Scarlet Harper had arrived in America not long after Emerald's expulsion from Birchwood Elementary School, on Valentine's Day to be precise. Though at the very same time she moved in, Tommy was ill, and felt no girl could ever love him again due to Emily moving away….. or so he thought, when Frieda gave him a valentine. When Tommy discovered Scarlet had moved into the states, he was nervous…. until Scarlet admitted she secretly didn't approve of Emerald's attitude.
One day, Scarlet was having lunch with Emerald. While Emerald was eating two hot dogs, Scarlet had fruit salad for lunch.
"Can you believe it?!" Emerald ranted. "At cooking, Mr. Barber said our M&M cookies were tasteless! All because I ate all the M&Ms! Well, I can't help it if M&Ms taste so good!"
"You could've placed those M&Ms in the dough before making them." thought Scarlet. "That's why we failed this morning's class."
"Whatsmore," Emerald continued. "In science, that Sebastian kid called me a cow, all because I bumped into his beakers! Luckily, I threw a beaker of acid into his face to show him who's boss!"
"Way to lay down the law." sighed Scarlet.
"And during Gym, Mr. Legstrong said I wasn't running fast enough!" finished Emerald. "I told him it hurts to run! Then, he sent me to the principal's office!"
"Gee, I wonder why!" thought Scarlet. "Maybe it's because of your fat donkey that needs heavy exercise!"
Then, Scarlet spoke at last.
"Er….. you wouldn't mind, would you, Emerald?" asked Scarlet.
"Mind what?" asked Emerald.
"I've got…. to plan the assignment I have to hand Mr. Othmar." lied Scarlet.
"Okay then." sighed Emerald.
Scarlet was tired of all of Emerald's negativity. While Scarlet focused on the positive sides of life, or at least tried to, Emerald mainly focused on the negative. Scarlet decided to try and hang out with more positive friends.
"Who should I….." Scarlet wondered.
Scarlet looked toward the table where Tommy was with Frieda.
"Hey, Tommy." said Scarlet. "Hi, Frieda."
"How do you do, Scarlet?" asked Frieda.
"Not that well." sighed Scarlet. "Just looking for more positive friends to hang out with for a while."
"Why not me?" suggested Frieda. "After all, I do have naturally curly hair."
"Er….. okay." Scarlet said, backing away.
Scarlet felt rather uncomfortable hearing Frieda brag about her hair, even if she was okay with Tommy being with her. Then, Scarlet came across Floyd, who was scaring his table with his lambcake, Polly.
"Hey, Floyd." said Scarlet. "Hey, Polly."
"Hi, Scarlet." said Floyd. "What are you doing here?"
"Just looking for some positive friends to be with." said Scarlet.
"You've found the right people." said Polly.
Just as Scarlet was about to take a seat, she noticed Polly tickling Floyd's chin. Floyd just blushed at this.
"You're cute when you're embarrassed." Polly said lovingly.
"Okay…." Scarlet said as she headed off. "Things are getting a bit too mushy here."
Whilst she did so, Scarlet saw Lucy.
"Oh. Hi, Lucy." said Scarlet.
"Scarlet." said Lucy. "What seems to be the problem?"
"I'm trying to find some more positive friends." said Scarlet. "I just need a break from all of Emerald's negativity."
"Well, try Violet and Patty." said Lucy. "They love to gossip, and sometimes focus on the positive."
"Thanks, Lucy." said Scarlet as she went towards the table where Violet and Patty Swanson were sitting.
Violet and Patty Swanson were gossiping as usual.
"So what do you want to do after school?" asked Patty Swanson.
"Let's go to the ice cream store." Violet decided.
"There's some positive friends." Scarlet said as she went over to the table where the 2 former mean girls were sitting.
"Oh. Hello, Scarlet." said Violet.
"And what brings you to our table?" asked Patty Swanson.
"Just looking for some positive friends to hang out with." said Scarlet.
"Tired of Emerald's negativity?" asked Patty Swanson.
