Later that night, Howard and Marion were in the master bedroom. It was about a few hours after Joanie and Richie had been asleep.
"Howard, have you noticed Richard hasn't shared with me and Joanie about the weekend in Chicago?" Marion asked.
"Of course I do, Marion," Howard answered.
"Is there an explanation on why he didn't share the fun?" Marion asked.
Without their knowing, Joanie was outside her parents' bedroom, talking about Richie's Chicago weekend.
"Well, Marion, there is something you need to know about that weekend. I decided to tell you when the time is right."
"You may tell me what went wrong, Howard."
He began to tell Richie's story.
Joanie was still at the bedroom door, trying not to cough or make it loud enough for the whole household to hear. She decided to stick around before heading to the bathroom. She felt a sneeze starting to come, but kept the noise to herself. She didn't want Marion and Howard to know she was hanging outside the bedroom door.
If she did try to make a sound, it would make Howard and Marion think she was coming to their room, wanting something. She heard Howard clear his throat and begin to tell Marion Richie's story, but told it in a different version Richie had given to the Fonz and himself.
In the morning, Joanie told herself not to say a word about her knowing she was listening to the Chicago weekend.
"Marion, you'll get to ask Richie about it in the morning," Howard told her.
"Just get it over with, Howard. You haven't told me anything instead of not wanting to share with your own wife. There is nothing to hide, isn't that true?" Marion told him.
"Maybe to Richie, Marion. Richie says Fonzie already knows what happened in Chicago, so there is no surprise. I'll give you the short version so I won't bore you with the long version."
When Joanie heard her father say that, it made her think that Richie, Ralph and Potsie were in trouble.
"Maybe this would be something to share with the girls," Joanie said quietly to herself.
"Well, Marion, Richie told me he and the boys were punished by the choir master."
"What made the choir mast think of something that punished the boys? That isn't Richard's style," Marion told her husband.
"Well, Marion, he said it was because they spent the money Potsie was in charge of for the weekend. He said they spent the money by paying a visit to a nightclub and watched a girl come out of a cake."
"That's something Richie isn't old enough to do," Marion pointed out.
"I know, Marion, but he is growing up," Howard reminded his wife.
"I don't want Richie to become a man. He just isn't ready to live on his own," Marion said.
"I understand, Marion. He's a mature young adult. Let me continue," Howard told her.
"All right."
"Richie also told me they lost all of the money they brought along for the nightclub visit. They spent the money on drinking beer."
"Did you punish Richard when he came home?" she asked.
"It really didn't last long, Marion. Postie and Ralph spent a longer time for the punishment. It's now forgotten."
"That was quite a story you told me, Howard. I think Richard needs a longer punishment from what you gave him. He needs more time to learn from this experience. When I was Richard's age, I hardly got into any trouble," Marion said.
Howard said nothing more.
"Let's go to sleep. It's late already."
"Good idea, Marion. Richie doesn't need to have another punishment. I think he's already learned his lesson. Don't say anything to Richard you heard this story from me. That could be kept safe if Joanie doesn't hear."
"I see your point, Howard. And good – night."
That's when both husband and wife went to sleep.
"That's not enough to share with my friends. I probably won't say a word," Joanie told herself.
Then she fell asleep.