Frank's true misery
The next morning, Frank was better, save the slight ache in his wrist. He didn't speak to Frans at all, and ignored all his apologies.
At the table, Frank had Zac to cut up his food for him and pour syrup on his pancakes. He even needed help to scoop the bacon and eggs onto his plate. Frank was so furious at his uselessness that he took off his sling, which he felt was getting in the way and flung it on the floor of the dining room. Mrs. Trotteville looked at him in disgust.
"Will you please pick that up Franklin? It's supposed to be supporting your wrist, not lie on the floor. Don't behave in such a spoilt manner and do as you are told," she said sternly.
Mr. Trotteville did not say anything, unfortunately for Frank, but his triplet brother did.
"Mother, Frank's really frustrated. Just let him alone for a bit. He'll…"
"Shut up! I'm sick of you Frans, always pestering me, yanking my wrist. You've no idea how much it hurt! Any harder and my hand would have just come off! You think I'm grateful to you for defending me do you? Well, I'm not! This is my very last word I will say to you and I mean it! I'LL NEVER TALK TO YOU AGAIN! I'M SICK OF YOU! SICK OF YOU FOR TEASING ME WHEN WE WERE AT AUNT"S! SICK OF YOUR MOCKING! SICK OF YOUR OH SO PERFECT BRAINS! YOU, IN MY CONCIENCE, ARE NOT MY BROTHER!!!" Frank got up, kicked his chair aside towards Frans and stomped away, snatching up the piece of cloth on the floor as he went.
Everyone stared at each other in silence. Frans looked terribly upset at being yelled at by Frank in such a manner. Zac broke the silence.
"Let's just finish our meal. I'm sure Fred's feeling better today and I think I'll take them all out for a treat. I'll break today and forget my books and try and help Frank make up with you again Frans, it's all right. Frank didn't mean it. Though goodness knows why he's in such a temper. Cool down everyone. Yes, I'll take you two out too. Is that all right mother? If Fred's temperature is normal and Frank cools down, I'll take them and the Hilton and Daykin children out to lunch somewhere. I've got enough on me," he said. Mrs. Trotteville nodded and smiled wryly. Zac returned the smile and got up to clear his plate.
Mrs. Trotteville looked at her husband.
"I really couldn't do anything without Zachary," she commented. "He's such a great help." Mr. Trotteville nodded in agreement. Mrs. Trotteville looked at Frans downcast expression.
"Francis, it's all right, you just let Frank come down for a bit. He's just upset about his wrist. I know it's a lot of trouble having a broken limb. Cheer up all right?" said Mrs. Trotteville. Frans didn't look any better.
"But mother, I really am sorry! Frank made me fed up and I got really furious. I know it's my fault now. He just won't forgive me."
"Francis Trotteville, Frank will forgive you some time. I promise. Try to forget about it and avoid him for a bit." Frans nodded soberly and walked away.
Once again, the solving was canceled. The children didn't really mind for they thought they needed a huge break from all the mind-boggling codes.
As Fatty's temperature was back to normal and he was feeling a lot better, Zac decided to take them out to a not-so-exquisite restaurant, though it was still rather expensive. At first Frank refused to go, mainly because Frans was going too, but after the begging from the Find-Outers, he obliged.
"How are you going to afford all the food Zac?" asked Bets excitedly, clinging on to him arm. Rachel was doing the same to his other arm. Zac looked at the little girl and grinned.
"I've got a hundred pounds in my pocket especially for today we could go and shop a while after eating. I should have enough," he replied. He was immediately answered by gasps and shouts.
"One hundred pounds! How on earth did you get so much?" yelled Pip. Frank slammed his healthy hand over Pip's mouth and Zac looked at him disapprovingly.
"Sorry," said Pip. "I shouldn't have yelled."
"But Zac, how could you have got so much? I mean; I've only got seven pounds with me!" exclaimed Fatty.
"I've been saving up ever since you mentioned your friends when we were staying at our Aunt's, which was the beginning of last year. I thought I'd take you out for a treat. I've still got plenty at home. I'm saving those in my bank account. And I, unlike you Frederick, don't spend so much money all at once unless it's for something special, like this."
Fatty frowned. Zac looked at him and slapped him on his back.
"Hey, cheer up boy, I didn't mean it," said Zac, grinning. "Here we are, we'll park our bicycles here. I wonder how you managed to cycle with one hand Frank, you must teach me. It's awfully hot today. Put on your cap, especially you, Frank. It's about a hundred meters walk from here."
"How do you know all these," asked Daisy in surprise. "You've hardly lived here for a month!"
