"Right on time," greeted the tall blond who answered the door when Frank knocked. "I'm impressed."
"We aim to please," Joe replied, stepping around Frank and leaning in to give the blue-gray eyed beauty a kiss.
"Geez!" groaned Frank playfully a minute later. "Do I have to call the fire department?"
Joe and Vanessa Bender separated. Joe's cheeks were flushed by his brother's implication but Vanessa grinned cheekily at Frank. "Does this mean you aren't going to kiss Callie?'
"He better," growled another blond headed girl from behind Vanessa. Vanessa stepped aside and let the two boys enter the house.
Frank smiled at the brown-eyed girl before him. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a pale blue peasant blouse with her hair put up in a pony tail. As far as Frank was concerned, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She held her head high and her facial structure reminded Frank, not for the first time, of a Greek Goddess.
"Well?" seventeen year old Callie Shaw demanded, tapping her foot a bit impatiently. "I'm waiting." Frank pulled her into his arms to comply.
Joe grabbed Vanessa's hand and led her into the living room, knowing Frank would take longer than he had since he would be leaving in just two more days. Joe frowned. Two days! Vanessa was leaving too. And for longer!!!
He sank down onto the sofa and pulled his seventeen year old girlfriend down onto his lap. "Mmm," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him as he nuzzled her neck. "You're awfully frisky this afternoon."
"I just realized I won't get to see you again until August," Joe responded in a forlorn voice.
"A little time apart might not be such a bad thing," said Vanessa's mother, Andrea Bender as she entered the living room dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a tee shirt which said, "Start kissing. I'm the BOSS."
"It certainly isn't a good thing," Joe retorted, looking into the face that so resembled the girl he loved and held.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you're just seventeen. That's too young to be considering tying yourself to the same person." She held up a hand to ward off the heated protests which she knew was headed her way.
"You two have been dating each other exclusively since we moved to Bayport," she continued. "Neither of you are ready to make a permanent commitment to each other and that's the way it should be. But, neither of you will be able to make an informed choice should the time come if you have nothing with which to base your decision."
"You want us to date other people?" Vanessa demanded, appalled.
OH NO! Frank's mind screamed as he and Callie entered the room in time to hear Vanessa's outburst. If he did not return form his mission and Joe were forced to break up with Vanessa....Frank swallowed, afraid of what would happen to Joe's sanity if he lost two people he cared so much about at the same time.
"Of course I want you to date other people," Mrs. Bender affirmed. "But I'm not cruel. I'll be satisfied with a little time away from each other so you two can access how you really feel."
All four teens let out an audible sigh. "You had me worried there," Joe told Mrs. Bender with a weak smile. Vanessa hugged Joe tighter then released him and stood up.
"Come on, let's get a move on or we're going to be late," Vanessa urged Joe to his feet.
"Late for what?" Frank asked, He didn't know what Vanessa was talking about. As far as he knew, they were just going to hang out...maybe go to the beach. He looked over at Joe who shrugged. Apparently he was just as mystified.
"You'll find out," Callie told him, slipping an arm through his and pulling him back to the front door with Vanessa and Joe following close behind.
"Give me the keys," Vanessa demanded of Joe, holding her hand out when they reached the van.
Grinning good-naturedly, Joe pulled the keys from his pants pocket and dropped them onto her upturned palm. He opened the driver's door and waited until she had climbed in and buckled her seat belt before closing it. He hurried to the passenger side and climbed in, noting Frank and Callie had already buckled up in back and were now holding hands.
"Okay, where are we going?" Joe demanded after Vanessa had passed the turn off to go downtown as well as the one to the beach.
"Shh!" Vanessa ordered him. "Lean back, close your eyes and I'll tell you when we get there."
"You too," Callie ordered Frank whose brown eyes were alight with curiosity.
Frank could tell Joe was prepared to argue but he didn't want to spoil their fun. "Do as they say, Joe," Frank instructed his little brother. "Face it. We've been kidnapped by pros," he added, glancing teasingly at Callie who blushed.
"And don't you forget it," growled Vanessa playfully as Joe did as he was told.
"Don't we get a clue?" Joe demanded, his eyes closed.
Vanessa looked in the rearview mirror at Callie who shrugged. "Okay, we'll give you one clue," she caved in. "We're going to a place where you can both do something you've always wanted to do, but never had the time."
"A little R&R?" Frank guessed only to receive a light swat form Callie.
"No, Silly," Callie said with a small giggle. "It's an active something."
