A Talk With Lucy

Although I never would have thought of setting up a psychiatrist stand as a girl, merely that of lemonade or candy stand, I have to admire the depiction by Charles Schultz, when he made his image of his cartoon character, Lucy. She could be rough around the edges, but deep down inside, I think she meant well?

So, I decided to take an imaginery journey into the cartoon world and speak with her...right at her little stand. I'd play on her vanity you see, as Lucy most definitely liked to talk about herself. Although at times she seemed mean and unfair to others, sometimes and often...she appeared to know how to handle her men. Perhaps some advice some of us girls were lacking?

Lucy looked serious, while leaning on her stand, as if comtemplating who her next victim...I mean, client might be.

Now as I approached her stand, I recalled she was quite the social butterfly. She hung out with the geeks, such as Charlie Brown and her little brother, Linus. She often fed them advice, although not always well taken. She was bold, outspoken and well...often blunt and to the point. Despite all the outcrys against what she stood for, they still came back for more.

"Lucy, ahem..Lucy...talking girl to girl, what is your secret?" I asked, approaching her stand stealthily.

"Five cents please!" she announces with her wide, snide grin. "My advice is not for free you know...even for a girl!"

So I repeated the question, while laying down my five cent piece.

"What secret? I have no secrets, I tell it like it is, you know." Lucy admits, still grinning.

I lay down two more nickels, hoping for a clearer answer. "In regards to how you handle the men in your life...don't you think you are a bit rough on them? Say like your brother and that so-called block head, Charlie Brown?"

Lucy looks me square in the eyes. "I'm merely trying to toughen them up. Nobody, especially us girls, want to hang with a woos. You know what I mean?" she asks, fluffing her curls.

I lay down five more nickels hoping to have a longer talk with Lucy about the love of her life Shroeder, the musician. Her eyes light up as she sees five more nickels. She grabs them up quickly and puts them beneath her stand.

"Any further questions? Hmm?" she replies grinning from ear to ear, as if quite pleased with herself.

I clear my throat once more and smile. "We all know how you feel about Shroeder...your musician friend? He seems to bring out some of the best and the worst in you. Why do you think that is?"

Lucy responds. "Oh...I suppose I get dreamy eyed at times around him... not for his music of course, you understand. I don't like competing with composers, such as his favorite, Beethoven. I get angry with him when he keeps his head down, looking only at his miniature baby grand while playing that music over and over again. I want him to only see me! I'm hoping, that if I bug him enough, he can't help but see me in the sheet music he is playing from and realize what a find I am!" she grins sheepisly.

The next question I approach quite carefully, as I know Lucy likes to be in control, even amongst the girls...her peers. She tries to set a good example, doesn't she?

I lay down another quarter, hoping she is not tired of me yet, or my interview. I smile as I ask...

"So Lucy, I see you know how to take charge in any given situation. You know, like amongst your friends? You appear to have everything under control most of the time, even when your female friends, don't always agree with your ideas or tactics."

Lucy looks down at the quarter and snatches it up. "I don't let anyone push me around, not even the girls!" she smiles, not offering any further comment into the matter.

Lucy doesn't appear daunted or bored with my line of questioning. After all, it is all about her, isn't it? I sigh heavily before asking the next realm of questioning, plunking down another quarter or two. I know without it, she will not keep her stand open to me. She will not keep an open mind and walk away in a huff. So, I continue with my interview.

"Lucy, I see you are open to offering advice, even in the most adverse weather. Why is that?"

Lucy of course just gives me a grimacing smile as she responds. "A girl has to make a living now, doesn't she?"

"But-but you don't appear to like the snow. In all fairness, it appears you might actually hate it!" I stammer.

She leans in close on her stand, almost hanging off the window, as she whispers her answer to me now. "A girl like me has to keep on top of things. I have to tough it out...even when the weather is forboding. I can't let my friends see my weaknesses, now can I?"

"Yes...I can see that. Good answer." I reply."You are one tough cookie, I will give you that!" I respond, jotting it down on my notepad.

Lucy sighs quite heavily, as if she is getting bored with me now. Others aren't lined up behind me...it appears too early for them to show. I make another comment concerning her big sister act, hoping she doesn't bite my head off.

"Lucy, I see you are often portrayed as the big sister. You walk your brother Linus to school, decide on what television shows you should watch and even tell him, often...I might add, that he is getting too old for his beloved blanket. What is your take on all of it?"

Lucy looks away, staring suddenly at her finger nails, as if bored by my line of questioning. When she turns back to face me, she says cooly..."A big sister does what she has to do. I don't want my baby brother growing up weak, like that blockhead Charlie Brown now, do I?"

I just smile, while not wanting to open a sensitive can of worms before I am ready to close our interview. I fear being shut down, as she now seems anxious to do so.

"That will be another two nickels please." she announces, quite matter-of-factly.

I plunk down two more nickels, feeling cheated somehow. Was I really behind in payment to her? Hadn't I already given her enough? One thing I concluded, as I was ready to walk away with my story was...she was one sneaky little girl. She was grinning sheepishly at me, as I placed my last question.

"Is there anything else you would like to add to my interview Lucy? Anything at all?" I asked, hoping to find a profound answer that would blow my socks off. Instead, she just started closing her stand. Before she walked away, she grabbed up her little coin box, as she announced with a wide grin:

"The doctor is out, as I hear my audience calling. We have another show to put on, you know?!"

Lucy walked away, leaving me alone with my half-filled notepad and out a small chunk of change. She ran to meet up with her baby brother and Charlie Brown, who were staring up at the sky, lying on a hillside. When she plopped down beside them, she appeared to be contemplating a remark. I am too far away to hear it, but I suspect she'd soon be saying something like this...

"You're not the only block head around here, Charlie Brown!"

The interview was over!