CHAPTER 7: OX IN LOVE

After her failed attempt at humiliating Ox, Lucy was in hot water with her friends again. For their part Charlie Brown and the rest all decided not to tell Ox about what Lucy tried to do to him. They didn't want to upset him. Charlie Brown knew how cruel Lucy could be first hand. He was used to it, but Ox probably couldn't fathom someone being so mean. But Ox was happy that he scored a date with Patty, and with Violet's approval. He was one of the happiest boys in the neighborhood.

Sometime around 7 in the evening, Charlie Brown gets a call on the phone. It's Peppermint Patty calling him.

"Well, Chuck," she began, "I've been spending my nights at Marcie's. I hope this makes me well-rested and not go to school tired. I'm also trying real hard not to get distracted by things. Marcie's parents make us study for two hours straight before dinner. Then we get to watch some TV before bed."

"I take it your dad still works nights," said Charlie Brown.

"Yeah. I get so scared being home all alone that I stay up most of the night worrying that it affects my school work. This year I'm determined to get grades higher than D Minuses. And if staying at Marcie's during the week is the way to do it, so be it."

"Well I hope it works out," Charlie Brown replied. "Anyway I've been meaning to tell you we got a new kid at our school. His name is Oxford, but everyone calls him Ox. He's really big, but not fat. He's just really large, tall, and strong. And in spite of all that, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He's one of the nicest kids around."

"I'd like to meet this Ox," Peppermint Patty said. "He's sounds like a cool guy."

"Everyone has been nice to him. That is, except Lucy."

"What did Lucille do this time?"

"Well Ox has a crush on Patty, Violet's best friend. And he went to Lucy's Psychiatric booth of all places for advice. While her advice sounded genuine, she had a plan to make Patty reject him by saying some of the cruelest things about him."

"And let me guess, the 'Snob Squad' struck again. Right?"

"Actually, it back fired big time on Lucy. Unbeknownst to her, Violet had already talked with Ox prior to hearing from Lucy, and Ox told her about how he liked Patty. So Violet set everything up so he could talk to Patty. Also it turns out that Patty kind of had a liking to Ox as well."

"So what happened with Lucille's plans?"

"Well, Ox got his date with Patty this Friday, and as I learned, there are debts even Violet wouldn't even dream of going, even with me. So everyone is mad at Lucy again for trying to hurt a nice guy like Ox."

"Well it serves her right, Chuck," said Peppermint Patty. "What in the world's the matter with her?"

"I don't know, Patty," said Charlie Brown sadly, "but I really feel sorry for Linus and Rerun. We only have to deal with her during the day at school and on the weekends. They have to deal with her 24/7/365!"

"I get what you mean. Anyway, I'm about to get ready for bed. Need to get rested up if I'm going to avoid D Minuses. Talk to you later, Chuck ol' boy."

"Goodnight, Patty." Charlie Brown hung up the phone and got ready for bed himself. Just as he was about to go to sleep, Sally walked in his room.

"Psst! Big brother!" she whispered. "Is it true about what Lucy tried to do to your friend Ox?"

"Unfortunately it is, Sally," said Charlie Brown.

"That's too bad. I think your friend is a real swell guy. He's lucky to have you as a friend, big brother."

"Thanks Sally. Anyway I think we should get some sleep."

"Okay. Goodnight." And she walked back to her room. Charlie Brown was about to go to sleep when he heard some banging at the door. It was Snoopy kicking the door as he usually did. Charlie Brown let him in. Because of his roof having been blown off his house, Snoopy couldn't lay on top of it. So he slept with his owner until they could repair the roof.

The next day, Charlie Brown, Sally, Frieda, and Schroeder were waiting for the bus. Linus and Rerun walked up. They noticed Lucy wasn't with them.

"I never thought I hear myself ask this," Schroeder began, "but where's your sister?"

"She said she was sick," Linus said. "I think she's just embarrassed for her futile attempt to humiliate poor Ox. So she decided to hide out."

"Probably for the best," said Sally. Everyone nodded in agreement. The bus showed up to take the kids to school and they boarded.

Later at the school, Charlie Brown and Frieda are walking together when they spot Ox and Patty walking hand in hand. They smiled at the scene.

"Aww," Frieda began. "Isn't that cute, Charlie Brown?"

"Yeah," said Charlie Brown. "I hate to admit it, but they look good together. I hope some of Ox's niceness rubs off on her. She's already nicer than Violet, but maybe Ox will get her to stop being so self-centered at times."

"We can only hope," Frieda agreed. "It just makes me sick that someone like Lucy would try to sabotage that."

"I know. It's like anyone's happiness makes her sick. You remember how she reacted when we first started dating. She eventually accepted it, but unless it's her and Schroeder, nobody can be happy together dating."

