"Fenton, I don't like this," Laura stated firmly after Joe left. She set down her fork and gave up the pretense of eating her breakfast.
"I don't either," concurred Fenton. "But telling Frank they were no longer brothers without any explanation was completely uncalled for. Laura," he continued, rubbing her hand gently. "He has to be more mature. He will be eighteen in a few months and attending college in no time at all. Do you really want him on his own as he is now?"
"No," Laura sighed in defeat. "But he didn't have breakfast and he said he wouldn't be home until dinner. I should have left something on the stove."
"He could have prepared his own breakfast or grabbed some pop tarts," Fenton pointed out. "The fact that he didn't only reinforces what I said about his immaturity."
"Unless he just wanted to get out of here because he was feeling hurt and betrayed," retorted Laura.
"Then he should try to talk to us," said Fenton firmly.
"He did!" shouted Laura.
"Not about the problem at hand," Fenton said. "Only to say where he was going and when he would return."
"Whatever," Laura gave up the fight. "I just hope we can put this all behind us before bedtime."
Frank had been listening to the exchange between his parents and felt guilty for dragging them into his quarrel with Joe but short of beating Joe senseless, he couldn't think of any other way to get through to him.
"I'm not very hungry," said Frank. "Mind if I go to Phil's?"
"Of course not," Laura answered, smiling wanly at him. "But please be home for dinner. The sooner this thing between you and Joe is worked out the better."
Frank spent the morning at Phil's then headed over to Callie's where he was invited to stay for lunch by Serena, Callie's mother. "Thanks, but I was kind of hoping to take Callie away from all of this," he declined with eyes filled with merriment.
Callie glared at Frank from beneath a layer of flour. Her mom had asked her to make the biscuits but when she had reached for the flour canister on the top shelf her fingers had fumbled and it had tipped over and opened, spilling its contents on her in the process.
Serena looked at Callie with one eyebrow quirked in amusement. "Considering the help she's been," she paused, then looked over at Frank. "Take her."
Callie growled but Frank broke out laughing. "I'll clean it up while you change," he offered.
"That's okay," Serena told him. "I'll take care of it just as soon as I finish with these vegetables," she said, holding up her knife and gesturing at the carrots and celery before her. "Why don't you go on out on the porch and wait for her?"
Frank took Callie to Mr. Pizza, an Italian restaurant owned by Tony's father, for lunch. After an hour and a half of chatting with friends over a supreme pizza, the two went to the museum then a matinee and, finally, to the park.
"He doesn't seem to be missing us," remarked Frank as he and Callie took up positions at the swing.
Callie followed Frank's gaze to where Joe was running laps around the baseball field. She reached out and touched Frank's arm. "You know that's not true," she reprimanded him gently. "When have you ever known Joe to just exercise?"
Frank sighed and looked at Callie. "You're right," he admitted. "The last time he went running just to run was when Iola was killed."
"See, he is missing you," Callie stated firmly as she started swinging. "A lot."
"If he misses me so much then why did he shut me out?" demanded Frank miserably as he began swinging.
After half an hour had passed Callie realized Frank wasn't having any fun and suggested they leave. "Yeah, I guess we had better," said Frank, glancing at his watch. "Mom wanted me home before Joe gets there."
"They are helping to teach Joe a lesson too?" Callie asked a bit surprised.
"Yes," affirmed Frank. "Although, if Joe doesn't come 'round tonight I am calling it quits and going to have it out with him even if I have to hit him to get his attention."
"I'm sure it won't go that far," Callie told him.
"I hope you're right," Frank said as they left the park.
"Could you drop me off at Liz's?" Callie asked Frank as they climbed into the van. "She can take me home later."
"Sure thing," agreed Frank. He dropped Callie off then drove straight home. He parked the van in front of the house and hurried up the walkway.
"Have fun?" Fenton asked as Frank entered the living room.
"Yes," acknowledged Frank.
"Your brother isn't home yet," Laura informed him from the door leading to the dining room.
"I know," replied Frank. "He was still at the park when I left."
"He had better hurry," declared Fenton, looking at the Grandfather clock next to the window. "He knows we have dinner at six."
"He still has a few minutes," Laura shushed him. "Frank, run upstairs and wash up. Fenton, come and set the table."
Ten minutes came and went. At fifteen after six the three sat down for dinner. By the time they had finished eating Laura was growing frantic. "What if he's hurt?" she demanded, glaring at her husband.
"He was at the park when I left," Fran k said before his father could say anything. "It's only a few blocks away and he had to go through town. If Joe had gotten hurt then someone would have alerted us by now."
"What if he was kidnapped?" Laura retorted, her blue eyes glaring at Frank now.
"Doubtful," Fenton put in. "Neither I nor the boys are working on anything and, as Frank stated, if something had happened then someone would have seen it and we would have been informed."
"You had better be right," Laura declared, standing up and starting to clear the table.
"I am," Fenton assured her. "But," he continued with a frown. "Joe knows better than to be late. He's just doing this because of the cold shoulder he got from us this morning."
