CHAPTER 6: CHRISTMAS
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
At the Rich's cottage, Charlie Brown was asleep in his room when Snoopy woke him from his slumber. He groggily got up as his unusually excited dog was jumping up and down for joy.
"Hey, round-headed kid," Snoopy said through his thoughts, "it's time to get up! It's Christmas!"
"All right, all right," said a groggy Charlie Brown. He slowly got up and went to brush his teeth and wash up. Once he was dressed, he went downstairs and was greeted by Frieda holding a mistletoe up to them. She immediately planted a smooch on him.
"Merry Christmas, sweetie!" she chirped to her boyfriend. He smiled from the kiss and gave her a hug. Snoopy and Faron ran around their owners' feet with excitement. They were ready for breakfast, presents, or both. They went to the tree and started opening their gifts. Charlie Brown's parents gave the Rich's his gifts from them before they left so he could open them there. Frieda handed Charlie Brown his gift which was, surprisingly, a new baseball bat signed by his hero Joe Shlabotnik.
"My daddy met Joe during a business trip and had him sign this baseball bat for you," said Frieda, smiling.
"Thank you so much, Frieda," said a happy Charlie Brown, as he kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. "Here's your gift."
She opened it to reveal a sterling silver necklace complete with a diamond-incrusted heart. "Oh, Charlie Brown!" she squealed with delight. "It's so beautiful! This must've cost you a fortune."
"I made a lot of money by cutting grass during the summer and raking leaves in the fall," he said. "Plus I had some help from my parents with paying for it."
"Oh, thank you so much, honey," Frieda said, now planting another kiss on Charlie Brown.
Then Charlie Brown and Frieda presented Snoopy and Faron their gifts. Faron had gotten a catnip mouse, while Snoopy got a new typewriter to type his next best-selling novel on, which he got to work on immediately. "It was a dark and stormy night," he began typing. The kids laughed knowing it was going to be another "great" epic from Snoopy T. Beagle.
Back in town, Peppermint Patty was finishing picking up the last piece of wrapping paper from the gifts she got from her father when she heard a knock on her door. She went to open it to see that Franco was standing there with a gift.
"Fröhliche Weihnachten, fraulein!" he said cheerfully.
"For me?" said Patty, batting her eyes at her boyfriend. She opened the gift and saw it was a teddy bear dressed in a baseball uniform.
"I know you like baseball, Patricia," Franco said, "so I give you bear dressed as Joe Garagiola!"
"Thank you, sweetheart," said a grateful Patty, giving him a kiss. "Come on in. I got your gift for you inside. Hey dad! Franco's here. Better make him a plate for brunch as well!"
At the Van Pelt's place, Rerun was sitting by himself, looking sad. Mamba and Linus walked in and joined him.
"What's the matter, baby brother?" asked Mamba.
"Lucy!" said Rerun, now happy. "You're here!"
"Of course I'm here, you blockhead!" she said. "Where else would I be on Christmas day?"
"I thought you wanted to be with your new friends," Rerun said looking down.
"Well, as much as I like hanging out with them, nothing can replace Christmas with the family. That even includes my pain-in-the-neck little brothers!"
"We love you too, Lucy," said Linus, smirking.
"So are we just going to sit here, or are we gonna open presents?" Mamba finally asked. And the three siblings got started opening their gifts. Rerun had gotten his wish; for his siblings to be together on Christmas.
At Marcie's house, she and Hans were enjoying each other's company. Hans had gotten her a new fantasy book she was looking for. She immediately started reading it to her boyfriend. They had planned to meet up with Peppermint Patty and Franco later to go to the movies.
Later that day, Linus went to Eudora's house and knocked on the door. Eudora answered it and was happy to see her boyfriend at the door.
"Merry Christmas, Eudora," he greeted.
"Come on in, my love," she said with a smile on her face. Linus had a gift for her and had brought it over for her to open.
"So is Lucy at home today?" she asked.
"Yeah," Linus answered. "I think even the Serpent Sisters take holidays. Rerun was especially happy that she was home."
"I can imagine," said Eudora. "It seems like those two have always been close." Linus agreed.
