Music was playing on the stereo. Lucy had dragged Schroeder out on the dancefloor to dance a bit, much to his chagrin. He was dressed as a vampire, while she was dressed as a queen, fitting for her personality. Charlie Brown, Sally, and Snoopy, along with Woodstock, arrived together. Charlie Brown was dressed as a cowboy, while Sally was dressed as a bunny. Snoopy, meanwhile, was still dressed in his World War I Flying Ace getup. Patty went to greet them.
"Hey, gang, glad you made it!" she greeted.
"Thanks for inviting us," said Sally.
"Oh, Chuck, somebody's been waiting for you to arrive,' Patty said, nudging him. "You better go talk to them." And at that moment, Marcie walked into the room, dressed in her genie costume. Charlie Brown looked at the bespectacled girl, and smiled. Marcie smiled back. It was then she knew he was, in fact, glad she was there.
"Hi, Charles," she greeted, softly.
"Hey, Marcie," he greeted back. "How have you been?"
"Okay, I guess," she said. "You?"
"Pretty good. Listen, you want to go somewhere and talk for a bit?"
"I'd like that, Charles." And they went to the back room where no one was at, so they could have their conversation in privacy.
"Charles, I am so sorry for how I acted four months ago," Marcie began. "I don't think the worst of you. In fact, even when I said those things before, you know…" Charlie Brown nodded. She continued, "I just never had gone on a date before and…"
"You were inviting me on a date that day?" asked Charlie Brown, stunned. Marcie nodded.
"I always had a warped view of how a boy was supposed to act. Like that first time I kicked you when you asked what was playing when I first tried to invite you to the movies. Then this last time when you asked if it was a double feature, I didn't know what one was. And I reacted badly. I want you to know, I know you'd never take advantage of me, and I know you have nothing but the best of intentions with everyone. And again, I'm so sorry for hurting your feelings. I hope you can forgive me."
"Marcie, as I said that day we met up at the park, it does take time to heal the hurt I had. But you gave me that space I needed to heal, that's all I needed. Patty wouldn't have done that at all; she would've been calling me non-stop to see how I was." Marcie had a giggle at that, knowing he was right. "But, I was more hurt than upset with you. And, at least, you see the ramifications of your actions. That's more than what I can say for most of the girls I know, my own sister included. I just want you to know, I do forgive you. And I hope we can be friends again."
"I'd love that, Charles." Marcie shed some tears, but this time, she was crying out of happiness, rather than sorrow. She hugged her round-headed crush, and he returned the hug. They heard some romantic music playing from the main room.
"You care to dance, Marcie?" Charlie Brown asked. "I've been working on my leading."
"I'd love to, Charles," said Marcie, smiling. And they went back to the main room and danced together. She rested her head on his chest as they danced. Charlie Brown was surprised, initially, but smiled and continued to dance. Peppermint Patty smiled, knowing her friends were back on good terms. Sally walked up to Patty.
"I know you like my brother, too," she replied. "You're fine with your friend dancing with him?"
"This time, Sally, it's cool," Patty responded. "Besides, better Marcie than a certain red-haired girl Chuck usually goes on about." And they continued to watch them dance. Charlie Brown and Marcie had finally made peace with each other. And Marcie vowed never to kick him, or anyone else in the shins again.
THE END
Next time, PEANUTS: The Next Chapter returns with Episode 85: "Lizard Ladies 2.0"
