Photo Shoot

By Phoenix Sparrow

This story is set not long before the Hood first dragged International Rescue into action.

Chapter four: Getting Ready

The following day, Penny was looking out of her window. She sighed to herself. The boys had definitely lived up to Jeff's expectations. Alan had broken a model, Gordon had torn some sheets falling out of bed that morning, and Scott and Virgil had woken her up. And John…? She thought for a minute. John hadn't really disturbed the peace or the house in any way. He'd remained in his room most of the afternoon after dinner yesterday. She smiled. At least Jeff would be able to say one of them behaved. She didn't mind, these things could be replaced or mended and Tin-Tin had already mended the car model.

She heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she called out, turning away from the window.

The door opened and a blonde head looked in. 'Speak of the devil,' she thought. "Hello, John. It's nice to finally see you. I take it by your absence that the room is comfortable?"

He smiled. "Yes, thanks, Lady Penelope."

She shook her head. "You don't have to call me that. Penny is fine."

"Alright, Penny. Yes, the room is very comfortable. How did you know?"

"How did I know what?"

"My interest in astronomy. Did you already have those books or…" He let his sentence hang.

She smiled at him. "No, I knew you like astronomy so I thought where better to locate your room then there? Any astronomy books I acquire go in there along with star charts."

"I noticed. That's an impressive collection you've got there."

"Why, thank you, John. I hope you weren't up all night looking through them."

John grinned. "I didn't. Is the photographer here yet?"

Penny was about to open her mouth to say not quite when she heard the sound of tyres on gravel and saw the familiar car of her photographer coming down the driveway. "Yes, just."

The five boys congregated in the main entrance while outside the photographer started to unload his equipment from the back of his car. John and Virgil stepped forward to help him but he shooed them off, telling them he could manage. The exchanged glances shrugged and retreated back to the main entrance just as their father descended the stairs.

He looked at them and shook his head. "Please tell me you're not ready yet." They were wearing their typical casual clothes. Scott had his blue sweater and jacket with dark trousers, Virgil had his favourite brown waistcoat over his green shirt with pale trousers, Alan had his brown suit on, Gordon had his green shirt and blue jeans and John had a pale blue jacket and beige trousers.

Jeff sighed as they glanced at each other confused. "I know the clothes are clean and-" He broke off when he saw the dirty smudge down Alan's jacket. "-Well mostly," he continued, tilting his head slightly, "but this is a pro-fess-ion-al photo." He put emphasis on each syllable of the word so they would understand. They continued to look at one another. He took a deep breath. "Go and put your suits on! That's why you brought them, remember?"

They looked at him, this time with a look that said they understood this time.

Up in their rooms, the five brothers were changing into their suits, as were Brains and Jeff. Tin-Tin was changing into an orange shimmer suit she had brought with her while Penny was donning her blue sequined dress.

"Scott! Hey Scott! You done yet?" Virgil called through the door.

"Yeah, come on in."

The door opened and Virgil walked in with his bowtie hanging loose round his neck.

"Oh, lemme guess." Scott put on a fake voice. "'Can you help me with my tie?'"

Virgil grinned. "You've done yours, surely you can help me. And like you said, you're done. You got time to help me, come on!" Virgil looked at his brother with pleading eyes and a sweet smile until Scott rolled his eyes and walked across to him.

"You really are helpless, aren't you?" he said, tying the tie. He grinned as he finished tying it then pulled it slightly tighter.

"Hey, watch it!" He put a finger under his collar and pulled it loose again. Scott smiled.

"Anything else? Need me to…"

"No, nothing else. Shall we go see how Alan's doing?"

"You can, I'm going downstairs." He looked at Virgil. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing!" he answered a tad too quickly.

"Mmm hmm, and Thunderbird 2's pink."

Virgil glared at him. Ever since he'd learned his was the massive Thunderbird 2, he'd become protective of her. "Alright, alright, I was planning something."

Scott grinned. "You're mad. Absolutely nuts."

"I know," Virgil replied.

Scott tutted, looking at the ceiling. "Go on, go and pester him then. I'm still going downstairs."

Alan was in his room. He'd just finished putting his suit on and was now rubbing a soft cloth over his shoes to shine them.

He heard a shuffling outside his door but thought nothing of it. Putting the cloth down, he looked at himself briefly in the mirror before turning on his heels and crossing the room. He opened the door and stepped out. Only to land flat on his face.

"Ow! What the…?" He turned over to see Virgil running off down the corridor. "Virgil!" he shouted, picking himself up off the floor and chasing after him.

Jeff was back downstairs waiting for the others. He heard a noise and looking up he saw Virgil tearing down the stairs, followed closely by Alan, who tripped when he reached the bottom.

Virgil ran on laughing until he saw his father, dressed in his full suit, but as an accessory, he wore a frown. Virgil slowed his pace and went to walk past him into the lounge, but Jeff grabbed his collar.

"Where d'you think you're going?"

Virgil was about to answer when Jeff cut him off. "I don't wanna hear it, Virgil. You've already caused enough trouble round here, please stop playing up!" He looked over as Alan picked himself up off the floor and shook his head. At this rate, their suits would be worn through on the knees the way they were throwing each other around. "Come here, Alan." He released Virgil's collar and he coughed discreetly, he'd been holding on a little too tightly for his liking.

"Right, now I wanna know what you were playing at." He looked at Virgil first.

"I didn't do anything!" Virgil said, stepping back and raising his hands.

"You're a good actor, Virgil!" Alan snapped then turned to Jeff. "He tripped me up outside my room!"

"I did not!" Virgil protested.

"Liar! Then why were you running away from my door after I fell?"

"Because I know you, you'd have blamed me, and low and behold, you are! I was right!"

"That's enough!" Jeff shouted. "I want you two to grow up, please. I know you're having fun off the island, but you're disturbing the peace here and winding me up!"

They both looked at the floor. "Sorry, father," Virgil said.

"Yeah, sorry, dad," Alan added.

"Right, now go on, get out of it."

The two left, shoving each other. Jeff sighed. He'd have to sort them out later, as soon as he'd checked on the others.