The One Where Barney's Balloon Gets Away

Chapter 1: First Thanksgiving

It was a crisp autumn day at the Peanuts Gang's school, and Lila, Sally, Rerun, Snoopy, Woodstock, and Carlos were making turkeys with their handprints and crayons. Today was Monday, and it was three days before Thanksgiving. The Barney doll sat at the head of the table, wearing a pilgrim's hat. "Doesn't Barney look cute, all dressed up like a pilgrim?" Lila cooed.

"He sure does." Sally chuckled before Lucy came up to the treehouse.

"Hello people! I'm here now, and the fun begins." Lucy announced, making everyone, except Lila, roll their eyes. "Rerun, make sure you dress your best when grandma comes over this Thanksgiving."

"Got it, big sister." Rerun nodded before going back to his activity as Linus came upstairs.

"How's it going everybody?" Linus asked with a smile before noticing the Barney doll on the table. "Hello Pilgrim Barney." he patted the doll on the head before turning to Lucy. "Lucy, I heard from mom. Bad news: Grandma is sick and she won't be able to come over to cook Thanksgiving dinner."

Lucy gasped quietly while Linus smiled to himself. Lucy loved her grandmother more than anything and even loved it when she came around the holidays to visit and cook, while Linus dreaded grandma's visits as she was against security blankets. Lucy frowned, not wanting to believe it. "That is not true!" Lucy protested.

"It is true." Linus answered.

"No! You're lying!" Lucy spat back.

"No, I'm not. I talked to mom earlier as she was attending a PTA meeting." Linus explained.

There was a long pause before Lucy spoke up. "I'm telling mom!" she then marched downstairs in a huff.

"She'll just tell you the same thing she told me!" Linus called out before sitting down and joining his friends. "So, what's going on here?"

"We're making turkeys with our handprints." Lila smiled while making another tone to show to Linus. "See?"

"That's very good, Lila." Linus smiled before Min and Tosha came upstairs.

"What's going on with Lucy?" asked Min.

"She sounded way crabbier than usual when she passed us by." Tosha chuckled.

"She just doesn't believe that our grandma is sick and can't come over for Thanksgiving." Linus said as he drew his own turkey.

"Wow. That sounds really sad." Min said. "I know I'm gonna be enjoying my family's Thanksgiving dinner."

"Me too! My mom makes this amazing pumpkin pie with whipped cream." Tosha smiled. "You gotta let it melt in your mouth."

"My mommy makes delicious mashed potatoes. They're whipped, and have peas and onions in them." Lila smiled.

"Well, my dad always makes this incredible stuffing. It's a family tradition." Carlos smiled.

Just then, Charlie Brown and Heather came up. "Hi guys, what's happening?" Charlie Brown asked with a smile.

"We're just talking about Thanksgiving." Carlos smiled before noticing Peppermint Patty sulking as she entered the treehouse.

"Don't even talk to me about Thanksgiving until it's over." Peppermint Patty grumbled, flopping down onto the hammock.

"What's wrong, Peppermint Patty?" Heather asked, concerned.

"Marcie's sick." Peppermint Patty replied sadly.

Lila was a little confused "Am I missing something?"

Heather nodded "Every Thanksgiving, the two spend it together. Been that was since they met."

"Oh dear. That's terrible!" Lila gasped.

Lucy then stormed back into the treehouse, fuming red "Well?" Linus asked.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Lucy wailed.

Linus however was relieved and that made Lucy even madder "YOU GOT HER SICK! I KNOW IT, I KNOW IT! YOU GOT HER SICK SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO HIDE THAT STUPID BLANKET!"

Tosha gasped "Lucy! Lucy, calm down!"

"Yeah, you look ready to blow a fuse." Min explained.

"Just breath. In...out..." Charlie Brown chuckled nervously before nearly knocking the Barney doll off the table. "That was close!"

Sally giggled and picked up the Barney doll "Our very first Thanksgiving in the treehouse! Can you believe it?" she asked, happily!

