As everyone in Sparkyville knows, Frieda Rich, the girl with the curls, takes great pride in her hair. She prides herself in how curly it is, and never wastes a moment to brag about it, even if it can drive others crazy, while others enjoy her hair.

"I sure have responsibilities." said Frieda as she entered her homeroom one day. "One of which is having naturally curly hair."

"Again with her hair!" groaned Violet.

"She goes on and on about it day in, day out!" sighed Lucy.

"Finding a good programme on TV is difficult," Frieda continued. "However, there is one other thing that the world should know."

"What's that?" asked Charlie Brown.

"I have naturally curly hair." Frieda smirked.

"Oh, good grief!" sighed Charlie Brown.

Later that day, Frieda had finished with her science class, and as it was lunch time, she went into the girls' bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror.

"I wonder….." Frieda said to herself.

"Wonder what?" asked a familiar voice.

Frieda turned and noticed…

"Heather?"

And sure enough, in the same bathroom was Heather Wold, Charlie Brown's Little Red-Haired Girl.

"What are you wondering, Frieda?" asked Heather.

"I've been thinking." said Frieda. "Sometimes, I do get bored with having naturally curly hair, and wonder what it'd be like having a different style again."

"Frieda." said Heather. "Remember when you had your hair styled like mine?"

"Yes." said Frieda.

"Why not have your hair styled like mine again?" suggested Heather.

"I was thinking of a different style." Frieda explained.

When school had finished for the day, Frieda was making her way home. But Tommy wasn't the only one by her side. Charlie Brown was by her side too.

"Tommy, Charlie Brown. I need your help." said Frieda.

"What seems to be the problem, Frieda?" asked Charlie Brown.

"You see…. sometimes, I get bored with having naturally curly hair, and I fancy a different style." said Frieda.

"I think you look unique in your own style." said Tommy.

"Actually," said Charlie Brown. "My dad's a barber. He could give you a new style."

"Hmm….. you're right, Charlie Brown." said Frieda. "I'll consider it."

And Frieda skipped off to make her decision.

"Did you really have to remind her of your father's job, Charlie?" asked Tommy.

"Tommy. My dad's an expert at cutting hair." Charlie Brown smirked.

But as Frieda was making her way home, dark clouds started to form.

"Oh, good grief!" Frieda sighed. "I'd best make it home!"

But it was too late. Rain started to pour, down onto Frieda's hair, causing it to lose its curls.

"My naturally curly hair!"

And Frieda dashed off home, hair all ruined.

When she got home, Frieda told her folks all about it.

"The rain has ruined my hair!" she said sadly. "I've been wanting to get it in a new style, and….."

"Go to the barbershop?" suggested Millicent, Frieda's mother.

"Just what I was going to do." said Frieda.

"And you'll get a new do for sure." said Gordon, Frieda's father.

Frieda looked down at her cat Faron, and he saw that his owner's hair was a mess.

"Hey, Faron." said Frieda. "I'm going out for a bit. And when I get home, you're going to see a different person."

Faron just looked at Frieda, trying to process every words she said through his head.

"You be a good kitty while old Frieda's gone, won't you?" Frieda giggled as she tickled Faron's chin.

So Frieda washed her hair and dried it, just so it'd be good enough to style.

"There. All ready for a new do." Frieda said to herself as she'd finished.

Frieda and her folks left for the barbershop, while Faron watched as the car left the house. Faron, knowing Frieda wouldn't be around, settled happily to sleep.

Frieda's parents brought her over to the barbershop where Charlie Brown's father worked. And when Frieda got there, there were several people waiting their turn.

When everyone else had left, it was Frieda's turn. Once Clarence, Sally's father called on Frieda, she wasted no time getting in the chair.

"So what style would you like, young Frieda?" asked Clarence.

"Let me think….." Frieda said.

First, Frieda thought about having the same hair as Heather.

"Not like Heather. Then Charlie Brown will think I'm his true Little Red-Haired Girl." Frieda said, remembering the summer her hair was styled like Heather's.

"Take your time with your decision." said Clarence.

After going through several choices, Frieda looked outside, only to see Mary Stewart walk by.

