CHAPTER 3: "LUCY ON THE ROCKS" or "SWEATING BULLETS"
To say Lucy was nervous was an understatement. Linus told me about his impending comeuppance towards her and I warned him not to take it too far. He promised me that he wouldn't, but he wasn't going to tell Lucy that he wouldn't take it too far. He wanted her to sweat; he wanted her to worry; he wanted to do everything to her that she did to him for all these years. And I couldn't help but side with Linus on this. As someone who knows first-hand about Lucy's cruelty I'd be remiss if I said she didn't have it coming. Linus's abuse aside, she has made much of the gang's life a nightmare. Even Violet and Patty, who are no better towards me than Lucy is, barely tolerates her rotten attitude. She usually leaves Peppermint Patty alone due to her being the only person, who's name isn't Schroeder, that probably won't deal with her being rude or mean to them.
As the days went on, Lucy was walking around looking over her shoulder, wondering when Linus would strike. I never seen her such a wreck. I almost felt sorry for her, until I realized who I WAS looking at. Still, I decided to see how she was doing.
"Are you okay, Lucy?" I asked.
"WHAT?! WHO SENT YOU?! DID LINUS PUT YOU UP TO THIS?" Good grief, she was out of her mind!
"What does Linus have to do with this?" I asked innocently. I knew what was going on, but I wasn't going to tell her that.
"I'm sorry, Charlie Brown," Lucy said, shaking her head. "Linus made this threat about taking something I love away from me like I did his blanket. And I shudder to think what he has in mind. I'd never thought he'd go that route; that sadistic, something even I wouldn't do!"
I had no idea what she was talking about. I also shuddered to think what she was thinking. I put it in the back of my mind. Linus isn't capable of that, is he?
Later during the day, Linus and Schroeder were walking together. They were discussing a science project they were partnered to do.
"So you want to come over this weekend?" asked Schroeder.
"Sure you don't want to do it at my house?" Linus replied.
"With your sister hanging all over me disrupting our work, no offense but not thanks!"
"Trust me, I know first-hand how much of a pain in the neck Lucy can be. We can do it at your house instead."
"Sounds like a plan."
Lucy had just happened to turn the corner to see Linus and Schroeder talking. She gasped!
"What is HE talking about to Schroeder?" she asked herself. She listened in.
"So Saturday, we get together to work on our project at your place?" Linus finished.
"Yep," said Schroeder. "Come over around 1 in the afternoon. My mother will make us lunch before we begin."
"Sounds good." And both boys shook hands and went about their business.
"So he does have evil intentions," said a worried Lucy. "He plans to end Schroeder at his own house, no less! Well, come Saturday, I will put an end to his evil scheme!" And she left to go back to class.
I was gathering my books to head back home when I saw Lucy running my way. She looked like she needed me for something.
"Charlie Brown!" she began. "I need your help!"
"Lucy Van Pelt, asking ol' Wishy-Washy Charlie Brown for help?!" I couldn't resist.
"Don't get cute, blockhead!" she scolded.
"Okay, I'm sorry. What do you need my help with?"
"Remember how I told you that Linus threatened to take something I loved away from me? Well I think I found out what that 'something' is. Schroeder!"
"Wait a minute! You think Linus is going to take Schroeder away?!"
"Well I love him as much as Linus loved that stupid blanket of his! Now they're meeting up on Saturday at 1. What I need you to do is join them for whatever they're doing."
"And what would that be?"
"I don't know! Maybe Schroeder wrote his first sonata and want to surprise me with it, or something!" She was as delusional as I was about the little red-haired girl. At least HE knew how Lucy felt about him, even if he didn't feel the same. "Anyway, I need you to stay with them, no matter what! I'm counting on you, Charlie Brown!"
"All right, I'll join them!" I said, finally relenting. "I think you're blowing this out of proportion, but to placate you, I will join them on Saturday.
"Thank you, Charlie Brown," said a grateful Lucy. And, uncharacteristic for her, she kissed me on the cheek, showing appreciation. "You may be a blockhead, but you're a sweet, caring blockhead!" And she left.
"I will never understand girls."
NEXT CHAPTER: SATURDAY TRAGEDY