CHAPTER 2: "JANICE IS BACK!" or "REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD"
It was great catching up with Janice. She and her sisters have been all over the country due to her father's job. Linus and I got to hang out with her. She was in better health than she was when she was battling leukemia. Linus never told her about Lucy calling her a "creepy kid", thankfully.
"We ended up in Seattle for a while," Janice told us. "That was a whole different atmosphere all together."
"Man, you've been all over," I said.
"So, what made you move back here?" asked Linus.
"My father wanted to come back and settle back here," Janice replied. "He told his boss he didn't want to travel and move us all around anymore."
"So, you're here to stay?" I asked.
"I am, Charlie Brown," said Janice, with a smile. She then said, "Linus told me about your friend Heather and the Fall Formal coming up."
"Oh, good grief!" I moaned.
"You should definitely ask her, Charlie Brown," said Janice. "What have you got to lose?"
"That's the second time I heard that," I sighed.
"See, even Janice agrees with me, Charlie Brown," Linus chimed in. "Everyone is going. And they all have dates."
"Not everyone," I thought to myself.
"Well, maybe one exception," said Linus, grimly.
"Lucy?" said Janice.
"Yeah," Linus sighed.
"Did Linus tell you about what happened last year?" I asked.
"Yeah, that was so tragic," Janice lamented. "Schroeder was a nice boy. I loved how he played piano."
"Lucy's been taking it harder than anyone due to having a crush on him for like forever," said Linus. "Frankly, while it was her burning my blanket that caused all of this, I am worried about her. She even said she's not going because she doesn't have anyone to go with."
"Not that Schroeder would have gone with her in the first place," I retorted.
"True," agreed Linus, "but still, I hate seeing her like this. It's so, un-Lucy like."
"I never thought we'd be feeling sorry for Lucy," I said.
"It just shows you too have good hearts," Janice observed. "And despite everything she has put you to through over the years, you can look past her faults and even be a good friend to her."
I couldn't help but share Linus's worry. Lucy had been awful to us in the past, but now she wasn't even being crabby. She was more sad than anything. I just hoped things would work out in the end and she would get the help she needed.
NEXT CHAPTER: CHARLIE BROWN MAKES HIS MOVE