Title: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Author: Beautiful-Crying-Angel
Category: Books – Hardy Boys
Genre: Tragedy/Angst/Spiritual
Rating: Teen
Summary: It's Friday night, and Joe promised Fenton he would pick up a package for him. The only problem is that the post office closes in half an hour, and Joe also promised Vanessa he's take her to the late movie. Frank, in an act of kindness, decides he'll drive down and collect the parcel for him. Too bad things never work out the way we want them to.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or anything pertaining to them.
Chapter One
Friday nights in June were always the best. They were the one time each week when people unwound, and surrendered all their worries to the pleasure of another weekend. As soon as the sun had set party-goers, and anyone looking to have fun, could be found out and about. The town was alive with music and laughter.
On one particular Friday night, however, eighteen-year-old Frank Hardy was not looking for a good time. Final exams were only a week away, and he wanted as much preparation as possible. He graduated this year, so this final month of school had to be time well spent.
Frank ran a hand through his dark brown hair, his matching coffee-colored eyes fixed on the Chemistry 12 textbook before him. How on earth was he going to remember all these formulas and reactions? He sighed heavily. "Maybe I need a break," he said.
As if in answer, there was a knock on his bedroom door. The year-younger Hardy brother entered without waiting for a reply. "Hey Frank, what are you doing?"
"What do you want, Joe?" Frank asked, pretending to be deep in concentration.
"Why do you always assume I want something?"
"Because you usually do." Joe flopped down on the end of the bed, and stared without much interest at the open schoolbook.
"What are you studying?"
"Stop beating around the bush, little brother. What do you want?" Frank looked up expectedly. It was exactly like Joe to leave everything for the last minute. Then it was always Frank's job to bail him out.
"Okay, here's the problem. Earlier today I promised Dad I'd pick up a parcel for him from the post office. I forgot about it, and the post officer closes at eleven." Frank glanced over at the clock - 10:30. "Vanessa's going to be here any minute. We're going to see the late movie."
"So? Just get Dad's package, or whatever, first thing in the morning."
"Ha-ha, funny thing is, he's stopping by the house tomorrow morning at seven to get it."
"And?"
"The post office isn't open until nine." Frank rolled his eyes. This is just what he had predicted. Now it was his turn to get Joe out of trouble, and make sure everything was alright. No one would ever be the wiser. "Come on, bro, please. I really need this date with Van. And you're not doing anything.
Frank sighed defeated. How did he constantly get cornered into these things? "Fine Joe, but you owe me big time."
"You got it. I promise you won't regret it." Ironic, isn't it, how nothing ever works out as planned?
OhBrotherWhereArtThou
"Mom, can I borrow your car?" Laura Hardy looked up from the paperwork she was spilled over. Papers, documents, and folders were scattered all over the kitchen table.
"Why, dear?" She didn't look up.
"Joe's taking the van, and I need to run an errand."
"An errand?" Laura looked up now, curious. "At ten-thirty at night?" Frank shrugged.
"I might get something to eat afterwards."
"Okay, dear. I'm turning in now. Don't be too late." Mrs. Hardy grabbed her keychain off the counter, and threw it to Frank.
"Want your goodnight kiss now?" he asked playfully as she let out a long yawn, and scooped up the random mess.
"No thanks, baby. I'll get two from you next time." She watched as her oldest son shut the door behind him, like she had a thousand times before.
OhBrotherWhereArtThou
What was that sound? Two seconds past. There it was again. Joe turned over angrily, and covered his head with a pillow. Someone was knocking at the door. He wished they'd just go away. Joe heard his parent's bedroom door open, and his mother's light footsteps as she descended the stairs.
Joe glanced sideways at his clock radio; the red numbers glowed into the dark room. 2:00am, it announced. Joe grumbled under his breath, but wriggled out of his covers anyways. His curiosity had finally gotten the better of him. "Frank?" he whispered, peering into his brother's room. He was surprised to find the bed had not been slept in. Joe rolled his eyes; the person at the door was most likely a very embarrassed Franklin Hardy, who had forgotten his keys. At least, that's what he wanted to believe.
"Are you sure?" he heard his mother say. Feeling drawn towards the mystery below, Joe crept slightly down that hall to the stairway. His heart began to speed up in his chest as he tiptoed, right foot, left foot, right, left, closer to the mystery he craved to unravel.
"Are you sure?" Mrs. Hardy repeated. Joe strained to see the person concealed in the entryway, but the half opened door and his mother's petite frame hid the late-night caller. He dropped another step. Creak! The stair tattled, its loud voice echoing through the quiet home.
Mrs. Hardy snapped her head around, looking with pain filled eyes at her youngest boy. Something made him stop, and caused a sudden wave of anxiety to flood over him. He moved his lips, questioning, but no sound came. His eyes filled with tears, even before his mother spoke.
"Joseph, honey, you'd better come down." He could see the officer clearly now. Joe didn't move. "Baby, Frank's dead.