Artex
Chapter eight-funeral?
"What?" I demanded as my heart nearly stopped.
I couldn't believe what I just heard and didn't want to believe it.
"We-we were w-walking home w-when this man drove up and s-shot her," Piper stammered.
I got to my feet and felt myself shaking violently.
"Okay. Michelle? Stephanie? Take Piper upstairs to change and settle down," Danny instructed.
Michelle and Stephanie nodded.
"Wait. Piper took the video camera today. She was going to video tape her walk home for a project," I said, suddenly.
I grabbed her backpack. I pulled out the video camera and hit play. Danny, Stephanie and Michelle gathered around me.
I saw Haley bouncing a head of Piper. They were laughing and giggling.
Then, this black car pulled up and I saw the passenger side window roll down. I heard gun shots.
The camera was lying on its side facing Haley, who was lying on her side on the ground. Blood trickling down her temple. I heard Piper screaming. Then, the screeching of tires. Then, the camera went dark.
My hands shook violently and I screamed.
JOEY.
Jess and I were recording when we heard Emma scream. We rushed upstairs.
Danny, Michelle and Stephanie were looking sick and pale. Piper was standing by the kitchen table with blood on her shirt. Emma looked even worse.
"What's going on?" I demanded.
"HALEY'S DEAD!" Emma shrieked.
"WHAT?" I cried.
Just then, the phone rang.
Jesse answered it.
"Tanner residence,"
A pause, then:
"Okay. Hang on,"
Jessie cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and turned to us.
"It's the police. They've got Haley down at the station. She's okay, just a little out of it," Jesse relayed.
Relief spread over us immediately.
Piper even looked relieved.
"I thought you said she was shot," Emma said, turning to Piper.
"I thought so too," Piper said.
"We'll be down to pick her up," I said to Jesse.
He relayed the message to whoever was on the phone and he hung up.
"What a relief," Becky replied, sighing loudly.
"I know," I said sitting down at the table.
Emma managed to calm down a great deal.
"Let's go pick her up," Emma said.
I nodded. Emma and I headed out of the house and into the backyard. We climbed into my car and drove to the precinct.
Sure enough, Haley was sitting at a desk. One of the police officers was talking with her.
"Hello. We're here to pick up Haley Gladstone," I said.
"Dad!" Haley cried as she rushed forward and threw her arms around me. I hugged her back tightly and scooped her up in my arms.
"What happened?" Emma asked the police officer.
"She said that someone tried to shoot her but she dove just in time and hit her head on the sidewalk. Then her sister ran home and left her there," the police officer explained.
Emma and I looked at each other.
"Ok. Thanks so much. We really appreciate it," Emma said.
"No problem," the officer said, winking at Haley.
She grinned and waved as we headed out of the house.
When we arrived home, everyone hugged Haley. I decided to go upstairs and talk to Piper about what happened.
I found Piper lying on her stomach on her bed doing homework.
I gently knocked on the door. She looked up and grinned.
"Hi Dad. Is Haley okay?" she asked, concerned.
"Yeah. She's fine. Can I ask you a question?" I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Sure,"
"Why'd you run away and leave Haley?" I asked gently.
"Because I thought she was dead!" she cried.
I had a feeling that there was something deeper going on with her. I patiently waited for her to continue.
Piper sighed.
"It just seems like you and Mom are paying more attention to Haley because she's your natural kid. I feel like I'm pushed aside," Piper said, quietly.
Realization set in. I felt so bad.
"Oh, Piper…I'm so sorry. I had no idea you felt that way," I said, gently putting an arm around her. "We didn't mean to push you aside."
"It's okay," Piper said, quietly.
"No…it's not," I said. "Whenever you feel like we're neglecting you, I want you to come and tell us right away."
Piper smiled.
"Deal,"
I gave her a hug. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," I called.
Emma stepped into the room with Haley.
"Is everything okay?" Emma asked.
"Absolutely fine," I replied grinning.
"Hey. You're okay!" Piper said, eagerly.
She gave Haley a hug.
"I'm fine," Haley grinned.
I gently pulled Emma outside and explained to her what Piper said.
"Oh. I feel so terrible," Emma said, quietly.
"It's okay. I told that at any time if she feels like she's being neglected to tell us immediately," I said, reassuringly.
"Good. I hate to think that we neglect her. She's our second daughter," Emma replied, sadly.
"It'll be okay," I said. "Try not to worry."
Emma looked more relieved now.
"Let's head downstairs for lunch," I suggested. "Kids! Lunch!"
Haley and Piper eagerly hurried out of their room and followed us downstairs.
Stephanie was happily talking with Michelle about her day at school.
"One of the boys actually fell head first into the garbage can in the cafeteria!"
Michelle burst out laughing.
"Oh man! That must've been a sight,"
"Geeze. Sounds like you had a busy day at school," Danny grinned as he handed Michelle the peanut butter.
"Oh Dad, it was so hilarious! Then, he smelled like meatloaf the entire day! Everyone's calling him 'Trash Boy,'" Stephanie grinned.
"I am Trash Boy," I said, in a deep voice. "I defend all trashcans around the world."
Michelle giggled.
"Joey you had to see it," Stephanie said. "This kid, Eric Mann fell head first into the trashcan after someone dropped a banana peel on the floor while he was walking back to his table."
"The old peel trick huh?" I grinned as I sat down beside her.
"Exactly," Stephanie agreed.
"That's cruel," Becky said, trying to sound serious, but she was grinning.
"Deej? Pass the jelly," Michelle said.
