Note: I do not own the Hardy Boys characters or their friends, only any extra secondary characters I invent.
Chapter 1
"Hello?"
21-year-old Frank Hardy picked up the phone.
"Hey Frank, it's me!"
Recognizing his brother's voice, Frank smiled. "Hey Joe. How's the college life?"
"Just be glad you didn't go."
"Homework overload?"
"More than you'd ever know."
Frank chuckled. "You get my letter?"
"Yeah. Thanks for the check."
"Sure thing." Frank sat in a chair and gazed at a picture of his wife-to-be that was hung on the fridge.
"I was wondering..." Joe began, "If you'd come up and visit me sometime."
"I was planning on it, but I've been really busy planning for the wedding and all... You're coming, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, bro."
A grin spread across the older Hardy's face. He did miss his kid brother and was hoping to go up and visit, soon.
"You know, next week, the hotel here's having a special. I haven't looked into the details, but it seems like a good deal and--"
Frank caught Joe's hint. "Alright, alright. Let me check my calendar. Can you hold for a minute?"
"Sure thing."
Frank set the receiver on the counter and walked over to the opposite wall where his calendar hung. The seven squares of next week were blank, except for work, anyways. Frank figured he could get a few days off. Phil Cohen, a school chum of the Hardys, had opened his own business and hired on Frank. He was a fair boss, and usually forgiving when his employees took time off with little warning.
Frank wrote himself a reminder to call Phil about getting time off on a sticky note and posted it on the calendar. He then picked up the phone, again.
"Sounds great," Frank said. "I just need to see if I could get the time off work."
"Great!" Joe exclaimed. "I'll look in to that hotel deal for you!"
"Okay. Call you back."
"Later, bro."
Frank Hardy hung up the phone and dialed his boss. After discussing the vacation with him, Frank hung up and dialed Joe's dorm.
"Hello?"
"Hey Joe, I got the time off."
"Great. The deal's a good one at the hotel."
"Alright. Well, make me reservations, will ya? I'll be over on Monday."
"Will do, Frank, will do."