(This is my second chapter of Me, and Some Peanuts! I'm keeping these Author's Notes short so you can get to the story than reading this. So, anyways I've got nothing else to write here, so enjoy!)
Me, and Some Peanuts
-2-
Meeting the Others
Charlie Brown's dog possibly hated me as of the moment he took that food plate. After Snoopy took the bowl from me, (like a jerk) I watched him eating it, while he took quick looks at me. What's his problem? So, I decided to apologize to him. As I walked out, Snoopy ignored me, and was just focusing on that bird he was with half of the time. The bird, who was clumsy flying all over the place, was acting like a sidekick. Though, I though animals like cats or dogs killed birds. More cats, not dogs. Why was Linus not here? He said the dog took his blanket most of the time, which would be dumb. I was going to tell Snoopy about me being sorry about my behavior towards him, he pulled out a chest, in which he jumped inside.
He popped out wearing pilgrim clothes. I instantly remembered today was before Thanksgiving. That bird, which I don't know the name of, was wearing bird sized clothing, too. Gosh, which town was I in? Birchwood, that's what Charlie said. Well, I don't know towns where dogs sleep on their houses, train their owners, and have birds following them around like Batman and Robin.
"Uh, hey, Snoopy?" I asked.
He glared at me, like he was annoyed of me.
"I'm sorry about treating you like a jerk like a real dog owner. I'm not Charlie Brown, but I'm a friend of his. Name's Alex."
I'm still regretting that one, little lie to Snoopy. Though half of it was true. I held my hand out, as Snoopy slowly, but did so, shook my hand. Maybe I was getting to be his friend. He started speaking in this high pitched voice I couldn't understand. It wasn't words, but he was still speaking.
"Who's your friend, Snoopy?" I said, pointing towards the little yellow bird.
I wasn't sure Snoopy would be able to write, but that freaking dog pulled out a typewriter from his house! I'm serious! That dog, who should be trained, and shouldn't be walking upright, walked to his house and pulled a typewriter out. He then instructed the bird to write the words on a sheet of paper he pulled out. After the sounds of it typing words, Snoopy pulled out the paper, and handed it to me. On it, said, Woodstock. Woodstock? A bird with that name would be shot or something. Now I know why some of the people here are starting to get...weird. Then, I realized that I was spending some more time with Snoopy than hearing the bus coming back from school, some kids getting happy.
Thanksgiving was tomorrow, so I'm guessing they let them out early, which isn't possible on Earth. I could know when Charlie Brown would be out here in three...two...one...
"Hey, Alex!" a familiar voice-Charlie Brown-said. "They let us out early for Thanksgiving! Can you believe it?!"
I sighed. I knew this would be long getting used to these little kids and a dog and bird...
First off, I had to meet some of the other kids in this town. We went to Linus's house, and I knocked on the door. Linus appeared at the door, and greeted us in. I forgot to realize Snoopy and Woodstock were following us, too. I heard the voice of a little girl as I walked in.
"Linus?" it said. "Did you let Charlie Brown in?"
"No, Lucy," Linus said, still sucking his thumb. "It's a new kid."
There, in front of me, was the girl I heard about, Lucy. She had black hair and a blue dress, as she looked at me like a confused kid.
"Hello? Who are you?" she asked me.
"I'm Alex," I introduced myself. "I'm a friend of Charlie Brown."
"Charlie Brown?!" she exclaimed, knocking Linus over somehow. "That blockhead's only friends are me, and the rest of us. How did you become his friend?"
"Well, we talked for a while when I got here, so I'm only here for a few days until my friend's truck get's some gas."
"Well, you didn't have to ask me, you blockhead," she called me a nickname. "Come on, follow me! And get that stupid beagle out before I slug him!"
I looked as Snoopy smiled, and licked her.
"AH! DOG GERMS! DISEASE! INFECTION!"
"Lucy doesn't like being kissed by Snoopy," Charlie Brown explained. "But she thinks she's always right..."
After that nonsense, Lucy led us to a small box-like structure saying, Advice: 5 Cents. Who pays people just fivecents for advice? So, I learned Lucy is right about Charlie Brown on how he's a blockhead, he can't win games like baseball, and his baseball team always loses. Somebody get a better coach for that team.
