The first week of school was over, and the weekend had arrived. Charlie Brown was outside, feeding Snoopy his normal serving of dog food.
"There you go, Snoopy." Said Charlie Brown. "You eat up your breakfast."
Meanwhile, Sally had gotten up, gotten herself dressed in her clothes, and just as she put on her shoes….
"Ow!" Sally exclaimed.
Sally decided to leave her shoes untied to see if that made any difference, but to no avail.
"Sally?" Charlie Brown called out.
Charlie Brown went upstairs to see if Sally was alright.
"Are you okay, Sally?" Charlie Brown asked his sister.
"I'm okay, Big Brother." Said Sally. "Just….. my shoes are hurting!"
Sally took both her shoes off, and Charlie Brown noticed….
"Your feet are growing, Sally. You know what that means?"
"Yes, Big Brother?" asked Sally.
"You need new shoes."
Sally looked downstairs and saw that her parents were taking Wally with them; They were going grocery shopping.
"Big Brother. Since mom and dad are going shopping, looks like today is the perfect opportunity to get me some new ones." Said Sally.
The two older Brown siblings went downstairs, and called out to their parents.
"Mom! Dad!" called Sally.
"Sally?" pondered Joyce. "Where are your shoes?"
"My feet are too big." Whimpered Sally. "That means I need new shoes."
"Then you called at just the right time." Said Clarence. "Come on. Get your old shoes. I'm taking you shoe shopping. Joyce, you take Charlie and Wally grocery shopping."
"Alright!" cheered Sally.
While Charlie, Joyce and Wally went to the supermarket, Clarence took Sally to the department store, where there were bound to be all kinds of different shoes.
"Wow!" exclaimed Sally. "Such a big store!"
Clarence brought Sally over to the shoe aisle so she could look for a new pair of shoes she would like.
First, Sally tried on a pair of pink platform sandals. Sally tried to keep her balance, but to no avail.
"Ow!" Sally exclaimed, falling out of the big sandals.
"Careful." Said Clarence. "You don't want shoes that are out of balance."
"Okay, Daddy." Sally said.
Another pair Sally tried was a pair of blue loafers.
"Hmm….. too casual." Sally sighed.
Suddenly, Sally saw a new flash pair of pink sneakers with a white stripe by the side.
"Wow!" Sally cried. "Those shoes look amazing!"
Sally tried on the pink shoes, and…..
"Hey! These shoes are amazing!"
Sally sat down and was about to tie these shoes up when…..
"Oh. These shoes don't even have laces." Sally said.
"That's right, Sally." Clarence said. "So, would you like these shoes?"
"Yes please, Daddy!" Sally said.
After Charlie Brown, Wally and Joyce had finished their shopping, Joyce saw Clarence and Sally in the department store, and left Charlie Brown to take Wally and the shopping back to the car.
"Good grief!" Charlie Brown sighed. "Why'd Mom leave it all to me?"
After Clarence and Joyce got done purchasing the new shoes, Sally walked out of the department store in her new pink sneakers.
"Look, Brothers!" Sally called. "Look at my feet!"
"Hey! Cool cute shoes, Sally!" Charlie Brown said.
Wally looked on and thought Sally's new shoes looked nice.
"Now I don't have to worry about my shoes coming undone anymore." Sally smiled.
"What do you…." Charlie Brown began. "Of course! Those shoes don't have laces!"
"That's right, Big Brother!" Sally smiled.
The following Monday, Sally looked at her little brother Wally, who was holding his arms out for a hug. She got down and hugged him.
"You be a good boy, Little Brother." Said Sally. "Especially while me and our big brother are gone."
Then, Wally let out something Sally hadn't expected.
"Sally!"
"Sally?" Charlie Brown quizzed.
"Good grief!" Sally exclaimed. "You can talk, Wally! Mommy! Wally can talk!"
The Browns' mother came in, and saw them.
"What is it, Sally?" asked Joyce.