"Mr. Brown, I know just the style." Frieda said.

And after telling him, Mr. Brown set to work.

Some minutes later, Frieda walked out of the barbershop. She was satisfied with her new hairdo, and wanted to surprise everyone the next day at school.

"Oh, I can't wait to see the looks on their faces." Frieda said to herself. "I hope Tommy likes my new do. He's gonna see a whole different Frieda Sara Rich!"

Frieda made it home, and when Faron heard the footsteps, he quickly woke up to see Frieda.

"Hey, Faron!" Frieda called. "Did you miss me?"

Faron looked towards his owner, not recognising her.

"I'm…. er….. Heather." Frieda fibbed.

Faron, unable to detect exaggerations, was puzzled.

"Only kidding. It's me, Frieda."

The next day, everyone else had reached Sparkyville Middle School, and over in Charlie Brown's homeroom, everyone was waiting on Frieda.

"Say, where's Frieda?" wondered Linus. "She's usually early."

"I hear she'll surprise us with something." said Charlie Brown.

"What sort of surprise?" wondered Janice.

But nobody had to wait much longer, for, walking in, dressed in a purple sleeveless shirt, matching flouncy skirt with a white bow at the back, black Mary Jane shoes, and a brand new hairstyle…..

"Hi, everyone!" Frieda said.

"Good grief, is that Frieda?" Charlie Brown asked.

It was. The only thing different about Frieda that day was that her hair had been restyled. It was no longer those curls she loved so much. It had been straightened, and let down, reminiscent of Emily's hair, and in her hair, sat a purple hairbow.

Tommy looked and whistled.

"Lookin' pretty today!" Said Tommy.

"Thanks!" Frieda smiled, happy Tommy had noticed it was her.

"What happened to her curls?" wondered Heather.

"Frieda told me and Tommy she wanted a different style." said Charlie Brown. "And I recommended her to my dad."

"That's right." said Heather. "Your father's a barber."

"Lookin' pretty today, Frieds." said Peppermint Patty.

"Thanks, Patty." said Frieda. "After all, I do have naturally straight hair."

"Oh brother, here we go." said Lucy. "First she bragged about her hair being curly, and now she's bragging about it being straight."

"But you gotta admit, she does look pretty that way." said Schroeder.

"Come on!" Lucy said, still angry about Mary taking Schroeder. "I'm pretty too, so how come you never say that about me?"

"Enough!" Tommy shouted. "Just be happy for Frieda."

When it was class time, Frieda's first lesson of the day was Maths, and she was to have it with Lucy, Emerald and Scarlet. Among Frieda's math class, there were Lila, Roy, Mary Stewart, Floyd, Polly and Pig-Pen.

"Hi." said Frieda.

"Who's this?" wondered Roy. "Who's this pretty girl?"

"Don't you know?" asked Lila. "It's Frieda."

"I got a new hairstyle." said Frieda. "Doesn't it look naturally straight?"

Frieda needed to brag no more, and she went to take her seat. Everyone looked at her, failing to notice their Math teacher, Mrs. Joanna Leighton, calling the roll.

During the lesson, Frieda was the most attentive, while the rest of the class just stared at her.

"Okay, class!" called Mrs. Leighton in her Mid-Atlantic accent. "Can someone please tell me how many times 13 goes into 65?"

But nobody paid attention to the teacher.

"Students!" Mrs. Leighton called again. "How many times does 13 go into 65?"

"10." Roy answered.

"No, Roy. That's wrong." said Mrs. Leighton.

"The answer is 2." answered Emerald.

"5." answered Floyd, for he didn't need to focus on Frieda, not when he had Polly as his lambcake.

"5 is right." said Mrs. Leighton.

"Good grief." sighed Frieda. "If only they'd focus on the lesson."

"Why did you say 2?" asked Scarlet.

"Doesn't 13 go into 65 twice?" asked Emerald.

"No." said Scarlet. "Floyd answered 5, so surely 5 is the right answer."

"I'm confident 2 is the right answer." said Emerald. "And don't call me Shirley."

After their math class, it was time for cooking, and Frieda was wondering what they were going to be making.

