Chapter 3: Thanksgiving Is Here

Thanksgiving finally arrived, and inside the treehouse, the sounds and smells of the holiday filled the air. The food was smelling good and some of the kids watched the parade on the Adventure Screen. And Barney and Lucy were monitoring what was going on in the kitchen. "Looks like we're just about finished!" Lucy smiled. "We got the mac and cheese done, the apple fritters, the sweet potatoes, the pumpkin pie, the stuffing, the cranberry sauce. And all there's left is the mashed potatoes and turkey!"

"Oh boy I just can't wait to taste it!" Barney bubbled with excitement.

"I'm very proud of you, Lucy. You really know how to make a good dinner. And I'm glad your mind isn't on grandma right now." Linus smiled.

Lucy smiled briefly before glaring at Linus. "Linus, GET OUT OF MY WAY AND STOP ANNOYING ME, BLOCKHEAD!" she roared to which Linus meekly stepped away.

Woodstock was watching the parade when he spotted a big balloon of him and Snoopy. "IIIIIIIIII!" he chirped frantically, alerting Snoopy. The beagle went over to his friend and saw what was on the Adventure Screen.

"Ooooh!" Snoopy squeaked and smiled in awe.

Carlos then glanced over at Peppermint Patty who was feeling a bit better but was still sulking by the doorway. "Patty, are you going to come in for awhile?" he asked.

"No thanks, Carlos. It's just not the same without Marcie here, but thanks though." Peppermint Patty said.

"I think Patty feels lonely." Carlos whispered to Tosha.

Tosha nodded in agreement "Maybe one of us should talk to her."

"Good idea."

Lila, Sally and Baby Bop were busy watching the Adventure Screen "I like seeing the Aflac Duck." Sally spoke up "He's got a funny voice!"

"The Sesame Street float is always fun to see!" Lila said.

"I just like the pretty balloons." Baby Bop said. "Like that balloon. It looked like Snoopy!"

"Probably coincidence." Sally shrugged.

Lucy rolled her eyes "Alright, mashed potatoes and turkey time."

"How much longer?" BJ wondered.

"If you're really hungry, Charlie Brown made popcorn. Eat that." Lucy instructed.

"Look at that balloon!" Rerun gasped. "It looks like a cloud!"

"That's because it IS a cloud." Min corrected, while giggling.

Lucy smirks as she inserted the turkey into the oven and began stirring the mashed potatoes when Schroeder approached her. "Hey Lucy, I got a question. I don't see any tater tots." Schroeder said.

Lucy blinks. "That is not a question, Schroeder." she said bluntly.

"Who eats tater tots on Thanksgiving anyway?" Sally asked.

"It's just a tradition at my house. You get a piece of turkey on your fork, cranberry sauce, and a tot." Schroeder said before flirting. "It's too bad I couldn't go to the Elton John concert. And I would really, really like it if you made me some tater tots."

Lucy giggled. "OK, Schroeder." she smiled. "Tonight's potatoes will be mashed, with lumps, and in the form of tots." she then went to fetch some tater tots from the mini fridge, leaving Schroeder to get disgusted.

"BLECH!" Schroeder gagged with disgust. "I hope I never have to flirt to get what I want again!"

Charlie Brown then approached Barney with a football. "Say Barney, while we're waiting for the turkey, what do you say me, you, and Heather go out to play some football?" he smiled.

"Why sure! I got some time to toss around the old pigskin!" Barney chuckled. "Will you be OK watching everything, Lucy?"

"You can count on me, Barney!" Lucy smiled as Barney, Charlie Brown, and Heather left the treehouse for a bit.

"Wanna join them?" Linus asked.

Peppermint Patty sighed "I'm good. Nothing exciting is going on, anyways..."

"There's the Macy's Day parade." BJ pointed out.

"That happens every year, Jay." Peppermint Patty said.

Lucy smiled "Okay, three kinds of mashed potatoes, coming up."

"It's really starting to smell like a Thanksgiving dinner around here." Lila smiled happily. "A little strong on the garlic, but still."

The kids were watching the parade before spotting a balloon that looked just like Barney. "WHOA! That balloon looks just like Barney!" ReRun smiled.

"You're right! It does!" Lucy smiled before spotting it fly away.

"Whoa! Look at that! it took off by itself!" Tosha smiled.

"It looks like it's heading towards our playground!" Sally smiled.

"NO WAY! IT IS!" Linus exclaimed. "We got to get a better look at it!"

"Good call! Come on gang!" Peppermint Patty smiled, already feeling better as she and the gang headed downstairs.

"You got the keys?" Lucy asked as she began to leave.

"OK!" Sally said, shutting the door right behind them, accidentally locking themselves out.

Meanwhile, on the playground, Charlie Brown and Barney were throwing around the football as the rest of the gang looked over the fence and spotted Barney's balloon flying right by them. "Go long, Charlie Brown!" Barney smiled as he threw the football towards him.

"I got it, I got it!" Charlie Brown smiled before being tackled by Heather. He then begins to laugh. "No fair, Heather!"

"Sorry, babe. But you got the sack. And here comes the kiss!" Heather smiled, laying some kisses on her boyfriend.

"Blech!" Sally gagged with disgust as they watched the police bring down the Barney balloon.

"Oh well, show's over." Lucy shrugged as the kids headed back upstairs.

"That was pretty fun though! Watching that Barney balloon fly all over the place." Schroeder smiled.

"OK. Right now the turkey should be crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside." Lucy smiled. There was silence. "Why are we still standing here?"

"We're waiting for you to open the door. You got the keys, remember?" Sally asked.

"No I don't." Lucy pointed out.

"Yeah, you said, 'Got the keys'." Sally said.

"No, Captain Blondie. I asked, 'Got the keys'?" Lucy said.

"Do either of you have the keys?" Carlos asked.

Lucy gasped. "THE OVEN IS ON!" she exclaimed.

"We're locked out and the oven is on?! Way to go, Lucille!" Peppermint Patty barked.

"Don't blame me! Blame Captain Blondie!" Lucy spat back.

"Wait! Snoopy, don't you have a copy of the treehouse key?" Lila asked.

"Uh huh!" Snoopy nodded.

"Well, GO GET IT BANANA NOSE!" Lucy barked to which Snoopy raced towards Barney's closet where he kept the copy of the treehouse key.