"Here it is, my advice booth!" she ran behind it. "If you need advice, people come to me, and pay me five cents!"
I didn't have five cents, but Charlie did. Lucy put the five cents in a bottle she had, and started the advice.
"Okay, Charlie Brown, what's your advice?"
"How can I introduce my new friend to the others?" he asked, which was dumb.
"All I can say is that you need to make him look more...influencing. Give him something to do that will make him shine out in the crowd, and you'll get him to your other friends, Charlie Brown."
"What kind of advice is that?" I asked.
"Well, if you didn't need to ask, I just give the perfect advice to those who are in need. Now, where's your five cents?"
"I don't have five cents." I said.
"WHAT?! YOU MADE ME WASTE YOUR TIME JUST FOR ADVICE?! WHAT PERSON DOES THAT!"
Lucy grunted as she walked off, and I was confused. I mean, she didn't have to yell at me for not having five cents. Though, I might agree on why she said that. Lucy walked back to us and said, "Charlie Brown, your friend is just a blockhead like YOU!"
"And what does that pertain to you, Lucy?" I backtalked. "You mean that you steal people's money, and give them lousy advice?! Now, ask me, do YOU know why you wasted our time?"
Lucy jumped as I was talking sternly.
"Uh, I-I didn't know that, s-s-sir. Sorry." Lucy frowned and walked off.
"Alex, why did you talk to her like that?" Charlie Brown told me. "She didn't steal our money (though she did), she was just giving advice."
I realized that what I said made myself feel guilty. I didn't have to yell at her like that. But, I'm still not an enemy. If I was, I'd be alone.
"Sorry. I guess I got too out of hand..." I explained to Charlie Brown.
"Alex, I think you need to go say sorry to her, it really hurts her feelings."
I did apologize to Lucy, so don't get your hopes up for her. I know, I shouldn't have snapped at her, and this is my first time here! I might be sometimes a jerk, but I'm not a mean spirited heartless jerk. Even Snoopy looked at me like a enemy. Now I'm possibly going to have a reputation for talking back to Lucy. The bad news was that I had to go to Charlie Brown's school, which made EVERYTHING worse. But, that's after Thanksgiving Break. I'm getting ahead too much, so I have to explain what happened on Thanksgiving. So on Thanksgiving Day, I just sat by myself, feeling guilty from yesterday. I didn't want ANYTHING to do with it after that scene I made. I was on Charlie's chair as Charlie Brown comforted me.
"Don't worry, Alex," he said. "Just forget about it. I bet Lucy's okay by now."
"Charlie Brown! Oh, Charlie Brown!" I heard Lucy.
"I'll be back!" Charlie said running outside.
Outside, Lucy was bouncing a football where Charlie Brown was at. Charlie grunted, thinking she might be stupid to believe what she was doing.
"I can't believe it!" Charlie Brown said. "She must think I'm the most stupid person alive!"
Lucy placed the football on the ground, grinning like she won one million dollars.
"Come on, Charlie Brown!" she told him. "I'll hold the ball, and you kick it."
Charlie Brown frowned again as he told her, "Hold it?! HA! You'll pull it away and I'll land flat on my back and KILL myself!"
"But Charlie Brown!" Lucy got up. "It's Thanksgiving!"
"What's that got to do with anything?" Charlie Brown asked.
"Well, one of the greatest traditions we have is the Thanksgiving Day football game," Lucy explained. "And the biggest most important tradition of all is the kicking off of the football!"
Charlie didn't look surprised.
"Is THAT right?" Charlie Brown asked.
"Absolutely," Lucy said. "Come on, Charlie Brown, it's a big honor for you!"
I think I knew what Lucy was going to do as Charlie Brown looked at me, and agreed. Charlie Brown started walking away from Lucy, far enough to kick the football into the air. Or so he thought.
"Well, if it's that important, a person should NEVER turn down a big honor," he said. "Maybe I should do it."
He turned around, so he could run to the football.
"Besides, she wouldn't try to trick me on a traditional holiday," he said. "This time I'm going to kick that football CLEAR TO THE MOON!"
