CHAPTER 8: FOOTBALL GAG NO MORE

The next day after the party, Lucy was cleaning her room. She placed the jewelry box Margaux gave her on her dresser and smiled. Then she went into her closet. The first thing that fell out was the football. The very same football that she tempted Charlie Brown with. She hadn't pulled it out at all because of the estrangement between her and Charlie Brown due to the Homecoming incident. She picked it up and looked at it. Linus walked up to her.

"You're not thinking about pulling that trick on Charlie Brown again, are you?" he asked. "You just got back in his good graces, and I'm afraid he won't be as forgiving if you tried to pull that stunt again. Especially after what happened."

"No, Linus," Lucy said. "I'm not going to pull the ball away from Charlie Brown. In fact, I think those days are done. It's because of this stupid gag that I almost lost Charlie Brown as a friend to begin with. I think I'm going to put it up for good."

"So this must be the end of an era, huh?" said Linus.

"Yeah, I think it is," Lucy replied. And Lucy went and opened the attic ceiling door. She went up and stood for a moment. She remembered one of those gags she played on Charlie Brown:

"Charlie BrooOOOOooown!"

"I can't believe it," groaned Charlie Brown. "She must think I'm the most stupid person alive."

"C'mon Charlie Brown," said Lucy, coyly. "I'll hold the ball, and you will kick it."

"Hold it?! HA! That's a laugh! You'll pull it away and I'll kill myself!"

"Why, Charlie Brown! How can you say that? Don't I have a face you can trust? Don't I have an innocent look about me?"

"Look at the innocence in my eyes." Lucy chuckled at the memory. Then she placed the football between some boxes, took one last look, and went back downstairs and closed the attic door. The football gag days were finally over.

THE END