CHAPTER 3: CHARLIE BROWN, WINNER?!
Back at the game, it was the seventh inning and Charlie Brown's team was keeping up with the other team. Nothing could slow them at this point. The score was really close and both teams were grinding out trying to keep ahead. The bases were loaded and Charlie Brown knew he needed an easy out to stay near the top. The game was far from done, but this was crucial to both teams.
Charlie Brown threw the pitch and it was a pop fly. Charlie Brown went for it. Again we hear his inner monologue.
"All right. I just need to catch this ball. I just hope it don't bounce out of my glove as it always does. I just need to remember what Franco said to do to prevent that…"
TWO MONTHS PRIOR
Charlie Brown and Franco were in Charlie's backyard going over some tips about catching a ball in flight. Charlie Brown had told Franco about how every time he thought he caught the ball, only for it to bounce out on the ground. Franco had a sure-fire way to prevent that from happening again.
"Okay, Charles," he began. "I'm going to throw ball up in air. You try to catch it when it lands." And Charlie Brown held his glove still and the ball landed in the glove, and then fell out, as it always did. Charlie Brown looked dejected.
"Don't get upset, Charles," Franco assured the round-headed boy. "I know of way to keep ball from bouncing out of glove. First, tilt glove up, like this, with finger up. Keep glove at angle so ball rolls toward you after landing in glove. Then when ball hit glove, take other hand and grasp ball so it won't fly out. Okay? We try again, mein friend!"
And Franco tossed the ball up in the air again. This time Charlie Brown kept his glove at an angle with the slope going down towards him. And when the ball hit the glove, Charlie Brown took his other hand and grasped the ball; keeping it in the glove.
"Very good, Charles!" said a happy Franco.
"I don't believe it!" said Charlie Brown, equally happy. "It actually worked!"
"Okay, we keep working at it," said Franco. And the two boys continued to practice the catch. And Charlie Brown got better and better at it.
BACK TO PRESENT DAY
As the ball was falling back to earth, Charlie Brown, remembering what Franco had taught him, tilted his glove upward and prepared his right hand to grasp the ball. And all of the kids looked in nervous anticipation as the ball landed in Charlie Brown's glove. And before it could bounce out, he clamped down on it to keep it in the glove. And then the empire shouted "You're out!" and the kids cheered.
"I don't believe it!" said a shocked Lucy. "Charlie Brown caught the ball and it didn't bounce out of his glove like it usually does! Is this the end times?!"
Charlie Brown's team was up to bat again, and they had a chance at winning, for once. As they were heading to the dugout, Frieda ran up to her boyfriend and kissed him on the cheek. "Great job, baby!" she said to Charlie Brown with a smile. "I knew you'd do good one of these days!"
"Thank you, Frieda," said Charlie Brown. "I just hope we can keep this momentum going."
"I'm sure we can, sweetie," assured Frieda. "Just keep doing your best, and anything is possible." Charlie Brown was glad to hear that from his girlfriend. With her on his side, he knew he couldn't fail.
Meanwhile, Sally, Michael, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Franco, and Hans showed up at the ballfield. When they saw each other, they stopped to talk to one another.
"Sally, Michael," Patty greeted. "Are you just getting here, yourself?"
"Yeah," said Sally. "We need to tell my brother something important."
"Would it have to do with Joe Shlabotnik being terminally ill and wanting to meet Chuck?" asked Patty.
"Yeah, how did you know?" asked Michael.
"We saw the same story," said Marcie. "We were going to tell Charles about it, but he's still playing."
"We might as well wait until they're done," said Patty. "From the looks of the scoreboard, it seems that Chuck's team is doing halfway decent, for once." And the kids took their seats in the bleachers.
Back on Charlie Brown's side, it was Ox's turn to bat. Charlie Brown decided to give him some pep talk.
"Okay Ox," he began, "don't worry about how they're going to pitch. If it looks like you can hit it, just go for it. Okay?" Ox nodded and went up to bat. When the ball came for him he swung and knocked it out of the park for a home run.
"DID YOU SEE THAT?!" exclaimed Peppermint Patty. "Someone on Chuck's team actually got a home run that wasn't Snoopy! How is that possible?!"
"He's got Ox on his side now," said Sally. "He nicknamed him his Ol' Slugger." And Ox ran to home plate for the score.