"Ah, two clues," Joe inserted smugly. "Let's see, we've been hang gliding, flying, ballooning, sailing, swimming."
"Skating, rock-climbing, dancing, biking..." Frank picked up the string of activities he and Joe had already done.
"Enough!" Callie shouted before Frank or Joe could continue. "We already know what you guys have done."
Joe and Frank fell silent, each going over every active thing they had done and trying to remember what it was they wanted to do. Of course! Both boys' eyes flew open at the same time as they chorused, "Bungee-Jumping!"
Callie groaned in defeat. "When will we learn to keep our mouths shut?"
"Ah, this is great!" Joe enthused. "Where at? I thought Pete's was the only place in Bayport and he shut down last fall."
"It's not in Bayport," Vanessa admitted. They knew what it was, they might as well know the rest. "They're having a festival in Conover," she informed them, naming a city about forty miles northwest of Bayport. "Bungee Jumping is one of the scheduled activities."
"The festival starts this afternoon at three and lasts all weekend," Callie picked up. "We thought we could hang around until at least ten before heading back home."
"Sounds like fun," Frank agreed. "But what's the festival for?"
"For the fourth of July, silly," Callie told him, leaning over and rubbing his nose with her own. "Apparently, it's an annual event that started four years ago to bring tourism to the town."
"I've never heard of Conover," Joe said.
"Neither has a lot of people," Vanessa told him. "If you look at a map, and it's listed, it's just a spot."
"What do you mean, 'and it's listed'?" Frank asked, curious.
"We had to look at three different maps before we found one with Conover on it," explained Callie.
"That's little," Joe asserted, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What else is this festival going to have?" Frank asked.
"The brochure said wall climbing, flight simulation, bungee jumping, ballooning, arts and crafts, ethnic foods, live music, and more," Callie told them what she remembered.
"And they hold this every year over the fourth?" Joe asked. "But Monday is the fourth."
"It's held on the first weekend of the month," Vanessa clarified.
"Cool," Joe said, smiling. "This should be fun."
The four arrived in Conover and after about thirty minutes found a place to park the van for the afternoon. "This place is packed!" Callie observed. "I thought we would never find a place to park."
"I know," Vanessa agreed. "With all the people running around, I was afraid I might hit someone."
"Well, when we leave, I'll drive," Joe offered and took the keys from Vanessa who was more than happy to relinquish the task.
"Where to first?" Callie asked, looking around.
"The Bungee Jump," Frank answered even though he could see Joe's eyes sliding to a booth offering Grecian delicacies. "If Joe doesn't jump before he fills up on food, he won't get too."
"True," Joe admitted with a regretful sigh before turning away from the menu he was staring at which sat in front of the Greek booth. "Lead on."
Frank asked one of the persons at the festival headquarters where the Bungee-Jump was located and was directed to the end of the booths on the south side of town. Frank and the others looked south and up and saw an enormous machine.
"Oh, well," Joe said, trying not to sound disappointed. "We should have known it wouldn't be a natural jump at a festival."
"I'm sorry," Vanessa apologized. "We never imagined it wouldn't be off a bridge or cliff."
"It's cool," Joe assured her. "It can be practice for the real thing."
"Joe's right," Frank put in. "Besides, this is safer and we should have plenty of time after we've finished to check out the rest of the festival."
They made their way down to the end of the street and joined the line of people waiting for a turn. Finally, they reached the head of the line. Frank grinned at the eager look on Joe's face. "Go on," he told Joe. "You're the one who got me wanting to do this in the first place."
Joe needed no second urging. He stepped up to the stand, paid his fee and was outfitted for the jump. After a few basic instructions, the machine lifted Joe high into the air. Joe stepped to the edge and, following instructions about posture, jumped.
Frank's heart leapt into his throat when he saw Joe in a head long dive toward the pavement. All of the sudden, the rope jerked and Joe came to a forward halt as he was pulled back into the air briefly. Frank heard Joe's enthusiastic yell and took a breath, only now realizing he had been holding it.
"That was awesome!" Joe exclaimed, his blue eyes sparkling as he stepped out of his gear. Frank gave a bright smile as he stepped up for his turn.
After Frank, Callie, and Vanessa each took a turn, they moved to the next area, a flight simulation of a WWII bomber. Unlike the bungee jump, this line was shorter and it wasn't long before Frank and Callie entered the simulator.
"Are you sure you want to go on this one?" Vanessa asked, knowing how much Joe disliked flying.