"Hey, Frieda." said Tommy. "How was Math?"

"Math was…. weird." said Frieda. "Everyone keeps looking at my hair."

But Frieda was interrupted when Mr. Barber walked into the kitchen.

"You attention please, Class." he said. "Today, we will be making spaghetti and meatballs."

"Spaghetti and Meatballs?" Tommy asked.

"How do we make spaghetti and meatballs?" asked Charlie Brown.

"That's what I'm going to show you." said Mr. Barber. "At your stations, you each have some noodles, some sauce, and in your fridges, meatballs."

"This sounds like a treat." said Frieda.

"Students, choose your partners, and get to cooking." Mr. Barber announced.

While Tommy kneaded the dough from which the noodles were to be made from, Frieda measured the water.

"How's the dough going?" asked Frieda.

"It's going well so far, Frieda." said Tommy. "Make sure the water is nice and clear."

"Sure thing, Frieda." said Tommy.

Once Tommy had finished kneading the dough, he put it in a bowl, and Frieda poured the water in. Next, Tommy got out the spaghetti roller and placed the dough in to make the bright yellow stringy noodles.

"Looking good." said Frieda. "Can't wait to taste these noodles when they're finished.

"Say," Tommy said. "These noodles, when put together, look a bit like… hair."

Over at Patty Swanson and Pig-Pen's station, Pig-Pen kneaded the dough, while Patty Swanson measured the water. Violet, who was watching on from the station she was sharing with Lucy, looked disgusted.

"How can Patty keep choosing Pig-Pen each time?" Violet asked.

"Violet, quit focusing on Pig-Pen and focus on the noodles we're doing." Lucy demanded.

"Fine." sighed Violet. "But you don't know what'll get into Patty's noodles."

Scarlet had finished her dough, and was making the noodles with her spaghetti machine. Emerald watched on hungrily.

"Come on!" Emerald cried. "I'm starving here!"

"Patience, Emerald." said Scarlet. "You can't hurry food, and that goes for spaghetti too."

"Oh." sighed Emerald.

Soon, it was time for the students to use their pots and stoves to boil the spaghetti.

"Easy, Frieda." said Tommy. "You don't want all that spaghetti to go in your hair."

"I know, Tommy." Frieda said as she put the noodles into the pot.

Charlie Brown looked at the spaghetti he and Heather had made. Charlie Brown looked rather concerned.

"Are you okay, Charlie Brown?" asked Heather.

"I have the feeling this spaghetti is too thin." said Charlie Brown.

"Really? I think this spaghetti is just fine." said Heather. "You leave the boiling to me."

"Okay." said Charlie Brown.

After several minutes, the spaghetti was nice and boiled.

"And now," said Mr. Barber. "It's time to add the sauce to the noodles. Choose wisely."

"Which sauce should go on the spaghetti?" wondered Frieda.

Tommy looked at the different sauces to choose from.

"Bolognese? Alfredo? Marinara? Carbonara? Amatrician? Normal tomato sauce?"

Tommy thought and thought. And then….

"Normal tomato sauce."

And Tommy picked it out and poured it onto his spaghetti, while Frieda mixed it in.

"I'll mix it, you cook the meatballs." Frieda said.

Soon, everyone's spaghetti was complete, but not without adding the meatballs. Mr. Barber went out to try them to make sure they were well made.

"Say, Frieda." said Tommy. "Mixing the sauce with these noodles reminds me of…."

"My hair?" Frieda asked.

"Yes." said Tommy. "But only when it was…"

"Don't say it, Tommy." said Frieda.

Mr. Barber tried Charlie Brown and Heather's spaghetti and meatballs and…..

"You did wonders with this one, Charlie and Heather." said Mr. Barber.

Heather just smiled, knowing her encouragement helped Charlie Brown.

Next, Mr. Barber tried Pig-Pen and Patty Swanson's spaghetti.

"Not bad." said Mr. Barber. "But it could use a little less dirt."

"I knew Pig-Pen was too dirty." wretched Violet.

Mr. Barber went to try Tommy and Frieda's spaghetti and…

"Kudos, Tommy and Frieda. You followed everything I said to do."