"Yeah. She's complaining about the day so far." said Scarlet. "Just wanted some positivity for a change."
"I used to be negative myself," said Violet. "especially towards Charlie Brown. Especially with all the stuff he fails at doing."
"I was along for the ride." added Patty Swanson.
"You wouldn't mind my hanging out with you two, would you?" asked Scarlet.
"Not at all." said Violet. "Guess we could add another to our trio."
"Thanks." said Scarlet.
"So, what cruel things would you do, Violet?" asked Scarlet.
"Well…." Violet started. "For one, I would pull the football away from Charlie Brown. Yes, I was the first one to do it, not Lucy."
"So that's where Lucy gets it from." thought Scarlet.
"And then, Patty and I would purposely throw parties and not invite Charlie Brown to them." Violet continued.
"That's pretty meanspirited." Scarlet thought.
"And of course," Violet added. "this was all until one friendship picnic we attended. I cheated in the first two games."
"I decided Violet cheated one too many times, resulting in us not winning," Patty Swanson said. "I decided to end our friendship. But it was all thanks to Charlie Brown and Heather helping us, and it was Charlie Brown who told Violet that there are worse cheaters out there."
"Wow." said Scarlet.
"And this was shortly before you came to America." Violet added.
Scarlet blushed. This reminded her of how cruel she would be towards Tommy.
"I was like that too." Scarlet said. "towards Tommy."
"Oh yeah." said Violet, remembering their trip to Australia.
"But only to remain friends with Emerald." said Scarlet.
"But why didn't you confess?" asked Patty Swanson.
"Because I was worried about hurting our friendship." Scarlet said.
"Aw, who needs that fat cow?" said Violet. "She's pretty much a lost cause at this point."
"I even heard she planned on framing Charlie Brown after framing Tommy and Peppermint Patty." Violet added.
So for the rest of their lunch break, Scarlet, Violet and Patty Swanson talked to each other like the oldest of friends.
Once the school day was over, Scarlet didn't go home with Emerald, but instead, with Violet and Patty Swanson.
"Scarlet!" said Violet.
"Mind if I go home with you two?" asked Scarlet.
"Not at all." said Patty Swanson.
Tommy saw Scarlet hanging out with Violet and Patty Swanson.
"Not hanging out with Emerald, huh?" Tommy thought. "But even so, that makes for a nice change of pace."
"So," Violet said. "What do you want to do?"
"I'd like to go clothes shopping." said Scarlet. "Want to look for a new swim suit. Want to look good for this summer season"
"Er, Scarlet?" said Patty Swanson.
"Oh, yeah." Scarlet remembered. "It's just that…."
"We know." sighed Violet. "In Australia, you have summer during our winter."
"Tommy told us." said Patty Swanson.
"That Tommy." Scarlet chuckled. "Knowing our culture."
The next day, during cooking class, Mr. Barber announced the class was to make mince meat pies.
"Mince meat pies!" thought Emerald.
"Violet Gray!" Mr. Barber called. "Who will be teaming up with Violet today?"
But much to everyone's surprise, the answer was said in an Australian accent.
"I will." came a voice.
Everyone thought it was Emerald, but then, they turned to Scarlet Harper.
"I thought it'd be a nice change doing cooking with Violet." said Scarlet.
"Rats!" Emerald muttered, hoping Scarlet would team up with her.
"I more or less expected Patty to say she'd be teaming up with Violet." said Charlie Brown.
"But…. I wanted to team up with Violet this time." sighed Patty Swanson.
"Who will team up with Pig-Pen?" asked Mr. Barber.
"I will, I guess." sighed Patty Swanson.
Whilst preparing the pastry for their pies, Patty Swanson kneaded slowly. Pig-Pen looked on with worry.
"Something wrong, Patty?" asked Pig-Pen.
"I wanted to do today's treat with Violet." sighed Patty Swanson. "but Scarlet beat me to it."
"Not to worry." said Pig-Pen. "At least you're doing it with me, right?"
