Peppermint Patty was bored. She initially had plans on going to the bowling alley with Marcie, but had to cancel since she got busy today with helping her family redecorate the inside of her house. She thought of things she could do. She could go get some ice cream, but that's too cliche. she could go to the mall and buy some new clothes from that new heavy metal clothing shop that opened, but that place is too expensive.
other ideas were pitched inside her own head, like an animator telling his pilot to executives, until she came up with a easy solution, she'll go see Charlie Brown and find out if he wants to come with her.
She would quickly grab and ride onto her skateboard, speeding down the street over to her good friend and crush. After what seemed to be hours of riding to his side of town, Peppermint Patty finally made it to the house. She would get off of her board, and walk up to the house. She stopped to look at the dog house, it on her that it was coming close to only 8 months since snoopy tragically passed away from a unexpected case of parvovirus. She feels horrible for Woodstock, who still comes around weekly to just sit inside the doghouse, hoping to one day be reunited with his best friend. Also felt even worse for Charlie, who has bounced back from his initial reaction to his death, but knew on the inside that he was more than far from okay.
She shook her head, walking up to knock on the door and get the bad feelings off her mind. She was here to bring one of the people she's most fond of out to hang and get away from all the bad distractions of life for a while.
"Yo, Chuck! Open up it's Peppermint Pat-"
The door would faintly open, she could see that the hallway and living room lights are off.
"That's strange, she thought out loud. They don't usually leave the door unlocked."
Peppermint Patty cautiously and slowly walked into the house. "Chuck? Sally?? Mr and Mrs Brown?!?" She made her way down the hall, noticing a cracked door with a light on.
"So somebody is in here then. . ." A slow walk to the door, hearing some playing of a guitar in there. that would explain why they did not hear her knock or walk in.
When she made it to the door, she peaked inside and saw Charlie Brown, back turned to her as he was sitting on his bed. He was strumming his guitar that he has had since they were in their early middle school years. He seemed to be singing a song. Peppermint Patty listened in on him.
Charlie Brown wasn't always the luckiest person, or the most well liked by his peers for some unknown reason. He was always called a "wishy-washy person" , or a "failure-face", or most infamously, a "block-head." He hated those insults, but knew there was some truth to them, which hurted more.
He did lack quality in his character. Even though he has improved over the years with his self-esteem and confidence, they still had a tight grip on him and his mental health. He couldn't fly a kite, kick a football, or even win a baseball game as a kid, making his "failure-face" moniker more prevalent as the days went by. And he had to admit, his head was pretty big as a kid, but didn't need that constant reminder coming out of every kid in the neighborhood's mouth.
He has improved himself over the years so far, being a better baseball player than before, and not letting people keep walking on him like a used doormat. Then it happened.
Snoopy started to become less active. He also started to eat less for some reason, but looked a little fatter than usual. He also touched him and felt his body was cold to the touch. Charlie took Snoopy to the Vet to be checked out, the doctor said that Snoopy just had a small fever and needed rest, and a better diet. The situation seemed better after giving Snoopy some prescribed pills and antibiotics. Then the symptoms got worse. bloody vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, Snoopy had something more than a flu in his system and it was apparent more than ever. Snoopy got hospitalized shortly after the new symptoms started to show themselves. He struggled for a week, until eventually he died in his sleep.
It hit Charlie deep, with the momentum he was building for success just suddenly crashing and burning. He became a bit of a hermit for the first few months since his death, but with the help of Sally, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and his other close friends, Charlie Brown slowly picked up the pieces and got it back together, at least publicly.
Charlie Brown was sitting in his bed, thinking about how he felt that it's his fault that he died.
"If i noticed the signs earlier, maybe you would've had a chance. No, if i gave you a more strict diet. I really am a failure."
Charlie would try not to cry, feeling his world slowly crumbling around him for the first time in years, only this time, he was unsure if this pain was going to last or not.