"Thanks, Mr." said Tommy.

"It was thanks to my…. naturally straight hair helping us along." said Frieda.

"It was thanks to the meatballs." said Tommy. "They give extra taste."

Next, Mr. Barber tried Marcie and Peppermint Patty's spaghetti and meatballs, and….

"Great job, Marcie and Patty." said Mr. Barber.

"Thanks." said Marcie. "Though I did most of the work. Peppermint Patty, well, she nodded off."

"I'm up! I'm up!" cried Peppermint Patty. "The answer is al dente!"

"I've added meatballs to this dish, Sir." Marcie corrected.

"Still a good job." said Mr. Barber. "Peppermint or no peppermint."

Mr. Barber was about to try the one Scarlet and Emerald had made when…

"Huh?!" Mr. Barber cried, eyeing the empty plate. "Where's the spaghetti?"

Scarlet looked over towards Emerald, whose mouth was covered in bolognese sauce, and was still slurping the last noodle.

"What?" Emerald asked. "It wasn't like a yo-yo craze, a marble phase, a hopscotch craze or a knucklebone phase! It was so good!"

"Emerald. I shall see you after class." said Mr. Barber.

"In trouble again." sniggered Violet.

Soon, it was lunchtime, and Charlie Brown and Heather decided to have their spaghetti and meatballs for their lunch.

"It's hard to believe Mr. Barber liked our spaghetti." said Charlie Brown.

"You really are improving on your cooking, Charlie Brown." said Heather.

"Yeah. I'm glad I chose this cooking class." said Charlie Brown. "Before that, the only thing I've been able to cook was toast."

While Charlie Brown and Heather dug in, along came Mary Stewart with her spaghetti and meatballs.

"I'm glad Mr. Barber likes your spaghetti." said Heather. "I'll try some."

"Help yourself." said Mary Stewart. "And I'll try some of yours."

Mary Stewart tried the spaghetti Charlie Brown and Heather had made, and….

"Oh, so good!" Mary Stewart cried. "So delicious!"

Lucy and Violet were coming out with their spaghetti.

"I can't wait to slurp this with my Schroeder." said Lucy.

"Your Schroeder?" Violet quizzed. "He's Mary's Schroeder. Leave this spaghetti to me and my Shermy."

Violet and Lucy started to struggle with their spaghetti, arguing with who to share it with. Tommy and Frieda came out, surprised to see Lucy and Violet fight over their dish.

"It's about to slip!" cried Frieda.

And indeed it did. Lucy pulled the plate right out of Violet's hands, sending the spaghetti flying into the air. Scarlet, Tommy, Frieda, Lucy, Violet, Pig-Pen, Marcie and the Pattys watched in horror. Tommy walked off, pulling his plate of spaghetti out of the way, Frieda removed the bow from her hair, and the spaghetti and meatballs… landed right on Frieda's head. Frieda looked up and with a cry….

"My naturally straight hair!"

Frieda ran off to the girls' bathroom to clean and style her hair back to its clean straightness.

"I wanted my hair to be straight and different, and not covered in spaghetti and meatballs!" Frieda said sadly.

Heather Wold walked into the bathroom to see how Frieda was going.

"Are you alright, Frieda?" asked Heather.

"My hair. It was filled with spaghetti and sauce." Frieda said sadly as she cleaned her hair.

"I know that feel, Frieda." said Heather.

Whilst Heather and Frieda conversed, Violet and Lucy walked in, feeling responsible for what they'd done to Frieda.

"Are you in here, Frieda?" asked Lucy.

"Yes." Frieda said sadly.

"Lucy and I came in here to apologise." said Violet.

"We're sorry for getting spaghetti and meatballs into your hair." said Lucy.

"It wasn't your fault." said Frieda. "You were just arguing about who to share your dish with."

"By the way, Tommy is having your spaghetti without you." said Violet.

"I think I've had enough spaghetti for one day." said Frieda. "I just want this day to be overwith."

"Don't worry, Frieda." said Heather. "It soon will be."

Frieda came out of the girls' bathroom with the other girls, and there was Tommy, playing with the spaghetti and meatballs. He had only eaten half of it.

