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Heather Wold, the Little Red-Haired Girl, had recently solved a crime behind the thievery of the monument of Captain Sparky, with Charlie Brown leading the case. They were both rewarded with a high amount.
One day, Heather was wondering what to do with the money she had earned for helping to solve the crime.
"Congratulations, Sis." Said Henry.
"Thanks, Henry." Said Heather.
"So what are you doing to do with the money you earned, dear?" Asked Al, Heather's father.
"I…. I don't know, Daddy." Said Heather. "Maybe make some of it my college fund."
"Or….." suggested Donna, Heather's mother. "You could spend some of it on a nice vacation?"
Heather pondered what her mother suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea, Mommy!" Said Heather.
So Heather got out the money from solving the case, and gave it to her parents so they could spend it on a family holiday.
"So where are we going?" Asked Henry.
"Haven't decided yet." Said Al.
"Let's look through the web and see if there are any good locations for our vacation." Suggested Donna.
Al got on his computer and looked for ideal places to go.
Heather was in her room, thinking about where her family would be taking her for her holiday when her mobile phone rang.
"Hello?" Said Heather as she answered.
"Heather. It's Mary." Said Mary Stewart.
"Hi, Bestie!" Said Heather.
"Congratulations on solving the crime." Said Mary Stewart.
"Thanks again, Bestie." Said Heather.
"So what are you going to do with the money you earned for helping solve the crime?" Asked Mary Stewart.
"Mom suggested spending it on a nice vacation," Heather said. "And Daddy is looking for a good place to go to."
"A vacation sounds nice." Said Mary Stewart. "I wish I were going."
Heather thought and thought about what Mary Stewart had told her.
"Excuse me, Bestie, but I have to….. take a shower." Heather fibbed. "I'll speak to you later."
"Okay, Bestie." Said Mary Stewart. "Bye bye."
After hanging up, Heather went into the computer room where her parents were, and much to her surprise….
"Heather?" Said Donna. "I'm so glad you're here."
"You've decided on where we're going?" Heather asked.
"We're going to Florida." Al said.
"Wow!" Heather exclaimed. "I've always wanted to go to Florida! So when are we leaving?"
"Hold on, dear." Said Donna. "Your father needs to book first."
"And I've just been on the phone with Mary just then," said Heather. "And I've been thinking. May I bring her along with us?"
"Heather, you've earned more than enough to bring a friend along." Said Al. "Tell her she'll be coming!"
"Alright!" Cheered Heather.
Heather went back to her room and called Mary Stewart.
"Hi, Heather." Said Mary Stewart. "Have your parents decided on where your vacation will be?"
"Dad's booking us a vacation to Florida." Heather said. "And he's allowed me to bring you along."
"Florida?!" Cried Mary Stewart. "I've always wanted to go to Florida!"
"Lucky you, Mary." Said Heather.
"So when are we going?"
"Dad's making the booking already."
"Okay. Just let me know when, where and how long. Bye, Heather."
"Bye, Bestie."
After hanging up, Donna came in.
"Did you tell Mary about where we're going?" Asked Donna.
"Yes." Said Heather. "She also wants to go to Florida. So when will we be leaving?"
"In two weeks' time." Answered Donna.
"Two weeks?" Said Heather "This leaves me more than enough time."
"And we'll be gone for two weeks as well." Added Donna.
"A whole fortnight." Said Heather. "Amazing!"
The next day, in Sparkyville High, Heather told her friends all about her holiday.
"So you're going to Florida, Heather?" Said Frieda.
"Indeed I am, Cuz." Said Heather.
"I wish I were going too." Frieda said.
"You're going to Florida without consulting me?" Demanded Lucy.
"Sorry, Lucy." Said Heather. "But this is a family vacation, and Dad said I can only bring one friend."
"Me?" Asked Charlie Brown.
"No, Silly." Said Heather.
"Me?" Janice put in.
"Me." Mary Stewart answered. "So when are we going?"
"Two week's time." Heather answered. "And our vacation is for two weeks. Plenty of time to relax and see the sights."
"It's too bad I can't go." Said Charlie Brown.
"Don't worry, Charlie Brown." Said Heather. "I promise to write to you, just like I did when I left for camp that very summer you talked to me."
Charlie Brown felt better. Heather reminding him of what was probably his finest hour.
"I'll contact you too, my Little Red-Haired Girl." Said Charlie Brown.
"Charlie?" Said Tommy. "You do know your girlfriend's name, so why do you insist on still calling her a Little Red-Haired Girl?"