"As usual." said Patty Swanson.
Violet and Scarlet were preparing their pies. Whilst Violet prepared the meat, Scarlet was kneading the pastry. She did it slower than everyone else.
"Er, Scarlet?" asked Violet. "Why so slow?"
"I was just thinking." said Scarlet. "All about Emerald."
"Forget about Emerald!" said Violet. "You're cooking with me today!"
"Oh. Right." said Scarlet.
Because Scarlet had chosen to cook with Violet, Emerald had teamed up with Lucy, whom had asked to move to Charlie Brown's cooking class.
"I can't believe I had to team up with Emerald of all people." thought Lucy. "She's bound to make me fail this cooking class!"
"Earth to Lucy! Earth to Lucy! Come in, Lucy!" called Emerald.
"Oh. Right!" Lucy said, snapped out of her thoughts. "You knead the pastry, I'll prepare the filling."
So that's what Lucy and Emerald did. They prepared the pie….. or so Lucy thought.
Whilst all the pies were being cooked, Violet looked towards Scarlet.
"Do you think our pie will turn out good?" asked Violet.
"Who knows?" Scarlet replied. "All I know is that everyone else cooked their pies too."
As the pies were finished and ready to eat, Mr. Barber took a piece of Scarlet and Violet's pie and…..
"Marvellous job, Scarlet and Violet." said Mr. Barber. "You did wonders."
"Thanks, Mr. Barber." said Violet.
"It was nothing." said Scarlet.
Next, Mr. Barber tasted Patty Swanson's pie, and…..
"It's good," said Mr. Barber. "But it could do with a little less dust."
"Look on the bright side." said Pig-Pen. "A little dirt never hurt anyone."
"Yes, so true." sighed Patty Swanson.
After that, Mr. Barber tasted Lucy and Emerald's pie and…..
"A bland tasteless pie." he said. "I believe you forgot to add the filling."
"Excuse me?" Lucy exclaimed. "But Emerald did….. EMERALD!"
Lucy looked towards Emerald, noticing gravy over her face.
"Who? Me?!" Emerald said innocently.
"I will see you at the end of the day!" said Mr. Barber sternly.
At lunch time, Lucy sat with Scarlet and Violet. She was cross with how her mince meat pie turned out.
"Can you believe that slob Emerald ate all of the filling from our pie?!" Lucy exclaimed. "What student would eat filling before we even cook it?!"
"Yes, we get it, Lucy." sighed Violet. "But at least mine and Scarlet's pie turned out great, didn't it, Scarlet?"
"Well, that's a good thing." said Scarlet.
"Say, where's Patty?" asked Violet.
Violet looked over to see where Patty Swanson was sitting. She was at a table on her lonesome, feeling depressed.
"Poor Patty." thought Violet.
There was Patty Swanson, all on her own. Who should sit with her but Charlie Brown.
"Hey, Patty." said Charlie Brown.
"Oh. Hi, Charlie Brown." sighed Patty Swanson.
Heather Wold walked over to where Patty Swanson was sitting.
"What's wrong, Patty?" asked Heather.
"It's Violet." sighed Patty Swanson. "She's starting to hang out with Scarlet more than me."
"So?" asked Charlie Brown.
"So," Patty Swanson answered. "what if she doesn't want to be friends with me anymore?"
"Not to worry, Patty." Heather smiled. "Some best friends spend some time apart."
Patty Swanson thought and thought.
"I don't always spend my time with Linus." said Charlie Brown. "At others, I spend it with Franklin, or Shermy, or Snoopy, or even my one and only Little Red-Haired Girl, Heather."
"Aw, Charlie Brown." Heather blushed before turning back to Patty Swanson. "And I don't always hang out with Mary either."
"Okay." said Patty Swanson. "I'll try and hang out with different friends."
That afternoon after school, Scarlet walked with Violet.
"So, where are we going now?" asked Scarlet.
"We're going to buy a turkey." said Violet. "After all, Thanksgiving is approaching."