Lucy's eyes went wide. "Wait! You guys are spending Thanksgiving here?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah. We're going to decorate our own table and eat up here! Our parents said it was OK, and they're going to give us enough food for all of us!" Heather smiled.

Lucy then turned sad. "I'm really going to miss grandma's cooking this year. And she was really looking forward to seeing Barney again." she sighed.

"I'm really sorry, Lucy. But there's always next year." Linus smiled, but Lucy kept her frown. "Is there anything that we could do to cheer you up?"

"Not really." Lucy sighed.

"Not even you know who?" Lila asked with a smile. Then, as if on cue, the Barney doll came to amazing life!

"BARNEY!" the kids happily exclaimed, even Peppermint Patty and Lucy perked up at seeing their dinosaur friend.

"HEY!" Snoopy happily exclaimed.

"Hi everybody! Happy Thanksgiving!" Barney smiled. "It's always so nice to spend that time of year with friends like you!"

Barney:
Friends are special, so important,
they make the world go 'round.

Barney's Friends and Peanuts Gang:
We like helping one another
in school or on the playground
Friends are there to help each other
when one is feeling sad.

Barney:
Being friends is very special.
Be a friend, and you'll be glad.

Barney's Friends and Peanuts Gang:
Friends are special, so important,
they make the world go 'round.
We like helping one another
in school or on the playground

Barney:
Friends are there to help each other
when one is feeling sad.
Being friends is very special.
Be a friend, and you'll be glad.

Barney, Barney's Friends and Peanuts Gang:
Being friends is very special.
Be a friend, and you'll be glad.

"Oh boy, oh boy, we're gonna spend Thanksgiving in the treehouse!" Barney bubbled.

"I can't wait, either!" Charlie Brown said.

Lucy then began to sulk again. "Lucy, what's wrong?" Barney asked, concerned.

"It's not fair, Barney. It's bad enough that Schroeder is going to an Elton John concert for Thanksgiving, but now grandma is sick and won't be able to make it." Lucy said sadly. "And she really wanted to see you again."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lucy." Barney cooed, wrapping the fussbudget in a hug. "I do wish there was some way to help you feel happy."

Linus then began to think and came up with an idea. "I got it! You can help us with Thanksgiving dinner! You can help cook it and make it just like grandma's." he suggested.

"How am I going to be able to do that?!" Lucy asked with bewilderment.

"Lucy, anything is possible with a little imagination." Barney chuckled.

Lucy began to cheer up at that. "You really think so?" she asked with a small smile.

"Oh sure! With a little Barney magic, we can use the play kitchen set to cook somethings. And luckily, Mr. Greene at the grocery store can give us what we'll need." Barney smiled.

"And we can all help." Min smiled.

"Thanks, guys." Lucy smiled.

The kids chuckled before seeing Peppermint Patty still looking upset. "Patty?" Linus spoke up.

"What?" Peppermint Patty asked.

"If there's anything we can do to make this Thanksgiving a good one for you, let us know." Linus said.

"Well-" Peppermint Patty began before a football landed on the table. "HEY!"

"ALRIGHT! WHO'S THE BLOCKHEAD WHO THREW THIS?" Lucy bellowed.

Whistling from on the playground gave them their answer.

"It's BJ!" Barney and the kids smiled as he entered the treehouse in a blue jacket.

"Hiya guys! Did anyone see a football coming through here?" BJ asked sheepishly.

"Uh, yeah, you BLOCKDINO!" Lucy huffed, pointing to it on the table.

"Ooops. Sorry." BJ sighed.

"Oh, it's OK, BJ. But hopefully you'll be more careful." Barney smiled. "So, are you coming to Thanksgiving?"

"You bet! And Baby Bop will be here too!" BJ smiled.

"Oh goody!" Lila smiled.

"So Lucy, how about tomorrow you and I go grocery shopping after school, then come back up here to make a plan for Thanksgiving dinner?" Barney asked.

"SOUNDS PERFECT, BARNEY!" Lucy smiled, giving Barney a big hug, making the kids snicker. "What?"