CHAPTER 12: HEROES
This was it,this was finally it,it was finally time for Christine to go out on stage and perform her act for the entire school to see,every day of practice after school had been building up to this very moment,every night where she went to bed and prayed that she would be able to get through it in the end was gonna be validated by this one simple act,and it seemed that she didn't have much time to mentally prepare herself at the last minute since Franklin had already walked out on stage one last time and happily announced "All of us at Sparkyville Middle School would love to thank each and everyone of you for being able to join us here tonight,for we showed all of you just what can be done with the power of music and a little bit of heart from the public,but it seems that the time has come for us to wrap up our show,and this time we actually have a newcomer under our belt,she's generally very shy and secluded but that sure didn't stop her from signing up for the show anyway. Thank you all for coming,and please give a warm welcome to the stage,Christine Roberts."
As the audience promptly cheered for the final performer and the curtain slowly began to rise up,Christine could feel her heart starting to pound in her chest alongside her stomach violently churning,but she soon managed to slowly control herself when she started to hear encouraging words from the rest of the gang along with friendly barking from Snoopy, Gracie, Andy, Olaf, Roger and Herman over eachother via the sidelines as she took a long deep breath and quietly told herself "Keep it together Christine,you can do this." and it was at this point that the curtain had been fully lifted up and the girl was now staring at a massive crowd of families and teachers,but thankfully it didn't seem to affect her that much since she merely just walked up to the microphone,grabbed a hold of it,closed her eyes,shut off any other sounds from her mind and finally began her act.
Christine:
Dyin' ain't so bad.
Not if you both go together.
Only when one's left behind does it get sad.
But a short and lovin' life?
That ain't so bad.
I only hope to God that I go first.
I couldn't live on memories.
I'm sorry but I'm not that strong.
There are some things in life you can't replace.
A love like ours don't happen twice.
When all his days are through.
Mine will be too.
'Cause dyin' ain't so bad.
Not if you both go together.
Only when one's left behind does it get sad.
But a short and lovin' life?
That ain't so bad.
I've met boys who talk about farms and horses.
And they don't do much for me.
I don't need to end up in a rockin' chair.
Seems you get to live your life just once.
If that's how it's gotta be.
Then I'd rather breathe in life than dusty air!
Dyin' ain't so bad!
Not if you both go together!
Only when you're left alone does it get sad!
But a short and lovin' life?
A short and lovin' life?
A short and lovin' life?
That ain't so bad.
Once it appeared that her act had come to a close,Christine slowly reopened her eyes and let her hearing come back full force to be greeted by the sight and sound of a crowd roaring with cheers and applause for her as the girl could only wear a look of complete shock on her face,for she had actually done it,she had finally overcome her anxiety for what seemed for good. Christine was actually so dumbfounded that she ended up doing as good as she did,that she didn't even have time to thank the audience since the curtain had already been pulled back down,only for her to be immediately assaulted by Peppermint Patty grabbing her and giving her a noogie while she happily congratulated "Nice going there Christine!" before Linus nodded his head and respectfully added in agreement "Well done Christine." to which PigPen lightly punched the girl in the arm and ecstatically continued "You did it Christine!"
"Now that's how you do a flipping performance! That right there!" exclaimed Ed as he pointed over at Christine before Freida ecstatically added in agreement "You did wonderful Christine!' which was followed up by Claudia happily congratulating the girl as well "T-that was great C-Christine,I r-really liked that." to which Snoopy, Gracie, Andy, Olaf and Roger proceeded to give Christine a crushing beagle hug in that order while Herman gave off a friendly salute.
