Another Halloween had come and gone for our Little Folks…. Well, Medium Folks since some had become teenagers by this point.
Somewhere in Scotland, one of Charlie Brown's old friends, Nell, had finished milking one of her family's cows, or coos as they call them.
"Hae ye finished melkin' that coo, Nellie?" Asked Doogie, Nell's father.
"Endeed Ah have." Said Nell. "Gotta earn the extra pounds in order te have a holiday."
"Speakin' of a holiday," said Emily, Nell's mother. "We've booked us a holiday."
"Ye have?!" Exclaimed Nell. "Well, Ah know just who te enform aboot this."
Nell put the bucket of milk to the side, and went home to write a letter.
At last, Nell had finished, and there was an orange Woodstock right beside her. Nell handed the letter to the Woodstock, and the Woodstock flew away with the letter in its talons.
Some days later, Sally went out to fetch the mail.
"Let's see…." Sally said. "Water bill. Electricity bill. Ah!"
Sally pulled out the envelope and went inside.
"Big Brother!" Sally called out. "Mommy? Do you know where Charlie is?"
"He's out back feeding Snoopy." Said Joyce.
"Thanks, Mom." Sally said as she went out back.
There was Charlie Brown putting the dish of dog food in front of Snoopy.
"Big Brother!" Cried Sally.
"What is it, Sally?" Asked Charlie Brown.
"This just came for you in the mail." Said Sally as she handed the letter to Charlie Brown.
"Charlie Brown. It is for me!" He said as he opened the envelope.
"What does it say, Big Brother?" Asked Sally.
"Well….."
"Dear Charles Brown.
Do ye remember me? Ye came over te Scotland
some years ago.
Mah family has booked us a holiday
te America.
We'll be arrivin' in a few days
from now.
Ah hope ye look forward te man visit. And make
me feel welcome.
Yours sincerely,
Nell MacMillan.
"Nell… Of course!" Charlie Brown exclaimed, remembering the trip he, Schroeder, Linus, Lucy and Snoopy went on to Scotland.
"Huh?" Snoopy exclaimed.
"Nell's coming to America!" Charlie Brown cried.
Some days later, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder were on their way to the airport, with Snoopy transporting them there.
"So, what are we going to the airport for, Charlie Brown?" Asked Lucy.
"We're meeting an old friend of ours." Said Charlie Brown. "Say, do you remember when we went to Scotland?"
"Not really." Said Lucy.
"Actually, I do remember." Said Linus. "We put on a show, and feature the Great Pumpkin."
"Aaugh. Don't remind me." Sighed Lucy, not believing Linus hadn't outgrown the Great Pumpkin.
"She'll be arriving any minute now." Said Charlie Brown.
The 4 Peanuts arrived at the airport, and Charlie Brown held up a sign saying "NELL MACMILLAN".
"Nell….." Linus pondered. "Of course! She was the one who wrote to you."
"And got your name wrong too." Added Lucy.
Just as Lucy said this, along came, with her parents, a girl with freckles on her face, maroon hair in little braids held by orange bows, a black shirt, a kilt, white socks, and black Mary Jane shoes.
"Ah dinnae believe it!" The girl exclaimed. "Charles Broon, is that ye?"
"Whoa, Nellie!" Exclaimed Charlie Brown. "You made it!"
And Nell walked up to hug Charlie Brown.
"Et's so good te see ye again, Charlie Brown!" Nellie cried. "Ah was wonderin' if Ah'd ever see ye again."
"Good to see you again too, Nell." Said Charlie Brown.
"And Linus!" Nell called out. "Et's a wonder te see ye again!"
Nell shook Linus' left hand with both her hands, since he was holding his blanket with his right.
"Good to see you too, Nell." Said Linus.
"And Lucille!" Nell added, turning to Lucy.
"Charmed, Nell." Said Lucy.
"And how's yer boyfriend Schroeder?" Added Nell.
"Er…. Just Schroeder." Schroeder replied.