"Wally can talk!" Sally exclaimed.
"Sally!" Wally said again.
"I don't believe it!" Joyce cheered with tears in her eyes. "Wally is speaking!"
"Well, we'd best get going now." Said Sally.
Sally sat down and put on her new shoes, and due to these shoes having no laces, she didn't even tie them up.
"There. Let's get going, Big Brother." Said Sally.
Sally stood at the bus stop with Charlie Brown, and as Charlie Brown's bus came, Sally decided to wait for Harold Angel.
"Well, have fun at school, Sally." Said Charlie Brown as he stepped on.
"Enjoy yourself, Big Brother."
As Charlie Brown's bus left, Harold Angel arrived.
"Hi, Sally." Said Harold Angel.
"Hi, Sweet Babboo!" said Sally.
"The bus just left." Harold Angel said.
"Nah, that was my big brother's bus." Said Sally. "Our bus comes in a few minutes from now."
"Okay, Sally." Said Harold Angel.
Harold Angel looked down at Sally's feet.
"Hey, those are flash looking shoes you're wearing!" Harold Angel said. "Those are the good kind! No laces, no Velcro….."
"Yeah. Won't have to worry about redoing them." Sally said.
Sally looked at Harold Angel gleefully.
"Say, my sweet babboo…. Until the bus comes…."
Sally held Harold Angel's shoulders, causing him to blush.
"Aw, Sally! Not in front of the whole neighbourhood!" Harold Angel said.
"Well, let them watch!" Sally said in a loving manner as she puckered up. But what Sally didn't realise was that as she bent her left knee, her left heel popped out of her left shoe.
But just before she could kiss Harold Angel, the bus pulled up.
"Oh, bus is here! Come on, Sweet Butterfly!" called Harold Angel.
And both Harold Angel and Sally hopped onto the bus, all the way to school.
As the bus pulled up at school, Sally and Harold Angel walked in together, and while she walked, Sally's heels continued to pop out of her shoes.
"Well, here we are." Said Sally. "Let's go to our lockers and get our books ready for our class."
Sally was relieved. She used to need help opening her locker, but now that she's 10, she is tall enough to reach it.
"There." Sally said as she got her books out. "All ready for class."
As Sally got into her class, there, waiting for her, was her teacher, Miss Cooper.
"Morning." Said Sally as she took her seat.
Fortunately, Sally had Harold Angel as her desk partner.
"I wonder what we'll learn today?" Harold Angel wondered.
"Let Miss Cooper call the roll first, and then we'll find out." Sally said.
After Miss Cooper finished calling the roll, Sally was ready and willing.
Meanwhile, over at Sparkyville Middle School, Charlie Brown was in his home room, talking to his friends about how Sally got new shoes.
"I did hear her feel a pain in her feet at my party." Said Violet.
"And that's not all." Said Charlie Brown. "These are the kinds of sneakers that don't have laces."
"I'd be careful when buying shoes like those." Said Lucy. "If you don't have a pair that's tight enough, they won't be able to stay on your feet."
"Hmm….. good grief, you're right!" said Charlie Brown.
When it was time for Sally to do gym class, she thought she could give her new shoes a try.
"Here goes." Said Sally.
But one of Sally's lessons for gym was the balance beam, which meant she had to wear a different outfit.
"Well, I'd best change my outfit." Sally said.
Sally went into the change room, and got out of her normal dress and shoes, and put on a blue leotard.
"I'm ready, Coach!" called Sally to her gym teacher, Mr. Mendelson.
"Do your best, Sally." Said Mr. Mendelson.
First up was Tapioca Pudding.
"I know I'll be able to balance well since my dad sells every piece of merchandise with me on it, and after all, did I ever mention my daddy sells cars with my picture on them? And….."
"Just get to balancing!" Sally called.
"Fine!" sighed Tapioca Pudding, as she got on the balance beam, balancing as carefully as she could.
