Welcome to Australia, Charlie Brown!

Episode 5: Blow by Blow

CHAPTER 1: FRANCO'S FOLLY

Franco was getting ready for the day. The gang were doing different things today. Charlie Brown and Frieda, along with Linus and Eudora, would go out shopping for souvenirs, Peppermint Patty, Franco, Marcie, Franklin, Claudia, and Skylar would join Jadan, Andrew, and Zac for some arcade fun. Joey was meeting his mystery friend again. The kids wondered who he was seeing, but decided to explore that avenue later. Snoopy, Woodstock, Gracie, and Hops also had a full day planned, but let none of the kids in on their plans. They would be teaming up with Claire Montana's kangaroo Snowflake, the albino kangaroo.

Franco had come out to greet the others. He wasn't in the best of moods. Zac kept trying to put the moves on Peppermint Patty, much to his annoyance, and now they were joining him at the arcade. Franco, for his part, played nice due to him being friends with Jadan and Andrew's best friend. And Patty didn't think Zac was hitting on her; he was just being a good host. But, with the exception of Patty, the other kids began to see what Franco was seeing, as well. They hoped that Zac would back off before anything bad would occur. But Zac was falling for the American tomboy who loved baseball.

"Charlie Brown and I are doing some souvenir shopping," said Frieda.

"We'll be going with them," added Eudora.

"Sounds like your day is set," said Jadan. "We'll be headin' to th' arcade t' play some classic games."

"Do they have any action games?" asked Patty.

"Y' bet, Patty!" said Jadan, smiling. "They also have th' classics like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, et cetera. You guys are gonna love it."

"When we get done with our shopping, we can meet you there," said Linus.

"Great," Jadan replied. "Well, if you guys are ready, let go meet up with Drew and Zac. They said they'll meet us there."

"Alright!" cheered Patty. Franco looked over at her. Surely she remembered that she was HIS girlfriend, he thought to himself. Everyone left to do their activities.

Later at the arcade, Andrew was playing one of the arcade games and was doing well. Jadan was cheering her man on as he was racking up a high score. Peppermint Patty, Franco, Claudia, Skylar, and Zac were watching, as well. Andrew was racking up a high score on the game and actually beat it. Jadan kissed her boyfriend and congratulated him. Soon, Zac found a game for him to play and everyone watched him get high scores on it, as well.

"Y' doing good, mate!" Andrew said as he cheered his best friend.

"Get those zombies, Zac!" cheered Patty.

Zac was playing a zombie game in which the player had to stop a zombie invasion before it got out of hand. Zac was a pro at that game. All the teens, except for Franco, cheered him on. As Zac beat his game, as well. Everyone congratulated Zac, and Patty, in particular, gave him a big hug. That was the final straw for Franco, who charged up to the Aussie teen.

"SIE UND ICH, RUGBY-SPIEL, JETZT!" the German teen shouted at Zac.

"What did Franco jus' say?" asked a confused Jadan.

"He just challenged Zac to a rugby game," said Marcie.

"LET'S SEE WHO'S THE BETTER MAN!" Franco raved.

"Franco, what's the matter?" asked a concerned Patty.

"HE'S CONSTANTLY FLIRTING WITH YOU, PATRICIA!" yelled Franco to his girlfriend. "Don't you see that?!"

"We've been noticing it, too," added Franklin. "We didn't say anything to you because we hoped it would work itself out."

"Franco, you know I love you and only you," said Patty.

"I know, fraulein," Franco replied. Pointing to Zac, he continued, "It's HIM I don't trust! He's been flirting with you ever since we came here."

"He's just been a good host to us," Patty tried to assure her boyfriend. "Just being nice. Isn't that right, Zac?" All of the kids looked toward Zac to see his response.

"Yeah, a good host," Zac said, with his fingers crossed behind his back. It was obvious that he had a crush on Patty. Zac continued, "If you want t' play a game o' rugby, Franco, we can after we leave 'ere."

"Okay," Franco reluctantly agreed. "But we get everyone else to watch. Charles, Frieda, Linus, Eudora, everyone!"

"Sure thing, mate," said Zac. They continued to play some games and Franco calmed down, for now. Patty looked at him. She was worried that he would do something rash. She had never known him to be the jealous type. He knew of her former crush on Charlie Brown, but since he was with Frieda, and he really never felt the same for her, Franco was fine with that. Zac was a different story. He was doing everything to be close to her whenever they hung out. Franco couldn't wait to knock the Aussie down a peg.

NEXT CHAPTER: GIFTS FOR BACK HOME AND THE APEX PREDATOR!