"Sorry. Just Schroeder." Nell corrected herself.
"I've been wonderful." Schroeder said. "We just made it to middle school."
"Och aye." Said Nell. "Anyway, mah folks are goin' te stay in a hotel for as long as we're in America. Ah hope te meet yer friends durin' mah visit te Sparkyvell."
"I hope you enjoy your stay, Nell." Said Charlie Brown.
Later, as Nell and her parents made it to Johnson Hotel, the place they were to stay for as long as they were in America, her parents gave her some ideas on how to get to know her new friends as well as the United States.
"Ah've been thenkin', Mum and Dad." said Nell. "Te get te know Charlie Brown's other friends, may I attend school until we go back te Scotland?"
"School? On holiday? Dinnae be silly!" laughed Doogie.
"Ye cannae attend school while on holiday!" added Emily MacMillan.
"There has te be another way te get te know the rest of Charlie Brown's friends." Nell thought.
The next day, Charlie Brown stood at the front of his homeroom to make his announcement.
"My fellow students." He said. "It is with great pleasure to introduce to you… Nell!"
Everyone was puzzled, all except Schroeder and the older Van Pelt siblings.
"Nell?" Quizzed Heather.
"Who's Nell?" Wondered Janice.
As they wondered this, a door opened to reveal the very girl Charlie Brown was talking about.
"Wow! She's pretty!" Cried Pig-Pen.
"She's not that pretty!" Patty Swanson retorted.
"Hullo." Said Nell. "As Charlie Brown said, Mah name is Nell."
"Nell?" Said Tommy. "By the sounds of her, she must be….."
"Charlie Brown met me when he and his friends came te Scotland. In fact, Ah'm his pen pal."
"Pen pal?" Heather quizzed.
"Mah family own a coo farm in Scotland, and when Charlie Brown and his friends met me up in Scotland, we even did a Great Pumpkin play."
"Don't remind me." Sighed Lucy.
"Well, it was nice meetin' ye." Said Nell. "Ah need te be shown te mah homeroom fer as long as Ah'm in America."
"Well," said Charlie Brown. "Pierre has gone back to France for a vacation, so let Violette show you there."
"Okay, Charlie Brown. And thank ye fer introducin' me te yer other friends. Ah hope te talk te ye durin' our breaks."
So Nell went outside Charlie Brown's homeroom to find Pierre's. Who should come up but Violette Honfleur.
"Bonjour." Said Violette. "Comment vous appelez-vous?"
"Oh." Said Nell. "Ye must be Violette, the one Charlie Brown was talkin' aboot."
"Ah am." Said Violette.
"Ah'm Nell. Mah folks brought me here fer a holiday, but Ah thought I'd drop by te get te know Charlie Brown's friends."
"Ooh la la." Said Violette. "In that case, one of ma friends, Pierre, has gone away on vacation to France, zat is where we come from. So I'll show you to our homeroom."
"Ah, thank ye, wee girl." Said Nell.
When it was recess time, Nell noticed Heather Wold the Little Red-Haired Girl sitting on a bench with Charlie Brown.
"Och! Hullo, Charlie Brown." said Nell. "And…. who's this wee red-haired girl?"
"Oh." said Heather. "Hi, Nell. I'm Heather."
"Good te meet a bonnie lass like ye, Heather." said Nell.
"Say, how do you know Charlie Brown?" asked Heather.
"Well," said Nell. "Ah'm one of Charlie Brown's pen pals."
"Wow!" said Heather. "I was Charlie Brown's pen pal once!"
Then Heather explained all about when she first came to Sparkyville.
"Charlie Brown sure is a compassionate laddie, isn't he?" said Nell.
"And that's what I love about him." Heather said. "Not just compassionate towards Sally, but also his friends."
Charlie Brown simply blushed at this, as Nell and Heather continued to chat like old friends.
Mary Stewart, Heather's best friend, started to notice Heather with Nell.