Joe looked at the simulator and saw it turn upside down as sounds from a war movie could be heard. He paled a bit but nodded. "We might as well try everything," he replied.
"Joe Hardy, you don't have to be brave for me," Vanessa said sternly but leaned forward and kissed his cheek to take the sting from her words. "Besides, I don't really want to do this one anyway," she added.
Joe smiled at her and squeezed her hand before moving out of line and off to the side to wait for Callie and Frank.
"A big fellow like you isn't brave enough to go on a ride?" jeered a blond headed man in black slacks and a pressed white shirt.
Vanessa could feel Joe tense up. Putting her hand on his arm, she stared the man in the eyes. "Take a hike!" she ordered,
"Ouch, the baby even has to have a girl fight his battles," the man said, his brown eyes moving to Joe's blue ones before going back to Vanessa and leering at her as he looked her over.
"You just want to fight?" Joe demanded, pulling Vanessa back and getting in the man's face.
"Think you can take me, pretty boy?" the man taunted.
"The name is Joe Hardy," Joe said. "And I can take you down any time, any where."
"But not here," said Frank, coming up behind him. No one had heard the ride stop and Frank and Callie get off. Frank nodded in the direction of an officer who had taken an interest in the exchange.
"Later, Blondie," the man sneered before turning and walking away.
"What a creep!" Vanessa erupted, her face flushed in anger.
"True," Joe agreed with scowl which quickly turned into a smile. "But he's not worth ruining our day over. What say we go and grab something to eat?" he asked hopefully.
"Nothing comes between you and your stomach," Callie teased. "But, yeah, let's try something," she agreed.
They made their way back up the street, coming to a stop in front of a Chinese booth. "Something new or tried and true?" Frank asked, knowing he sounded hokie but not caring.
"I'll have an egg roll," Joe said.
"Just one?" Vanessa asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Yeah," Joe admitted a bit sheepishly. "I want to try one thing from each booth."
Two booths later, Joe stepped up to place his order while Frank and the girls looked at a booth filled with hand-crafted musical instruments. He ordered a cup of hot soup, paid and turned to move away but stopped when he felt something pressed into his side.
He tensed as an arm came around his shoulders and he was pulled closer to his attacker. "It's been a long time," the stranger said loudly. "Keep calm and no one else has to get hurt," the man added in a whisper, the smile never leaving his chiseled face.
"We aim to please," Joe replied, stepping around Frank and leaning in to give the blue-gray eyed beauty a kiss.
"Geez!" groaned Frank playfully a minute later. "Do I have to call the fire department?"
Joe and Vanessa Bender separated. Joe's cheeks were flushed by his brother's implication but Vanessa grinned cheekily at Frank. "Does this mean you aren't going to kiss Callie?'
"He better," growled another blond headed girl from behind Vanessa. Vanessa stepped aside and let the two boys enter the house.
Frank smiled at the brown-eyed girl before him. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a pale blue peasant blouse with her hair put up in a pony tail. As far as Frank was concerned, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She held her head high and her facial structure reminded Frank, not for the first time, of a Greek Goddess.
"Well?" seventeen year old Callie Shaw demanded, tapping her foot a bit impatiently. "I'm waiting." Frank pulled her into his arms to comply.
Joe grabbed Vanessa's hand and led her into the living room, knowing Frank would take longer than he had since he would be leaving in just two more days. Joe frowned. Two days! Vanessa was leaving too. And for longer!!!
He sank down onto the sofa and pulled his seventeen year old girlfriend down onto his lap. "Mmm," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him as he nuzzled her neck. "You're awfully frisky this afternoon."
"I just realized I won't get to see you again until August," Joe responded in a forlorn voice.
"A little time apart might not be such a bad thing," said Vanessa's mother, Andrea Bender as she entered the living room dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and a tee shirt which said, "Start kissing. I'm the BOSS."
"It certainly isn't a good thing," Joe retorted, looking into the face that so resembled the girl he loved and held.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you're just seventeen. That's too young to be considering tying yourself to the same person." She held up a hand to ward off the heated protests which she knew was headed her way.
"You two have been dating each other exclusively since we moved to Bayport," she continued. "Neither of you are ready to make a permanent commitment to each other and that's the way it should be. But, neither of you will be able to make an informed choice should the time come if you have nothing with which to base your decision."
"You want us to date other people?" Vanessa demanded, appalled.
OH NO! Frank's mind screamed as he and Callie entered the room in time to hear Vanessa's outburst. If he did not return form his mission and Joe were forced to break up with Vanessa....Frank swallowed, afraid of what would happen to Joe's sanity if he lost two people he cared so much about at the same time.
