STORY 2: WEREBEAGLE

Starring:

Charlie Brown

Linus Van Pelt

Franklin Armstrong

Frieda Rich

Sally Brown

Lucy Van Pelt

and Snoopy as the Werebeagle

DAMIEN: Our next story takes place during the early 1900s. Sparkyville was just a small village at the time. And the automobile was still in its infancy and not widespread as it is today. Many of you heard of the werewolf, but have you ever heard of a werebeagle?

It was dusk in 1905 Sparkyville, USA, as Charlie Brown walked his girlfriend, Frieda home. They had spent the time in the candy shop getting some sweets for them for about 2 cents a bag. They both needed to get home before it got too dark, for it was a full moon that night. And the feared werebeagle would be out hunting again.

"Well, Frieda," Charlie Brown began. "I had a good time being with you today."

"And I as well, sweetie," said Frieda, who then kissed Charlie Brown on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

"And I love you, too." And Frieda went inside her house. Charlie Brown headed for home. Once he reached his house, he saw his dog, Snoopy, laying on top of his doghouse. Before he could even open the door, his young sister, Sally pulled him in.

"Get in, big brother!" she demanded. "Do you want the werebeagle to get you?!"

"I was just coming in, Sally," said Charlie Brown. "I wasn't going to be attacked by the werebeagle."

"You don't know that!" Sally protested. "Just as you were about to turn the knob, the werebeagle could've eaten you up before you even stepped into the house!"

Just then the siblings heard a knock on the door. Sally stopped her brother from answering the door. But was relieved when they heard, "Open up, Charlie Brown. It's me. Linus!"

"Well you can let my future husband in," said Sally.

As Charlie Brown opened the door for his best friend, Linus said without missing a beat, "I am NOT your future ANYTHING! Anyway, I am glad I got here. I heard the werebeagle's howl in the distance."

"Are you sure it wasn't a coyote, Linus?" asked Charlie Brown.

"I know a coyote's howl, Charlie Brown," said Linus. "This howl was more high-pitched. And the werebeagle usually has a higher howl than a coyote or a wolf." Just then, the three kids heard the high-pitched howl for themselves. It was louder than before.

"The werebeagle must be close," warned Linus. "Quick turn out all of the lights! And find somewhere to hide!" And Charlie Brown, Sally, and Linus hid in different areas. The howling continued for about a half hour and then it stopped. The kids emerged from their hiding spots and went to a window and looked around.

"No sign of the werebeagle," said Charlie Brown. "He must've left this area."

"Maybe," said Linus, "but we still have to be on high alert. I'm not leaving here until dawn."

"I don't blame you, Linus," Charlie Brown responded. "I wouldn't want to be out there with the werebeagle out right now." And the kids went to bed and eventually went to sleep.

The next day, Charlie Brown, Frieda, and Linus was talking to Linus's sister, Lucy about what happened the night before.

"It was scary, Lucy," said Linus. "Had I not made it to Charlie Brown's house, the werebeagle might have gotten me."

"I don't think there's any such thing as a werebeagle," scoffed Lucy.

"Now why does that not surprise me?" said Charlie Brown under his breath.

"I think the werebeagle is nothing more than a myth to scare young kids like ourselves," Lucy continued. "I think the grownups make up the story to have us behave, like the boogey man."

"Well how do you explain the howling we all heard last night?" asked Charlie Brown.

"Probably some neighborhood dog howling at the moon," Lucy reasoned. "For all we know, Charlie Brown, it could have been your own stupid dog howling."

"I guess I can see your point," said Charlie Brown. "But that still doesn't explain the sudden disappearance of a ton of dog food at the warehouse and other people's homes. Folks have said they suspect the werebeagle of doing that."

"Well I guess some adults can be gullible as kids, too," said Lucy. "As far as the dogfood goes, even I don't have an answer for that, except maybe our little town is getting overrun with stray animals and they are getting into the dogfood supply. Maybe President Roosevelt can declare a state of emergency on dogfood supplies."

"Oh brother," sighed Charlie Brown.

"You won't let the werebeagle get me, will you, honey?" Frieda asked Charlie Brown.

"I would never let anything happen to you, Frieda," Charlie Brown responded.

"I knew you wouldn't, sweetie," Frieda cooed as she kissed Charlie Brown on the cheek.

"Well, I'm not staying out too late so that the werebeagle, real or not, can get me," Linus replied. And the kids went into town to get some more 2 cent bags of candy and meet with their friends. When they got to town, the werebeagle was all anyone was talking about.

"Good grief, everyone's talking about the werebeagle!" said Charlie Brown.

"Hey guys!" It was their friend, Franklin Armstrong. "Did you hear? The werebeagle struck another house that had dogfood."

"Well it seems that the werebeagle is not attacking people as previously thought," said Linus. "Maybe the werebeagle just have a thing for dogfood."