"Whats-giving?" asked Scarlet.
"Thanksgiving." said Violet. "It's a holiday where we celebrate friendships, family, and being grateful for one another."
"Oh. Never celebrated it." Scarlet replied.
"You've never heard…." Then Violet put two and two together. "That's right! You're from Australia."
"That's right." said Scarlet.
So Scarlet and Violet arrived at the supermarket and went down the meat aisle to find a turkey. While there, they met Peppermint Patty and Marcie.
"Oh. Hi, Patty. Hi, Marcie." said Scarlet.
"And what brings you here?" asked Violet.
"We're looking for some food for our Thanksgiving dinner." said Peppermint Patty. "Don't wanna have toast, popcorn, jelly beans or pretzel sticks for Thanksgiving again."
"Toast? Pretzel sticks? Popcorn? Jelly beans?" quizzed Scarlet.
"Why would anyone cook that stuff for Thanksgiving?" added Violet.
"Chuck prepared it for a Thanksgiving dinner once." Peppermint Patty sighed.
"And then she went off at Charles for preparing it." said Marcie. "That was when I explained she invited herself, me and Franklin."
"Well, that was a weird dinner." Said Scarlet. "So, let's use that stuff for Thanksgiving instead, Vi."
"I guess so." sighed Violet.
Meanwhile, Schroeder was at home, playing his grand piano, where Wayne King was, enjoying the music.
"Where could Violet be?" wondered Wayne.
Schroeder's front door opened, but much to Wayne's surprise, it wasn't Violet. It was Patty Swanson.
"That's not Violet." said Wayne.
"Wow! Talk about a change of pace!" exclaimed Schroeder.
Patty Swanson leaned over Schroeder's piano, and instead of showing affections for him like Lucy does, she explained about her situation.
"Schroeder, you you ever feel left out when your best friend hangs out with someone else?" asked Patty Swanson.
"That depends on whom this friend is." Schroeder replied.
"It's Violet. And she's hanging out with Scarlet more." said Patty Swanson.
"Well, you might want to hang out with some other friends for a while." Schroeder advised.
"Well, thanks for the advice anyway." Patty Swanson said as she left.
"Why do you always want Violet to come to my piano?" Schroeder asked, turning to Wayne.
"I just think you'd make a wonderful couple." Wayne sulked.
"Well, Violet has Shermy." Schroeder explained. "And me? Well, I'm being like Beethoven, a life-long bachelor.
But as he said this, Mary Stewart walked in.
"Hello, Schroeder." Mary said with love in her eyes.
"Wow!" Schroeder exclaimed. "There's a beauty."
Soon, Patty Swanson found Shermy, sitting right on a bench. He was starting to look down at his feat. Patty Swanson sat right next to him.
"Hey, Shermy." said Patty Swanson.
"Patty." said Shermy.
"Something wrong, Sherm?" asked Patty Swanson.
"It's Violet." said Shermy. "She's been hanging out with Scarlet more."
Patty Swanson became speechless.
"That's exactly my problem with her!" she said with awe.
"So?" Shermy asked.
"So," Patty Swanson said. "I'm just worried….. what if Violet doesn't want to be best friends with me anymore?"
"Well," said Shermy. "Remember when she cheated at that friendship picnic those years ago?"
"Don't remind me." said Patty Swanson.
"And how you didn't want to invite her to anymore parties you threw?" Shermy added.
"That was because she went too far with cheating." sighed Patty Swanson. "And that was because we'd do the same to Charlie Brown back when we were kids."
"Speaking of whom….." Shermy added.
There walked Charlie Brown.
"Here he comes." Shermy said. "Old Charlie Brown."
Charlie Brown walked passed, giving a friend wave.
"Yes. Good old Charlie Brown." Shermy said. "Whom I never really hated."
"Oh." Patty Swanson said, remembering what Shermy said all those years ago.
"I used to be Charlie Brown's best friend." Shermy said. "But ever since Linus matured, Charlie Brown hung out with me less, but I'm not worried about that. I just find some other friends."
