Chapter 2: I Have No Friends
The day before school starts. Charlie Brown is at the store buying last-minute supplies before the new year begins.
"So much for a summer vacation. In the end, I finished my friendships with all my friends. But I'm gonna see them in school tomorrow. What am I supposed to do?"
The young boy asks himself as he grabs pencils and notebooks, then makes his way to the cash register. After paying for his items, he exits the store and heads home.
"Who would wanna be friends with a blockhead like me? There's no reason for them to be friends with me. Well, except my loyal dog, Snoopy. I'm glad I still have him, at least."
XOXOXO
Charlie puts on his pajamas and lies down, not excited for the next day.
"Too bad I couldn't convince mom and dad to transfer me to another school. It is the closest one to my house and Sally still wants to go there. And it is a last minute notice."
He gets up and eats a box of animal crackers he kept in one of his drawers.
"Not even a snack can cheer me up before I fall asleep. I can't stand it."
XOXOXO
"I'm not looking forward to the homework they'll give us."
"I hate school lunches."
"Science is gonna be hard for me."
Everybody is waiting at the bus stop; Linus, Lucy, Franklin, Heather, Janice, all of them. Sally comes by, as well.
"Good morning, Sally." Heather greets her and looks around. "Where's Charlie Brown?"
"My big brother got up early and walked to school."
Everybody couldn't believe what they just heard.
"He's really walking to school?" Marcie questions.
"That's not something Charlie Brown would usually do." Franklin states.
"Is this a joke?" Lucy asks Sally.
"No, he's really doing it." The young girl shows a note. "See?"
Lucy takes the note from Sally and reads it. "Good grief! He's actually doing it! This is his handwriting!"
Everyone observes the note and no doubt, it's Charlie Brown's handwriting. Stating that he's heading to school on foot.
"Wow, this is new." Linus says.
"Why the sudden change?" Peppermint Patty asks those around her.
"I don't know but good for him." Janice replies.
Heather couldn't help but wonder why Charlie Brown decided to walk to school instead of taking the bus with everyone else inside.
No time to think further, the bus has arrived to take the kids to school.
XOXOXO
The new school year begins today. Numerous students are heading to their designated classrooms with huge backpacks filled with materials.
Charlie Brown is among them, "Huh, the first one here. If only I was the only one taking this whole room to myself."
Five minutes later…
"Oh, Charlie Brown! Glad we caught you!"
Charlie Brown didn't even need to look, that was Linus, meaning his ex-friends had arrived.
"Why did you come here on foot, Charlie Brown?" Schroeder asks.
Charlie ignores his classmates and puts a textbook in front of his face, covering himself from them.
"Ah, first-minute studying. That's smart." Marcie states. "We shouldn't interrupt Charles."
"You're right. This is another big change for Charlie Brown." Linus says as everyone else makes their way to their desks.
"Is everything alright, Charlie?" Heather asks the boy who's still covering his face, not saying a word. "Well, if anything, let any of us know, okay?" She walks off to her seat.
RING
That's the school bell, signifying class has begun.
Charlie Brown puts down the book and listens to the teacher.
XOXOXO
Lunchtime! Everyone is either making their way to the cafeteria or heading outside with their own food.
Charlie Brown is only in the cafeteria to grab a bottle of water, since he forgot because he got up earlier than usual.
Linus, Schroeder, and Franklin are sitting in the cafeteria. Each having their tray of lunch.
"Charlie Brown, over here!" Linus calls him.
Charlie, on the other hand, ignores his so-called best friend and leaves to eat lunch outside.
Linus and the other two wonder what just happened.
"Um, did Charlie Brown just walk off after you called him?" Schroeder questions.
"I don't know what just happened either." Linus replies. "But I'm sure he didn't hear me or something."
The three boys weren't the only ones wondering about Charlie Brown. Heather, who was passing by, saw the little moment of her penpal marching off after Linus called him.
XOXOXO
Outside near the school's playground, Charlie Brown sits on a bench and pulls out his peanut butter sandwich. "You guys ask me to join you for lunch, after what happened last week? Forget it!"
The round-headed kid eats his lunch… by himself… with no one else around.
XOXOXO
Later but before class is dismissed, the teacher announces an assignment that will be due in a few weeks. Everyone may choose to work on their own or with a buddy. Working with somebody is recommended since there will be a lot of work to do.
The school bell rings, meaning the first day of school is over. Everyone leaves to go home and do their usual activities.
In the hallway, Charlie Brown checks out his new locker and puts in several items like pencils, textbooks, rulers, etc.
Approaching him was none other than… "Hi, Charlie Brown." The Little Red-Haired Girl herself, Heather.
Heather expected a greeting in return but Charlie Brown continued to organize his locker, not looking at Heather.
"Well, um..." the redhead begins, "About our new assignment, do you wanna work together? I bet we could finish the project without any problem whatsoever."
SLAM
Charlie Brown closes his locker loudly, making Heather flinch. Then he storms off, not making any eye contact with the girl he HAD a crush on.
Heather, standing there and in shock, now has questions she wants answers to. "Charlie Brown?"
XOXOXO
Upon reaching the park, Charlie Brown looks at the pond. Alone.
"What good is going to school when there's so many people and not one of them is your friend?" He sighs and closes his eyes, "I have no friends."
To be continued…
Oh boy, this is starting to become something big for Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
Everyone is confused with Charlie's new and unusual actions.
And what of Charlie Brown, will he be all in his lonesome throughout the school year? With nobody to talk to?
See ya in the next chapter. Thanks for reading.