PEANUTS The Next Chapter Fan-Episode: Sing It Girl

by Animatic Psychopath

A music show is being held at Sparkyville Middle School and Charlie Brown decides to properly introduce Christine to the rest of the gang,and while things seemingly go well at first for the shy girl,things quickly begin to go off the rocker for her as she sets out on a personal mission to overcome her social anxiety when the possibility of performing on stage becomes a real one.

4. Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4: SERPENT SISTER ACT

"WHAT?!" Christine gasped and frantically exclaimed in a panic that echoed throughout the entire auditorium after Charlie Brown had requested that she join the music festival after they had lost one of their performers for the show to which the boy in question started to feel himself turn bright red with shame before Freida politely tried to calm the panicking girl down "Christine,please try to hear us out on this,you're literally the only other person we know who can do this job in the time we need. If we had any other choice,we would gladly leave you out of the show,and not in the neglectful kind of way of course." only for Christine to shake her head and nervously try to refuse the offer "No,no,no you guys got the wrong girl for this job. I-I even told you and Charlie Brown at Joe's today,I'm just not ready for that kind of thing just yet."

"Look Christine,we really need you for this. Everyone else already has an act planned and everyone who doesn't has plans for that night." Linus sighed and respectfully insisted that Christine take the sick performer's place during the show before James rolled his eyes and whispered into Lucy's ear "I think we're gonna need to go to plan B. Get your costumes on." to which the typically crabby girl nodded her head and firmly obliged "I'm only doing this so I can test out my vocal chops. Keep that in mind." which resulted in the British boy muttering to himself while Lucy and the rest of the girls on stage stealthy snuck to the changing rooms,leaving only the boys and beagles on center stage "Yeah I sure will."

"James is gonna get in a lot of trouble if anything goes wrong in this show Christine,can't you just try to grin and bear it?" Skylar hung his head a little and meekly tried to get Christine to see where they were coming from as James timidly nodded his head in agreement before Ed walked up to his friend and politely offered his own point of view "Christine,I know you don't want to do this,me, Chuck and Freida oughta know the most about your anxiety,but these guys need you a lot for this show. One of their performers is sick and I think they would really appreciate it if someone would replace them instead of just leaving their spot open." only for Christine to back away towards the stage door and respectfully refuse in a shaky voice "I'm sorry guys,but I really don't think I can go this. Even if I wanted to,I don't think I have the skill to do it. I just gotta go." However when Christine placed her back on the stage's exit door that led back outside,she would be left a little confused and perplexed when the door didn't seem to budge at all as her eyes widened in shock while she turned around and pushed the door much harder than before,only for it to not move a single inch,all the while Charlie Brown started to sweat a little while he placed a small metal key in his back pocket.

"Aww that's real nice. Now y'all are locking me in!" Christine turned around and angrily lamented in a sarcastic tone of voice before the voice of Lucy sternly retorted while she and the rest of the girls walked back onto the stage in what appeared to be nun outfits "No we're not! We're just getting you to see reason here and toughen you up." to which Christine raised an eyebrow while she joined everyone else back on stage,the boys and beagles aside from James facepalmed at the sight and Freida politely stated "Christine,we're not trying to hurt you in anyway,shape or form in terms of what you're comfortable with,but we REALLY need you to do this for us. So in order for you to get a feel of what performing on stage is like-" only for the curly haired girl to be rudely interrupted by Cobra "You're gonna partake in a special performance with all us girls. And before you ask,it was James's idea. Beagles,boys,hit it!" to which the beagles and boys started playing music on the instruments that were lying around while Christine questioned in confusion "Wait what?"

Cobra:

When I was still a school girl standing just about yay high.

I saw the face of Jesus in a coconut cream pie.

Rattler:

Next morning there was Mary in a bowl of special k.

And ten of twelves apostles in the salad bar buffet.

Lucy:

Now frankly,I'm an eater.

And unpolished of Saint Peter when my tummy sorta gave a little lurch.

Cobra, Rattler and Lucy:

And I knew beyond all question it was more than indigestion.

And that's how I got the calling to the church.

"Y'all found God in junk food?" Christine raised an eyebrow and asked out of confusion to which Lucy kept in character and retorted with a light chuckle "The lord works in mysterious ways." before Rattler enthusiastically added in character as well "So we told ours,now you tell yours." only for Christine to frantically point at Ashlynn and deflect the request "Uh,age before beauty."

Ashlynn:

Death before dishonor.

My mother kicked the bucket in the flood of '38.

A falling Steinway piano sent my father to his fate.

All twenty of my siblings caught the plague by some odd chance.

And something in the meatloaf got my uncles and my aunts.

The town I lived in bit it when a freak tornado hit it.

And the heartbreak took my dog to his reward.

And I figured on reflection I could maybe use protection.

And that's how I got my calling to the Lord.

Girls:

How I got my calling to the lord!

Cobra, Rattler, Lucy and Ashlynn:

Yes that was how I got the calling!

Ashlynn:

And it was bracing.

Lucy:

But enthralling.

