ONE LAST HURRAH

BY

BOB WRIGHT

AUTHOR'S NOTE: As with many of the stories I write on this site, this idea came rushing unexpectedly into my mind and refused to let go, so it's only fair that I went ahead and wrote it. This story continues the continuity I've previously established in First Prize, Two Brains, One Heart, and Mr. Bueller Goes to Washington, so if you have not read these stories before reading this one, it would probably be a good idea to do so beforehand so that you know exactly why things in this take on the expanded "Hughesiverse" (for lack of a more proper name) are as they are. This likely will be the last full-length story I do concerning these characters, so hopefully I'll have effectively finished this take on their unofficial extended arcs well when all's said and done.

The Breakfast Club and all related characters and indicia are registered trademarks of Universal City Studios and the John Hughes estate, or whichever other entities would apply. Ferris Bueller's Day Off and all related characters and indicia are registered trademarks of Paramount Pictures Corporation and the Hughes estate. The rights of other previously established characters that will appear throughout this story will be noted as they appear. All lyrics are trademarked by their respective copyright holders. And now, sit back and enjoy what might well be one final trip by this author into the appealing world of Shermer, Illinois...


"Summer afternoons. They're just as enjoyable as sunny spring days. Maybe even more so. And of course, whenever I get one to enjoy, you know I will enjoy it to the fullest."

With a deep grin, Ferris Bueller leaned back in his inflatable backyard pool. "It's so good that you could all come back again," he said out loud, as if greeting an old friend once more, "Not too much has happened since last we met; it's been a pretty average summer. Of course, average for someone like me doesn't cut it, so I'm still looking for a little bit of excitement before college. Just a moment..."

He took a sip of lemonade from the cup laying nearby before continuing, "Me, I'm going to Ann Arbor myself. The University of Michigan will be my home for the next four years, starting nineteen days from now, August first," he went on, "It's far enough away from here that I don't have to worry about my parents catching me with anything, but close enough so I could still come home without problems if I need to. And besides, the larger student body means the professors probably lose me in a crowd, so I can probably get away with whatever I think of doing there. Of course, the best part is," he leaned forward, "Cameron won't be too far away, as he ultimately committed to Albion, which isn't too far away from Ann Arbor, so turns out I can drop in on him without trouble. You can't help but like the guy, and I did want to stay in touch with him, and now we can. He definitely wanted to get out of state and away from the bad memories at home, and I can't blame him for that. And with his father still serving his sentence for his rampage after finding the Ferrari wrecked and his mom still getting psychotherapy from her breakdown in the state mental hospital, he won't have to worry about them badgering him. I do hope college can help him go further along than he has already; I do want him to be a well-rounded person in the end."

He shifted around in the pool. "And like I said, that's pretty much about it, other than getting enjoy driving my own Ferrari now," he continued, "But I'm a patient man, and I just know if I wait long enough, one more good time's going to come my way..."

It was at this moment in fact that his cell phone, which was laying nearby, started buzzing. Ferris reached for it and stared at the screen. A grin crossed his face. "Speak of the devil, here's the answer I've been looking for," he exclaimed, recognizing the number, "How do I time these things just right...?"

He hit the button to connect to the caller. "Well, good afternoon, it's nice to hear from you again," he said out loud.

"Good to hear from you again too, Ferris," the girl on the other end told him, "Listen, are you and Cameron and Sloane available this week? We'll be close by in Wisconsin, and if you're able to come up..."

"Just a moment, if you will," Ferris interrupted her. He jumped out of the pool and bustled towards the back porch. "Cameron, got something to tell you," he called loudly through the screen door. After a ten second delay, it swung open. "What's going on, Ferris?" a confused Cameron Frye stepped outside.

"Cameron, how would you like to be a part of one last great hurrah before college?" Ferris asked him.

"We're not going to hack into what's left of Mr. Rooney's bank account and use it to finance rebellions against tyrants around the world, are we, Ferris?" Cameron gave him a suspicious look.

"No, but thanks for that idea; I'll keep it in mind for later. What I'm talking about, old buddy, is what looks like a great offer for a week of fun, courtesy of our old friend from Washington who happens to like you a lot," Ferris told him with a smile, holding up the phone.

"You mean...?" surprise spreading on his face, Cameron took the phone from him and put it to his ear in a flash. "Natalie?" he asked breathlessly.

"Hello again, Cameron," the president's daughter greeted him warmly, "How's summer been going for you so far?"

"Uh, decent, but a little slow lately, to be honest," Cameron admitted, relinquishing the phone back to Ferris, who pressed the button to put it on speaker for both of them.

