Thanks to everybody that has taken the time to read and review this, I'm so grateful.
Homeward Bound
In Tasmania three of Ruth's grandsons were also looking forward to going home again after just finishing a rescue at a hotel that had caught fire, trapping some residents. Scott and Virgil were having a rest and a cup of coffee in Thunderbird Two while Gordon was busy driving the Fire Tender back into the Pod and parking it next to the Firefly. Scott got up to make Gordon a cup of coffee for when he joined them.
"I'm not looking forward to the journey back with little brother and his sea jokes," Virgil told Scott. "I was hoping Dad would have kept him back on this one so I could have had some peace. I don't suppose you'd consider helping me out and take him home with you?"
"You're right I won't," Scott answered. "Why don't you let him fly Two back then you can stay in here?"
"I might be getting desperate but not that much!" Virgil exclaimed. "Why don't you let him fly One back and you stay with me?"
"Out of the question," Scott replied. "Look why don't you keep him talking about other things, like movies or music or something?"
"I tried that but he always manages to think of a sea joke about whatever movie we were talking about," Virgil said dejectedly.
"Well find something else to talk about like teachers at school or life in Kansas. That's far away from the sea," Scott told him.
Gordon joined them and took his cup of coffee from Scott. "That's the vehicles loaded," he told his brothers. "Man that fire took some putting out. I thought we were going to run short of dicetylene."
"Did you check the gauge?" Scott asked him.
"Yeah and it's practically empty. We're going to have to refill the tank when we get back," Gordon replied.
Half an hour later they were on their way home. Virgil decided to try Scott's suggestion and hadn't stopped talking to Gordon since Scott left to return to Thunderbird One." Say, Gordon can you remember Mr. Conrad the art teacher at school?"
"Sure, why do you want to talk about him?" Gordon asked.
"He was one of the better teachers," Virgil said. "I liked him."
"He'd no sense of humour as I recall," Gordon told him.
"Yes, but his idea of face painting and your idea of face painting were two different things, no wonder you got detention. Dad wasn't particularly pleased with you either," Virgil continued, "Especially when you said you misunderstood what the teacher meant. You looked like something you see in the circus, so I heard."
"Hey, Virg, what swims around and makes everybody laugh in the sea?" Gordon suddenly asked. "You don't know? I'll tell you. A clown fish!"
Virgil winced and thought at least the journey home wouldn't be far. 'Thanks for your suggestion, Scott, it didn't work' he thought to himself as he braced himself for more of the same sort of terrible jokes as the last one. 'Something has to be done about this before I throw him overboard.'
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ruth stood watching Parker load her luggage into the boot of FAB 1. "I just can't believe how quickly these few days have gone," she told Lady Penelope and John.
"You must come again, Mrs Tracy," Lady Penelope told her. "There are so many other places you would enjoy going to as well London. We'll have to make arrangements."
"Next time, I hope you don't have any unexpected trips out without us," John laughed.
"Yes, I'd like to come back again," she said to both of them. "I enjoyed the party and meeting your friends. The French lady invited me to stay with them at their home some time, too, when they left this morning. Your cook is so good at what she makes,
the food was so delicious last night I'd really like to have had more time to talk to her about it. It must have taken her hours to prepare it all."
"That's an idea. We could go to there and have a trip to Paris as well. I'll tell Lily how much you enjoyed her cooking," Lady Penelope promised. "Now I think that is everything loaded. You have all your gifts there for everybody. John's plants can sit on top of those, now all the cases are in. We have lots of time to drive up to the airport before your flight at 2 o'clock so let's have some morning coffee before we go."
The journey up to the airport didn't take long. John had been sitting quietly reflecting on his visit to England. Next time he came back here he hoped to be spending more time with Steve and his family. He definitely wouldn't be bringing his grandmother with him on that trip. He loved her dearly but he had his own plans for what he wanted to do and who he wanted to meet so they couldn't possibly include her.
Lady Penelope and Parker helped them bring their luggage, Grandma's presents for the family and John's plants through to the airport lounge and waited while they checked in for their flight.
"I always hate this part, saying goodbye to people," Lady Penelope told them. "I've really enjoyed having you both staying with me. Although it was unfortunate circumstances, you even brought the rest of the family over for a short visit, too. You know all of you are welcome any time."
"We know that Penny and you are always welcome to stay with us," John told her as he gave her a quick kiss and a hug. "Thanks for your hospitality."
Ruth also shared a farewell kiss with Lady Penelope. Parker was not forgotten as they shook hands with him and thanked him for all he had done for them during their stay.