But before she could reach the end of the beam…..
"My dad should sell balance beams with my face on them…." Tapioca Pudding bragged again.
"Oh, good grief!" sighed Sally.
Soon, it was Sally's turn to walk the balance beam.
"You can do it, Sally!" called Harold Angel.
"I know you can!" added Russell Anderson.
Sally continued to walk along the balance beam, when finally, she reached the end.
"Alright! I did it!" cheered Sally.
When gym class was over, Sally went back to the change room, and changed out of her leotard, and back into her regular dress and her shoes. And as she walked out, some of the kids looked at her feet. Even Eudora took notice.
"Hey! Those are some smart looking shoes, Sally." Said Eudora.
"Thanks, Eudora." Said Sally. "I got them over the weekend."
Eudora noticed something else about Sally's new shoes.
"Hey, those are the good kinds." Eudora said. "They don't have laces, no fastenings….. I'd kill for a pair of shoes like those."
"I know that feel, Eudora." Said Sally. "Come on. Let's have lunch together."
As Sally and Eudora sat down at a table with their lunch, there, sitting with them, were Harold Angel and Five.
"Hi, Five! And Harold!" Sally said.
"Hi, Sally." Said Five.
"Come to have lunch, I see." Said Harold Angel.
"I sure have, my Sweet Babboo." Sally smiled.
"Er…. Linus is in middle school already." Eudora reminded.
"Not Linus!" Sally reminded. "Harold Angel!"
"Sally's got new shoes, Harold." Said Eudora.
"I know." Said Harold. "I saw them when she met me at the bus stop. They're the good kinds."
"I saw too." Said Eudora.
"I'd be careful wearing shoes like those if I were you, Sally." Said Five. "Especially if they're too big for you."
"Oh….." Sally worried.
Back at Sparkyville Middle School, Charlie Brown sat at his table with Heather, Schroeder, Linus, Janice, Violet, Shermy, Patty Swanson, Marcie and Peppermint Patty. They were discussing about Sally's new shoes when a dark skinned boy with dreadlocks walked up. He was interested in seeing Schroeder and Violet.
"Hello." Said the boy.
"Er…. Hello." Schroeder replied.
"And who are you?" Charlie Brown asked.
"My name is Wayne." Said the boy. "Wayne King."
"Oh. Hello, Wayne." Said Schroeder.
Wayne looked at Violet sitting next to Schroeder.
"Say, are you two a couple?" Asked Wayne curiously.
"A couple?" Violet quizzed.
"You and….. the blond one." Wayne replied.
"I'm Schroeder."
"Us? A couple?" Violet just laughed at this. "You must be mistaken. I have my eyes set on Shermy."
"And I, like Beethoven, am a bachelor." Schroeder replied.
"Aw…." Wayne sighed sadly. "I thought you two would make a perfect couple.
Shermy started to worry at this.
When it was time for Sally to return to class, she focused on Miss Cooper's lessons. But at the same time, she worried about her new shoes coming off her feet.
When it was home time, Sally decided to walk home with both Harold Angel and Eudora.
"About what Five said," said Sally.
"Worried your shoes are too big?" asked Eudora.
Sally didn't want to say anything.
"No." Sally replied. "There's only one thing for it. If they are too big, I'll try to keep them on unless I'm at home."
"Wow!" Eudora said.
"Also, you wouldn't mind doing homework with me today, would you?" Sally added.
"Okay." Said Eudora. "We can help you."
When Sally, Eudora and Harold Angel got to the Browns' place, there was Charlie Brown sitting in the beanbag, watching his show.
"Hi, Sally." Said Charlie Brown. "You don't need a hand with your homework, do you?"
"No, Big Brother." Said Sally. "I've got my best friend and my sweet babboo along with me."
"That's a relief." Said Charlie Brown as Sally and her friends went upstairs.
Soon, there was a knock on the door.