"Who is that?" Mary wonder.
Mary walked up to the two red-haired girls.
"Och. Hullo." said Nell. "And who are ye?"
"I'm Mary." said Mary Stewart. "I'm Heather's best friend."
"Ye're Heather's best friend?" said Nell.
"We met the very summer camp I went to after Charlie Brown finally talked to me." said Heather.
"That was a fun summer too." said Mary Stewart. "It was my idea to get Heather involved more in Charlie Brown's life."
"And it's all thanks to Mary." said Charlie Brown.
What neither of them realised was that Snoopy was snooping at the school, eyeing Nell.
"Hmm….." pondered Snoopy. "Ah ha!"
Snoopy whistled to countless Woodstocks. Not just his best friend Woodstock, but his other bird friends; Harriet, Bill, Roy, Olivier, Wilson, Conrad, Fred and Raymond. All birds flew towards him, and Snoopy told them all his idea.
"Yay!" the birds all cheered.
Snoopy made his way home with all the Woodstocks following from behind. As he reached home, Fifi looked over.
"Hey!" Fifi called out.
Fifi came towards Snoopy, and he explained his idea.
"Wow!" said Fifi.
And they all set to work, preparing a little something special.
By lunch time, they were all finished.
At this very time, Nell was sitting with Charlie Brown and all his friends.
"Say, tell me more about Scotland." said Violet.
"Tell us more about the country Charlie Brown visited you in." added Patty Swanson.
"Well….." Nell continued. "Glasgow is the largest city there, but Edinburgh is the capital city."
"Did you see the Loch Ness Monster?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"No." said Nell. "Though Linus told me about the Great Pumpkin, so we put on a show featurin' a pumpkin."
"Wow! I wish I had been on that trip to Scotland too." said Peppermint Patty.
"That day might come, Sir." said Marcie.
"Sir?!" quizzed Nell. "Such a fine guy ye are, Patty."
"Guy?!" Patty Swanson quizzed.
"Er…. Peppermint Patty." Nell corrected herself.
"I'm actually a girl." said Peppermint Patty. "Marcie just calls me that."
"Now why would anyone call a girl 'Sir'?" Nell wondered.
"Bit of a long story, Nellie." said Marcie.
As Nell continued her conversation with her new friends, Snoopy sneaked up to Charlie Brown and signalled what he had done.
"Oh, I see." said Charlie Brown.
Snoopy saw that Charlie Brown understood him, and he went home. Meanwhile, Evie saw what Charlie Brown was doing.
"What is Charlie Brown up to?" wondered Evie.
When school had finished for the day, Charlie Brown was walking Nell to his house.
"So whit have ye got at yer house, Charlie Brown?" asked Nell.
"Oh, it's a surprise, Nell." said Charlie Brown.
"A surprise? Ah love surprises." said Nell. "Mustn't ask whit it is, or else it wouldn't be a surprise."
When Charlie Brown and Nell got to the Brown residence, they all got a huge surprise. They were so surprised, they were flipped up, and landed on their backs.
"Good grief!" exclaimed Nell. "Ah dinnae expect this!"
"Neither did I!" added Charlie Brown.
Everyone else was there. There were bagpipes, kilts, and even a statue of the Loch Ness Monster.
"Wow! The Loch Ness Monster!" Nell cried. "Ah've seen et at last!"
Nell looked all around the Browns' backyard, and she noticed…..
"Och! There's no haggis!" said Nell.
"Haggis? What's haggis?" asked Linus.
"Haggis is a sheep's stomach." said Nell.
"UGH! YUCK!" exclaimed Lucy, not liking the sound of haggis.
Two little kids waddled towards Nell, delighted to meet her.
"Och. And who are these wee bairns?" asked Nell.
"This," said Heather. "is my little brother Henry. Henry, this is Nell."
"Hewo, Nell." said Henry.
"Hullo, wee Henry." said Nell.
Then, she turned to the other little kid.