"Brains, Daisy. I used the map of course. You'll have to tell me where you want to go later. I don't know what's good and what's not." They nodded.
"Why do you ask Frank to wear his cap and not your other siblings Zac?" questioned Larry. Frank looked rather angry at that remark; he looked as if he was about to pull off his cap.
"Don't ask," he growled at Larry, who immediately guessed that Frank had some illness that made him sensitive to the heat.
"Right," said Zac, who was starting to see a quarrel between them. "It's there, look. I heard the food's good. Come on! Cheer up all of you!" Everyone couldn't help smiling then. A treat to a restaurant! How grand was that! Straightening their clothes, they marched smartly to the restaurant and a waitress showed them to a reserved table.
Looking at the menu, everyone's mouth simply mouth watered.
"We hardly ever get to eat anything as good as these. Just feast your eyes on the pictures! They're good enough already," said Pip. Everyone agreed fervently. Immediately after the food was ordered, a plate of garlic bread was placed in front of them. Frank had had some difficulty choosing his food for he was afraid he would have a hard time eating with one hand. Zac promised to help him cut the steak for him.
Zac looked at Frank. He thought Frank looked rather flushed and immediately felt his forehead. Frank pushed his hand away.
"If you want to do it please, not in front of them," he whispered fiercely. Zac gave him an apologetic look.
"Are you all right?"
Frank shrugged off that gesture and felt himself all over. He was feeling all right. It wasn't a long time in the sun anyway. It didn't really matter. His Aunt wasn't waiting at home to haunt him anymore.
"Hey! Answer me will you?" persisted Zac loudly.
"I would. But after that I'll sneak on you and tell all kinds of tales about you at school so that the girls will go after you and squeal at your handsome face more than ever. Will that humiliate you enough? Because that's practically what you're doing to me now," said Frank loudly enough for almost everyone around their table to hear. Some teenage girls immediately stared at Zac and whispered to each other about how 'cute' he was. Zac glared at Frank, going red himself. Frank grinned cheekily at him.
"You got what you deserved," he said. Zac said nothing and sat quietly, possibly thinking of some form of revenge, until the food came one by one. Everyone chatted happily, except the fact that there were still people staring at poor Zac and Frank and Frans spoke to everyone but each other. Frank and Fatty were in a hilarious mood and when they joint their brains for a joke everyone but them exploded into helpless fits of laughter, which made everyone around them else stare even more. Zac had to quieten them down continuously. Bets laughed so much she choked on her food. Zac saved her. After the enjoyable meal, Zac paid the bill. Some girls and the Find-Outers eyed him closely when he pulled out a hundred dollar bill.
"Where do you want to go now? Any recommendations from any of you? As I said, I don't know this place very well," said Zac as he climbed onto his navy blue bicycle.
"There're a few shops not far away, but I don't find them interesting. There's also a fair in the next town. I read it in the papers today," suggested Larry.
"I think we'll let the twins choose. I owed them an outing," said Zac. The twins smiled gratefully.
"We don't mind the fair. It ought to be rather fun," said Randall. Rachel bobbed her head up and down in agreement.
"The fair it is!" confirmed Zac. Everyone cheered and raced off to the fair. When they were almost there, Fatty began to slow down and pant uneasily. Zac stopped everyone and Fatty climbed out of his bicycle. Frank went to help Fatty.
"Are you all right?" asked Frank. Fatty walked slowly to a small drain and bent his head over it, placing both hands on his stomach, still supported by Frank. After a moment, he gagged and threw up his lunch. Frank pulled him to a shade and made him sit down while Frans and Larry arranged the bicycles properly.
"Look," said Zac, pulling out some more money. Take this, Larry. Go to the fair first all of you, except Frank. I need your help. No protests from any of you. We'll be there shortly. Do you mind Frank?"
"No," answered Frank. Zac smiled.
"All right. Go now; we'll meet you later. Have fun!" he exclaimed, waving them away quickly. He turned back to Fatty and tended to him.
"Fast way of getting them out of the way Zac," said Frank, grinning.
"Nah, a boy like you would have thought of better ways I suppose," he said. He felt Fatty's forehead. Good, no fever.
"How are you feeling? Do you want to go home and rest? Fatty shook his head slowly.
"I'm fine, I just need to lie down for a while." Zac nodded and helped him lie on the bench he was sitting on.
"You must be feeling pretty bad huh?" said Frank. "I've suffered worse though…"
-Flashback-
The school bell sounded and everyone rushed out of the classroom, eager to go home. Everyone, but an eight-year-old Franklin.
