THE CHOICES OF LINUS VAN PELT
In the local pumpkin patch, Linus moved quietly, now wearing a black coat, pants and a light blue shirt, rather than his earlier red one.
He shuffled around pieces of wood to hold up a metal grate. Completed, it made a stable fire pit contraption, perfect to safely burn a certain special item.
Slowly he folded up his security blanket into a square, and laid it on the grate. He let it go and grabbed a match.
The blanket hadn't helped him, it had only made people ashamed. And giving it up, gaining some confidence. Even then he, being himself, wasn't good enough. Not for his friends, not for Lucy and Rerun, and apparently not even for Charlie Brown.
And therefore, it was time to abandon that Linus Van Pelt forever. He hovered the lit match over his blanket.
"STOP"
Janice, Katie and Rerun sighted Linus as they ran into the area.
"LINUS WAIT" Rerun called out as he neared his brother.
Linus sighed in both frustration and sadness, he had wished to be alone.
He turned around to Rerun, and there was a noticeable haunted look in his eyes, "I told you not to follow me".
"No. Drop that match!" Janice pleaded, as she and Katie joined in, "Before you do something you'll regret".
"I said the same to you Janice" he responded emotionlessly, "Katie, you're good".
"Big brother" Rerun begged "don't destroy it".
"Why not" Linus asked, match still lit, "you said yourself…I should be ashamed about my blanket".
His brother shook his head, silently pleading with him not to listen to his previous statements.
Linus focused on the match, a second from choosing to use it.
"I" Rerun apologised, "I should've accepted you…I was wrong".
That made him pause, and he looked at his brother, as his two companions nudged Rerun forward.
And slowly, he extinguished the lit match, "Why?".
Rerun breathed, "All I saw when I was looking at you, was the blanket. But…you shouldn't have to ditch it to satisfy me".
Linus stepped away from the pit. "As I said, why defend it?" he asked "it's just a piece of cloth".
"Then, isn't there no harm in keeping it?" Rerun asked. He looked up to see Linus walking until he was in front of him. "Because, I see past it now, and I see…the friendly person who had faith in me, in the best version of myself I could become".
Rerun snatched the blanket out of the pit and thrust it into Linus's hands.
"TAKE IT" he exclaimed, "If that's what keeps you that person, then TAKE IT. I'm not ashamed anymore, I look up to you now. I love the big b-brother I know. I-I-I don't wanna lose y-you."
Rerun hiccuped, breathing heavy, and it was clear to Linus he, like others, was extremely worried.
Staring at at his brother, he was reminded of how Charlie Brown, Schroeder, Janice and the rest had all said he shouldn't be ashamed of himself.
Every-time when he'd felt insecure.
And then Linus resolved, though what had happened had taken so much out of him, it wouldn't take his individuality.
"Rerun" Linus said softly to his distraught brother, "Rylan".
Rerun looked up at him.
"You…you won't lose me".
Linus pulled him in, and he and Rerun embraced.
Relieved, Janice walked over with Katie, taking the blanket out of Linus's hands.
"You know" the former suggested, "there is one change I'd make Linus". She took two shirt clips from Katie.
Janice then placed two of the ends of the blanket on Linus's shoulders, clipping them in place. Stepping back, she smiled as Linus got a feel of his new makeshift "cape".
"Now you'll have both hands free".
Linus smiled, "It's…it is a bit of a change Janice".
His friend smiled again, "well, that isn't so bad, is it".
This puzzled Linus. "Not bad?. But you said you didn't want me to change".
Janice realise she hadn't exactly explained her feelings completely.
"I want you to embrace your whole self" she reassured, "You are this wholesome, weird and wise person, as we said you were. But today at the field, I saw you as someone who's confident…directing, and assertive".
"Charlie was in serious trouble. It was a…special circumstance".
"Like when I was ill" Janice explained "if there's one thing that I learned from that experience, it's that at your darkest point, you can show your true potential".
She put a hand on Linus's shoulder.
"You were right, there is no difference between the you with the blanket, and the you without. Being honest, I never really noticed the blanket when we first met, in fact, for a while I didn't even consider you had one"
Feeling reassured, Linus remembered that this was why he'd liked Janice. She'd cared about his generous personality. His weirdness, his blanket, hadn't been an obstacle.
"Thank you" he replied with a sincere smile.
Linus and Janice embraced, Janice's hands clasping onto his back as Linus's chin rested on her shoulder.
"I hate to interrupt the moment" Katie explained, "but remember what we were told about half an hour ago".
"Told, told about what?" Linus inquired.
Katie sighed.
"Lucy and her clique are storming the Manor, they're going to take it over".
"You mean seize control of it!"
