CHAPTER 4: LEARNING ABOUT JOSE PETERSON

Charlie Brown and Frieda were with Dolores and Jose at Joe's Café for their double date. They figured it would go more smoothly than their previous double date with Franklin and Melanie. While Franklin was fine, Melanie's absent-mindedness was a bit taxing for Charlie Brown and Frieda. So it was great to be with people who at least could provide some quality conversation, not that Franklin wouldn't have but Melanie would not get it.

They were enjoying their food. Frieda asked Jose, "So what else have you been up to lately, Jose?"

"Not too much," said Jose. "All of my life has been school and baseball. But with Dolores, I can do something else besides baseball. Actually have a girlfriend."

"I can understand that, Jose," Charlie Brown replied.

"Yeah, Peppermint Patty told me about how you two finally hooked up," Jose said to the blockhead. "I'm surprised you two didn't get together sooner."

"Come again?" said a confused Charlie Brown.

"Whenever we faced each other, I saw how Frieda looked at you when you were on the pitcher's mound," Jose recalled. "It was the same way Patty and Marcie looked at you before they scored their German boyfriends."

"The last time I loved here, I remember Frieda watching you from afar and sighed, even after she had just talked to you," added Dolores.

"Yeah, as I told Charlie Brown, I was afraid to tell him how I felt before, because I worried about what folks would think of me," said Frieda. "But the faithful day on Valentine's over two years ago, I finally shared my feelings for Charlie Brown and we went on our first date. And the rest is history."

"And I've never been happier," added Charlie Brown. "And all of my feelings for the little red-haired girl are gone, though I've finally became good friends with her."

"Wait, didn't she move away, though?" asked Dolores. "I mean I'm living in her old home now."

"Yeah, she did, but we keep in touch with her, as her grandmother still lives here in Sparkyville," Frieda replied. "She even helped us with dealing with those bullies at Camp Remote last summer."

"But as I said, Frieda is the only girl for me," Charlie Brown continued. "She loves me for me, flaws and all. Wishy-washy or not."

"And I see you two are happy together," observed Frieda.

"Yeah, we are," said a happy Dolores. "Jose is my everything. El amor de mi vida*."

"So what else do you like to do, Jose?" asked Charlie Brown.

"Pretty much anything having to do with baseball," said Jose, with a smile. "Whether it's going to games, major or minor, watching baseball on TV, listening to the games on the radio, playing video games having to do with baseball. And of course, being with my Dolores."

"And Lucy says I talk too much about baseball," joked Charlie Brown. Everyone laughed. Charlie Brown and Frieda were having a good time with Dolores and Jose. They were easy-going and nice. Plus they didn't have to deal with the naivety of Melanie like last time.

NEXT CHAPTER: BATTLE FATIGUE

(*) "The love of my life."