Their gate call came up and Ruth and John left to board the Fireflash to return home.
"We'll be seeing some other countries on our way home this time, Grandma," John said. "This time we are going the other way round the world to New Zealand. I wonder who will be meeting us there to take us home."
………………………………………………………………………………………..
It was Jeff who decided to go to meet them. In spite of Virgil's protests, he thought it best to leave the base covered in case an emergency call came through. He sat waiting in the airport lounge, drinking coffee from the machine and reading a newspaper. He was hoping the plane would arrive on schedule.
He was relieved when the announcement came over the speakers that the plane had landed. Putting down the paper, he waited and then scanned the passengers pouring through the arrivals gate. At last, he spotted John's tall frame and his blonde hair which made him stand out from the rest of the crowd. Jeff stood up and went to meet them.
"Hi, Dad!" John said with surprise. He was expecting to see Scott or Virgil meeting them.
"Hi, son, have a good flight home?" he asked him.
"Sure, no problems," John answered.
"What about you, Mom?" he asked after giving her a kiss and hugging her to him.
"Well I'm okay, and can't wait to get home now, Jeff," she answered.
"We won't be long, just waiting for the luggage and then we'll be off to home," Jeff smiled and took her to the seat while they waited.
She told him about the places she had visited with John and Lady Penelope during the last two days of her visit then she suddenly remarked, "This time difference gets me all confused, Jeff. We only left London four hours ago and it was a hot and sunny afternoon. Now it's early in the morning and it's cold and dark."
Jeff smiled at her, "Don't worry it happens all the time to the boys when they go out to other parts of the world then return home. We'll be back for breakfast and in the warm sunshine on the island again soon."
"That's what I mean. I had my breakfast at Lady Penelope's house and lunch on the plane," his mother answered with a puzzled look on her face. "I must have lost half a day somewhere if I'm going to eat breakfast again. Although I thought it was strange when we first got there and Penny said you'd all be in bed after I left you at breakfast time then."
"Luggage is here, Dad," John told him. "We can get going now."
Jeff was relieved, trying to explain to his mother about planes flying at Mach six this time in the morning was not what he had in mind.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
The others on the island were all up and waiting to greet Ruth and John. Virgil had decided to stay in his room until they arrived, mainly to avoid Gordon who seemed to target him more than anybody else to tell his jokes to. He was lying on his bed reading when Scott knocked on the door and asked if he could enter.
"Sure, come in, Scott," Virgil told him.
"Just had a message to say Dad's on his way with Grandma and John," Scott announced.
"That's good. I wish Dad had let me go though," Virgil said.
"Gordo's jokes getting to you huh?" Scott asked.
"You bet they are! I'm going to do something drastic to him soon," Virgil replied.
"Okay we'll wait until John gets back, then here's what we'll do." Scott told him.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
"John, do you feel fit enough to go up to Five with Scott to bring Alan down later? Jeff asked as they loaded the luggage into the jet. "Put Five on auto until you're ready to go back up there for your spell of duty. Tin Tin's arranged a small party for Grandma to welcome her back after what happened and I would like him to be here
and I'm sure she would want the whole family here, too."
"Okay, Dad, I'll get some rest first after I have something to eat," John told him.
The jet touched down on the runway of Tracy Island and the rest of the Tracys along with Brains, Tin Tin and Kyrano were waiting to meet them.
After the hugs, kisses and welcomes were over. Jeff said to his sons, "Can one of you do the after-flight checks on the jet and the other three get the luggage? I'm going back up with Grandma and these bags she had with her in the plane."
Scott and Virgil both hurried to the cockpit of the plane. It was a move that Virgil won in triumph. Smiling he said, "Sorry, Scott, but the job's mine."
Gordon and John had already begun to unload the luggage. They began with the plants first. "Whose are these?" Gordon asked.
"Mine, so go easy with them," John told him. "Grandma ordered some tropical lilies and orchids for Kyrano. They should be delivered any day now."
By the time they'd loaded the luggage and plants on to the elevator Virgil had finished the checks. "That's that done. If you've finished with the luggage, let's go for a cup of coffee." He saw John's plants and asked, "More plants for your room, John? It'll be like sleeping in the garden before long."
Before John had a chance to say anything Gordon said. "What plants are blue and grow under the sea? I s'pose I have to tell you guys, dolphiniams."
Scott looked at Virgil and they both seized Gordon. "Come on, John, lend a hand if you want some peace!" Scott told him.
"Lemme go, you guys have no sense of humour," Gordon protested.