"And who's this wee bairn?"
Didn't I tell you?" asked Charlie Brown. "This is Wally. He's my little brother."
"Hewo, Nell." said Wally.
"Hullo, Wally. Ye're so cute."
Nell touched Wally's nose, to which Wally giggled. Just as she did this, Sally walked over.
"Hello!" said Sally. "And who might you be?"
"Ah'm Nell." said Nell. "And ye must be Sally, Charlie Brown's wee sester."
"Oh, I am." said Sally. "My big brother brought me everything when he got back from Scotland."
"It was the show he put on durin' his trip te Scotland." said Nell.
"It even involved the Great Pumpkin." groaned Lucy.
As Lucy said this, Violette Honfleur walked over.
"Och. Hullo, Violette." Nell said. "Dinnae expect te see ye here."
"Bonjour again, Nell." said Violette.
"Ah dinnae expect Charlie Brown te throw this party fer me." Nell said.
"Charles did throw a fete for moi and Pierre." said Violette. "That was when we arrived from France."
"So it makes sense." said Nell. "Ye're from France."
"Oui." said Violette. "And since you're from Scotland, it only makes sense a Scottish party is thrown for you."
As Violette said this, Tommy walked over with Frieda.
"Oh. Hullo." said Nell.
"Hi, Nell." said Tommy. "I'm Tommy."
"And who's this lass ye're with?" asked Nell.
"I'm Frieda." replied Frieda. "I have naturally curly hair."
"She's always on about her hair." said Tommy.
"Say, are ye boyfriend and girlfriend?" asked Nell.
"We sure are." said Tommy. "It all started when Emily moved away….."
"Hold it. Who's Emily?" asked Nell.
"One of the most beautiful girls I've ever met." said Tommy. "Until one Valentine's Day, Frieda sent me a valentine's card. I became her sweeteridoo afterward."
"Yeah. He's such a gentleman." said Frieda.
"Say, Nell." said Tommy. "You're not from America, are you?"
"No." said Nell. "As Charlie Brown may have told ye, Ah hail from Scotland."
"Well," said Tommy. "I'm from Australia. And so is Scarlet."
"Scarlet?" quizzed Nell.
"That'd be me." said Scarlet Harper, who just walked over.
"Och. Hullo, Scarlet." said Nell.
"Hi, Nell." said Scarlet. "Just like Tommy, I'm from Australia too."
"So there's more international people in Sparkyville than Ah thought." said Nell.
"So Nell." said Frieda. "Tell me more about Scotland."
Nell was just about to talk to Frieda about Scotland when Mimi walked up.
"Och." said Nell. "And who's this wee lass?"
"This here," said Linus. "is Mimi. She's just about to sing a song to make you feel at home."
"Go on, Mimi. Sing the song." said Nell, excited to hear how Mimi would sound.
Mimi cleared her throat, and started to sing "Scotland the Brave" in Blossom's voice. Everyone listened with wonder. Nell's eyes watered. As Mimi finished, everyone applauded.
"That was bonnie, Mimi!" Nell said.
"Why thank you." said Mimi. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"This is more than enough te make me feel at home." said Nell.
As she said this, Evie arrived at the Browns' house.
"What did I miss?" asked Evie.
"Ye missed quite possibly the most beautiful cover of Scotland the Brave." said Nell. "And who might ye be?"
"I'm Evie." said Evie. "It's nice to meet you.
"I'm Nell." said Nell, holding out her hand.
Whilst Nell chatted with Evie, Woodstock flew around to see everyone enjoying themselves. Soon, he saw a pink bird. Woodstock was smitten already. Woodstock flew towards the bird. The pink bird eyed Woodstock and blushed.
"He he he!" giggled Woodstock.
Snoopy eyed his little friend and noticed the pink bird. Snoopy had never met this pink bird before.
"Hmm….." Snoopy said. "Ah ha!"