D.J. passed her the jar of jelly. Danny took a sip of his soda.
"Other than Steph's exhilarating day, how was every one else's?" Danny asked.
"Good,"
"Wonderful,"
"Terrific,"
Everyone began muttering at once.
"Don't forget, Em…we film the new episode of "Ranger Joe" tomorrow," I said.
"Cool!" Michelle cried happily.
"I hope Jungle Jenny won't be there," Emma said, frowning.
I nearly choked on my sandwich.
"How'd you know about her?" I asked as Stephanie patted me on the back as I coughed.
"I saw the episode," Emma said, her lip twitching. "I have so say that you really could've been hurt there."
"I know. We saw it too," Stephanie replied.
"Suppose that rope had snapped and you'd fallen, breaking your neck? That was really a dumb idea," Emma continued.
"I agree," Michelle said. "I mean, I thought it was funny at first, but then afterwards realized Joey could've been hurt."
"And we don't want anymore damage to that brain," Jesse said, grinning.
Everyone laughed.
"Whatever's left," Emma snorted.
We laughed again.
"I think she is," I said, quietly.
Emma's eyes twinkled.
"I have an idea,"
Michelle and I looked at each other curiously.
Emma leaned close to Michelle and began whispering in her ear. Stephanie nudged me.
"I think they're up to something to get back at Jungle Jenny," Stephanie replied.
"I think so too," I said.
Michelle giggled and nodded.
"What are you two up to?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Emma said, quickly. "Just get us there an hour early…okay?"
"Sure," I said, slowly.
Emma beamed and began eating her lunch.
EMMA.
I had told Michelle about the plan. We were going to dump a bucket of tar and feathers on Jungle Jenny. Just so she got the idea about doing a show this way wasn't good and someone could get hurt.
Joey was eyeing Michelle and I curiously as we drove to the studio. Both Joey and I were dressed in dark green slacks, a light tan short sleeved shirt and black shoes. On the cuffs of the sleeves was a patch that said "RANGER JOE". A shield was pinned above the left breast pocket of the shirts. Michelle eagerly took a seat on one of the stumps. She and I winked at each other. Then, I set everything up.
An hour later, everyone began arriving. Jungle Jenny was really the wife of the producer. She had curly red hair and was dressed in a safari outfit.
"It's the uptight ranger," she said, beaming at Joey.
Joey muttered a hello back.
"And who's this?" Jungle Jenny asked turning to me.
"This is Ranger Joe's new co-host, Ranger Emma," the producer said.
"Aren't you a sweet thing," Jungle Jenny cooed as I extended my hand.
She shook it.
"I'm really looking forward to working with you for today," I said, smiling sweetly.
"I'm sure," Jungle Jenny grinned.
We began filming.
"Kids! It's time to welcome back a returning guest! Jungle Jenny!" Joey said eagerly as he held Mr. Woodchuck.
The kids cheered.
Jungle Jenny stepped out and waved happily at the kids.
"And here comes Ranger Emma!"
The kids cheered loudly again.
I stepped out in front of the cameras.
"Now, Ranger Emma would like to sing a song for you!" Joey said.
Joey was sitting on one of the stumps as well.
Michelle and I gave each other a wink before I began singing.
I began singing Billy Joel's "I go to Extremes".
I walked over to Jungle Jenny and extended my hand out walking toward her, forcing her to back up as I sang.
"Call me a joker, call me a fool, right at this moment I'm totally cool.
Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife, I feel like I'm in the prime of my life.
Sometimes it feels like I'm going to fast, I don't know how long this feeling will last, maybe it's only tonight.
Darling' I don't know why I go to Extremes….too high or too low they're ain't no in-betweens…and if I staaaand or I faaaall…it's only nothing at all…darling I don't know why I go to Extremes."
Jungle Jenny was right underneath the bucket. I pulled the thin cord. The bucket tipped over, spilling out black tar and feathers all over her.
The kids roared with laughter. Michelle almost fell off the stump rolling.
Jungle Jenny just stood there. The filming took a break. The producer came over to me.
"Why'd you do that?" he hissed.
I folded my arms over my chest.
"Why? Because the last time, she did some stunts that could've really hurt Joey," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"They were just stunts," Jungle Jenny replied.
"Yeah! Stunts that luckily had not gone wrong! Suppose that rope had snapped and Joey had fallen and broken his neck? That was a really dumb idea," I retorted.
"He loved it!" Jungle Jenny continued.
"I don't think so. Why don't you ask him yourself?" I said, as I stepped aside.
"I didn't like it," Joey said, automatically. "It humiliated me plus it was dangerous."
"Okay," the producer said. "Jen, no more stunts like that okay? From now on Ranger Joe and Ranger Emma will be doing the show."
"Fine," Jungle Jenny pouted as she headed off the stage.
"That was great!" Joey cried hugging me.
"Thanks," I grinned.
"Let's get back to the show," Joey said happily.
So, we did the show without any problems.
We drove home. Michelle was laughing over the stunt I pulled with the tar and feathers.
Doing that sort of stuff was okay in the cartoons, but not in real life. Someone could really get hurt copying those stunts they show.
The reason why Jungle Jenny had appeared on the show was just as a guest appearance. She really wasn't going to be co-hosting the show. It was Joey and I all the way for a long time.
Michelle was happy about that. She loved hearing me sing and I loved singing for the kids.
When we arrived home, we told everyone what happened. They burst out laughing and thought Jungle Jenny deserved to be tarred and feathered.
At least Joey and I could host the show. I loved spending time with him.