CHAPTER 5: EVERYTHING IS GRAY

Saturday was a gloomy day. Both weather-wise and emotionally speaking. The snow had hit Sparkyville hard again, and the kids were knee-deep in snow. But for Franklin, the snow was the least of his problems. This was the day Melanie was leaving for her new town and school. So to say he wasn't happy was a huge understatement. He ended up at the wall, just thinking. Charlie Brown would join him.

"How are you feeling?" Charlie Brown asked.

"Lousy!" Franklin responded, flatly.

"If anyone can understand that, it's me," said Charlie Brown. "Did you see them drive off at all?"

"No, I didn't. Didn't think I could take it, Charlie Brown. Will this feeling ever go away?"

"Not for a while. Melanie and you were together for a few years. I remember when you both first started dating and introduced her to the gang."

"Oh yeah. When Linus brought up The Great Pumpkin, she innocently asked him what was so 'great' about a pumpkin! He turned beet-red, and we all had to calm him down."

"Lucy got a good laugh out of that."

"I think we all did, except poor Linus!" Both boys chuckled at the memory. "Man I already miss her!"

"I know you do, Franklin. We all will miss her, but not as much as you will."

"Can I ask you something, Charlie Brown?"

"Sure."

"How did you get through having Heather move away before you and Frieda were together?"

"I was hurt, Franklin. Especially because I never told her how I felt about her. I missed my opportunity to get to know the little red-haired girl, until the Homecoming incident, but we won't go there. At least you got to know Melanie before she left. You actually started dating her and being with her, something I never got to do with Heather. Bu then Frieda, who was already a friend of mine, finally admitted her love for me that Valentine's Day."

"I remember that weekend I saw you two at the movies. This was months before I met Melanie. You looked happy with Frieda."

"I was happy with her, and I'm happy with her now, Franklin. I missed my chance with Heather, but I received a second chance with Frieda. And you will find someone else, too. Sure she won't be Melanie, but she'll be just as good to you as she was."

"Thanks, Charlie Brown. Despite what Peppermint Patty said in the past, you do know some things about love."

"Yeah, especially unrequited." And the two boys continued to stay at the wall gathering their thoughts. Franklin would miss Melanie, but had to continue on.

THE END