He got up to go to the closet to try to get his jacket and take a walk, but would be greeted face to face with his guitar. It was a yellow guitar with a zig zag line in the middle of the head. He remembers he got it as a christmas gift from his dad, Silas. who wanted him to pick up a hobby as some sort of stepping stone to help him build some sort of confidence. Slias also knew that Charlie was a pretty great singer as well. It was like he knew the tricks of the trade. He went to go practice with his instructor every Wednesday, for a couple years. His instructor also happened to be one of Schroeder's uncles who was into all types of rock and metal music, even playing with bands such as Megadeth, Slayer, Alice in Chains, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers. .
He hasn't touched it in months since snoopy died. Charlie Brown thought of a minute, before biting the bullet to pull it out alongside his amp. He plugged everything in and tuned his guitar, then looked up a song that he could play. He scrolled for a song he remembered by heart, and he found one that he listened to before, that hit him before
With a tune of the guitar, he would start to play.
"Once I dreamed that love would come and sweep me up away
Now it seems life's passed me by, I'm still alone today
Here come the tears..."
Charlie would sing along to the voice of Rob Halford, both singing from the heart. Plucking each note and sliding his hand around the guitar with no ease or hesitation.
" Looks like it'll always be the same...
No one here to comfort me...
Here come the tears..."
Charlie stopped playing for a quick second during the small pause to rub his eyes, putting his hands back onto their respective notes and frets. Peppermint Patty was stunned from how well he can play the guitar, and his voice just made her knees feel weak. She was about to walk in to talk to him, but the song continued on once more.
" All alone, no one cares.
So much to give to you all out there. "
Charlie started singing louder, letting the tears start to roll down his face.
"
Take me now, in your arms.
Let me rest, safe from harm!! "
He let out a faint whimper, feeling his heart break in two, then the sadness quickly transformed into pure rage. He just couldn't hold back. Grabbing both handles like a baseball bat, Charlie smashed not only the head of the guitar into bits, but busted a giant hole in his wall. The speakers made a brief, but painfully loud wailing noise from the impact, causing him to grab his ear in pain, dropping to the floor.
Peppermint Patty rushed in the room, immediately wrapping her arms around him, not only to stop him from causing more damage, but to stop him from hurting himself more. Both mentally and physically.
Charlie Browns eyes were blurred from the constant stream of tears pouring out, not even jerking when she came into the room and hugged him. He just didn't care how or why she came into the house, and just decided to take her support.
"Let it out, Charlie, it's okay."
He just let out a big, shaky breath, before yelling out his fallen friends name.
She stayed there with him for hours comforting him, even shedding some tears with him. After a while of what was once a hug to now cuddling, Peppermint Patty cut the tension.
"I can see that you are musically gifted, Chuck. Why didn't you show any of us sooner?"
Charlie didn't move his head to look at her, just staring at the hole in the wall. "I didn't want to be made fun of. Especially by Lucy, Patty, and Violet." he dryly said.
She mentally facepalmed, "what a stupid question, Patricia!!"
"Right. Well, i love your voice, and how you can play that guitar. I would love to see what you and Schroeder could potentially make." Peppermint Patty chuckled hoping it would land with her crush.
"Thanks." was all he said,.
"Talk to me, Chuck. I know you miss him, and so do i. You got to talk about this eventually after all."
He would turn his body around to face her, looking her in the eye.
"I...I just feel that i lost at life. I failed my own dog, Trish. I fucked up so badly and i just want him back. I still have you, Sally, Linus, even my parents, but it just isn't the same. Maybe some pain will last."
"Some will go, some will stay, and that's okay, Charlie. All you can do is just keep hope and hold on. He's not gone, he's just waiting for you." Peppermint Patty stated. "If i need to support you for the rest of my life, i'll do it. As long as i can help get you to be okay."
Charlie started at her a little longer, before slightly smiling, feeling her reassurance hit. At that moment, he felt his heart slowly sow itself back together, developing a crush on her, that could be received well if he tells her. But for now, they are just there for each other.
"Thank you."