"Well, I've got the answer for your boredom if you're available," Natalie told him wryly, "Dad's scheduled to have a summit up at Lake Olafsson in Wisconsin this week with the new emir of Kuwait; he's bringing Mom and I along for it too..."

"Well, good for him; he's definitely getting better as a father if he's bringing you along with him on these official things," Cameron nodded.

"Yeah, I know. Well, since it looks like Lake Olafsson's not too far from Chicago, I asked if you and Ferris and Sloane could come spend the week with us at the summit, and he said yes. In fact, he said you could bring anyone along you wanted."

"I guess he's really, really grateful then for everything we did to make him see the light in regards to you, and keeping his office safe from Senator Tannen's greedy hands," Ferris mused, "Well, I guess our answer's yes, then."

"Wonderful," Natalie exclaimed in delight, "I'll be so glad to see the three of you again. All right, call me back no later than nine and let me know how many others are coming with you so the presidential coordinators can lock in the reservations. And make sure the others bring formal dress with them; we're having a big formal dinner for the emir when he arrives there with us in two days. You can probably head up tomorrow, though; we'll have your rooms at the hotel set by then."

"Well, sounds great. Thanks for calling, Natalie, and see you up there," Ferris told her, his own smile spreading.

"Be glad to see the two of you and Sloane again-especially you, Cameron," Natalie told him happily, making Cameron visibly blush, "And you're going to love it up there; we'll be staying in a brand new luxury hotel, and there's lot to do at Lake Olafsson, especially some zip lining, I've seen..."

"Well, you'll be in heaven for sure," Cameron remarked, "See you there, then, Natalie."

"Bye," Ferris wished the First Daughter farewell too before hanging up. "We hit the jackpot," Cameron," he told his best friend with a grin, "You can't ask for a better end of summer bash than this. And with Mom and Dad out of town on business all this week and Jeannie camping out with friends across the state, no one'll ever know we're gone."

"It does sound good, Ferris, that's for sure," Cameron agreed, "I'm wondering, though, maybe we should keep it just us and Sloane so no one gets..."

"Oh no, no, Cameron; if we have the offer to invite others, it would behoove us to invite others," Ferris countered, "Better as many people get to enjoy this end of summer bash with us."

"But who can we invite, Ferris?"

"I don't know yet, Cam, but I think a walk ought to give us a few answers. So, if you'll give me a minute to get dressed," Ferris made for the back door, "We can be on our way..."


"I want it to be someone we don't usually hang out with, Cameron," he continued to his best friend as they walked down Fern Street fifteen minutes later, "Anyone can do anything with their inner circle, but an experience like this just calls out for bringing along people we're not intimate with."

"That's kind of hard, Ferris, given how much everyone tends to gravitate towards you," Cameron pointed out, "Who did you possibly have in mind?"

"Well, for one thing, we might..." Ferris stopped at the sound of angry shouting coming out of the house ahead on the left. It was moments later the front door slammed open. "...you can burn in hell, you old goat, you hear me, burn in hell!" the enraged figure of John Bender stormed out the door, shouting angrily over his shoulder back into the house.

"And don't bother coming back, you worthless filth!" Mr. Bender's equally angry-and, from what Ferris could ascertain, heavily intoxicated-voice shouted back. The door was slammed shut with a loud bang. Ferris's face lit up. "I think we have our answer, Cameron," he told his best friend, pointing at Bender's retreating form up the street.

"Him!?" Cameron gulped, "Ferris, I got very nervous sitting next to him in social studies all this year; the guy's a loose cannon just waiting to snap! How do we know he wouldn't...!?"

"We don't, but something deep down tells me we can trust him in the clutch. And since I've seen he's now friends with...yep, he'll do," Ferris nodded. "Come on, let's see if he'll say yes," he waved Cameron forward.

"I'd rather not, Ferris; I'd like to go to college in one piece!" Cameron protested. When Ferris continued after Bender, however, he groaned and muttered, "I'd better not regret this...!" and followed after him. Ferris caught up with Bender at the corner. "Afternoon, John, how's it going?" he asked out loud with a smile.

"Don't bother me, Bueller, I'm in a bad mood right now, and I don't want to have to wring someone's neck!" Bender warned him without turning around.

"Don't worry, I'll be quick and to the point, John. I'd like to make you an offer, one I think you're going to like..."

"No."

"Even before you hear what I have to say?"

"Are you deaf or stupid, Bueller!?" Bender finally spun around to glare him down, "Whatever you want from me, the answer's no, got it!?"

"Not even to offer you the chance for a wonderful vacation far away from here?" Ferris inquired, "Because that's my proposal, John: a whole week in the Wisconsin North Woods, with the president of the United States, in touch with nature..."

