CHAPTER 3: A LITTLE BIT HELPS
The next weekend, all of the gang were out at Joe's Café organizing a car wash to raise some money for Penelope and her family. Charlie Brown and Frieda were collecting the money, Lucy, Schroeder, Violet, Shermy, Patty, and Ox were washing the cars, Sally, Michael, Linus, Eudora, Marcie, and Hans were drying the cars, and Peppermint Patty and Franco were tallying up the money raised. Also Franklin, Melanie, Dolores, Pig Pen, and Snoopy and his brothers, Andy and Olaf, along with Woodstock and the other birds were holding signs leading to the car wash at Joe's. Thankfully Joe's parking lot was big enough to accommodate a large amount of cars. Plus it helped that it was an unusually warm day in November at 70 degrees with no winds.
Penelope was beside herself with happiness at what her new friends were doing for her and her family. She never asked for any help or anything, so for them to do this for her was proof that people did care. And, as a bonus, Charlie Brown's father offered her father a job at the barber shop and even offered to pay for the testing to become a licensed barber. While she was happy about them helping out, the outpouring was bittersweet for Penelope. What she didn't tell anyone, and only her parents and close family knew, that Penelope was on borrowed time as she was terminally ill. Just like Linus's old friend, Janice Emmons, she also had leukemia. But unlike Janice, who eventually went into remission and over time disappeared, Penelope's was a rare strain of leukemia that spread throughout her body at break-neck speeds that she didn't have a chance at recovery. And with her family's financial predicament, there was no chance of any kind of treatment. But she hadn't told Peppermint Patty, Marcie, or their friends. Not yet, at least.
Later in the day, Charlie brown asked Peppermint Patty, "So how much did we raise, so far?"
"Believe it or not, we are up to $2476," announced the tomboy. "For a kid car wash, that's not bad, at all!"
"We still need to make $2524 to make our $5000 goal," Frieda stated.
"Well we're making good progress," said Franco. "We just need to keep washing cars. Lass uns weiter so machen!"
"What did he say?" asked a confused Lucy
"That's German for 'Let's keep it up'," said Schroeder.
"Ah, du kennst die deutsche Sprache, Schroeder*?" asked Hans.
"Wenn Sie etwas über Beethoven erfahren, greifen Sie etwas von der Sprache auf**," said Schroeder to Hans. "But I still like to speak in English."
"Oh good grief!" groaned Lucy. Schroeder and Hans shared a laugh.
As the day progressed, the kids had a few more cars to go before end time. They were just a few dollars away from their goal. As the last car pulled out of Joe's, Peppermint Patty and Franco tallied the rest of the money and added it to the total. "With the last few cars we washed," Patty announced, "we actually went over our goal! We made $5043!"
All of the kids cheered. Charlie Brown and Frieda kissed each other, as did Lucy and Schroeder. Linus and Eudora hugged one another. Sally and Michael danced around with Snoopy and his brothers and the birds. Peppermint Patty and Marcie walked the money up to Penelope, who was sitting in a chair with Charlie Brown and Frieda, and presented the money to her.
"Here you go, Penelope," said Peppermint Patty, with a smile. "Something to start on, just for you."
Penelope started crying. All of the kids wondered what was wrong. "Marcie," Patty whispered. "Did I say the wrong thing?"
"I think she's crying out of happiness, sir," Marcie whispered back.
"Oh thank you all so much!" Penelope finally said. "This means so much to me and my family. Peppermint Patty, I want to thank you for organizing this. And Charlie Brown, for your father helping my father out! I know we have friends here in Sparkyville that do care! You don't know how… much… oh!"
The kids all of the sudden grew worried. "Penelope, are you all right?" asked Charlie Brown.
"I feel a little… dizzy, that's… all…" And before she could say anything else, Penelope collapsed on the ground.
"GOOD GRIEF!" exclaimed Charlie Brown. "SOMEONE CALL 911!" Charlie Brown, Frieda, and Peppermint Patty checked on Penelope to see if she was conscience.
"Patty, you may want to get a hold of her parents," said Frieda.
"Right!" And Peppermint Patty pulled out her cell phone and called Penelope's parents. They had received a welfare phone so they could make phone calls. Penelope had given Patty the number if she wanted to get a hold of her. The ambulance arrived and took Penelope to the hospital.
NEXT CHAPTER: WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
German translations: *"Ah, you know the German language, Schroeder?", **"When you learn about Beethoven, you pick up on some of the lingo."