CHAPTER FIVE.

"I must say, I can't believe the difference in that boy, are you sure you haven't supplanted him with a changeling when my back was turned?"

The deep rumbling laugh of Jefferson Tracy rent the air inside the lounge and he looked at his mother with affection. "Believe me Mother that boy is definitely Gordon, there can only be one. It's amazing what a spot of eavesdropping can accomplish."

"And there was me thinking it had something to do with that new Thunderbird Four you've got Brains working on."

Jeff Tracy smiled as he recalled how the third part of his plan had been put into operation. He'd let his son cool his heels for several days and had then ensured Gordon was in the right place to conveniently overhear the go ahead given, unaware the work had been in progress several days already. Jeff could barely contain his mirth at the lengths Gordon had been going to; to try and sneak a look at the workshop were the new TB4 was under construction. Scott, John and Virgil had played their parts well, intercepting him at every turn, leaving a very frustrated Gordon, thwarted.

"I'm extremely pleased with his progress; I can hardly believe the change myself and not a practical joke in sight in nearly a fortnight. That has to be a first. I almost miss them…….almost." he emphasised as his mother cast him an incredulous look.

"Now if you'll excuse me, this isn't getting my correspondence done," he said, reaching out and picking up his pen.

"What the deuce!" he exclaimed, examining the pen.

"What is it son?"

"Nothing Mother." Jeff replied, opening his desk drawer and fishing around for another pen. "Darn!"

"Jeff dear, is something wrong?" Mrs. Tracy watched in puzzlement as her son rifled through the drawers of his desk, picking out and discarding every pen he found, in an increasingly exasperated manner.

"Seems like we spoke to soon."

"Gordon?"

"Gordon!" he confirmed.

"What has he done this time?"

"Only removed all the refills from my pens, I knew it was too good to last," he paused, watching his mother struggle to contain her amusement. "…..but I'm not deterred yet though. He overlooked one thing……" Jeff ploughed on.

"What's that dear?" Mrs. Tracy chuckled behind her hanky.

"One of the oldest tools known to man…….the humble pencil. Darn it, the lead's broken……now where the heck's that sharpener of mine……….GORDON! Get in here now!"

"Oh dear, seems like he thought of everything." Mrs. Tracy said, still chuckling discreetly.

"Yes Dad; what can I do for you?" Gordon breezed in with a jaunty smile.

"You can start by returning my refills, then I want my sharpener."

"Uh?"

"Don't give me that, I know it was you……knew it was too good to last….."

"But Dad, it wasn't me….."

"And don't lie either."

"I swear Dad; I don't know what you're talking about."

 Jefferson Tracy studied the face of his fourth born, unaware of his second born just out of sight in the adjacent study listening intently with a huge grin on his face. It was the first time he'd genuinely laughed since the suntan lotion prank.

"What're you up to bro'?" Scott asked, noting John squatted with rapt attention by the open doorway.

"Shhhsh, listen!" John urged as Scott and Virgil joined him

Scott cocked his ear to the familiar sounds of his parent's irate voice.

"Sounds like Gordon's getting a right royal ear bashing." Scott grinned, in response to John's. "Listen him swearing his innocence in there……"

"Don't know why he's bothering, it's not like anyone'd believe it wasn't him." Virgil quipped.

"It wasn't." Both brothers watched as silent paroxysms of laughter rocked their sibling.

"John?" Scott caught on fast.

"You didn't?" Virgil twigged.

John nodded, "Just thought I'd add a little extra prank of my own, in addition to the one we already have in operation. Ah revenge."

"You gonna tell him it was you?"

John's grin broadened, "I'll let you know…..when this dye has worn off."

Scott watched as he gave them a conspiratorial wink and, with a roguish smile, strolled off down the corridor, whistling.

********

Chapter six follows on in a couple of days.

Sneaking around and wily behaviour. But who's being sneaky and who's being wily?  And why is Jeff getting very little sleep?