"Of course I want you to date other people," Mrs. Bender affirmed. "But I'm not cruel. I'll be satisfied with a little time away from each other so you two can access how you really feel."
All four teens let out an audible sigh. "You had me worried there," Joe told Mrs. Bender with a weak smile. Vanessa hugged Joe tighter then released him and stood up.
"Come on, let's get a move on or we're going to be late," Vanessa urged Joe to his feet.
"Late for what?" Frank asked, He didn't know what Vanessa was talking about. As far as he knew, they were just going to hang out...maybe go to the beach. He looked over at Joe who shrugged. Apparently he was just as mystified.
"You'll find out," Callie told him, slipping an arm through his and pulling him back to the front door with Vanessa and Joe following close behind.
"Give me the keys," Vanessa demanded of Joe, holding her hand out when they reached the van.
Grinning good-naturedly, Joe pulled the keys from his pants pocket and dropped them onto her upturned palm. He opened the driver's door and waited until she had climbed in and buckled her seat belt before closing it. He hurried to the passenger side and climbed in, noting Frank and Callie had already buckled up in back and were now holding hands.
"Okay, where are we going?" Joe demanded after Vanessa had passed the turn off to go downtown as well as the one to the beach.
"Shh!" Vanessa ordered him. "Lean back, close your eyes and I'll tell you when we get there."
"You too," Callie ordered Frank whose brown eyes were alight with curiosity.
Frank could tell Joe was prepared to argue but he didn't want to spoil their fun. "Do as they say, Joe," Frank instructed his little brother. "Face it. We've been kidnapped by pros," he added, glancing teasingly at Callie who blushed.
"And don't you forget it," growled Vanessa playfully as Joe did as he was told.
"Don't we get a clue?" Joe demanded, his eyes closed.
Vanessa looked in the rearview mirror at Callie who shrugged. "Okay, we'll give you one clue," she caved in. "We're going to a place where you can both do something you've always wanted to do, but never had the time."
"A little R&R?" Frank guessed only to receive a light swat form Callie.
"No, Silly," Callie said with a small giggle. "It's an active something."
"Ah, two clues," Joe inserted smugly. "Let's see, we've been hang gliding, flying, ballooning, sailing, swimming."
"Skating, rock-climbing, dancing, biking..." Frank picked up the string of activities he and Joe had already done.
"Enough!" Callie shouted before Frank or Joe could continue. "We already know what you guys have done."
Joe and Frank fell silent, each going over every active thing they had done and trying to remember what it was they wanted to do. Of course! Both boys' eyes flew open at the same time as they chorused, "Bungee-Jumping!"
Callie groaned in defeat. "When will we learn to keep our mouths shut?"
"Ah, this is great!" Joe enthused. "Where at? I thought Pete's was the only place in Bayport and he shut down last fall."
"It's not in Bayport," Vanessa admitted. They knew what it was, they might as well know the rest. "They're having a festival in Conover," she informed them, naming a city about forty miles northwest of Bayport. "Bungee Jumping is one of the scheduled activities."
"The festival starts this afternoon at three and lasts all weekend," Callie picked up. "We thought we could hang around until at least ten before heading back home."
"Sounds like fun," Frank agreed. "But what's the festival for?"
"For the fourth of July, silly," Callie told him, leaning over and rubbing his nose with her own. "Apparently, it's an annual event that started four years ago to bring tourism to the town."
"I've never heard of Conover," Joe said.
"Neither has a lot of people," Vanessa told him. "If you look at a map, and it's listed, it's just a spot."
"What do you mean, 'and it's listed'?" Frank asked, curious.
"We had to look at three different maps before we found one with Conover on it," explained Callie.
"That's little," Joe asserted, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What else is this festival going to have?" Frank asked.
"The brochure said wall climbing, flight simulation, bungee jumping, ballooning, arts and crafts, ethnic foods, live music, and more," Callie told them what she remembered.
"And they hold this every year over the fourth?" Joe asked. "But Monday is the fourth."
"It's held on the first weekend of the month," Vanessa clarified.
"Cool," Joe said, smiling. "This should be fun."
The four arrived in Conover and after about thirty minutes found a place to park the van for the afternoon. "This place is packed!" Callie observed. "I thought we would never find a place to park."
"I know," Vanessa agreed. "With all the people running around, I was afraid I might hit someone."
"Well, when we leave, I'll drive," Joe offered and took the keys from Vanessa who was more than happy to relinquish the task.