"Well here's my class. I'll see you at lunch, sweetie." Frieda kissed Charlie Brown and went inside Mr. Garrett's class. Charlie Brown headed for his class.

Later, Sally was standing in front of Mr. Frumple. She was nervous as he looked over her homework project. Luckily he liked it and gave her an A. She was relieved. She managed to get in good with Mr. Frumple and she wanted to keep him happy. He handed her project back to her and she went back to her desk.

At lunch, Charlie Brown, Frieda, Linus, and Schroeder were sitting together. They were discussing Lucy's latest attempt at derailing a budding relationship before it could begin. While all were upset with Lucy, Schroeder was downright livid.

"And she wonders why I don't want to be with her, let alone MARRY her," he ranted. "Look at the stuff she does! If it's not torturing Linus or threatening Snoopy with something that would land her in hot water with the Humane Society, and don't get me started on the abuse she heaps on Charlie Brown, she's ruining other relationships, or in this case, a relationship before it could begin. I'm glad Violet and Patty took the high road, for once. And Patty seems happy with Ox."

"I know, Schroeder," said Linus. "I'm her brother, and even I don't understand why she does the things she do. Maybe it's a mental illness. Some folks can only be happy if others are miserable."

"That in itself must be a miserable existence," said Charlie Brown. Ox and Patty walked up to the kids.

"Hey guys," said Ox. "How is everybody?"

"Good, Ox," said Frieda. "It looks like you and Patty been spending a lot of time together."

"Oh yeah," said Patty. "Oxford's a sweet boy and is well-mannered. He's a definite improvement over Thibault."

"You told him about Thibault?" asked Charlie Brown.

"Yeah," Ox replied. "She filled me in on what happened last year at the Spring Dance. I told her I'd never treat her like that and she could do whatever she wanted to do. I hope I never meet that kid. He sounds awful."

"More than you know," agreed Charlie Brown. "He goes to Peppermint Patty's school. You remember I told you about her and her friends?"

"I remember."

"Well Thibault used to play on her team. But after a run-in with Marcie, again because she was a girl, he was kicked off the team. But not before Marcie decked him first."

"Well I know if he tries any funny business with Patty, I'll make him think twice."

"Aww isn't he sweet?" cooed Patty.

"He sure is," said Violet walking in to join the group. "Shermy wanted to deck the little shrimp as well, but we girls beat him to the punch. Pun definitely intended."

"It sounds like this Thibault is a troublemaker," said Ox.

"Amongst another we know," whispered Frieda to Charlie Brown, who nodded in agreement.

"Well me and Oxie better get back to lunch," Patty said. "Toodles!"

"I'll join you guys in a bit," said Violet. Patty and Ox went to eat their lunch. Violet turned to Charlie Brown and his friends. "I need your help, guys."

Charlie Brown almost fell out of his seat. "Oh my gosh," he started. "Is Violet Gray asking for help from ol' wishy-washy Charlie Brown?"

"I guess I deserve that," Violet said, looking down. "Anyway, I didn't want to tell Patty and Oxford this, making them upset, but rumor has it Thibault is stalking Patty."

"What?" everyone gasped.

"It's just a rumor," Violet continued, "but I need to know for sure. Someone said they thought they saw Thibault lurking near her house. They weren't exactly sure it was him, but they said this kid had sideburns like he does. But they couldn't get a good look at his face."

"Do you think she's telling the truth, Charlie Brown?" asked Linus.

"I think so," said Charlie Brown, cautiously. "Violet is many things, but she's always been straight with me, even when putting me down. She would never lie about anything."

"What do you want us to do, Violet?" asked Frieda.

"Get in touch with Peppermint Patty," Violet said. "She knows the little runt. She can get better information on if Thibault is really stalking Patty. If he is, THEN we let her and Ox know."

Charlie Brown thought for a moment. He knew Thibault was bad news, but he never in his wildest dreams would think he was capable of stalking someone. But he wouldn't put it past him, either.

"Okay, Violet," said Charlie Brown, cautiously. "After school, I'll call Peppermint Patty and we will set something up and see if Thibault's really stalking Patty. But if he is, we get both of the schools and their parents involved. We don't take the law into our own hands. And if he is stalking her, we try to get her to safety. Agreed?"

"Okay," said Violet. "But I'll be the one to tell her. Okay?"

"Okay. Well you better get back over to them."

"You're right. Keep me posted on what's happening."

"We'll do that." And Violet went and joined Patty and Ox. Shermy joined them as well. Charlie Brown and his friends were left to ponder what they just heard. One of their classmates may have a stalker and it's a known chauvinist. They wondered what would happen if Thibault was in fact stalking Patty. The whole Lucy situation wasn't as important anymore, as they needed to get the facts about this possible stalking.

NEXT CHAPTER: TO CATCH A SHRIMP