"I guess I'll feed him this time." Said Sally, knowing it was Snoopy's dinner time.
Sally got the dog food ready, and was just about to go out back when…..
"Sally. It's unusual of you to be feeding Snoopy." Said Charlie Brown.
"You deserve a break every now and again, Big Brother." Said Sally. "I'll do the deed this time."
Sally walked out back, and as she did so, Charlie Brown looked at her feet. The heels of Sally's feet were popping out of her shoes.
"Good grief." He said. "Lucy is right."
Sally came out back, and handed Snoopy his dinner.
"Here you go, Snoopy." Said Sally. "You eat that up."
"Huh?" puzzled Snoopy, who was more used to Charlie Brown feeding him.
"I'm giving my big brother a break this time." Said Sally.
"Ah." Snoopy smiled.
"Well, time to go to my room and do my homework with my friends." Said Sally as she went back inside.
"So what was wrong?" asked Eudora.
"Snoopy needed to eat." Said Sally. "So I decided to feed him today."
"That should give Charles a nice break." Eudora said.
"Anyway…." Sally said. "Let's get onto our homework."
So the three friends set to work.
The next day, Sally had put on her shoes, and was waiting for Charlie Brown.
"Are you ready, Big Brother?" asked Sally.
"Just let me tie my shoes." Charlie Brown said.
As Charlie Brown had finished tying his shoes, he came up to Sally.
"And speaking of shoes, Sally." He added. "aren't you worried about your shoes…..?"
"Coming off my feet?" Sally said. "Well, the least I can do is try to keep them on."
"Okay." Said Charlie Brown. "But be careful."
"I'll take your warning, Big Brother." Said Sally as the two siblings went to the bus stop.
As the two siblings got to the bus stop, there, standing there, were Lucy, Linus, Janice and Heather.
"Morning, Linus, Lucy, Janice….. Heather." Charlie Brown said.
"Morning, Charlie Brown." Said Linus.
"Hi, Sally, Charlie Brown." Heather said back.
"Heard you got a new pair of shoes, Sally." Said Linus.
"I did tell your brother about these kinds of shoes." Said Lucy.
"I know." Said Sally. "So the best I can do is try to keep these shoes on."
"And if they don't stay on your feet," said Janice. "Ask your folks for a new pair. Ones that are tight enough."
"I take your advice, Janice." Said Sally. "See how these shoes go."
When the bus came up, Charlie Brown, Linus, Janice, Lucy and Heather hopped on, while Sally remained at the bus stop to wait for both Harold Angel and the bus.
"Now, my bus should come very soon." Sally said to herself.
As she said this, both Harold Angel and Eudora came up.
"Morning, Sweet Butterfly!" said Harold Angel.
"Sweet butterfly?" quizzed Eudora.
"It's just my term for Sally." Said Harold Angel.
Sally, upon hearing what Harold Angel had just called her, giggled.
"Hello, Harold Angel!" said Sally, holding the brim of his hat.
"Hi, Sally." said Eudora. "Did you enjoy having us over to do our assignment?"
"I did." Said Sally. "At least it'll help us get better grades."
But as their bus arrived, the three friends climbed aboard, and then, it was on its way to school.
"I wonder what Miss Cooper will think of our assignments?" asked Sally.
"Er, Sally?" Eudora said. "Our homework isn't due until Friday."
"Oh. Yeah." Said Sally. "Anyway, my big brother advised me to tell mom and dad if these shoes of mine come off."
"That's some good thinking, Sally." Said Harold Angel.
"So I'll try and keep them on." Sally decided.
The three friends continued their discussion until the bus arrived at Birchwood Elementary.
"Well, here we are." Said Sally.
"Let's get to class now." Said Harold Angel.
So Sally, Harold Angel and Eudora made their way into the school, and into class they went.
"Here, Ma'am." Said Sally.
Sally paid attention to Miss Cooper, but at the same time, thought about how big her shoes were, and did everything she could to keep them on her feet.