Cobra, Rattler, Lucy and Ashlynn:

And I just knew I'd do as I was bid.

Cobra, Rattler and Lucy:

I'd be overfed.

Ashlynn:

And I'd obviously be dead.

Girls:

So thank the lord I got the calling when I did!

"Now you." Ashlynn pointed over at Christine and enthusiastically called out only for the girl to point over at the rest of the girls instead and once again deflect the request "Uh,no them!"

Violet:

The folks from Jews For Jesus stuck a pamphlet in my purse.

Patty Swanson:

I heard a voice while playing Sergeant Pepper in reverse.

Marcie:

I prayed and then by golly my psoriasis was healed.

Eudora:

People always told me that I look like Sally Field.

Peppermint Patty:

I had a revelation when I skipped my medication.

Rebecca:

The outfit just did wonders for my frame.

Girls:

And yes it may be odd to get a wake up call from God.

But in the end I got the calling and I came.

Violet and Patty Swanson:

(I got the calling and I came.)

Girls:

And that was how I got the calling.

Claudia:

(La-la-la-la-la-la.)

Girls:

And gave my life an overhauling.

Freida:

(La-la-la-la.)

Girls:

And it was loud.

Lucy:

And firm.

Freida:

And all so clear.

Girls:

Yes it's quite a jump.

Marcie:

But I'd be lost.

Claudia:

Afraid.

Cobra:

A frump!

Girls:

So thank the Lord I got the calling and I'm here!

"Saved the bestest for lastest." Freida cheerfully stated as she and the rest of the gang looked over at Christine to which the girl perked up and nervously replied "Uh,oh,I haven't gone yet? Oh no not me,I-I can't,I didn't-" before being swiftly cut off by Rattler "You don't exactly have all the time in the world here,don't you girl? Come on."

Christine:

Well…...you see,I mean it's kind of like I-

Cobra:

Came here as a tot?

Christine:

What I mean is-

Cobra:

Left here at the door?

"Go on." Freida encouraged Christine to keep going as she rolled her eyes at some of Cobra's playful jabs.

Christine:

I don't know if I'm-

Cobra:

Supposed to be a nun.

Christine:

Or-

Cobra:

Not.

Christine:

It's hard to say,but after all that's what the call is for.

Right?

"Oh that ain't good enough girl,perk up and keep going! Fess up!" Cobra scoffed at Christine's half hearted contribution to the act as the girl gulped and nervously obliged "Okay."

Uh…..me and Sister Sledge,we had a ministry…..I guess.

Uh,working at our lady of perpetual excess.

We'd go among the village people everyday...well night.

Lifting up the sinful and helping the uptight.

And suddenly one day it was like BANG!

And right I away I saw the light and screamed sweet Jesus Christ and such.

And I asked to be secluded in this hellhole just like you did and that's how I got the calling.

Pretty much.

Girls And Boys:

How she got the calling pretty much!

Christine:

(And that is how!)

All Girls:

We got the calling.

It was sublime.

Christine:

And yet appalling.

All Girls:

And it was oh so right in all respects.

Ahhhhh.

Cobra, Rattler and Lucy:

Sweet as mountain honey.

Ashlynn:

And as wild as summer lightning.

Violet and Patty Swanson:

And as warm as woolen mittens.

Claudia:

And so fierce that it was frightening.

Rebecca:

And as bright as new cut flowers.

Freida, Peppermint Patty, Marcie and Eudora:

And as swift as April showers.

Christine:

And &$#%+#% as a night of sweaty &%!

It was at this point that everyone stopped what they were doing and all the music and dancing came to a complete halt as the gang started at Christine with widened eyes due to her….inappropriate lyric choice to which she meekly asked with a bright red face "I'm sorry…...was that out loud?" only for the others to ignore her questionable remark and conclude the performance.

Rebecca:

If it never came.

Ashlynn:

If our lives were just the same.

Cobra, Rattler and Lucy:

Well Heaven knows what might've happened to us then.

All Girls:

But we got the calling.

Thank the lord we got the calling.

We're so glad you got the calling.

Amen!

Once the practice act seemed to finally came to a close,the boys and beagles started applauding while the formers went up to their lovers for a hug alongside Andy and Gracie going up to their owners to do the same,and it was at this point that Christine couldn't help but laugh due to how well the act went for her near the ending as Freida walked up to the girl and happily asked "You see? That wasn't too bad Christine,as long as you just have fun and forget that other people are even there,that anxiety of yours will go away in a flash. So what do you say,you wanna do this?" to which Christine thought it over for a few moments before she shrugged her arms and surprisingly couldn't help but go along with it "Oh what the heck? If I'll have as much fun as I did here,then what's the big deal? I'll do it!" and it was right then and there that all the kids started cheering and applauding while James gave a huge sigh of relief,for they were not only happy that Christine was gonna fill up the missing spot in the show and help it go much more smoothly,but they were also happy that her anxiety seemed to be going away at a much faster rate than before. Now all they had to do was get her prepped for the big show.

NEXT CHAPTER: REFLECTION

"How I Got The Calling." Written by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.

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