"Her hair reminds me of ripe tomatoes." Charlie Brown sighed happily.
"I have red hair too, so why don't you call me a Little Red-Haired Girl?" Frieda added.
"This is…. A special case." Charlie Brown stammered.
That afternoon after school, Mary Stewart was at Schroeder's place talking about how she would be going on holiday with Heather.
"Schroeder," said Mary Stewart. "Since I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks, I'm wondering, will you miss me?"
Schroeder didn't answer immediately, he just continued to play his piano. Soon….
"Yes, I will." Schroeder said.
"Oh, Schroeder!" Said Mary Stewart as she hugged him.
Schroeder then continued to play his piano while Mary Stewart continued to listen intently.
"Will you write to me while you're gone?" Asked Schroeder.
"I promise, my maestro." Said Mary Stewart.
At the Brown house, Charlie Brown told his family all about his Little Red-Haired Girl's holiday.
"Are you going with her?" Asked Joyce, Charlie Brown's mother.
"No." Said Charlie Brown. "However, she promises to send me post cards."
"I wish I were going on vacation with her." Said Sally. "I would love to go to Florida one day."
"We'd recently been to Hawaii," said Clarence, Charlie Brown's father.
"Maybe we could go to Florida on our next vacation?" Suggested Charlie Brown.
"That sounds like a great idea, Charlie." Said Clarence.
At the Van Pelt place, Lucy and Linus discussed about Heather's upcoming holiday.
"I don't get why Heather didn't invite me!" Lucy said to her brothers.
"Probably because she wanted to reserve a space for her best friend." Explained Linus.
"She probably hasn't forgotten about how crabby you used to be when you were a kid." Said Rerun.
"But I'm not the Little Miss Crabbypants I used to be." Lucy explained.
At the Wold place, Fifi came into Heather's house and soon entered her room. She had heard about Heather's holiday.
"Hey, Fifi." Said Heather.
Fifi wondered if she got to go on holiday with her.
"I'll need to consult my parents." Heather said.
"I'm sorry, dear." Said Donna. "No dogs allowed."
"Aw…." Sighed Fifi.
"Don't you worry, Fifi." Said Heather. "You can get the postcards I'll send to Charlie Brown, and he'll tell you all about the vacation."
Fifi felt a little bit better.
At the Emmons place, Janice talked about how Heather hadn't invited her on her holiday.
"I don't see why Heather chose Mary over me." Sighed Janice.
"Maybe it's because she'd been her best friend longer than you." Said Lindsey. "Since they did meet at camp sometime after Charlie Brown talked to her."
"You do make a good point, Big Sister." Said Janice. "But still, I'd love to visit Florida and see all kinds of sights, like the theme parks and beaches."
"We might go there one day." Said Lindsey.
"What's this about Florida?" Asked Britney.
"Heather and her family are taking a vacation in Florida, and she's invited Mary over me." Said Janice.
"But I wanna go to Florida too!" Said Britney.
"One day, we might." Said Janice.
The day of Heather's holiday had arrived, and Charlie Brown and Schroeder were at the airport to big farewell to their lovers. Lucy, who was still disappointed that Heather didn't invite her, came too.
"I'll miss you, Charlie Brown!" Said Heather as she held his hands.
"I'll miss you too, my Little Red-Haired Girl." Said Charlie Brown.
"I'll miss you, my maestro!" Said Mary Stewart.
"I'll miss you, my one and only." Said Schroeder.
As the girls finished hugging, they went through the gate and onto their plane.
"Bon Voyage, Heather and Mary!" Charlie Brown and Schroeder cried.
"And don't come back!" Lucy shouted.
"Huh?!" Quizzed Charlie Brown. "Lucy?"
"What are you doing here?" Schroeder asked.
"Just came to say goodbye to Heather and Mary." Said Lucy.
"But why don't you want them back?" Asked Charlie Brown.
"Because….. Oh, I wanted to go to Florida too!" Lucy cried.
"There there, Lucy." Said Schroeder. "There's always next time."
"There may not be a next time!" Lucy added.
"You might go there when Sebastian books a vacation there." Charlie Brown assured her.
Lucy gave this a think.
"You may be right, Charlie Brown." Lucy decided.
"Now come on." Said Charlie Brown. "Let's go home."
They went to their cars, and drove back to their homes.
"Where have you been, Lucy?" Asked Rerun.
"Saying goodbye to Heather and Mary." Said Lucy.
"Figures." Said Rerun.
