Chapter 4 Pressure
Joe woke up the next morning to sunlight peeking through his bedroom window. The clock on his nightstand read seven-thirty.
Frank had left early to pick Callie up before school in order to ask for her help in finding Hayden's file. He wanted so much to be at school today to help his big brother with his case. They were partners in crime solving.
Fenton had informed his sons last night about Mr. Ryan suspending Joe from school for hitting Mr. Hayden. The school board would have to decide whether he'd be allowed to go back to school.
"We have a strict policy against school violence," Joe imitated the principal.
He got out of bed and then headed for the bathroom to take a shower. "This has nothing to do with school violence. It is about a teacher abusing his authority over a student." He got into the shower, letting the hot water ease the tension from his shoulders.
Questions started running through his mind. Why was Mr. Ryan protecting Hayden? Was he afraid it would make him look bad to have a teacher abuse a student?
He started thinking about the conversation he'd had with Frank last night. "'Abuse is abuse whichever way you look at it'. I should've said something about Hayden's getting angry and throwing a book at me. It might've made a difference for Henry".
Thinking about Henry, Joe realized something; he wouldn't be at school to look out for his friend. He also thought about the students that pick on him? Since Joe couldn't be there, he'd sent the next best thing; his big brother.
They'd promised each other. Frank had promised that he'd keep an eye out for Henry while Joe assured his brother he wouldn't say anything to their father about Frank looking for Hayden's file.
After showering and getting dressed, Joe took the stairs to get to the kitchen. His heart started pounding when he saw Fenton was sitting at the table reading the morning paper and drinking coffee.
Fenton Hardy was a tall, good-looking, athletic middle-aged man. He was strong and fearless. Joe's father was someone who rarely lost his temper, except when it came to someone threatening his family.
Fenton Hardy was a man of outstanding character who was respected by friends and colleagues alike. A man who Joe so wanted to be like. Everything he and his brother had learned about crime solving had come from Fenton.
"Dad, can we talk?"
Fenton looked up from his paper to see Joe standing in front of him. He put down his paper and coffee giving his youngest son his full attention. "Yes, of course son."
Joe sat down across from his father unsure of where to start. Frank's words echoed at the back of his mind. "Let them know how you feel."
Joe took a deep breath and said the first thing that entered his mind. "I'm not Frank; I'll never be Frank. I'm proud of my brother; he works hard and has accomplished so much. I may never bring home the straight A's that Frank does".
"I think it's unfair that you, mom and Aunt Gertrude lecture me to do better the way you do. I try to do my best to make you happy but sometimes I feel like it'll never be enough".
Taking another deep breath Joe finished off, "I will just never be Frank". He felt better, lighter after getting all that off his chest. He tried to read the expression on his father's face. Was he angry? Disappointed?
Catching a glimpse of the headline on the front page of the newspaper Joe felt his heart sink to his stomach. "Son of Famous Detective Fenton Hardy Attacks Teacher"
That's it, he's disappointed in me, I've disgraced the Hardy name. Frank would never do that. Frank was the perfect son. Frank would have never gotten into a fight with a teacher. Frank would've asked for help. Maybe I am weak?
"I'm sorry." Joe's voice quivered; wiping the tears off of his face.
Joe stood up heading for the door. Quickly getting up, Fenton stepped in front of his son, preventing him from leaving the kitchen. It was déjà vu all over again, the only difference Joe thought, was that he wasn't being threatened and shoved to the floor.
Joe heard the words "I'm so sorry" followed by Fenton's strong arms wrapping him into a hug. He immediately fell into his father's embrace.
Then he heard crying! Why was his father crying? He never cried. He's always been so strong and fearless; it kind of scared him to hear his father cry.
"You're crying, you never cry." Joe said in disbelief.
"That's not true." Fenton said wiping the tears from his dark brown eyes, as he released his son. "I do cry, just not all the time." He could see the confusion on his son's face.
"When I have a difficult case that's not going well or my family's being threatened in some way, I take it very personally. What happened to you yesterday was my fault."
"How is what happened with Mr. Hayden your fault?" Joe asked, not understanding.
"You boys are so good at being detectives," Fenton replied, "Sometimes, I forget that you're still teenagers. Your mother is constantly reminding me of that."
"I try to be like Frank, he's so much like you; you're so good at everything you do". Joe said swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yesterday just proved I'll never be a good detective, like you."
"Frank reminded this morning that no one is perfect. We all make mistakes." Fenton said a slight grin on his face. "Yes, even the famous Fenton Hardy".
"You boys are growing up into fine young men". Fenton and Joe sat back down at the table. "There is so much I still need to teach you. For one thing; it's okay for men to cry. It shows you're human. When I was growing up my father taught me men never cry. It was a sign of weakness."
"He was hard to live with."
"Did he hit you?"