"Chuck's team is now tied with the other team," said Patty. "And now Snoopy is up to bat. I know he'll do a good job." And sure enough, Snoopy hit a home run and also ran for home, and, in classic Snoopy fashion, did some showboating on the way to home plate.
Now it was Linus who was up to bat. While he wasn't as good as Snoopy or Ox, he could hold his own on the field pretty well. He hit the ball and made it to first base. Next was Shermy, who did the same, and both Linus and him were able to steal third and second, respectively. Next was Lucy, who, predictably, struck out. Frieda did a bit better, but got tagged out on her way to first, though Linus was able to steal home, scoring them another point, and Shermy had made it to third. With two outs, Charlie Brown, himself, was up next. He managed to hit the ball toward center field and managed to take first base and Shermy ran toward home plate, giving them yet another run.
"Good grief!" said Peppermint Patty. "Chuck's team has a good lead, for once! I never thought I'd see the day!"
Later it was the bottom of the ninth. And Charlie Brown's team were up to bat again. All they needed was one point to win the game. The other team was ahead by one run, and Charlie Brown's team needed only two runs to win. They had two outs already and all they needed was only two runs. It was now or never for Charlie Brown.
First up at bat was Linus. He managed to get on second base. Next was Shermy, who made it to first. While the pitcher was watching both Linus and Shermy who were at third and second, respectively, Lucy was taking her place at bat. Charlie Brown was nervous. If they could tie but get an out, they go into extra innings, but if either one of them get out before hitting home, they lose the game. Lucy managed to get a hit, for once and made it to first base while Linus made it to home plate, tying up the score. They still had a chance. With Lucy on first and Shermy on second, all they needed was for one of them to score a winning run. Frieda was up next. She swung and got a hit and now the bases were loaded. It was now up to Charlie Brown.
"Uh oh!" said Peppermint Patty. "Chuck may actually get tagged out. At least they still have a chance with the score tied and may go into extra innings."
Charlie Brown gritted his teeth and watched the pitcher. He made sure he wouldn't miss. He swung and got his first strike. Then he got ball one. Then ball two. He swung at the next one and got a foul ball, and automatic strike two. Now he was sweating bullets. Frieda, who was watching from first base whispered, "You can do it, baby!" It was as if Charlie Brown heard her because when the ball came again, he swung and it connected, sending it out of the park. Charlie Brown somehow had hit a home run! The ball was never seen again. And the kids ran to home.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" shouted Peppermint Patty with disbelief. "CHUCK'S TEAM ACTUALLY WON!"
"GOOD JOB, CHARLES!" shouted Marcie from the bleachers.
"WAY TO GO, BIG BROTHER!" Sally yelled.
"Gut gemacht, Charles," said Franco, as he knew it was his teaching and tips that helped Charlie Brown.
"YOU HELPED SCORE THE WINNING RUN FOR US, CHARLIE BROWN!" shouted Linus with excitement. "YOU WERE THE HERO!"
Charlie Brown was beside himself with emotion. All he ever wanted, besides to be loved which was now covered by Frieda, was to win a baseball game. While his team had won games before, it was always when he wasn't playing, or someone filling in for him when he couldn't play. But now he actually won a game on his own merit. Not because someone "let him win" as was the case of when he face Royanne Hobbs, the great-granddaughter of Roy Hobbs. Everyone held up Charlie Brown. It was the Homecoming game all over again, only without the drama that followed. When they finally put Charlie Brown down, Frieda came up and kissed him.
"Charlie Brown, I love you so much!" she cried. "If this doesn't prove you're a winner, I don't know what will!"
"Thank you, Frieda," said Charlie Brown, with tears in his eyes. "I love you, too."
"Party at Joe's Café!" shouted Pig Pen. And everyone left for Joe's.
"Are we going to tell Chuck about Shlabotnik?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"I say let him celebrate tonight, sir," Marcie suggested. "We can let him know tomorrow."
And Peppermint Patty, Franco, Hans, Sally, and Michael nodded in agreement and decided to join them for the celebration, knowing that they can let him know about Joe Shlabotnik the next day after the fun had died down.
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
NEXT CHAPTER: SAYING GOODBYE
"We Are the Champions" written by Freddie Mercury
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