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.

6. Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6: WONDERS OF MAGIC

Christine was sitting down on a bench at the bus stop and patiently waiting for a ride the next day,for she was about to head off to the theater downtown to hopefully get some help from James in regards to her anxiety,because if she was gonna be performing in the music show and have it go smoothly,she was gonna need to sort herself out and fast. The girl didn't say anything and instead just waited for a bus in silence while she fiddled around with some magic cards before Charlie Brown and Snoopy suddenly walked by and noticed her to which the former greeted her "Hey Christine,you got somewhere to go?" which prompted the girl to politely lift her hear up and confirm that she was "Yeah,I'm heading over to the theater downtown. James gave me a call last night and he said that he could try and help me with my anxiety before the show on Friday. What about you?"

"I just have to take Snoopy to the vet for a regular checkup." Charlie Brown nonchalantly explained what he and his dog were doing as the beagle sighed out of dread before the boy enthusiastically continued while he and Snoopy sat down on the bench "I'm glad you're really trying to sort this whole thing out,I'm actually no stranger to anxiety and depression,years ago before Freida came into my life,I felt like I couldn't do much of anything without it turning into a stunning failure,but then things like her seeing something in me, the homecoming incident, me actually winning a ballgame, helping a detective bring in twenty escaped inmates in France and coming home from vacation to take on the flipping Lizard Ladies of all people,it really opened myself up." to which Christine lightly chuckled and hopefully retorted in response "Well that's good for you I guess,I got one week to get rid of this anxiety or at least wither it down enough so I can get on that stage and do my part for the show. I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to get it done just fine,but I still think I could at least use a miracle right here for reassurance,oh for Pete's sake what am I even talking about? Never mind,I know what you're thinking." which was followed by her proceeding to make some magic tricks with her cards.

Christine:

Miracles,honestly,we all know they're nothing really.

Fairytales,make believe,like magic.

The light of hand,trickery,might as well admit it freely.

Miracles,laughable,like magic.

All they are is wishful thinking.

Simply an illusion.

Just a lie we tell to help us through.

What if they were real?

Think how it would feel.

Miracles,happening,like magic,coming true.

"Hey,Christine? You a magician?" Charlie Brown raised an eyebrow and questioned in awe when he and Snoopy noticed some of Christine's magic tricks to which the girl lightly blushed and tried to brush them aside "It's just some tricks I picked up at one of my foster homes." before the round headed boy smiled a little and stated "You know me and Snoopy tried to be magicians one time." which was followed by the girl wondering with a slight look of intrigue on her face "What happened?"

"What you get as a preteen,what you get as an….older preteen." Charlie Brown rolled his eyes and answered in his own subtle way as Snoopy lightly laughed at the response to which Christine chuckled and lamented like she found it relatable "Tell me about it." before the boy encouragingly continued while he picked up the discarded cards "But if you're gonna try to do magic,you have to keep practicing your sleight of hand,over and over til you get so good,til it feels so natural,even you believe it's real."

"Y'all did that?" Christine questioned in awe with a much more brightened up look on her face to which Charlie Brown happily stated in response "Christine,we were so good,my dog made me disappear." which prompted Snoopy to happily nod his head in agreement with a light giggle before he and his owner proceeded to perform even better magic tricks with the cards.

Charlie Brown:

Miracles,that's their charm,everybody thinks they need one.

Shining out,bright and clear like magic.

Say the word.

Christine:

(Go ahead.)

Charlie Brown:

Wave your arm.

Christine:

(Show me.)

Charlie Brown:

Ask and you are guaranteed one.

Christine:

(How do you do it?)

Both:

Just like that,they appear,like magic.

Christine:

Call it luck,a fame,a fortune.

Charlie Brown:

Draw your own conclusion.

Christine:

Maybe it's a sign from you know who.

Charlie Brown:

Maybe.

Both:

Once the door's a jar,look and there they are.

Christine:

Miracles.

Charlie Brown:

Everywhere.

Both:

Like magic.

Charlie Brown:

Just for you.

It was at this point that the bus finally seemed to show up as Christine took her cards, got off the bench and proceeded to head towards the open door,but not before Charlie Brown encouragingly called out from behind "Good luck with it all." to which the girl turned around and merely gave a thumbs up with a smile while the boy returned the gesture and Snoopy gave an ok sign before Christine finally boarded the bus and took off with it.

"You know Snoopy,when Sally finally regained feeling in her legs after the whole Christmas play fiasco,that was a miracle." Charlie Brown sighed and happily stated as he and his dog got off the bench and continued to head towards the bet to which the beagle nodded his head in agreement.

NEXT CHAPTER: LESSONS

"Like Magic." Written by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.

©️Menken Music. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.