Sometime later, Peppermint Patty, Franco, Marcie, Hans, Franklin, Melanie, Linus, and Eudora were in line at the movies. As soon as they got their tickets they went to their seats. Peppermint Patty was seated between Franco and Linus. She noticed a couple of kids missing.
"Hey Linus," she began. "Where's Chuck and Frieda?"
"They're at Frieda's parents' cottage up north," he said. "Snoopy went with them, as well."
"That's right," she said, now remembering. "I forgot he said he was going there."
"What are we going to watch, Frankie?" asked Melanie.
"I think it's that new action film," said Franklin.
"Wow," said Melanie. "Is it the one with Stallone? Or the one with Schwarzenegger? Or the one with Statham? Or the…"
"I think it's the one with that new action star, Ray Raymondson," said Marcie.
"RAY RAYMONDSON?!" shouted the kids. They all started laughing at the preposterous name. It had shaped up to be a good Christmas for them.
Around that same time, Mamba and Rerun were watching TV. The doorbell rang and Mamba went to answer it. It was Python.
"Merry Christmas, bestie!" she greeted.
"Same to you, dearie," said Mamba. They gave each other a hug and Mamba invited her in.
"So what are you up to right now?" Python asked.
"Just watching television with the baby brother," Mamba replied. "Linus and Eudora went to the movies with the other kids."
"That's cool," said Python. "I just opened my presents. Didn't have too much gifts. With a single parent household, didn't expect much anyway."
"You want to join us? You already met Linus, but you didn't meet my other brother yet."
"Sure." The girls went into the living room where Rerun was still watching TV.
"Rerun, this is my friend Margaux. This is Rerun."
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," said Rerun.
"You can call me Margaux, Rerun," she replied with a smile. Rerun smiled back. All of the sudden, another knock at the door startled the three. Mamba jumped up to see who was there now. She opened it shocked to see a quite angry Sally standing there. She hasn't seen or talked to Sally, outside of being at the bus stop, since the falling out between her and Charlie Brown.
"WHERE IS HE?!" Sally shouted angrily.
"Sally, who are you talking about?" Mamba asked. "Where is who?"
"MY SWEET BABBOO!" she exclaimed. "He was supposed to come over for Christmas and he never showed up! With my brother and his dog away at his girlfriend's cottage, it was just me at home, and I was counting on Linus being there with me!"
"Well, he never said he was going to your house. He's at the movies right now with…"
"So he went to the movies without me, eh?" Sally interrupted. "Well I'll just go down there myself and give him a piece of my mind!"
"Or lack, thereof," Mamba muttered out of earshot of Sally, who by then was storming towards the movie theater.
"Who was that?" asked Python.
"That was Charlie Brown's sister Sally," Mamba replied. "She's got a crush on Linus."
"Does she know that he's with that other girl, Eudora?"
"Nope. And here's the funny part. Eudora and Sally are best friends."
"I see drama up ahead, girl!"
"You ain't lying!" The girls start laughing. Python then asked, "By the way, what in the world's a 'Babboo'?"
"I don't even know. For all I know she made the word up."
Sally, meanwhile made it to the movie theater. She stormed up to the box office. She was determined to confront Linus.
"ONE TICKET TO THE SHOW, PLEASE!" she yelled angrily. The person working the box office told her that the show was sold out.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S SOLD OUT?!" Sally shouted. "I GOT MY BOYFRIEND IN THERE AND I NEED TO SEE HIM!" The worker calmly told her to come back tomorrow.
"BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF COMING BACK TOMORROW? I NEED TO BE WITH HIM TONIGHT!" Sally was drawing a crowd around her. The movie manager told her to leave, unless she wanted to be banned from the theater.
Back at the Van Pelt house, Mamba, Python, and Rerun were seated in front of the fireplace. They were enjoying the Christmas night and things were peaceful.
"I wish things were this calm," said Python.
"You and me both," said Mamba.
"Does anyone know any Christmas carols?" asked Rerun.
"I can sing my favorite one," Python volunteered. She started singing the traditional "Silent Night". Mamba was impressed. Python was as talented at singing as Frieda was. Mamba and Rerun joined in with her. It marked the end of a perfect Christmas.
NEXT CHAPTER: VIOLET'S APOLOGY AND A MAJOR PLAN
"Christmas Time Is Here" written by Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson/© Lee Mendelson Film Prod., Inc.