"What's wrong, Tommy?" asked Frieda. "Not hungry?"

"I was waiting for you." said Tommy. "I was waiting for you to come back and sample our spaghetti."

"Keep the spaghetti." said Frieda. "I've had enough of noodles for one day, especially after what it did to my…. naturally straight hair."

"I have a better idea." said Tommy.

After the last class, Frieda was on her way home with the plate of spaghetti and meatballs. It had gone cold by now.

"Hope Snoopy likes this spaghetti." said Frieda.

As Frieda went to the Browns' house, there was Snoopy, playing cards with Fifi and Woodstock. Snoopy looked towards Frieda.

"Huh?" Snoopy quizzed, eyeing the red-haired girl.

"Oh, Snoopy. It's me, Frieda."

"Uh oh." Snoopy whimpered, remembering how many times Frieda would force him to chase rabbits. He told Fifi all about it.

"Don't worry." said Frieda sadly. "I'm not here to tell you to chase rabbits. I'm here to give you this. Tommy and I made it today."

Snoopy saw the spaghetti, and both he and Fifi started eating it, only to grab one noodle. They were most surprised that each end of the noodle allowed them to slurp it up to each other's nose.

"Just like Lady and the Tramp." said Frieda. "Enjoy your meal."

Frieda got home, feeling very sad. Faron woke up, eyeing his owner's long face. He walked up to Frieda and sat in her lap.

"Hey, Faron." said Frieda, stroking her cat's fur.

Gordon and Millicent came down to see Frieda.

"What's wrong, dear?" asked Millicent. "You seem to have had a bad day at school."

"I did, Mommy." said Frieda.

"What happened?" asked Gordon.

"Well," said Frieda. "We were making spaghetti and meatballs in cooking."

"You were making spaghetti and meatballs!" Said Gordon.

"Sounds like a treat!" added Millicent.

"It should've been." continued Frieda. "But then, when it was lunch time, and Tommy and I were about to eat ours, Lucy and Violet fought over theirs, and then….. the spaghetti flew right off their plate and right into my naturally straight hair!"

Frieda then broke down, crying. She hugged Faron doing so.

"There there." said Gordon.

"You're alright now." said Millicent.

Frieda decided to go to her room for the rest of the day. She didn't even come down for dinner, and her parents were having salad.

"Oh, where did I go wrong here?" Frieda asked herself. "Things have been going wrong ever since I got this straight hair….."

Gordon and Millicent came into Frieda's room, seeing their daughter, still sad.

"Frieda? Are you okay now?" asked Millicent.

"A little bit." said Frieda.

"Is there anything you want now?" asked Gordon.

"Mommy, Daddy." Frieda said sadly.

"Yes?" asked Millicent.

"I want naturally curly hair again." Frieda sobbed.

"I'll tell you what." said Gordon. "After school, we'll get your hair styled back the way it was."

"You'll do that for me? Oh, Thank you." Frieda said.

The next day at school, Frieda came into the homeroom.

"Are you alright now, Frieda?" asked Lucy.

"A little." said Frieda. "But I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Oh, don't tell me!" groaned Emerald. "Don't tell me what it is!"

"I'm sure she won't brag about it anymore." said Scarlet.

Frieda sat beside Tommy.

"Hope you don't mind, do you, Tommy?" asked Frieda.

"Don't mind what?" asked Tommy.

Frieda whispered into Tommy's ear what she had planned.

"I don't mind at all." said Tommy. "You be you."

In gym class, Peppermint Patty took charge as fitness leader, and ordered everyone to get in shape.

"You know, Frieda." she said. "You may not have naturally curly hair right now, but I will show you and the rest of the class how to get in shape."

"Let's go." said Frieda, who had tied her hair into a ponytail, especially if she was going gym classes with this hairstyle.

She, like the rest of the girls, had changed into a purple leotard, purple legwarmers, and pink sneakers like Sally's.

"Getting this, Tommy?" asked Frieda.

"Sure am, Frieda." said Tommy.

"Good grief!" groaned Charlie Brown, who was the only one wearing a jogging suit.

"Come on, Emerald!" called Peppermint Patty. "Get into shape!"