Charlie Brown ran towards the ball, getting his hopes up until...
"AAUGH!" Charlie Brown screamed as he flew into the air when Lucy pulled the football from him.
He flew into the air some more before falling back down on the ground, and flat on his back. Lucy grinned and walked towards Charlie Brown.
"Isn't it peculiar, Charlie Brown, how some traditions just slowly fade away."
To myself, I said, "Wow, Lucy's such a jerk to that boy. He shouldn't be treated like that."
I opened the door and told Charlie Brown to come back inside so that I could explain to him about Lucy. I won't go through much detail on it, so I can keep up on telling of this. I mean, how do I get used to these kids? I just knew that it would be for the best to stay for that while 'til Susan's truck got some gas.
I noticed Charlie Brown at the mailbox with his dog, Snoopy, walking away with some letters. I went up to him and asked, "What're you doing here, Charlie Brown?"
"I was waiting for the mailbox. I think I was getting a letter, but I don't remember."
Sally, who I didn't see much of today, walked to her brother.
"What's the matter, big brother?" she asked.
"Nothing, I was just checking the mailbox." Charlie replied, which was possibly a lie.
"What did you expect?" Sally said. "A turkey card?"
Turkey card? What's that have to do with Thanksgiving? Oh, maybe she was thinking of Christmas or something. Charlie Brown frowned angrily and looked towards Sally's direction.
"Holiday's always depress me." Charlie explained.
"I know what you mean," Sally told him. "I went down to buy a turkey tree. And all they have are things for Christmas!"
"For Christmas?" said Charlie Brown. "Already?"
Sally, and Charlie Brown started walking down the street, so I followed their conversation.
"Anyway, why should I give thanks on Thanksgiving?" Sally continued. "What have I got to be thankful for? All it does is make more work for us at school!"
Sally turned to Charlie Brown. "Do you know what-what we have to do NOW?"
Sally stopped, expecting him to come up with an answer, but no prevail.
"We have to write an essay on Stanley Miles!"
"You mean Myles Standish," Charlie corrected her.
I remember studying about Myles Standish, but we learned little about him for no reason. I guess my teachers didn't know MUCH about him, being that he was a military officer hired by the Pilgrims.
"I can't keep track of ALL those people," Sally told him.
Linus coincidentally walked by us, and asked, "What's all the commotion?"
"We've got another holiday to worry about!" Charlie Brown answered Linus. "It seems Thanksgiving Day is upon us."
Sally burst out in front of us, making the rest of us jump.
"I HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED EATING ALL MY HALLOWEEN CANDY!"
Man, can she be even more louder?
"Sally, Thanksgiving is a very important holiday," Linus began. "Ours was the first country in the world to make a national holiday to give thanks."
Sally turned to Charlie again.
"Isn't he the cutest?" she asked, making Linus groan.
Sally loved Linus? Isn't that sort of creepy for a young girl? But, I congratulated Linus on knowing that.
"Linus, you've been learning a lot?" I asked.
"Yep, and I know that Thanksgiving is also for football season, which everyone knows."
This kid's smarter than me, and I only study for five minutes for tests.
"What are you going to do for Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown?" Linus asked.
"My mother and Dad and Sally and I are all going over to my grandmother's for dinner," he told them, including me.
Charlie walked away from them, in which I decided to follow, too. I'm starting to regret getting out of that truck, because even though these kids are nice to me, I need to get back to Susan. If, she's still alive, that is. I didn't hear what Sally said to Linus while walking away, because I was distracted with thoughts of what my parents would think of not being here anymore, and if my best friend was looking for me, wondering if Alex was alive. Poor me, I guess. I wonder if there might be something good coming from this place, because forests don't poop out towns for a reason, you know. Back at Charlie Brown's house, I saw him watching some T.V, sitting on a bean-bag. I wonder what he might've been thinking about...
BRRING! BRRING! Charlie's phone started ringing as he walked towards it, and picked it up.
"Hello?" he said.
I heard a tomboy voice, which I couldn't really hear unless I was close enough. I could still make out the voice, though.
"Hi, Chuck," the voice said, calling him by a nickname. "This is Peppermint Patty. How've you been, Chuck?"