"So did you say goodbye to Heather, Big Brother?" Asked Sally.
"I did." Said Charlie Brown. "And so did Schroeder to Mary."
Charlie Brown then sighed.
"It's going to be a bit quiet without my one and only Little Red-Haired Girl." Said Charlie Brown.
"But Big Brother," said Sally. "Didn't she say she would send you post cards?"
"Yeah, she did." Said Charlie Brown. "But she'd only just taken off, so she can't have sent me any now."
Suddenly, the telephone rang. Sally answered it.
"Hello?" Said Sally.
Sally held the phone out.
"Your girlfriend's on the phone!" Sally cajoled in a sing-song sort of voice.
"Don't tell me she's already in Florida." Said Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown took the phone off of Sally, and….
"Hello, Heather?"
"Hiya, Chuck!" It wasn't Heather at all. It was Peppermint Patty.
"Patty?!" Exclaimed Charlie Brown.
"Just calling to see how you were doing with Heather away, Chuck." Said Peppermint Patty.
"She'd only just left, Patty." Said Charlie Brown.
"I've been thinking, Chuck." Said Peppermint Patty. "Why don't we hit the diamond and practice some baseball?"
"Great idea, Patty." Said Charlie Brown.
"Great. I'll meet you there, Chuck." Peppermint Patty said before hanging up.
"Bye." Said Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown got his hat, bat, ball and glove and was on his way out.
"Where are you going, Big Brother?" Asked Sally.
"Practicing some baseball." Said Charlie Brown.
"I'll see if Heather sends any postcards before you return, Big Brother." Sally promised.
As Charlie Brown left the house, he then had a thought.
"I wonder if Heather's in Florida now?"
Some hours later, the plane had landed at Tallahassee Airport.
"Florida, here we are!" Heather announced.
"Are you excited, dear?" Asked Donna.
"I sure am, Mom!" Said Heather. "How about you, Mary?"
"As excited as you are, Bestie." Said Mary Stewart.
"Wow! Florida already looks outstanding!" Exclaimed Henry.
"Alright then! Let's start sightseeing!" Heather cried.
"Not yet!" Said Al. "We need to go to our hotel while we're here."
"You got it, Dad." Said Heather.
After they arrived at their hotel, Heather, Mary, and Heather's family checked in, and left to check out the sights of Tallahassee.
"Wow!" Cried Heather.
They went into the Tallahassee Museum and saw all kinds of exhibits.
"Good grief!" Exclaimed Heather. "Dinosaurs!"
Mary Stewart cowered behind Heather, worrying about the dinosaur about to eat her.
"Don't worry, Mary!" Giggled Heather. "These dinosaurs won't eat you! They're not even alive!"
"That's a relief then." Said Mary Stewart.
"Dinosaur!" Cried Henry.
"Yes, Henry." Said Heather. "They're dinosaurs."
After their visit to the museum, Heather bought a postcard and began writing on it.
"Are you writing to Charlie Brown?" Asked Mary Stewart.
"Yes." Said Heather.
"Then I'd best write one to Schroeder." Suggested Mary Stewart.
"Lucky for you I bought you one." Heather said as she handed Mary Stewart a blank card.
"Thank you." Said Mary Stewart.
After they left Tallahassee Museum, Heather and Mary Stewart placed the cards in a postbox, waiting for the cards to reach Sparkyville.
"I can't wait to see what Charlie Brown has to say about my visit to Tallahassee Museum!" Heather said happily.
They returned to the hotel, thinking about where they were going to go tomorrow.
"This has been a fun vacation so far, Heather." Said Mary Stewart.
"It has." Said Heather. "The dinosaurs, the caboose, all kinds of history!"
Al came in to check on the girls.
"So what are you talking about now, girls?" Asked Al.
"We were talking about the fun we had in the museum." Said Heather.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves, girls." Said Al.
"But where are we going tomorrow?" Heather asked.
"Tomorrow, we're going to see some more sights of Tallahassee," began Al. "and then we're going down to Orlando."
"Wow! Orlando!" Exclaimed Heather. "Disneyworld!"
"I've always wanted to go to Disneyworld!" Cried Mary Stewart.
"Then you're in luck, Mary." Said Al.
Heather went to Henry's room.
"Hi, Little Brother." Said Heather. "Did you enjoy your trip to the museum?"
"Yes I did." Said Henry. "The dinosaurs were awesome!"
"I agree, Little Brother." Said Heather. "Are you looking forward to our next trip?"
"Where are we going next?" Asked Henry.
"We're going to Disneyworld!" Heather answered.