When it was lunch time, Sally went outside and had her lunch with Eudora and Harold Angel.
"So, are you still worried about your shoes, Sally?" asked Eudora.
"Not anymore." Said Sally.
"Good, Sally." Said Harold Angel.
"Now, I'm just gonna sit here and enjoy my nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich." Said Sally. "And then, I can give you a push on the swing."
"Er, Sally?" said Harold Angel. "Let me push you on the swing today."
"Hmm….. alright." Sighed Sally.
So Sally and Harold Angel went to the swing set, and Sally sat down.
"Ready, Sally?" asked Harold Angel.
"Ready!" called Sally.
Harold Angel gave Sally a push. He pulled her back, and let her swing back and forth, back and forth. Sally was a bit worried. But fortunately, Sally's shoes remained on her feet.
When it was home time, Sally, Harold Angel, and Eudora decided to walk home.
"Come on, guys." Said Sally. "It's such a lovely day out."
"If you say so, Sally." Said Harold Angel.
"What if an antelope comes to eat me?" worried Eudora.
"Aw, don't worry! We don't get antelope in the states!" laughed Sally.
Meanwhile, Charlie Brown decided to take his friends bowling; Just him, Linus, Janice, Heather, Lucy and Peppermint Patty. Fortunately, all had changed from their normal shoes into red and blue bowling shoes.
"I'm ready." Charlie Brown said. "Got the bowling ball ready."
"Be careful with that, Chuck." Said Peppermint Patty. "Aim for the pins!"
"Okay." Charlie Brown said.
But due to the weight of his yellow bowling ball, he lost his grip, and the ball didn't roll down the lane, but out of the bowling alley altogether.
"Did I knock them down?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Charlie Brown, you blockhead!" scolded Lucy.
"Oh, how I missed you calling me that!" Charlie Brown said.
"You sent it out on the street, Chuck!" Peppermint Patty reprimanded.
As Sally, Harold Angel and Eudora reached the Browns' residence, they were ready to go in.
"So, where's Charles?" asked Eudora.
"He's decided to go bowling with his friends." Said Sally. "Just a little something to do after a busy day at middle school."
"Say, what's that rumbling sound?" asked Eudora.
"Good grief! It's a ball!" Sally cried. "It's heading our way! Look out!"
But they were too late. The bowling ball struck the three tweens, sent them flipping up. The impact also caused Sally's shoes to fly off her feet.
"That was a bowling ball!" Harold Angel sighed.
"Wow!" Sally exclaimed.
Then Sally looked at her feet.
"Oh no! My shoes came off!"
Sally looked up front, and saw her shoes scattered around the front yard. Then, as she put them back on, she felt something.
"Good grief! My big brother was right!" Sally exclaimed. "They're too big!"
Tommy Halverson, who was on his way home, found Sally on the way.
"What seems to be the problem, Sally?" asked Tommy.
"It's my shoes." Said Sally. "They're too big!"
"Aw, don't worry, Sally." Said Tommy. "Maybe they wouldn't feel so big if you'd tied them up."
"Actually, Tommy." Said Sally. "These are the kinds that don't have laces."
"Oh, I'd kill for shoes like those!" Tommy said.
As Tommy went home, Sally went inside, still wearing her new shoes.
"Er, Mommy?" Sally called.
"Yes, Sally?" asked Joyce.
"It's my shoes."
"What about your shoes?"
"They….. they've come off my feet as I got home!" Sally sighed.
"Well, I guess these shoes are too big." Said Joyce.
"So, what am I gonna do?" asked Sally. "I can't just go to school barefoot!"
"I'll explain it later." Said Joyce.
Back with Charlie Brown, he got his bowling ball back, and was going back to the bowling alley.
"So, who won?" asked Charlie Brown as he returned.
"I won, Chuck." Said Peppermint Patty.
"And because you were gone so long, I had to have your goes for you, Charlie Brown." Said Linus.
