The final day of the visit had come almost too quickly—for this trip was to be exceedingly short, thanks in part to the bevy of other required travels facing both the Brown and the Van Pelt families. Charlie's family was headed back home for a few days, before flying out to Pasadena to visit his grandmother for New Year's, while Linus and Lucy were leaving for Duluth the next day to see their aunt and uncle. Before they left, the Browns made one final stop at their friends' house to say adieu.
Sally couldn't contain herself from crying as she embraced Linus. Copious sniffles and promises to talk even more often than before were exchanged, and at last Sally scrambled into the backseat, wiping tears from her eyes.
Charlie, having witnessed the scene from the background, strode forward and held out his hand to Linus. "So long, Linus," he said. "Remember what we talked about."
Linus smiled as he returned the handshake. "I will. I promise."
Charlie then turned to Lucy. "Well…take care of yourself, I guess. Be good to Linus, will you?"
Lucy snorted in an amused fashion. "Heh. Good joke." Her snark softened, and she grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
Charlie wasn't sure how to react. It was the first time she'd ever hugged him, so he didn't really know what to say. At last he wrapped his arms around her in kind. He heard her whisper something to the effect of: "You blockhead."
After what seemed like forever, they separated. Charlie said his goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Van Pelt, and at last joined Sally (once again, sound asleep before the car was even moving) in the back seat. A few minutes later, they were all headed down the highway.
Charlie looked out the window just in time to see a sign that said: "Now Leaving Hennepin County—Come Back Soon!" He nestled into his seat in preparation for the journey ahead. Reflecting on the last few days, he realized that he didn't have to worry about coming back to his hometown after all.
He could go there anytime he wanted.