"Hooray! Disneyworld!" Cheered Henry.
The following day in Sparkyville, Sally went out to check the mail.
"Let's see….." Sally checked. "Water bill, gas bill, a postcard!"
"Hey?" Said Snoopy as he came out of his and Fifi's house.
"Actually, Snoopy, this post card isn't for you. It's for my big brother."
"Aw…" sighed Snoopy.
Sally went inside and handed the bills to the parents and gave Charlie Brown the postcard.
"Big Brother, I believe this is for you." Sally said.
"A postcard from Heather!" Cried Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown looked at the card.
"Dear, Charlie Brown," he read.
"How are you doing back in Sparkyville?
Mary, Henry and I have just been to the museum here in Tallahassee.
It has so many interesting exhibits like dinosaurs and cabooses.
Mary was scared of the dinosaurs until I informed her that the
Dinosaurs weren't alive.
I hope to visit many other places in Florida tomorrow, like Disneyworld,
And even the Everglades.
Hope to see you again really soon.
Love,
Your Little Red-Haired Girl,
Heather.
xoxoxo"
Charlie Brown felt very moved by this letter.
Later that day, in Sparkyville High, Charlie Brown told everyone all about it.
"So Heather has visited Tallahassee Museum" said Charlie Brown. "It has some amazing exhibits."
"Tallahassee is the capital of Florida after all, Charles." Said Marcie.
"Whoa, I've always wanted to visit Florida!" Exclaimed Darcy. "And I hope they visit Miami. Given how close it is to the beach, it might remind some of the hot weather of good old Los Angeles!"
"We've been to Los Angeles already." Said Marcie.
"First time, we came to visit Emily." Said Tommy. "See how she was going. Second time, to expose Alley the Dinosaur, and third time….. tried to get Emily back after Frieda and I split."
"Los Angeles is a nice place too." Said Emily. "Mommy enjoys it there, especially with her acting career."
"I'd like to start a career in Miami myself." Said Violet. "There or Los Angeles."
"I thought you wanted to work at your dad's work." Patty Swanson replied.
"And speaking of Florida, Charlie Brown," said Linus. "Where are Heather and Mary now?"
"I wonder too." Pondered Charlie Brown.
He then turned to Schroeder.
"Did you get a postcard from Mary?" Asked Charlie Brown.
"Indeed I did." Said Schroeder.
Meanwhile, Heather and Mary Stewart had arrived at Disneyworld.
"Wow! The happiest place on earth!" Said Heather.
"We're bound to see all the characters here." Said Henry.
Heather, Mary Stewart and Henry went on all the rides, like the rollercoaster and the cups. They had a wonderful time.
"That was fun!" Exclaimed Heather.
"I'll say." Said Mary Stewart.
The following day, Charlie Brown was given a postcard, where Heather informed him they had been to Disneyworld.
"Wow! Disneyworld!" Cried Charlie Brown.
Some days later, Heather, Mary Stewart, Henry and the family had arrived at the Everglades.
"Am I everglade to be at the Everglades?" Asked Heather.
"Oh, Heather! You're so funny!" Said Mary Stewart.
Heather, her family and Mary hopped onto a boat to sightsee, and see if there were any alligators lurking in the water.
"Alligators?" Said Mary Stewart. "I hope they don't eat me."
"Don't fear." Said Heather. "Alligators won't eat you if you keep in the boat."
As she said this, Henry walked and stood on the bow of the boat.
"Look at me, Mom! I'm king of the world!" Cried Henry.
"Henry, get away from there!" Called Heather.
But by the time Heather could get her brother off of the bow, some white goop landed on his head.
"AAUGH!" Henry exclaimed in disgust.
Heather then fell on her back, laughing.
"You should see yourself now, Little Brother!" Laughed Heather.
"I guess you could say he'd been standing on the poop deck!" Mary Stewart joked.
"Reminds me of the cruise Linus booked for us." Heather added.
Henry decided to walk away from the bow and sit down to stop anymore goop from landing on his head. But as soon as he did so….
"Look!" Cried Mary Stewart.
Henry turned to his right, and there, floating from the side of the boat, was….
"A crocodile!" Cried Henry.
"That's not a crocodile!" Giggled Heather. "That's an alligator."
Back in Sparkyville, Schroeder was playing his piano when Lucy walked in. Schroeder looked to his side.
"What are you doing here?" Schroeder asked.
"Now that Mary is away, I can sit by your side again and be fascinated by your music."
"But what about Sebastian?" Asked Schroeder.