Snoopy listened with wonder, and realised that the bird's name was Tammy. Tammy kissed Woodstock, causing Woodstock to blush and fly up in the air with love.
At last, the party was over. Everyone else had gone, all except Charlie Brown, Tommy and Nell.
"Did you enjoy yourself, Nell?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Did Ah ever!" said Nell.
"Charlie threw a party like this when I first came to America." said Tommy. "And Mimi sang my country's national anthem."
"Och, that must've been bonnie." said Nell.
"Oh, her name isn't Bonnie." said Tommy. "It's Mimi.
"Och, not that kind of Bonnie." laughed Nell. "Bonnie means beautiful."
"Yeah. It was beautiful." said Tommy. "Well, I'd best get home. Enjoy your stay in America."
As Tommy walked out, Nell hugged Charlie Brown, causing him to blush.
"Thank ye fer this party." said Nell. "Ah had wonderful fun today, meetin' the rest of yer friends, even feelin' at home."
"Anytime." said Charlie Brown.
"Wait a minute." said Nell. "Didn't ye say ye planned te take me te a game?"
"Game?" Charlie Brown pondered. "Of course! A baseball game!"
"Aye." said Nell. "Show us Scots how Americans play baseball."
"Well, we do have a game this Saturday. How about that?" asked Charlie Brown.
"That sounds like fun." said Nell. "Ah'll be there te watch, and maybe learn how te play the game."
The next day at school, Nell learned more about Charlie Brown's friends.
Violet and Patty Swanson told her all about how they used to pick on Charlie Brown and not invite him to parties just to spite him, only to be humbled after Violet cheated one too many times at a friendship picnic.
Pig-Pen told Nell all about how he earned the name "Pig-Pen" just for playing in pig sties.
"Pretty crazy, Ah have te say." said Nell.
Shermy told her all about how he was Charlie Brown's best friend until Linus matured.
Franklin told her all about how he, Peppermint Patty and Marcie transferred to Charlie Brown's school.
Janice told Nell all about how she'd suffered leukaemia, but survived.
"That was very brave of ye, bonnie Janice." said Nell.
Frieda told Nell more about her naturally curly hair, and how she has a cat named Faron.
"Interesting." said Nell.
That Saturday came, and Charlie Brown and his team practiced for the big game. Nell came to watch.
"Mind if Ah watch yer practice match, Charlie Brown?"
"Not at all!" called Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown practiced his pitching, and Shermy batted, causing Charlie Brown was sent out of his clothes once again.
"Well, there's something that hasn't changed." chuckled Lucy.
"Good grief." sighed Charlie Brown. "This is one of the reasons we have gym."
"Keep practicin'!" called Nell.
"Right, Nell!" Charlie Brown called back.
"But…. who's yer opponent?" wondered Nell.
"Peppermint Patty has her own team." said Charlie Brown. "We're playing against her."
At last, the baseball game was going. Charlie Brown got ready to pitch, with Peppermint Patty up for bat.
"Ye can do it, Charlie Brown!" called Nell.
"Here goes." Charlie Brown said to himself. "Aim… He throws and…"
Charlie Brown threw the ball, and as Peppermint Patty hit it, it dashed past Charlie Brown, sending him out of his clothes.
"Good grief!" groaned Charlie Brown.
"I did it!" cried Peppermint Patty. "I scored!"
Peppermint Patty was running around the diamond, but just before she could reach home base, she got the shock of her life.
"Where's the ball?"
Peppermint Patty looked around, and saw…
"Nell!"
Nell had in the glove she wore, the ball.
"Oot!" Nell called out.
"What?!"
"Charlie Brown advised me te join his team today." said Nell. "Just te show me how te play baseball."
"Good tactic, Chuck!" smirked Peppermint Patty.
Then, Peppermint Patty walked off.
"Great work, Nell!" called Charlie Brown.
"Thank ye, Charlie Brown." said Nell. "Say, ye look tired. Let me take the petcher's mound."
