Chapter Two: How to Succeed in Business

The week wore on and the girls continued to be enamored of Trent Boyett. Trent however, seemed to be completely unaware of their infatuation.

Lucy sat at her desk, eyeing the back of his head, wondering what exactly it was that she was missing about this demigod-like kid. She glanced over at Patty, who appeared to be in a perpetual dream state, gazing and sighing. Patty had the seat next to Trent, and the other females were extremely jealous. She turned her head towards Violet, who sat on the other side of the room, and even from that distance was attempting to observe his every move. "This is just plain ridiculous," she groaned.

At recess, Lucy joined the gaggling group of girls who were eagerly discussing the day's hot topic. Patty spun around and pulled Lucy in closer, whispering, "Did you hear the news? Trent Boyett and his girlfriend back home broke up! Shermy found it out this morning!" she squeaked.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "So?!"

"So...," Patty corrected. "It means that he's available!"

"He's fair game now," Violet added, rubbing her hands together. "All is fair in love and war!"

"Good grief," Lucy sighed. "You all sound crazy! Insane! What's so great about Trent Boyett, huh?"

"What isn't great about him?" Sally replied. "I'd do just about anything for that man...," she smiled, attempting to sound adult.

Patty leaned into Lucy, as if about to faint. "What I wouldn't give to lay a big old smackeroo on those perfect lips..."

Violet nodded. "You can say that again."

"He makes all the other boys look like babies!" Sally exclaimed. "Just see how he carries himself. How he swings on the swing, or slides down the slide. That's pure class."

Lucy shrugged her shoulders, ousting Patty. "Have any of you even talked to this kid?"

"I heard he likes girls with curly hair, like mine," Frieda added. "Maybe I should go over and talk to him."

"No, no, no," Sally corrected. "You have to play hard to get! He has to make the first move, remember?"

"Maybe we should send Linus,or Charlie Brown over to talk to him," Patty suggested.

"Oh no!" Violet cried. "Not them! They'll ruin everything!"

"All right, all right," Lucy held up her hands. "I'll go talk to this Trent Boyett. And you'll see, there's nothing special about him!"

"Don't forget to mention my curly hair!"

"Or say my name!"

"Tell him I'm in fourth grade, but I still think he's cute!" Sally called out.

"Yeah, yeah...," she answered, and with determined strides, walked towards the jungle gym. As the other fifth grade boys saw Lucy vanPelt approaching with clenched fists, they scattered instantly. Trent looked around, confused, and gulped as she stomped up to him. "Hiya Trent...," she said flatly.

"Hello Lucy," he replied. "That's your name right, Lucy?"

She nodded. "Lucy vanPelt, that's it. You see those girls over there...," she pointed towards the bunch. "They're all nutso about you. Crazy-like."

"They are?" he asked, meekly, leaning out to look at them. They were all standing as straight as soliders, looking petrified as to what Lucy might be saying.

"Oh sure. They all want to kiss you!" she giggled.

"Yuck..." he stuck his tongue out. "No thanks."

"Oh come on Trent, doesn't that excite you?"

"I've never even kissed a girl before," he answered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "And I have no intentions to!"

"What about your girlfriend back in New York?"

"Girlfriend?!" he exclaimed. "I never had a girlfriend! Girls are nuthin' but trouble!"

Lucy shook her head. "I knew Shermy was full of it...well, that's a shame Trent, because those girls over there have big crushes on you, and they'd bend over backwards just to--"

Suddenly, the light bulb popped on in Lucy's head. The girls had even said it themselves – they'd do anything to kiss Trent Boyett. She begun whirling the possibilities around. How could she make an enterprise out of this kid, keep him interested, and keep the money rolling in?

"Look Lucy...I'm sure all those girls are real nice, but I--"

Lucy slid her arm around Trent and turned him away from the view of the females. "Look Trent, let's not be hasty here. This could be real good for me...er uh...us! We could make a business out of this."

Trent looked at her, surprised. "A business?!"

"Sure, sure...," Lucy cooed him. "Imagine, five cents for a kiss from you...we'd be rich! We'd be millionaires!"

Trent looked alarmed. "I'm not kissing any of those girls!"

Lucy ignored him. "But maybe that's asking a lot. Who's to say those girls would keep coming back after one kiss huh? Do you think you're a good enough kisser?"

"How should I know?!"

Lucy clapped her hands. "What about a raffle? Five cents a ticket. And then at the end of the week, we'll draw the name of one lucky girl. What do you say, Trent? Isn't that just brilliant?!"

Trent stomped his foot. "BUT I DON'T WANNA KISS ANY OF THOSE GIRLS!"

Lucy pushed him. "Oh no? Well what sounds better to you, buddy? Kissing a girl or kissing my fist?" she held up her hand as if to throw a punch.

Trent slouched down, clearly surprised by Lucy's ferocity.

"Look, we'll split the earnings evenly," she explained. "Me seventy, you thirty."

"But that's not..."

"Trent, if you don't shut up and let me think, I'm gonna slug you," she warned, beginning to pace the length of the jungle gym. "So, five cents a ticket, and the girls can buy as many tickets as they like. But the good news for you Trent, is you only have to kiss the one who wins."

"On the lips?" Trent groaned.

"On the cheek, on the hand, who cares? That's the fine print. All they need to know, is that Trent Boyett is gonna give a kiss at the end of the week. We're gonna be rich, I tell you. Rich, rich, rich..."

"Why do we have to do this, Lucy?" he asked, miserably.

"Because Trent, this is a prosperous partnership for both of us, don't you see? We both get something out of this plan, and the satisfaction of taking those crazy girls' nickels! And besides, you don't want a knuckle sandwich for arguing with me, do ya?"

Trent shook his head.

Lucy grabbed Trent's hand triumphantly. "Good then, pleasure doing business with you, buddy. I'll see you at the end of the week with your fair share. Start making plans now, Trent. We're gonna be filthy rich! I can already see the new things I'm gonna' buy."

"Good grief, what have I gotten myself into?" Trent whimpered, watching as Lucy walked off with a spring in her step.