They pushed Gordon into a nearby workshop and put him on a bench. "So we've got no sense of humour?" said Scott.
"We don't think your jokes are funny that's all," Virgil added.
"But seeing as you do, we thought we'd give you something to laugh about," Scott told him.
One thing Scott had quickly learned about his second youngest brother was that as a baby and small boy he was very ticklish and still was. So when his three brothers began tickling his sides he was reduced to fits of uncontrollable laughter that made his face red as his hair and breathless. "Was that funny enough for you?" Scott finally asked him
"And if you want to tell any more of those sea jokes, tell them to Grandma," Virgil said. "She bought you the book in the first place."
"So you know what to expect now if one more joke is told to any of us," Scott warned him. "Is that understood?"
Without waiting for an answer they left their still breathless brother on the bench to recover while they went upstairs to the lounge.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Later, when John and Scott had returned with Alan, that evening, Ruth sat amongst her family and friends and thought how happy she was to be back home with them. Tin Tin and Kyrano had provided a wonderful selection of food for her homecoming and now as the celebration drinks were served she said, "Now what's a party without a few surprises? Gordon, darling, help me bring some things I have in my room.
They returned with a few bags carried by Ruth. Gordon carried a box wrapped in brown paper and string.
"I bought these things when I first went to London with Lady Penelope," Ruth began. "I thought at one time, I might never be able to give them to you or see any of you again. I was spared, however, and now back with my wonderful family and friends, I just want to say how much I love all of you."
"We love you, too, Grandma," Scott told her on behalf of all present, "Don't we everybody?"
After everybody confirmed Scott's statement, Ruth said, "Well I guess I should hand these gifts out now before we all start crying. They are just a few things you may like. Lend me a hand, Gordon, seeing as you have had yours already."
"Yes, unfortunately," said Virgil as he smiled at Gordon, daring him to tell one more joke.
The presents were handed around. Scott and Virgil got bottles of their favourite aftershave. John got a shirt with a small pattern of stars and planets on. Brains also got a shirt but his was a more sober one that was more his style. Tin Tin was given a bottle of her favourite perfume. Kyrano, who had been the most difficult to choose for was given some extra long incense sticks that he used for his meditations. "You have something else to come later when they arrive," she told him.
The last bag was for Alan and Ruth hugged him to her and gave him a kiss, "Thank you, sweetheart, for being so alert. I hoped and prayed you would be and you didn't let me down."
Alan fought to blink back the tears that had welled up in his eyes as he thought how he felt when his beloved grandmother was missing. Ruth gave him another hug. "Here's your gift, sweetie."
Alan opened the bag to reveal a shirt similar in style to Gordon's but it had the print of red and yellow racing cars on it. There was also a movie about the history of the sport and the earliest cars. "Gee thanks, Grandma," he said as he quickly kissed her cheek and sat back down with his gifts.
"Now for one more," she said as she looked at Jeff. "I saw this and thought of you right away and it might just look good with another object that is similar. Thank you son, for thinking up the idea of International Rescue, I'm so proud of you and all you have built up here."
She kissed him and said, "I hope you like it, son."
Jeff quietly opened the box while the others stood looking curiously on. He smiled as he pulled the small white marble statue of 'The Thinker' out of the box and held it up. "Thanks, Mom, I love it and will treasure it always."
"He even looks a bit like you, Dad!" Gordon remarked.
Kyrano served some more drinks and they went back into party mood. Gordon was keeping away from his elder brothers and sat reading the back of Alan's movie to see what it contained.
"What did you get, Gordie?" Alan asked.
"I'll show you," he told him and went to his room and came back wearing his dolphin patterned shirt."
"Hey that's cool," Alan told him. "What else did you get?"
"This," he answered as he showed him his book. "Say, Alan, what did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus?
"I don't know," Alan answered.
"I want to hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand," Gordon replied laughing as he counted eight fingers in line with his joke.
"Gordon, that's the worst so far. You mind what I said to you earlier," Scott told him.
"You said I would know what to expect if I told any of you three another joke," Gordon smiled back at him. "I didn't, I told Al here so that let's me off the hook."
"That's a neat book," Alan said. "I'll have to look it over sometime."
"All I can say is Thunderbird Five, here I come and the sooner the better," John laughed.
Later that night Ruth lay in her own familiar bed clutching her silver locket. She spoke to her beloved husband's photograph again and told him about the family that he had left behind and the party held for her that evening. After she said a prayer of thanks she had survived her ordeal at the hands of those criminals she fell into a deep and contented sleep.
The end.