Fenton shook his head no. "He'd never show any kind of emotion. He'd never hug us or tell us he loved us".
"Is that why Aunt Gertrude is like she is?" Joe asked, thinking of his father's unmarried older sister. She was a sharp-tongued woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Under her tough exterior was a great deal of affection.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Fenton said thinking of his sister. He was glad she was away visiting friends.
"How come I don't remember him?"
"He died in a car accident when I was about your age."
"Is that why you never talk about him?" Joe asked curiously.
"Yes." Fenton replied.
"I never knew what love was, until I met your mother. Your mother taught me it was okay to express your feelings. Sometimes it's still hard for me to show emotions."
Fenton sighed wearily. "Frank and I are so much alike in so many ways. One thing, I regret passing on to him is being afraid to show emotion. You're so much like your mother." Fenton looked at Joe smiling.
"Does Frank know all of this?" Joe asked softly.
"Yes, we had this same conversation," Fenton responded. "Just before he left for school."
"I didn't mean to hit Mr. Hayden. He hurt my friend and had threatened to hurt Frank." Joe said, blue eyes almost pleading. "You believe me, don't you?"
"Yes, that part I believe." Fenton answered honestly. "However, I don't think I'm getting the whole story". He looked right at Joe and asked straight out, "Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"
Joe looked at his father, he knows, of course he knows, "Frank, told you didn't he?"
"He told me about what?" Fenton pressed on; yes he knew, but he needed to hear it from Joe.
Joe knew by the serious tone and the expression on his father's face he wasn't going to get away with it. "Mr. Hayden got angry and picking a book up off his desk he threw it at me. All I did was turn in a late paper," he confessed, letting out a breath.
"Dad, I'm used to having bad guys getting angry and threatening to hurt me. It comes with the territory of being a detective; it's no big deal".
Fenton just looked at Joe, blinking. That was not the response he'd expected to come out of his son's mouth. Fenton couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was he really going to have to have this conversation with his seventeen year old?
He really needed to straighten Joe on this. Had he really been so out of touch with their lives? Fenton took a moment to gather his thoughts, he know that what he was about to say was important and he had to get it right the first time around.
"Joe, it is a big deal, a very big deal." He said working hard to keep his voice calm and steady, "I'm astounded that you would think otherwise. Abuse is abuse, no matter what it is whether it's physical, verbal, or sexual. To treat a person or animal with cruelty or violence especially regularly or repeated, is abuse."
"Throwing objects at another person is not able to handle things. A person who does that when they get angry is abusive. Yes, in our line of work you're going to encounter "bad guys" as you put it, who want to cause some kind of harm to you." Fenton quickly added his next point, "I don't you to be immune to it and think that it's no big deal."
"Mr. Hayden was wrong doing what he did, just as it was wrong of him to put his hands on you and your friend." Fenton went on, "You didn't say one word about this yesterday in Mr. Ryan's office. This happened a few weeks ago, correct?"
Joe huffed out, "Yes."
"You never had any intention of saying anything at all." Fenton added his last point. "I had to hear about it from your brother first."
"I'm sorry," Joe apologized. "I know I should've said something, I just thought what Hayden did to my friend was more important." Joe shook his head, "Besides, it wouldn't have mattered. Mr. Ryan wouldn't have believed me anyway."
Just like Frank, Fenton didn't understand why Mr. Ryan got so defensive when I asked to see the file? The man is the principal of the school where a claim has been made of a teacher abusing a student. His first priority is and should be the safety of the students. Every little detail needs to be looked into such as Hayden's file.
"The truth always matters, son". Fenton said, turning back to Joe. "If you tell the truth then everything else will fall into place".
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I understand." Joe agreed. He'd realized his mistake now; he definitely should've said something.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" Fenton asked, a firm edge in his tone.
"I've told you everything."
"I know everything?"
"Yes, I told you everything."
"Good, now we have that settled." Fenton said, placing a hand on Joe's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "I want you to know something," he added on a lighter note, "I am proud of you."
A big smile slid across Joe's face. It brought tears to his eyes hearing it. His father was proud of him. "I am proud of you for standing up for your friend, and wanting to protect your brother."
"It takes a lot of courage to stand up to someone bigger than you. Just come and talk to me or your mother, the next time you have a problem. We may not always agree on things but regardless, we love you and are always here for you."
"I promise." Joe said quickly wiping the tears before hugging Fenton in agreement. He felt so much better!
"Now, tell me everything that happened with Mr. Hayden again." Fenton said, getting back to the matter at hand. "I also want to hear more about this friend of yours."
"You need to get back to school. A good detective needs to graduate high school."
Joe was glad to now have both his father and brother on board in this. Henry was going to get the help he needed in school. "His name is Henry Jacobs," he stopped to catch his breath for a moment. "It all started last Friday..."