"I'm so proud of you Christine,that training of yours really paid off." James happily remarked in relief like a proud teacher would once Roger finally managed to let go of Christine to which Lucy folded her arms and couldn't help but admit with a sly grin "I have to say,you ain't half bad right there." before the girl smiled and happily showed her gratitude for the compliments "T-thanks everyone,I can't believe I actually did that. I feel so much more alive right now." However it was right then and there that Charlie Brown suddenly realized that there seemed to be chanting coming from outside as he peeped his head out the curtain to see that the audience was craving for an encore before he retracted himself and stated "It's sounding like the audience wants an encore,I'd say let's give them one." to which the rest of the gang happily agreed with the idea over each other,with the exception of Christine however who merely offered instead "You guys on without me,I think I've had my fill for tonight."
"Ok,you do you." Franklin shrugged his arms and politely obliged as he and the rest of the gang started to get themselves ready for their encore,but not before James walked up to Christine and happily stated "You did wonderful out there,I mean it when I'm proud of you." which was followed up by the girl suddenly giving the boy a hug which he was certainly caught off guard by,but that didn't mean he wasn't enjoying it as he couldn't help but join in shortly afterwards. After a few more moments it appeared that the gang was finally ready to give the audience their encore as the curtain slowly lifted up to reveal everyone,even the ones that didn't have an act for the show were present to which the raving audience quieted down as the kids kicked off their swan song,all the while Christine merely stayed behind the now closed curtain and tried to relax.
Linus:
Chances they come and go.
But you're afraid and so.
You run away.
Franco:
And when a chance is there.
Make believe you don't care.
That's how to play.
Charlie Brown:
Bridges you never crossed.
Left here alone and lost.
Looking around.
James:
People are hard to find.
When they get left behind.
On such angry ground.
Thibualt and Dominick:
So it goes.
Violet:
The hours move.
Rebecca:
The days go by.
Claudia:
We wait for heroes to fall from the sky.
Lucy:
Don't wait too long to learn what's true.
Freida:
I promise you'll be a hero for me.
And I'll be a hero for you.
Ashlynn:
Nothing is black or white.
Skylar:
Easy it's wrong or right.
Or so they say.
Scheroder:
You are the best of me.
Charlie Brown:
Saving the rest of me.
Day after day.
Marcie:
Hold on to those you love.
Peppermint Patty:
Through what you're dreaming now.
You'll make it somehow.
Freida:
The future can't change the past.
Make every second last.
For all we have,is here and now!
Peanuts Gang:
(The hours move.)
(The days go by.)
(Why wait for heroes to fall from the sky?)
Joslyn:
I finally know.
Rattler:
What's really true.
I promise-
Cobra:
You'll be a hero for me.
Ashlynn:
And I'll be a hero for you.
However it was right then and there that much to Christine's surprise,the curtain started to lift itself back up for her to be greeted by the rest of the gang looking at her alongside a spotlight shining on her as she gasped at the sight of it while she slowly walked back onto the stage.
Violet And Patty Swanson:
(I'll be a hero for you.)
Marcie, Peppermint Patty and Claudia:
(I'll be a hero.)
Boys:
(I'll be a hero.)
Rattler, Lucy and Cobra:
(I'll be a hero.)
Everyone:
(A hero!)
For you!
It was also at this point that Freida held out her microphone towards the audience as a way for all of them to join in alongside Snoopy, Gracie, Andy, Olaf, Roger and Herman howling and Woodstock tweeting.
Peanuts Gang and Audience:
The days go by.
Why wait for heroes to fall from the sky?
The hours move.
The days go by.
I'll be your hero.
James then proceeded to walk towards Christine and happily hand her his microphone.
The hours move.
The days go by.
Why wait for heroes to fall?
Christine:
The hours move.
The days go by.
Why wait for heroes to fall from the sky?
After it appeared that the last performance for the night had finally come to a close,the entire auditorium started to shower the gang with a standing ovation as they all gracefully bowed while the curtain came down one last time.
NEXT CHAPTER: THE BIRTH OF NEW LOVE
"Dyin' Ain't So Bad." Written by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black.
©️Broadway Records
"Heroes." Written by Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy.
©️Sony Music Entertainment.