Try as she might, Emerald couldn't exercise right.

"Star jump, start jump!" Emerald said to herself.

"Emerald, are you alright there?" asked Scarlet worriedly.

That afternoon, Frieda was taken back to the barbershop, where Mr. Brown was still on duty.

"Back again, Frieda?" asked Clarence.

"I'd like my hair styled back the way it was before, Mr. Brown." said Frieda.

"Frieda." smiled Clarence. "You and my son are good friends, so you can call me Clarence if you like."

"Okay, Clarence." said Frieda.

"And how do you like your hair?" asked Mr. Brown.

"Naturally curly, please." said Frieda.

And Clarence got to work, styling Frieda's hair. And when he'd finished, he showed Frieda the mirror.

"Thank you, Clarence." said Frieda.

The next day, everyone except Frieda had made it to the homeroom.

"Say, where is Frieda?" wondered Charlie Brown.

"Must've stayed home sick, thank goodness." smirked Emerald.

But Emerald had spoken too soon. The door opened, and in walked a pair of legs in black sockless Mary Jane shoes, a purple pleated flouncy skirt, and a purple sleeveless shirt.

"Hi!" came the voice.

"Frieda!" cried Tommy. "Your hair!"

And sure enough, there was Frieda, with naturally curly hair once again.

"Hi, everyone!" smiled Frieda.

"Y…y… your hair, Frieda!" stammered Lucy.

"That's right." smiled Frieda. "It's naturally curly again!"

"Not to worry, Frieda." said Charlie Brown. "Besides, you're not the only curly haired one here."

"I have curly hair too." said Franklin.

"My sister has a little curl in her hair." said Charlie Brown.

For the rest of the day, everyone looked at Frieda, surprised to see she'd gotten her curls back.

"Frieda? With curly hair again? Oo la la." said Violette Honfleur.

"She wanted her hair like that again, I suppose." said Linus.

'She is proud of it." said Janice.

"She's a pretty one regardless of what style she's got." smiled Evie.

"She's beautiful!" said a boy named Alex, who was a member of the Wolf Pack.

When Frieda returned to her homeroom that day, she made the announcement.

"Everybody." Frieda announced. "Since today is Friday, I'm throwing a party at the end of the day, and you're all invited!"

And everyone cheered.

"And Charlie Brown. Sally's invited too. And Tommy, you can bring Katie along too. Lucy, Linus, Rerun's invited too."

"Alright!" Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Tommy cheered.

That evening, Frieda's party was in session. Everyone was having a good time, feasting on foods, drinking root beer, and even dancing. Sally was doing her dance moves, but luckily, no foot pains occurred, and she'd even brought Harold Angel along. Rerun danced with Katie, and Tommy sat down, drinking his root beer. Towards him walked Frieda. She wrapped her arms right around Tommy's waist, and Tommy looked down, and was most surprised.

"Whoa! Frieda!" Tommy cried.

"Hey, Tommy." said Frieda. "Hope you're enjoying this party I'm throwing."

"I am, Frieda." said Tommy. "Your parties are always great. Sally's got her sweet angel, Linus has Janice, Schroeder has Mary, Floyd has Polly, Violet has Shermy, Patty's got Pig-Pen, Peppermint's got Pierre, Marcie's got Franklin, Lucy seems to have Sebastian, Charlie's dancing with his Little Red-Haired Girl…."

"And you have your own Little Red-Haired Girl right here." Frieda smiled.

"You mean my Little Naturally Curly Red-Haired Girl." said Tommy. "After all, you've got curly hair once again, and it's just how I like it. Helps you to stand out from the crowd."

"Oh, Tommy!" Frieda said, love in her eyes.

And Frieda wrapped her right arm around Tommy's shoulders, placed her left arm around the other side, and hugged him gently, and at last, Frieda kissed Tommy's left cheek, making Tommy blush.

"Oh… er…."

"Come on, Tommy. Let's dance. You and me!"

And Frieda pulled Tommy to the dance floor, and they danced a fun dance. Tommy was pleased to see Frieda with her curls again. After all, having a different hairstyle helps you stand out from the crowd, doesn't it?