"Fenton, no," Laura objected. "I don't know what you're considering but I'm sure I won't agree with it."
"Laura, hon. Joe has to learn to have respect and responsibility," Fenton reasoned calmly. "He will be home soon enough but I don't think we should let him off the hook too easily."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Frank curiously.
"We'll change the locks," Fenton stated.
"FENTON!" Laura shouted in shock.
"After he sits outside and has had time to think about his actions. Then we will let him in and give him the new keys," promised Fenton.
"I don't like it," Laura disagreed with the idea.
"Neither do I," concurred Frank.
"Me either," admitted Fenton. "But I believe drastic measures are called for."
Almost an hour later Frank saw Joe come running around the corner and hurried inside, closing and locking the door behind him. He then hurried into the kitchen and took his seat at the table.
They had agreed to remain in the kitchen while Joe tried to get inside. They heard Joe try the front door with no success. A few seconds later, they saw Joe through the window of the back door.
Joe tried to open the door but discovered it was locked. He knocked on the door. Laura moved to rise but Fenton grabbed her wrist and gave her a small shake of his head. Frowning, Laura picked up the glass of lemonade before her and took a sip.
"Very funny!" Joe shouted. "Open the door."
The three Hardys inside ignored Joe. Frank could see Joe's face from the corner of his eye. Joe was really angry. His face was red and his mouth was twisted into a snarl as he pulled out his keys.
Frank held his breath as Joe tried the key repeatedly. Finally, Joe quit trying and backed away. Frank looked at his dad with pleading eyes. Had they gone too far? Fenton shook his head. "Thirty minutes," he said. "Let him stew."
Thirty minutes later, Frank leapt to his feet and hurried to the door. "Joe!" he called out, not seeing his younger brother anywhere. "Dad!" he shouted, turning his head. "He's not out here!"
"He had better be or he's grounded until he goes to college," Fenton growled. He followed Frank outside with Laura on his heels.
"Joseph! You had better show yourself now!" Fenton shouted, looking around the yard in the late evening twilight.
Frank began looking around the bushes and behind the trees but stopped when he noticed the lid to the mailbox hanging open. He moved closer, his face paling to match the moon above as he reached a trembling hand into the mailbox.
Fenton and Laura were by his side before his hand could make the return journey. "What is it?" Laura demanded breathlessly.
Without a word, Frank removed Joe's key ring filled not only with the former house keys but also his keys to the van, the extra keys to his parent's cars, his motorcycle, and the keys to the boathouse and their boat, the Sleuth.
"I don't either," concurred Fenton. "But telling Frank they were no longer brothers without any explanation was completely uncalled for. Laura," he continued, rubbing her hand gently. "He has to be more mature. He will be eighteen in a few months and attending college in no time at all. Do you really want him on his own as he is now?"
"No," Laura sighed in defeat. "But he didn't have breakfast and he said he wouldn't be home until dinner. I should have left something on the stove."
"He could have prepared his own breakfast or grabbed some pop tarts," Fenton pointed out. "The fact that he didn't only reinforces what I said about his immaturity."
"Unless he just wanted to get out of here because he was feeling hurt and betrayed," retorted Laura.
"Then he should try to talk to us," said Fenton firmly.
"He did!" shouted Laura.
"Not about the problem at hand," Fenton said. "Only to say where he was going and when he would return."
"Whatever," Laura gave up the fight. "I just hope we can put this all behind us before bedtime."
Frank had been listening to the exchange between his parents and felt guilty for dragging them into his quarrel with Joe but short of beating Joe senseless, he couldn't think of any other way to get through to him.
"I'm not very hungry," said Frank. "Mind if I go to Phil's?"
"Of course not," Laura answered, smiling wanly at him. "But please be home for dinner. The sooner this thing between you and Joe is worked out the better."
Frank spent the morning at Phil's then headed over to Callie's where he was invited to stay for lunch by Serena, Callie's mother. "Thanks, but I was kind of hoping to take Callie away from all of this," he declined with eyes filled with merriment.
Callie glared at Frank from beneath a layer of flour. Her mom had asked her to make the biscuits but when she had reached for the flour canister on the top shelf her fingers had fumbled and it had tipped over and opened, spilling its contents on her in the process.
Serena looked at Callie with one eyebrow quirked in amusement. "Considering the help she's been," she paused, then looked over at Frank. "Take her."
Callie growled but Frank broke out laughing. "I'll clean it up while you change," he offered.
"That's okay," Serena told him. "I'll take care of it just as soon as I finish with these vegetables," she said, holding up her knife and gesturing at the carrots and celery before her. "Why don't you go on out on the porch and wait for her?"
Frank took Callie to Mr. Pizza, an Italian restaurant owned by Tony's father, for lunch. After an hour and a half of chatting with friends over a supreme pizza, the two went to the museum then a matinee and, finally, to the park.
"He doesn't seem to be missing us," remarked Frank as he and Callie took up positions at the swing.