"I guess you're right, Shermy." said Patty Swanson.
Later, Violet was looking over the turkey she had bought for her family's dinner.
"There. That should be one fine looking turkey." Violet said to her folks.
Violet placed the turkey in the refrigerator.
Some days later, during cooking class, Mr. Barber allowed his students to make pumpkin pies.
"Class." he said. "Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, we are to make pumpkin pies."
"Pumpkin pies! That's more like it." said Peppermint Patty.
"Don't get too ungrateful this time, Sir." said Marcie.
"I won't." said Peppermint Patty.
Once again, Violet got teamed up with Scarlet.
"Looks like Scarlet and Violet were teamed up again." Tommy said. "At this rate, they'll become dragons."
"Oh, Tommy!" Frieda giggled. "Now let's focus on making pumpkin pies."
Emerald got teamed up with Lucy once again.
"I can't believe I have to work with this slob again!" Lucy grumbled in her thoughts.
"Come on, Lucy!" said Emerald. "Pumpkin pie!"
"I guess so, Emerald." sighed Lucy as she and Emerald prepared their pie.
When everybody had finished, Mr. Barber announced it was time to put the pies into the ovens.
"I want my pie done faster!" said Emerald, as she set hers and Lucy's oven to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
"Emerald! What are you doing?!" exclaimed Lucy.
"There. That should be perfect." said Emerald. "A thousand degrees celsius."
"You blockhead!" exclaimed Lucy.
Some minutes later, Emerald and Lucy's pumpkin pie started to burn so much, it caught fire.
"Er, Mr. Barber?" said Patty Swanson. "There's smoke coming out of Lucy's oven."
"Smoke?!" exclaimed Mr. Barber. "Great Schulz!"
As he exclaimed this, Emerald and Lucy's oven exploded, setting the entire kitchen on fire.
"Everyone! Do you remember our fire escape plans?" Mr. Barber called.
"Yes!" Everyone called back.
Mr. Barber walked out of the kitchen with everyone following. Frieda held her hair tightly.
"Don't want these flames to burn my naturally curly hair!" Frieda shrieked.
At last, everyone had gotten out.
"I'll get the fire brigade!" Tommy cried.
"So will I." Patty Swanson added.
Tommy dialled the number.
"0-0-0."
Tommy soon realised he'd gotten the wrong number.
"Good grief! Wrong number!" Tommy grumbled.
Luckily, Patty Swanson followed behind.
"Tommy! You're dialling the wrong number!" Patty Swanson cried. "Here!"
Patty Swanson quickly dialled 9-1-1.
"You're supposed to dial the American emergency number!" Patty Swanson explained.
Over at the Browns' house, Snoopy sat on his doghouse playing cards with Woodstock and Tammy. He looked out in the distance and noticed smoke billowing out of Sparkyville Middle School.
"AAH!" Snoopy cried.
Snoopy went into his doghouse and put on his red helmet, and got out a fire extinguisher just in case it was an electrical fire. Woodstock and Tammy decided to join in.
Back at the school, Mr. Barber counted everyone who had gotten out.
"Let's see. Charlie, Pattys, Marcie, Emerald, Lucy, Percy, Tommy, Frieda…. Good grief! Where are Scarlet and Violet?!"
"Oh no!" cried Patty Swanson. "They must be trapped in the kitchen!"
"No use helping them now." said Charlie Brown.
"I gotta save them!" Patty Swanson cried.
"No, Patty!" called Mr. Barber.
"Are you a blockhead or something?!" exclaimed Lucy.
"You must never go back into your building when you've gotten out!" said Pig-Pen.
"But Violet and…." Patty Swanson tried to reason.
"Even for your best friend." Pig-Pen sighed.
At last, Snoopy, Woodstock and Tammy arrived with a fire extinguisher.
"Here comes the World-Famous Firefighter on the scene." said Charlie Brown.