"Just what we need," groaned Lucy. "A monster with an appetite for kibble!"

"Just be glad that appetite isn't for people, Lucy," said Frieda.

"Guys check out what my grandfather gave me," said Franklin. He pulled out a silver medallion. "It has been in the family for years and he said I would need this. He also said that this medallion will save my life one day. I don't know what he meant by that, but I didn't question it."

"Well I would guard that medallion with your life, Franklin," said Lucy. "It may save you from even the werebeagle."

"I thought you said the werebeagle was a hoax, Lucy," observed Linus.

"It is, Linus," Lucy stated, "but at the same time, just in case, because you never really know."

"Oh brother," said Charlie Brown, rolling his eyes.

Later that day, Charlie Brown and Linus set up a trap for the werebeagle. They placed some dogfood inside a snare trap. Snoopy was with them.

"Now don't eat this dogfood, Snoopy," Charlie Brown warned. "This is to catch the werebeagle. I will give you your supper in a couple of hours.

"A couple of hours?" Snoopy thought to himself. "How will I make it for a couple of hours?" And he went back to his doghouse.

"Do you think this will catch the werebeagle, Charlie Brown?" asked Linus.

"I hope it does, Linus," said Charlie Brown. "They say the werebeagle has been going after dogfood around town, so maybe this will catch it in the act." And the boys continued to set up the trap.

Later that night, Charlie Brown was in bed. Soon, he heard the familiar howl outside.

"It's the werebeagle!" he whispered to himself.

Soon he heard some munching sounds from outside, and then a springing noise. The werebeagle was captured. All Charlie Brown heard was some snarling noises. He went to wake up Sally.

"Sally wake up!" he said. "I caught the werebeagle!"

"Really?" said Sally. "Where is he?"

"In the backyard," said Charlie Brown. "Linus and I set up a trap for him this afternoon." And the two kids went into the backyard and saw the werebeagle. It wasn't very large. In fact, it was smaller than the kids. Although its fur was very long and shaggy, and it had teeth hanging out of its mouth. Its eyes were bloodshot and he had a big nose. The Brown siblings looked at the creature and thought it looked very familiar.

"Sally, I think I know who the werebeagle is," said Charlie Brown.

Just then, Linus, Lucy, Frieda, and Franklin came running up.

"Did you catch the werebeagle, Charlie Brown?" asked Linus.

"I did, Linus," Charlie Brown replied.

"My hero!" cheered Frieda, and she went to hug and kiss Charlie Brown.

"How about that?" said Lucy. "There really is a werebeagle!"

"My brother was just saying that he thinks he knows who the werebeagle was," Sally replied.

"Who is it, Charlie Brown?" asked Franklin.

"I think it's my own dog Snoopy," Charlie Brown responded. "Look at him. Look at the markings."

"Well there's one way to find out," said Linus. "Hey Snoopy, it's suppertime!"

And right on cue, the werebeagle jumped out of the snare trap and started dancing around like Snoopy always did.

"Good grief!" said Lucy. "It is that stupid beagle! Rather, that stupid werebeagle!"

"I can't believe it!" sighed Charlie Brown. "My own dog a werebeagle! Snoopy, how did this happen?!" And Snoopy pointed to his paw which was bandaged.

"Well they say that when a man is bitten by a wolf, he turns into a werewolf," said Franklin. "Maybe Snoopy was bitten by a wolf and he turned into the werebeagle. But instead of attacking people like a werewolf would do, he goes after the one thing he loves more than life; food!"

"Snoopy, were you bitten by a wolf in a fight or something?" asked Linus. Snoopy nodded.

"What are we going to do?" said a distraught Charlie Brown. "Snoopy can't keep turning into the werebeagle."

"Hey I just remembered," said Linus. "The only way to keep a man turning into a werewolf is to have him wear something of silver, or shooting him with a silver bullet. Maybe it will work on dogs, too. Franklin, do you still have that silver medallion your grandfather gave you?"

"Right here." Franklin pulled out the medallion. Linus took the medallion and placed it around Snoopy's neck. Almost immediately, he turned back to normal.

"Charlie Brown, make sure that silver medallion stays on Snoopy until that bite gets treated and heals," said Linus. "Even after the bite gets treated, he will still have the power to turn into a werebeagle. So the medallion has to stay on him until the bite heals completely." And Charlie Brown brought Snoopy inside so he can stay out of trouble for the rest of the night. He kissed Frieda goodnight and said goodnight to everyone else. He and Sally went back to bed. Snoopy joined him and kept the medallion on his dog collar so he could stay normal until the bite was taken care of. The next day, Charlie Brown took Snoopy to a vet to treat the bite. He knew when the bite healed up that his dog would be back to normal.

END OF STORY 2

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