CHAPTER 2: GONNA MAKE THE GRADE!

Over at Peppermint Patty and Marcie's school, they were in class getting ready for the new school year. Patty, in particular, had all of her books and utensils ready. She wanted to repeat her previous successful year. For once she had report cards free of D Minuses. She wanted to keep the momentum going.

Marcie was impressed to see that Patty had actually kept herself awake for once. When the teacher called her name, Patty said, "Present and accounted for, ma'am."

"It looks like you're taking no prisoners this year, sir," said Marcie.

"You're right, Marcie," said Patty. "What I started last year I want to continue this year. That means getting good grades and studying hard. Don't get me wrong. I still want to have some fun here and there, but I now know the importance of hard work."

"I'm glad to see that you do care about your schoolwork, sir," said Marcie with a smile.

"I always did, Marcie, even when I didn't always show it or said otherwise. This year I want to do even better than before."

"Well I'm rooting for you, sir."

"Thanks. And stop calling me 'sir'!"

Meanwhile back at Birchwood, Charlie Brown and Frieda were having lunch when Sally walked in. This time she was on the same period as her brother. She was looking sad.

"Sally, what's the matter?" asked a concerned Charlie Brown.

"Already I'm failing!" cried Sally. "The school year has just started today, and already I'm sinking in my class!"

"What happened, hun?" asked Frieda.

"The teacher said I wasn't reading the sentence right and that I had the words flipped around," Sally complained. "Why, oh why am I so dumb?"

"Sally, you may be many things," Charlie Brown began, "but dumb isn't one of them. A little absent-minded at times, but not dumb. It sounds to me like you may be dyslexic."

"Dyslexic?" asked a confused, Sally. "Is it contagious?"

"Good grief no!" said Charlie Brown. "It means you have some difficulties with seeing how the words in a book or on a piece of paper are written. You may get words flipped around, or read a sentence wrong. There are many famous people who are dyslexic and went on to lead normal lives."

"Like who?" asked a sulking Sally.

"Well," said Frieda, "did you know Albert Einstein was dyslexic? And he's considered one of the world's biggest geniuses."

"Walt Disney was also dyslexic," added Charlie Brown. "And even Leonardo da Vinci, the famous artist. But if you really are suffering from dyslexia, Sally, we need to talk to mom and dad about it."

"I guess you're right, big brother," said Sally, starting to feel a little better. "I just want to get through this year without any trouble."

"Yeah, and I want to be able to fly a kite where there's no kite-eating trees," Charlie Brown joked. The kids shred a laugh before finishing their lunches and heading back to class.

NEXT CHAPTER: DIAGNOSIS AND A SURPRISE TUTOR