"For your information, Bueller, I hate the president and I hate nature. And, increasingly, I'm REALLY hating you. So make like a sub and take a dive away from here, got it!?" Bender warned him, stomping across the street now that the Walk light had come on.

"I get it, John, you're not happy at the moment," Ferris continued following him across the street despite Cameron waving wildly for him not to, "And believe me, I can understand why," he put on a burst of speed and reached the other side of the street ahead of his quarry, "I know how rough things are at home for you, John. I'm not blind; I could have taken a hint all through high school. Probably I'd be the same as you if I were in your shoes. That's why I'm offering this trip to you: a chance to get away from everything that's causing you pain and grief at the moment. A chance to find some semblance of peace."

"Who said I need any of that!?" Bender snapped at him.

"Well, me, of course, but that's beside the point. John, we may not be friends, but I'm making you this offer out of the goodness of my heart. Come with me, and I'll give you a week you'll remember fondly for the rest of your life," Ferris urged him, "One week on a lake in the very Great Outdoors, in a luxury hotel with full service and Secret Service protection. What more could anyone ask for?"

"And what's the catch?" Bender was still skeptical.

"Why should there be a catch?"

"Because your name's Ferris Bueller; you'd never do anything that wouldn't profit you to some degree."

"Well, sometimes I'll admit I have been that way, but there are times I like to do things out of the goodness of my heart. My last day of school that I skipped? It was for Cameron's sake," Ferris gestured at his friend across the street, who waved half-heartedly, "It was to show him a good time. That's what I'd like to do for you, John; show you a good time that you don't usually have."

"And why me? We never hung out, we never socialized..."

"That's my point, John; I'd like to take this opportunity, my last as a regular resident of Shermer, Illinois, and spend it with some people that I ordinarily didn't hang out with, to get to know more of humanity, and maybe in so doing learn a little about myself. You fit the bill perfectly there. As too would the people I've seen you hanging out with since spring. In fact, they're all invited too."

"Well..."

"Think about it, John. You and Claire Standish together under the stars, far from civilization-it's the perfect atmosphere for romance," Ferris painted a picture for him, "And isn't she going to college out of state?"

"To the University of Arizona, yeah," Bender admitted, his expression dropping somewhat.

"So, wouldn't this be a great last chance to have one final great fling with her? Think about it, isn't that something you'd want in case you'd never see her again after she leaves town?" Ferris pressed him. Bender slowly nodded softly. "All right, you convinced me, Bueller," he muttered, "But, just be warned: if this is a trick on your part, or you deliberately try to embarrass me at any point," he pulled out and activated a switchblade and thrust it right in Ferris's face, "No more days off for Ferris Bueller again, ever. Got it!?"

"Yep, I definitely get the point," Ferris nodded, staring at the very sharp knife, "All right then, call up the rest of your group and let me know no later than nine tonight if they're coming so I can lock in reservations."

"They'll probably come; lord knows they've probably got nothing better to do. And so you know, you can probably expect one additional person on the trip, if she can bother to shake off her parents," Bender told him.

"Well, the more the merrier on this trip. Tell them to meet me in the parking lot at the James Hill Supermarket at seven tomorrow morning; transportation will be provided," Ferris said, "Oh, and as long as she does say yes, Claire's family does have that country estate west of the city, right?"

"Yeah, I've been out there once or twice over the summer when her family wasn't in."

"Would they be in now?"

"Nope; her dad ran off to Vegas with his new date, and her mom's down in the Caribbean, probably drinking her brains out over having gotten divorced," Bender muttered.

"Perfect, that's the perfect cover. Tell everyone else to tell their families they'll be spending the week there, and we won't be able to be reached by phone, computer, or anything out there. That way, we're home free for the week. Thanks for everything, John," Ferris patted him on the shoulder, "See you tomorrow at..."

"Rule Number One above everything, Bueller: DON'T touch me!" Bender shouted, thrusting the knife at him again.

"Right, gotcha," Ferris quickly retracted his arm, "Well, let me know who's all in, and see you tomorrow at seven."

He skipped back across the street to the waiting Cameron. "All set," he told his best friend, "We've got five, maybe six people coming with us on this."

"Again, I think we're making a mistake bringing him along, Ferris," Cameron glanced nervously at Bender walking away on the other side of the street.

"Come on, Cam, learn to trust someone you ordinarily wouldn't," Ferris urged him, "It'll make you a better person. Now that we have that straight," he pulled his cell phone and dialed a very familiar number. "Sloane my dear, it's your knight here," he said in the most romantic voice he could muster, "I'd like to make you an offer for the rest of the week that I think will be to your liking..."