"You could say that. I believe they want to confront everyone there, and enact their revenge" Katie continued
"And you're their main target big brother" Rerun warned, "Lucy wants to end your defiance, and this time for good".
Linus nodded. He knew that his actions would've earned his sister's wrath. So, now direct opposition, him against her, was inevitable.
But he wasn't unsure of himself anymore. He was now angry, angry at the torment him and Charlie Brown had gone through. And afraid of what may happen if they failed.
Therefore, he was determined to stop their cruelty, he would prove that Lucy, Violet, all of them….…they were wrong. And consequently, they were the true losers.
Linus looked to his friends.
"Okay" he explained "I have an idea".
The main hall of Black Manor was quiet, as everyone was trying to spread the word outside that the game's victory celebration was cancelled, because unless you were Rochester, there wasn't a win to celebrate.
And of course, Charlie Brown didn't want to hear anything more about the game. He didn't even care that despite him throwing the match, himself and Linus were being considered voices of reason. Peppermint Patty was finding other people that were at fault.
Leaving everyone else behind, he slowly opened the door into the hall.
Wandering in, he saw it was decorated with more logos. The only thing that looked appealing to him, was the golden throne in the middle of the room. The one an individual apparently just took, when they unrighteously wanted to claim themselves an Emperor.
But there wasn't an Emperor anymore, Charlie Brown realised….….as he sat down and claimed the throne himself.
Charlie Brown began to smile with content, imagining how it would feel to be successful. To have countless triumphs to your name. To have a reputation of widespread respect, and fear. And to have an army of friends ready to follow your lead.
Sitting as a winner, he felt…
He felt Empty, and Hollow and….….….as he looked around the vacant hall, he was Alone.
Charlie Brown looked up at the ceiling.
"Is it to much to ask to at least pretend I'm not a failure" he fumed, "that I've at least succeeded once…".
Suddenly, his hand felt a large album on the side of the throne. He picked it up.
The cover looked to have been made by a kindergartener, but was surprisingly neat. And he saw a small notice on it.
'To read tonight after the game'
Well, poor chance of that happening, Charlie Brown opened the album to the first page.
.
TASK 2A: NAME SOMEONE YOU'D LIKE TO BE FRIENDS WITH
I try to be friendly, but I struggle a bit in social situations, and tend to doubt myself. Plus, many people find me weird.
But there's this one boy who, it's like we're what's called "kindred spirits". I've known him since I was very little and he's nearly always nice to me. We're already so involved in each others different lives. He loves how committed I am to our baseball team, and we've even learned some of the Bible passages together.
Sadly, this boy is also treated poorly by others. He cares and can be hurt by other's comments about him. He's quite insecure…but…these are things we have in common. I can help him as much as he can help me.
Tomorrow, I'm going to ask him if we can be friends.
Linus Van pelt
.
Charlie Brown stared, he had never seen this years old school task of Linus's before.
He couldn't help but chuckle. Linus never needed to formally ask to start their friendship.
And turning to read the rest of the album, he was met with photos of him and Linus throughout their years together. Pictures of them at camp, around the fireplace, relaxing in their cabins. Images of the duo cheering in the crowd at baseball games, playing outside with their other friends.
Drawings done to cheer themselves up after a lost baseball game or other event. And casual pictures, when they were talking at the wall, having a sleepover, escaping from all their problems with bullying, failure, and insecurity.
And at the end of the album, as Charlie Brown turned the page, was a final, more recent note. In fact, it was written last night.
Charlie and I understand each other, and I've come to see him as the older brother I never had.
It's time to show that he is not a worthless failure. - L.V-P.
Charlie Brown slowly closed and placed down the album…as the anger that he had built up inside, vanished instantly.
Now, he was smiling. The truth was he wasn't a failure. And he wasn't worthless. This friendship, this long standing, close relationship, with a fellow kind and insecure boy. It showed…there was something he had won after all.
A single tear fell from his eye as he realised, out of everyone, Linus had accepted, supported, and loved him, unconditionally.
.
And then, his smile quickly vanished. He remembered what he said in the locker rooms. A wave of shame and remorse washed over him.
"Good Grief, what is wrong with me" he scolded himself, "He was trying to help, and I spat in his face".
Charlie Brown was about to make for the door, he was going to fix this, find Linus and get their friendship back together.
But he found his exit had been blocked by a new arrival.
"CHARLIE BROWN, WHY ARE YOU SITTING IN MY THRONE" she asked angrily.
He then realised he wasn't leaving here easily. Because now, the manor was an opposing fortress.
Lucy had finally taken over.
So, this chapter leaves a lot of difficult choices up in the air. The next 3-4 chapters will be where the story finally reaches its climax.
For anyone reading, I can safely say that this story can inevitably be completed. I have at least got drafts of the final 6 chapters.
Thanks
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