"Where to first?" Callie asked, looking around.
"The Bungee Jump," Frank answered even though he could see Joe's eyes sliding to a booth offering Grecian delicacies. "If Joe doesn't jump before he fills up on food, he won't get too."
"True," Joe admitted with a regretful sigh before turning away from the menu he was staring at which sat in front of the Greek booth. "Lead on."
Frank asked one of the persons at the festival headquarters where the Bungee-Jump was located and was directed to the end of the booths on the south side of town. Frank and the others looked south and up and saw an enormous machine.
"Oh, well," Joe said, trying not to sound disappointed. "We should have known it wouldn't be a natural jump at a festival."
"I'm sorry," Vanessa apologized. "We never imagined it wouldn't be off a bridge or cliff."
"It's cool," Joe assured her. "It can be practice for the real thing."
"Joe's right," Frank put in. "Besides, this is safer and we should have plenty of time after we've finished to check out the rest of the festival."
They made their way down to the end of the street and joined the line of people waiting for a turn. Finally, they reached the head of the line. Frank grinned at the eager look on Joe's face. "Go on," he told Joe. "You're the one who got me wanting to do this in the first place."
Joe needed no second urging. He stepped up to the stand, paid his fee and was outfitted for the jump. After a few basic instructions, the machine lifted Joe high into the air. Joe stepped to the edge and, following instructions about posture, jumped.
Frank's heart leapt into his throat when he saw Joe in a head long dive toward the pavement. All of the sudden, the rope jerked and Joe came to a forward halt as he was pulled back into the air briefly. Frank heard Joe's enthusiastic yell and took a breath, only now realizing he had been holding it.
"That was awesome!" Joe exclaimed, his blue eyes sparkling as he stepped out of his gear. Frank gave a bright smile as he stepped up for his turn.
After Frank, Callie, and Vanessa each took a turn, they moved to the next area, a flight simulation of a WWII bomber. Unlike the bungee jump, this line was shorter and it wasn't long before Frank and Callie entered the simulator.
"Are you sure you want to go on this one?" Vanessa asked, knowing how much Joe disliked flying.
Joe looked at the simulator and saw it turn upside down as sounds from a war movie could be heard. He paled a bit but nodded. "We might as well try everything," he replied.
"Joe Hardy, you don't have to be brave for me," Vanessa said sternly but leaned forward and kissed his cheek to take the sting from her words. "Besides, I don't really want to do this one anyway," she added.
Joe smiled at her and squeezed her hand before moving out of line and off to the side to wait for Callie and Frank.
"A big fellow like you isn't brave enough to go on a ride?" jeered a blond headed man in black slacks and a pressed white shirt.
Vanessa could feel Joe tense up. Putting her hand on his arm, she stared the man in the eyes. "Take a hike!" she ordered,
"Ouch, the baby even has to have a girl fight his battles," the man said, his brown eyes moving to Joe's blue ones before going back to Vanessa and leering at her as he looked her over.
"You just want to fight?" Joe demanded, pulling Vanessa back and getting in the man's face.
"Think you can take me, pretty boy?" the man taunted.
"The name is Joe Hardy," Joe said. "And I can take you down any time, any where."
"But not here," said Frank, coming up behind him. No one had heard the ride stop and Frank and Callie get off. Frank nodded in the direction of an officer who had taken an interest in the exchange.
"Later, Blondie," the man sneered before turning and walking away.
"What a creep!" Vanessa erupted, her face flushed in anger.
"True," Joe agreed with scowl which quickly turned into a smile. "But he's not worth ruining our day over. What say we go and grab something to eat?" he asked hopefully.
"Nothing comes between you and your stomach," Callie teased. "But, yeah, let's try something," she agreed.
They made their way back up the street, coming to a stop in front of a Chinese booth. "Something new or tried and true?" Frank asked, knowing he sounded hokie but not caring.
"I'll have an egg roll," Joe said.
"Just one?" Vanessa asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Yeah," Joe admitted a bit sheepishly. "I want to try one thing from each booth."
Two booths later, Joe stepped up to place his order while Frank and the girls looked at a booth filled with hand-crafted musical instruments. He ordered a cup of hot soup, paid and turned to move away but stopped when he felt something pressed into his side.
He tensed as an arm came around his shoulders and he was pulled closer to his attacker. "It's been a long time," the stranger said loudly. "Keep calm and no one else has to get hurt," the man added in a whisper, the smile never leaving his chiseled face.