"Linus, please roll the dice"
For some odd reason, Charlie Brown had chosen Twister as an evening game, meaning Linus was observing the Brown siblings trying to keep themselves balanced, so as to not fall onto the mat.
"So have you ever considered this good warmup for our baseball team?" he couldn't help but ask Charlie Brown.
"If I wanted the team dissolved when everyone decides to quit" his best friend replied "then yes".
"And ROLL the dice Linus" Sally exclaimed, struggling on the mat "I can't hold this position anymore"
"Sorry" Linus snickered a bit as he rolled the dice, "This is just so entertaining to watch. Left hand on yellow".
"Left hand on yello…I can't stand this anymore" Sally gave way and let herself collapse on the mat.
Chuckling, Linus got up from the couch as Charlie Brown celebrated his victory.
"Okay so, Linus" he said, "you against me next".
Linus breathed out, "I may have to pass there Charlie Brown".
"You sure. We'd enjoy your involvement" his best friend responded, "It's up to you".
Sally looked up, but within a moment, she shrugged and nodded.
Linus thought, and he liked how comfortable he'd felt as he had been with the Brown's.
"You know what" he said, and then became competitive, "I accept your challenge, and make no mistake, I won't be going easy Charlie Brown".
He began playing the game with him, and they went on for a bit longer than when the Browns played, both boys trying to keep upright as Sally was rolling the dice, "Left hand on red"
"Left hand on red. Sally, Linus' face is a shade of crimson already".
"Crimson going on purple" he corrected
"Why's that relevant?" Sally fumbled with the dice.
"Because I'll exhaust myself trying to move further" Linus gasped, then looked to see Charlie Brown as he got his hand where it was needed.
He pouted, "it's easier for you, you're taller than me".
"So you're claiming a disadvantage" Charlie Brown scoffed in response.
"Theoretically I have a valid point" Linus reasoned.
"Sure Smart-Alec"
"Smart-Alec?. Now that's just impolite" Linus nudged Charlie Brown, and consequently, the older boy almost immediately lost his balance, with Linus to follow suit.
The sound got Sally's full attention.
"So…who won?" she asked, as the two older boys laid sprawled on the mat. Immediately, they both started laughing.
Sally supposed they'd consider it a draw.
.
While this was happening however, unbeknownst to the three of them, a constant tapping noise down the hallway was steadily getting louder.
"It that something knocking" Charlie Brown finally asked.
"I'll check" Linus went through the hallway, and opened the front door.
But, he found that the whole yard seemed empty, and he quickly pulled it back shut.
"Must've been the wind or an animal" he called back, then grinned, "which is unlucky for you Sally, because I'm about to teach you some lessons in modesty"
Given how briefly he'd checked out there, Linus hadn't looked in the bushes before returning to the game, and Lucy, unnoticed by anyone, pushed herself out of the leaves.
She glared back at the house and pouted. When seeing Linus with the Browns entertaining themselves together, it'd bugged her. Then, she felt something else, something akin to…envy.
Lucy angrily blinked, going into denial, "No, they're all blockheads, no way I'll ever be jealous. I have no reason to be…..oh whatever".
She scurried out of the front yard.