Peppermint Patty is a name that I thought was enough. I mean Snoopy? Charlie Brown? Peppermint Patty? How were there parents when they named these kids? Charlie Brown was holding the phone in his hands nervously.
"Okay, I guess," he said.
"Do you kind of miss me, Chuck?" Peppermint Patty said to him.
"Well, I...uh..."
"That's okay, Chuck," she told him. "I know you probably can't talk 'cuz someone's listening."
"Oh, yes, Patty," Charlie Brown looked at me. "I have a new friend. His name's Alex. Maybe you can-"
"Hold on, Chuck," she said. "You've got a new friend? Why didn't you tell me, Chuck? Are you in a best friends forever way, or just friends way?"
"No, no, it's just-"
"We'll keep these interment things to ourselves. Okay, Chuck?"
"Well, I...uh..." he repeated his stumbled words.
"Listen, I really have a treat for you!" she explained. "My dad's said when he goes out of town, he told me I could go over to your house and share Thanksgiving with you and your new friend, Chuck."
"What?!" I whispered to her. "Why do I-"
"Shh! I mean-" Charlie said.
"Chuck, are you talking to your new friend? 'Cuz if you are, can I speak to him?"
"Okay, that seems good enough," Charlie Brown handed the phone to me. "Here you go. I'll come back if you need me."
I sputtered a bit before coming out with words.
"Uh, hi, I'm Alex." I said.
"Hi, Alex! Nice to meet you by phone!" she said. "I was going to tell Chuck this, but I'll tell you here: I think I might be in love with Chuck. See, I call him most of the time to see what he's up to, but he doesn't listen to me! I'm keeping this short just in case Chuck hears me. Anyways-"
"Wait, you...love...Charlie Brown?" I asked.
"Well, yeah!" she told me. "About Thanksgiving, maybe you can get me closer, okay?"
"Okay."
"Now, can I speak to Chuck?"
"Yeah, sure." I signaled Charlie to come back in.
"Hey, Patty, what did you and Alex talk about?" Charlie Brown told Patty.
"Oh, nothing," she said. "Just some things about Thanksgiving. Anyways, do you agree on letting me come over?"
"Well, I...uh,"
"I don't mind inviting myself, because I know you kinda like me, Chuck."
"Well-"
"Okay, that's a deal! See ya' around, Chuck! And I'd like to see your friend, Alex, Chuck!"
Okay, I think it's official that Patty loves Charlie Brown. Or Chuck, whatever you call him.
"Oh, brother..." groaned Charlie Brown.
"Now what?" Sally came in unexpected, making me jump.
"Peppermint Patty's coming to Thanksgiving dinner!" Charlie Brown explained to Sally.
"We won't even be HOME!"
BRRING! BRRING! The phone rang again, with Charlie already picking it up.
"Hello?" Charlie Brown asked again.
"Hi, Chuck," Peppermint Patty again. "Listen, I have an even GREATER news: Remember that great kid, Marcie?"
Marcie?
"Sure." Charlie Brown knew what she was talking about.
"I just talked to her and she kind of would like to see you again. Her folks said it'd be okay if she joined us. You can count on TWO for dinner, Chuck."
"But, I just don't know," Charlie Brown told Patty.
"This will be okay with your folks. Won't it, Chuck?"
"Well, the problem is-"
"Don't worry, we won't make any problems. We'll help clean up the dishes and everything! Just save some drumstick and the neck. Okay, Chuck? See you, Chuck."
"Hey, Charlie Brown," I told him. "The only thing we can do is stay here and not go with your grandmother. It'll be okay, my dad taught me how to make some things for Thanksgiving."
"But why? To make her even MORE sad and disappointed of me?" Charlie frowned.
"No. It's going to be okay, Chuck." I snickered.
"I know Chuck's a funny nickname, Alex."
"Yeah, but it is funny."
Sally interrupted me.
"Hey, big brother," she said. "What're you going to do about Patty?"
"I just don't know," he said. "How do I always get into these things?"
Charlie Brown walked off and I watched him. This was going to be a wacky Thanksgiving...
(I'm back! So, two chapters already? Just make sure you review it, and have fun!)