"Okay." said Charlie Brown, as the two swapped positions.
"Now I can catch flyballs." Charlie Brown said to himself.
Nell reached the pitcher's mound, and saw, up on bat, Mr. Thibault Reid.
"I'll score this time!" said Thibault. "Then you'll see that baseball should only be played by boys!"
"Good grief." said Nell. "Never have Ah seen such a rude wee bairn. Well, be'er show him that girls can play just as well as boys."
Nell started to pitch, only for Thibault to swing his bat.
"Score!" Thibault shouted.
But as it turned out, the ball hadn't even flown past him.
"What?!"
As Thibault exclaimed this, the ball flew right past him.
"Strike!" shouted Schroeder.
"Hey! That's cheating!" shouted Thibault.
"Cheatin'?" Nell quizzed.
Among the spectators was Sally.
"Wow. I never expected anyone on my big brother's team to pitch like that." Sally said, remembering the Easter game she played on, where she cheated by throwing eggs instead of balls.
Nell tried the very same trick on the rest of Peppermint Patty's team. And thanks to the trick, Charlie Brown's team had won.
"We did it! We did it!" cheered Charlie Brown.
"And it's all thanks to Nell!" cheered Heather.
"Let's hear it for Nell MacMillan!" cheered Linus.
"Och, thank ye." said Nell. "It was nothin'. It was a wee trick I've seen some cricketers play over in mah country."
One of Peppermint Patty's team mates happened to be Floyd, the very kid who kept calling Marcie "Lambcake". He decided to head towards Charlie Brown's team to see Nell.
"That girl would make a great lambcake for me." Floyd thought.
"Come on, Floyd. No time for staring at our opponents." said Peppermint Patty.
"But…." said Floyd. "That girl with the pigtails looks so…"
"So what?" asked Peppermint Patty.
"Beautiful!" said Floyd with love.
"Looks like you can't have her as a boyfriend." smirked Marcie.
"And besides," said Peppermint Patty. "She'll be going back to Scotland in a few days."
"Aw…." sighed Floyd. "But I'm in love with that girl."
"Sorry, but that's the way it goes, Lambcake!" Marcie said unsympathetically.
"You're weird, Marcie." Peppermint Patty said.
A few days later, it was time for Nell and her family to go back to Scotland. Charlie Brown, Heather, Linus, Snoopy, Janice, Lucy and Schroeder were there to see her off.
"It was so wonderful to see you again, Nell." said Charlie Brown. "Did you enjoy your stay in America?"
"It was wonderful, Charlie Brown." said Nell. "Ah can see ye have yer true Wee Red-Haired Girl."
Heather just blushed at this, knowing Charlie Brown was referring to her. Then, Nell hugged Charlie Brown, causing him to blush, while Heather shot a minor glare.
"Well, goodbye, Charlie Brown." said Nell. "Ah had a fun time in America. Ye have wonderful friends, and ye showed me how te play baseball, even allowin' me te win."
"Just one more question before you hop on your plane." said Charlie Brown.
"And whit's that?" asked Nell.
"Will you no come back again, Nell MacMillan?"
"Would ye like me to?" Nell asked. "Ah'll thenk aboot it."
Soon, Nell and her family hopped on their plane, making their way back to Scotland, while Charlie Brown and his friends waved.
"I do hope to see her again." said Heather. "As long as Charlie Brown stays with me."
"She'd make a wonderful addition to our gang." added Janice.
"Who knows?" said Charlie Brown. "One day, she might do what Violette, Pierre and Tommy did and move into America.
Floyd, Marcie and Peppermint Patty arrived, but were too late to see Nell one last time.
"Oh, good grief!" groaned Floyd. "I missed my new lambcake!"
"What did you say to me?!" called Lucy.
"Not you." said Floyd.
"Don't worry, Floyd." said Peppermint Patty. "Maybe you'll find another lambcake one of these days."
But will Floyd find another girl to be his lambcake? Well, that's a story for next time.