Callie followed Frank's gaze to where Joe was running laps around the baseball field. She reached out and touched Frank's arm. "You know that's not true," she reprimanded him gently. "When have you ever known Joe to just exercise?"
Frank sighed and looked at Callie. "You're right," he admitted. "The last time he went running just to run was when Iola was killed."
"See, he is missing you," Callie stated firmly as she started swinging. "A lot."
"If he misses me so much then why did he shut me out?" demanded Frank miserably as he began swinging.
After half an hour had passed Callie realized Frank wasn't having any fun and suggested they leave. "Yeah, I guess we had better," said Frank, glancing at his watch. "Mom wanted me home before Joe gets there."
"They are helping to teach Joe a lesson too?" Callie asked a bit surprised.
"Yes," affirmed Frank. "Although, if Joe doesn't come 'round tonight I am calling it quits and going to have it out with him even if I have to hit him to get his attention."
"I'm sure it won't go that far," Callie told him.
"I hope you're right," Frank said as they left the park.
"Could you drop me off at Liz's?" Callie asked Frank as they climbed into the van. "She can take me home later."
"Sure thing," agreed Frank. He dropped Callie off then drove straight home. He parked the van in front of the house and hurried up the walkway.
"Have fun?" Fenton asked as Frank entered the living room.
"Yes," acknowledged Frank.
"Your brother isn't home yet," Laura informed him from the door leading to the dining room.
"I know," replied Frank. "He was still at the park when I left."
"He had better hurry," declared Fenton, looking at the Grandfather clock next to the window. "He knows we have dinner at six."
"He still has a few minutes," Laura shushed him. "Frank, run upstairs and wash up. Fenton, come and set the table."
Ten minutes came and went. At fifteen after six the three sat down for dinner. By the time they had finished eating Laura was growing frantic. "What if he's hurt?" she demanded, glaring at her husband.
"He was at the park when I left," Fran k said before his father could say anything. "It's only a few blocks away and he had to go through town. If Joe had gotten hurt then someone would have alerted us by now."
"What if he was kidnapped?" Laura retorted, her blue eyes glaring at Frank now.
"Doubtful," Fenton put in. "Neither I nor the boys are working on anything and, as Frank stated, if something had happened then someone would have seen it and we would have been informed."
"You had better be right," Laura declared, standing up and starting to clear the table.
"I am," Fenton assured her. "But," he continued with a frown. "Joe knows better than to be late. He's just doing this because of the cold shoulder he got from us this morning."
"Fenton, no," Laura objected. "I don't know what you're considering but I'm sure I won't agree with it."
"Laura, hon. Joe has to learn to have respect and responsibility," Fenton reasoned calmly. "He will be home soon enough but I don't think we should let him off the hook too easily."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Frank curiously.
"We'll change the locks," Fenton stated.
"FENTON!" Laura shouted in shock.
"After he sits outside and has had time to think about his actions. Then we will let him in and give him the new keys," promised Fenton.
"I don't like it," Laura disagreed with the idea.
"Neither do I," concurred Frank.
"Me either," admitted Fenton. "But I believe drastic measures are called for."
Almost an hour later Frank saw Joe come running around the corner and hurried inside, closing and locking the door behind him. He then hurried into the kitchen and took his seat at the table.
They had agreed to remain in the kitchen while Joe tried to get inside. They heard Joe try the front door with no success. A few seconds later, they saw Joe through the window of the back door.
Joe tried to open the door but discovered it was locked. He knocked on the door. Laura moved to rise but Fenton grabbed her wrist and gave her a small shake of his head. Frowning, Laura picked up the glass of lemonade before her and took a sip.
"Very funny!" Joe shouted. "Open the door."
The three Hardys inside ignored Joe. Frank could see Joe's face from the corner of his eye. Joe was really angry. His face was red and his mouth was twisted into a snarl as he pulled out his keys.
Frank held his breath as Joe tried the key repeatedly. Finally, Joe quit trying and backed away. Frank looked at his dad with pleading eyes. Had they gone too far? Fenton shook his head. "Thirty minutes," he said. "Let him stew."
Thirty minutes later, Frank leapt to his feet and hurried to the door. "Joe!" he called out, not seeing his younger brother anywhere. "Dad!" he shouted, turning his head. "He's not out here!"
"He had better be or he's grounded until he goes to college," Fenton growled. He followed Frank outside with Laura on his heels.
"Joseph! You had better show yourself now!" Fenton shouted, looking around the yard in the late evening twilight.
Frank began looking around the bushes and behind the trees but stopped when he noticed the lid to the mailbox hanging open. He moved closer, his face paling to match the moon above as he reached a trembling hand into the mailbox.
Fenton and Laura were by his side before his hand could make the return journey. "What is it?" Laura demanded breathlessly.
Without a word, Frank removed Joe's key ring filled not only with the former house keys but also his keys to the van, the extra keys to his parent's cars, his motorcycle, and the keys to the boathouse and their boat, the Sleuth.