Soon, Linus came out with his class, along with Janice, Floyd, Thibault, Polly, Violette, Pierre, the other Heather, Shermy, Mary Stewart, and Wayne and many other students.
"What's going on here?" asked Linus.
"Emerald set the kitchen on fire!" Lucy groaned.
"And now Scarlet and Violet are still trapped!" Patty Swanson cried.
Just as she said this, Scarlet and Violet called.
"Help! Help!" cried Scarlet.
"We need help!" added Violet.
"I have just the thing for it." said Linus, opening his bag, pulling out his blanket.
"Good grief! My brother brought his blanket to school?" sighed Lucy.
"Grab each end of it!" said Linus, as he tossed it to Tommy, Charlie Brown, Patty Swanson and Shermy, who both grabbed each end.
"Jump, Scarlet!" called Tommy.
"Jump, Violet!" called Patty Swanson.
So that's what they did. Scarlet jumped first, and then Violet.
"Good. That's everyone." said Mr. Barber.
"Wow. I guess I was wrong about my brother's blanket." said Lucy.
Snoopy got his fire extinguisher, and sprayed it. Foam flew everywhere. It sent Snoopy right into the kitchen, dousing most of the flames.
"I'm covered in dust! I'll use that to put out the fires!" Pig-Pen said.
"Percy!" called Patty Swanson.
But Pig-Pen wasn't listening. He jumped into the kitchen and spun around, dousing the remainder of the flames with all his dust. Everyone cheered.
"Hooray for Snoopy!" everyone cheered.
Scarlet looked at Charlie Brown and Tommy, and hugged them. Violet looked at Shermy and Patty Swanson and hugged them both.
As they did this, the fire truck arrived, and the fire chief was disappointed, realising they've had a wasted journey.
Everyone was sent home early, but before everyone left, Violet had an announcement to make.
"Everybody." she said. "For saving me and Scarlet today, I am proud to invite all of you to my house for Thanksgiving."
Everyone was overjoyed, and cheered.
"Even me?" asked Charlie Brown.
"Yes, Charlie Brown. Even you." said Violet. "And bring Sally and Wally too."
"Make sure to cook extra grub for me!" called Emerald.
"And the only one I won't be inviting is… Emerald Green!" Violet said.
"What?! Good grief!" groaned Emerald.
"As for you, Emerald! I have some stern words for you!" Mr. Barber said.
That Thanksgiving, everyone arrived at Violet's place. First, Charlie, Sally and Wally Brown.
"Thanks for inviting me, Violet." said Charlie Brown.
"You're welcome, Charlie Brown." said Violet. "It was the least I could do."
Next came Heather and Henry Wold, then Shermy and his sister Jill, then Janice and her sisters, then Linus, Lucy, Rerun and Katie, then Tommy, then Schroeder, then Frieda, then Peppermint Patty and Marcie, then Wayne, then Franklin, then Mary Stewart, then Scarlet, then Snoopy, Woodstock and Tammy, then Pig-Pen….
"Thanks for helping me out the other day." said Violet. "I guess the only thing dirt will hurt is electrical fires."
"Any time." said Pig-Pen."
And the last guest to arrive was Patty Swanson.
"Patty!" Violet cheered. "Thanks again for helping me and Scarlet!"
"You're very welcome!" said Patty Swanson.
When it was time for dinner, everyone gathered around. There was turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, mashed potato, jelly beans, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and toast.
"Now this is a perfect Thanksgiving dinner." said Marcie.
"But before we say grace," said Violet. "I just want to say what I'm very thankful for. I am thankful for having such close friends. I am thankful for such a handsome guy in Shermy, and I am especially grateful for a certain girl with whom I've been best friends with ever since preschool. None other than Patty Swanson."
"Oh, thanks, Violet!" Patty Swanson said, shedding a tear.
"Let's eat." said Scarlet.
So that's what everybody did. Scarlet was still close friends with Violet, but agreed that she was better suited with Patty Swanson. However, ever since that fire, Scarlet and Emerald were no longer best friends, but were now nothing more than acquaintances.