Finally Lucy was up to bat and Charlie Brown smiled hopefully. Lucy was by far their worst player and everyone knew it. Usually Schroeder was more determined than ever to be the one who caused Lucy to strike out. It made him happy to see her so frustrated.
Sure it was cruel but at least he knew that the next time she came over, she wouldn't be asking him all sorts of ridiculous questions and looking at him as though he was the only boy she'd ever known.
But now as she stood at home plate, something was definitely wrong. He felt his heart fluttering when she turned to her side, her bat poised in the air. Why did she have to look so darn... pretty?
He was still pondering this question when the pitch came and Lucy swung hard. She missed of course but as the ball reached the tip of his glove, it bounced out, causing the umpire to yell "Foul ball!"
"What?" yelled Charlie Brown. "That's impossible!" Frustrated he returned to the pitcher's mound, prepared to try again.
"Come on Charlie Brown, strike her out." Schroeder said, not really meaning it this time. What was wrong with him? He couldn't let his team down, but the thought of striking Lucy out just seemed... wrong.
Charlie Brown threw the ball again and as before it bounced off of Schroeder's glove, resulting in yet another foul ball.
"TIME!" Charlie Brown yelled.
Uh oh... Thought Schroeder as Charlie Brown marched over to where he and Lucy stood.
"All right, what's the big idea?" he demanded.
"I-I don't know what you mean." Schroeder stammered.
"I'm talking about you!" Charlie Brown yelled. "What's with you today? You're usually great at catching my pitches. Now come on, concentrate! I know it's Beethoven's birthday and all but we have to win this game! I'm tired of losing all the time and I know we can do this! All you have to do is catch the ball when it comes to you. But make sure she swings first. Three times and she'll be out. And then we'll be up to bat! You're one of our best players so why don't you show it? "
Schroeder blinked in surprise. Charlie Brown had never spoken so forcefully to him before. Then again, Schroeder had never played as badly as he was playing today. But it wasn't his fault that he was distracted. Really it wasn't. However he couldn't tell Charlie Brown the real reason he was playing the way he was. His friend would never believe it.
And frankly, neither did Schroeder.
The bases were loaded and there were two outs. He thought long and hard about what Charlie Brown had told him and he was determined to make things right. Lucy or no Lucy he had to strike her out. Show her who the better team was.
Once more she stood at home plate ready for just about anything. Charlie Brown threw the ball and Lucy raised her bat. The ball was in the perfect position for Schroeder to catch it. Trying to forget all about her, he crouched down and waited for the ball to come to him.
But then the unthinkable happened. Lucy swung at the ball sending it flying through the air. It sailed over Charlie Brown's head and even Snoopy couldn't catch it in his mouth.
All around him, almost every mouth was open in disbelief as Lucy trotted around the bases, relishing in her victory.
And Schroeder couldn't help but smile.