CHAPTER 5: CHAIN OF EVENTS

A few days after the party…

Things started heating up around the Birchwood neighborhood and at Sparkyville High School, as well. The kids all heard about Charlie Brown's suicide attempt. Some were shocked, some were saddened, some were angry at Violet and Blake, and some were indifferent. But all agreed that things would not be the same after that. And soon everyone was feeling the after effects of it.

Sometime after Charlie Brown's suicide attempt, Blake was arrested for assault, intimidation, and vandalism when it came to Charlie Brown's car. He pled guilty to the charges and received a three year suspended sentence, plus was fined $2000 for the vandalism of the car. His parents assured the Brown's that their son would replace the car out of his own pocket. Blake personally visited Charlie Brown at the hospital after he made bail and personally apologized to him for what he had done. At least, on his end, he was taking responsibility for his actions. Tracy even thanked Blake for doing the right thing, and he promised her after dealing with the legal issues pertaining to the fine, he would receive counseling for his temper and undergo anger management. Tracy was hopeful that Blake would turn his life around and, despite not wanting to get back together with him, was rooting for him to succeed.

Violet, on the other hand, was not only unrepentant, but was disappointed that Charlie Brown didn't succeed at his suicide attempt. Her parents were livid at their daughter for what she had done to him. It all cumulated in a heated meeting with the principal, who banned Violet from even thinking Charlie Brown's name, let alone talking to him or being near him. Kathleen Gray, her mother, said she would be placing her in a Catholic all-girl's school to straighten her out. She apologized to the Brown's herself about Violet's behavior.

After the meeting with the principal, the kids ended up avoiding Violet not talking to her. They had all shunned her for what she did. Patty, her best friend, told her that she couldn't be associated with her anymore, lest the kids turn on her, as well. Julia, who was on her side with the plan against Charlie Brown, even backed away, fearing her own popularity would suffer, despite feeling the same way as Violet did for Charlie Brown. Lucy flatly told her that if she even tried to talk to her, or be anywhere near Charlie Brown, she would have another black eye to match the one Tracy gave her. She had become a social pariah.

Tracy went to visit Charlie Brown after he had come home from the hospital. She told him she had nothing to do with what Blake did and Violet's scheme. He told her he knew she wasn't involved and that he still considered her a friend. He told her of his plan to leave Sparkyville once he had all his credits for early graduation. She was saddened, but understood.

Approximately a year later…

Peppermint Patty was walking towards the Brown's home, happily. She wanted to see if Charlie Brown wanted to toss around a football, and maybe take in a movie afterwards. She wasn't at Violet's party that night, but heard about what she had done to him and had gotten Blake involved. She warned Violet the next time she pulled some shit like that, she better hope that the Lord Almighty would get her before she did. Tracy may had just punched her and given her a black eye, but she would do much worse. She knocked on the door, and Maureen answered it.

"Oh, hello, Patricia," she said, somberly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Brown," said Peppermint Patty, happily. "Is your son here? I wanted to see if he would want to throw the ol' pigskin around for a bit."

"Patty, you should know, Charlie left for Alaska this morning."

"Oh, okay. When he lands tell him I'll see him when he gets back from his trip."

"No, dear, you don't understand. He moved away. He going there to live. He got a job working as a lumberjack. His belongings are already there, and he has an apartment waiting for him. After what had happened with Violet, he vowed never to come back here again."

Patty started tearing up. "Y-Y-You mean, Chuck's never…"

"I'm sorry, honey. Charlie's gone."

Patty was inconsolable at that moment. Before Maureen could comfort her, Patty fled from the house. She called Marcie to tell her the news. She was distraught, as well, but understood why Charlie Brown did what he did. Patty still couldn't grasp that he was miserable there and that Sparkyville, even with all the good it has, was just a reminder of how rotten his life had been there and needed a change of scenery, a new start, clean slate. It wouldn't be too much longer after he had left, that she also had left, but without a trace.

NEXT CHAPTER: ENCOUNTER WITH THE PAST