"He's waiting for me in his house." Said Lucy. "But when I'm done listening to your music, I'm going over to his house."
Schroeder ignored Lucy and continued to play.
"I forgot how much you fascinated me." Said Lucy.
"Oh, good grief!" Sighed Schroeder.
"Which reminds me," said Lucy. "Mary just sent you this."
Lucy handed Schroeder the postcard.
"So she and Heather did go to Disneyworld." Said Schroeder."
"Lucky them!" Sighed Lucy.
Lucy then left Schroeder's house and there was Sebastian waiting outside.
"Sebastian?" Said Lucy. "What are you doing here?"
"I might as well be asking you the same thing." Said Sebastian. "There I was, waiting at my house for you to listen to my music, and now you're here, at the Klein house, listening to Mary's boyfriend playing his Beethoven music."
"I'm sorry, Sebastian." Said Lucy. "I just wanted to keep Schroeder company until Mary returned."
"I think I can fill the void." Came a voice.
The voice belonged to Lila.
"Lila?" Said Lucy.
"Well, Schroeder does like girls with long blonde hair." Said Lila.
"And me." Added another voice.
The voice belonged to Mary Jo.
"Well, your name is Mary." Said Lucy.
"Another Mary to look after Schroeder." Mary Jo smiled.
Some days later, Heather, her family and Mary Stewart were on their way to one particular place, one which Al, Heather's father, told them would excite them.
"So where are we going, Daddy?" Asked Heather.
"We're going to the one place where there are rockets and space studies." Said Al. "One of the places where you'll find NASA."
"Don't tell me." Said Heather.
"Behold!" Announced Donna.
And there it was. The city they'd arrived in was….
"Cape Canaveral!" Exclaimed Heather, Mary and Heather in unison.
"The very place there there's space studies." Said Donna.
When they arrived at NASA, Cape Canaveral, Heather, Donna, Al, Mary Stewart and Henry were introduced by a screen. This TV screen had a face which looked very much like Heather's.
"Welcome to NASA." Said the screen. "I am your Computerised Astronaut Recruitment Advisor. But you can call me CARA."
"Hi, CARA." Said Heather.
"Are you ready to learn about space travel?" Asked CARA.
"I've heard so much about it!" Said Heather. "Charlie Brown told me he and Snoopy had come here to learn all about it."
"I've always wanted to learn about space!" Said Mary Stewart.
"Then you've come to the right place…. What are your names?" Asked CARA.
"Heather. Heather Francesca Wold."
"Mary. Mary Stewart."
"Welcome, Heather and Mary." Said CARA.
"And I'm Henry. Henry Albert Wold."
"Welcome, Henry." Said CARA. "Enjoy your journey."
And so, for the rest of the trip, Heather looked at all the sights of Cape Canaveral, sent postcards to Charlie Brown, while Mary Stewart sent some to Schroeder. And eventually, Heather Wold, her family, and Mary Stewart had made it to Tallahassee Airport.
"So where are we going, Big Sister?" Asked Henry.
"We're going home." Said Heather. "I can't wait to tell all our friends about our vacation."
"I can't wait either!" Said Mary Stewart. "I missed seeing our friends, especially my Schroeder."
"And especially you-know-who." Said Heather.
Some hours later, a plane touched down in Sparkyville Airport, and Heather, Mary Stewart, Henry and their parents walked through the gate. And much to their surprise…..
"SURPRISE!"
This cause Heather, Mary Stewart and Henry to jump and flip onto their backs.
"WELCOME BACK, HEATHER AND MARY!"
And there were Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Harold Angel, Sally, Linus, Lucy, Rerun, Katie, Heather Johnson, Mimi, Forest, Franklin, Marcie, Roy, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Frieda, Timmy, Violet, Shermy, Percy, Patty Swanson, Lila, Mary Jo, Polly, Floyd, Thibault and Peggy Jean, cheering for the return.
"We missed you, Heather!" Charlie Brown called, walking up to Heather.
"I missed you too." Said Heather as she hugged him.
"I missed you, Mary." Said Schroeder as he hugged her.
"I missed you too." Said Mary Stewart.
"Florida was a fun place to travel around." Said Heather. "While I may have enjoyed the sights of Cape Canaveral, Disneyworld, Tallahassee and even the Everglades, I have to admit there's no place like home."
Everyone cheered, and after Mary Stewart kissed Schroeder, and Heather Wold kissed Charlie Brown, they picked up Heather and Mary Stewart, carrying them out of the airport.