"Sorry about that." said Charlie Brown. "I guess I still have that wishy-washiness in me."
"You're not too wishy-washy, Charlie Brown." Said Heather. "It was just an honest mistake you made."
"Better luck next time we bowl, Chuck." Said Peppermint Patty.
"I think we should go home now." Janice decided.
When Charlie Brown got home at last, he found Sally sitting the beanbag, not wearing shoes.
"Hey, Sally." Said Charlie Brown. "Say, where are your shoes?"
"They…." Sally said. "They just came off!"
"I was right." Said Charlie Brown. "Your shoes are too big."
"Hmm….. what can I do about it?" asked Sally.
Charlie Brown thought and thought.
"Of course!"
And Charlie Brown went to Sally's room and got out a shoebox. Then, he went back to the living room where Sally was still waiting.
"Here, Sally." Said Charlie Brown, opening the shoebox.
"Hmm…." Sally said. "Still the same shoes as my current ones."
"Not exactly." Said Charlie Brown. "Still the same style, still the same colour. Here."
"Alright, Big Brother." Sally decided.
Sally took the pink sneakers out of the shoebox, and she tried the shoes on.
"Well?" Charlie Brown asked.
"These shoes….." Sally began.
"Yes?"
"They fit perfectly!" Sally said happily.
"That's wonderful!" said Charlie Brown.
While Charlie Brown went to prepare Snoopy's dinner, Sally went to her mother.
"Mommy! I want you to look at my feet." Sally said.
"Oh. Those are your brand new ones." Said Joyce. "Charlie told me about how your other shoes might be too big for you, so I went to buy you the same ones, except the right size."
"Oh, thank you, Mommy!" Sally said.
And Sally hugged her mother.
"And I can wear the other ones once I grow into them." Sally decided.
The next day, Sally got herself ready for school. She put on her new shoes, and not once did her heels pop out of her shoes as she walked.
"I'm gonna prepare Snoopy's breakfast, Big Brother!" called Sally.
Soon, Sally gave Snoopy his food.
"Huh." Snoopy said.
"You eat that all up, Snoopy." Sally smiled as she patted him.
When Sally got to the bus, there, waiting, were Linus, Lucy, Charlie Brown, Heather and Janice.
"Hi, everyone!" said Sally.
"You seem to be in a good mood." Said Lucy. "Say, you're wearing the same shoes you wore yesterday."
"Well, yes." Said Sally. "But Mom bought them the right size. Those other ones were too big. And I've decided I can wear those once I grow into them."
"Good for you, Sally." Linus said.
"Yes. Good for you." Lucy added.
"Thanks, guys." Sally said.
After the others got on their bus, Sally waited, and at last, Harold Angel and Eudora arrived.
"Solved your shoe problem, Sally?" asked Harold Angel.
"I sure have." Said Sally. "Well, my big brother and my mom have. They decided to get me the same shoes, but ones that actually fit me."
"Aw, don't you have a sweet mother and brother?" Eudora smiled.
"I sure do, Eudora." Said Sally. "I sure do."
At last, the bus arrived, and the three friends climbed on, and got to school.
When it was time for class, Sally paid much better attention to her teacher. She did all her school work without fuss.
"What's 7 times 13?" asked Miss Cooper.
"Ninety-one!" Sally answered.
"Correct!" said Miss Cooper.
"Oh, that felt good!" smiled Sally.
When it was time to do gym, everyone was doing aerobics. Sally was with Harold Angel, Mimi, Tapioca Pudding, Russell Anderson, Cormac and to encourage them, Eudora.
"This feels so good!" Sally said to herself.
And not once today did her new shoes come off her feet. Sally ran with no trouble at all, she was satisfied not to have to tie these shoes up.
Wait! Isn't fitness Peppermint Patty's forte? But Peppermint Patty is now sleepless. But how come that's the case? Well, that's a story for next time.