CHAPTER 4: MAKING IT PERMANENT

Sally walked into Ace's Ice Cream Shop with petition in hand a week later, just as the last round of Salted Caramel ice cream was being served to customers. She made a beeline towards Rudy Ace, Sr., who was behind the counter.

"And what can I do for you, young lady?" he asked.

"Sir, this is a petition signed by many of your loyal customers," Sally began. "This petition is to keep the flavor of Salted Caramel on your menu permanently. All on this petition has agreed that this new flavor is your best yet and it should stay on for many to enjoy. I present this to you to look over."

"There's no need for me to look at it, dear."

"Really? Why?"

"I've already decided to keep it on my menu. The customers had already spoken to me about it and I have decided to make the Salted Caramel flavor a permanent fixture on the Ace's menu."

"You're not pulling my leg, are you?" Rudy, Sr. pointed to a sign on his counter that read:

Salted Caramel Flavored Ice Cream; now Here to Stay!

Sally couldn't believe it. She had petitioned for the ice cream to stay on, and Rudy had already decided to do so.

"Wow!" she finally said. "Well, thank you, sir. I don't know what to say!"

"Well, here's a Salted Caramel ice cream cone on the house for the work you've done with that petition." And Rudy handed Sally a Salted Caramel ice cream cone.

"Thank you very much!" And Sally exited Ace's with ice cream in hand. Even though her petition wasn't necessary, she was still happy that her new favorite flavor of ice cream would be at Ace's to stay.

At that same moment, Rattler and Cobra were at the wall talking to each other. Rattler was happy that Thibault was finally coming around and heading back out in the world.

"He is finally accepting that his no-good uncle can't hurt him ever again!" she said to Cobra.

"I'm happy for you both," said Cobra, who sounded a little sad.

"What's wrong, girl?"

"It's that Mallory Simpson," Cobra replied getting upset. "She told me she was sorry for coming between Dominick and I and that she wouldn't do it again."

"But-"

"But I can't shake this feeling that she was lying through her teeth. IS she telling the truth, or is it just another ploy to try to split us up?"

"Well you know Dom has no feelings for her, not for a long time."

"I know, I trust him. It's just, you know…"

"…if he can resist the temptation?"

"Exactly." And Rattler and Cobra continued to discuss the situation about Mallory. They both agreed that Rattler, as well as Lucy, would keep a close watch on Mallory to make sure she was telling the truth about her not trying to split up Cobra and Dominick.

Elsewhere, Mallory herself was at a park watching Dominick from a distance. He was playing basketball with Thibault, Franklin, Roy, Linus, Schroeder, and Charlie Brown, with Snoopy acting as referee. She knew she fibbed about no longer trying to get back with Dominick, but she would stay back and give them some space, for now. She would also "apologize" to Dominick for her actions before, but still had less-than-honest intentions to split up him and Cobra.

"We will be together again, Dom. It will just have to be a while longer."

THE END

NEXT TIME, THE DATE IS HERE! THE WEDDING OF RICHARD REICHARDT AND COLLEEN PHILIPS! ON THE NEXT PEANUTS: THE NEXT CHAPTER!