"How did you do in the math test Frank?" asked Frans cheerfully "I lost one mark; careless of me. I ought to have checked a few more times…" Frank shoved his triplet brother away. He hadn't done well; Frans knew that. Frans was simply mocking him indirectly.
Frans rang the bell of their Aunt's home. Auntie Felicity, they called her, smiled at Frans and led them in.
"And how did you do for your test, you two?" she asked. Frans readily handed her his paper. His aunt smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Good, you topped your class again! I'll buy you and ice cream when your big brother comes home. You can go and do whatever you want now. Go on." Aunt watched fondly as Francis ran off happily to the boys' shared room. She narrowed her eyes to Frank, who was trembling before her towering figure. She took the paper from Frank's small hand and looked at it, frowning.
"And what did I tell you last time?" she questioned.
"I must do better then Frans because I'm supposed to be smarter or I'll get punished," stuttered Frank. "But I was sick that day, and I had a fever. My teacher let me lie down and I missed her lesson on that subject. Please don't beat me. I'm sorry. I'll try harder next time."
"That's exactly what you said the last time. I've had enough of your excuses." Aunt Felicity left, and came back soon after holding an alarmingly long cane.
"Turn around and bend over," she ordered. Frank began to cry. Tears poured down his bony cheeks and onto the floor. His Aunt got impatient and forced Frank around. Soon, Frans could hear swishes of the stick and whimpers of agony, Frank at the mercy of his impatient Aunt. He covered his ears. Why did his brother have to make so much noise?
After a couple of minutes, a tall, handsome boy with dark blue eyes about eleven years old came into the room and dropped his bag. He immediately ran to Frank and pulled him away.
"That's enough Aunt! He's properly upset and hurt already! You're not our mother besides!" exclaimed Zac.
"Please move Zachary, unless you want to be hit instead," demanded the lady. "I'm not done with him yet. Your parents gave me permission to punish when necessary," Zac couldn't think of a protest but refused to budge. Their Aunt continued hitting poor Frank. Zac tried to block and got hit a good number of times. He grabbed Frank's hand and ran into their room and locked the door. Frank cried louder and clutched at Zac, unwilling to let go.
"It's all right Frank, she can't hit you anymore," said Zac comfortingly. "Let me check. Come on stand still." Zac stripped Frank down, looked at the marks on Franks back and begin to rub some cream on it. Frank soon stopped crying and Zac smiled at him. Frank tried to smile back
"Come on, I'll teach you. Take out your schoolbooks; I'll make sure you get top marks for your next test. I'll help you beat Frans too, then mummy and dad will be proud of you."
-End of Flashback-
Fatty looked at Frank's sad eyes and remembered about Frank's past. Frank used to be very sickly when he was much younger and cried a lot. He also knew that their Aunt Felicity didn't like Frank for being lazy, helpless and weak and always beat and slapped him. Frans had told him that. Frank was young then, and crying made his aunt even angrier. Frank never had a good time at his aunt's, and his only protection was Zac, who sometimes took the blame and got punished instead. When Zac came home from school and saw Frank getting beaten, he would quickly stand in between them and endure the blows. Frank, till now, was very grateful for that. Frans had never bothered to protect him. Frank stopped getting beaten so often when he was eleven. He had become much stronger then, like he was now.
Fatty shut his eyes tiredly and tried to get a short nap. Zac looked at him and began to wonder if he should take Fatty home. He didn't look too good. He wasn't really fully recovered yet. Frank soon solved that.
"I'll take you home Fred. You go and have your fun, Zac. I won't go to the fair. If you don't go they'll be wondering what took us so long. You go and tell them."
Zac nodded and cycled away after making sure that Fatty didn't need any extra help. The two triplet brothers cycled slowly back home and Frank settled his brother into bed, followed by Buster, who was ecstatic that Fatty had come home.
"You'll be fine," said Frank. "I'll just stay here and watch you. We've been to plenty of fairs before. I bet this one will be the same. Get some sleep."
"Thanks Frank, and I'm sorry that you were hurt at our Aunt's. Is that the reason why you don't like Frans?" he asked. Frank nodded.
"I know I shouldn't dislike him because he is my brother but I hated it when he teased me about falling sick and doing badly in exams and tests. He was awfully mean to me you know. You weren't there. You don't know how he treated me. Zac was great though. He took good care of me. I don't think I would have done what he did for me if I were Zac. I know Frans is really sorry but I can't bring myself to forgive him," Frank sighed. He took Fatty's temperature and settled down to do some code solving. He didn't need both his hands for that.