Test 2
Hardy Residence, Bayport, NY
"Thanks for inviting my father and I to Bayport for Thanksgiving dinner, Mr. Hardy," Nancy said warmly to the elder man as he took her coat from her.
"Think nothing of it, Nancy," Fenton Hardy replied, smiling at the girl.
"Yeah, Nan," Joe chimed in, as he helped Carson Drew hang up his coat and hat. "The Hardys and Drews have known each other so long, we're all practically family anyway."
Nancy grinned, her blue eyes twinkling merrily. "Too bad we aren't, Joe – sometimes I think an elder sister might do a better job of keeping you in line than Frank does…as far as the ladies are concerned, anyway."
"Are you implying I should have been born a girl?" Frank asked from somewhere behind her.
"No," she responded, turning to face him as warmth rushed to her cheeks. "But you have to admit, Joe's an outrageous flirt…if you had been a girl, you could've taught him not to be."
Joe pretended to pout. "But I like being an outrageous flirt," he protested, causing Nancy and Frank to laugh.
About an hour later, after Nancy and her father had placed their belongings in the guest bedrooms, and had a chance to freshen up, the Hardy and Drew families sat down to Thanksgiving dinner.
"Before we begin, how about we each go around the table to say what we're thankful for?" Nancy suggested.
"A good idea, Nancy," Frank commented. "Mind if I start?" The others shook their heads. "I'm thankful that it's been a week since Joe and I have been placed in life-threatening danger."
Joe, who was sitting next to his brother, took his turn next. "I'm thankful that Vanessa's not mad at me for my constant flirtations," he said, making everyone laugh.
"I'm thankful you boys aren't as involved in mysteries as much as you used to be."
"I'm thankful that Nancy and I have been here for an hour without her uncovering a mystery."
"I'll second that," Laura said with a smile, "or else she might've convinced Frank and Joe to join her…and just when would we have time for Thanksgiving dinner?" Everyone chuckled, though they knew the statement was true. Nancy, Frank, and Joe had missed several family holiday dinners due to cases.
"I third it," Fenton added. And now it was Nancy's turn.
"I'm thankful," the girl began, but was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass in the living room. With worried glances, the two families leapt from the table to investigate.
What they found was a broken window, which Fenton and Carson immediately began to examine, while Laura went to get a broom to sweep up the fallen glass, and a rock with a note tied around it.
Frank pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wrapped it carefully around his hand before untying the note, to avoid contaminating possible prints. When he pulled it off, he read it silently, before holding it out for his brother and Nancy to read.
There are no prints on the rock. Your window will be repaired tomorrow. Be wary. – Mr. Gray
"Well," Nancy said slowly, after she read the note. "I was going to say I was thankful that the Network has left us alone, without any more crazy tests….but I don't think I can say that now."
Joe's jaw tightened as he reread the note. "I really want to know what game they're playing at," he muttered.
"I think we'll find out soon enough," Frank told his little brother. "In the meantime, I think the turkey's getting cold, and I'm not letting the Network interrupt this holiday meal."
Everyone headed back to the dining room, though the jovial atmosphere had evaporated somewhat. For the first few moments of the meal, things were silent. Finally, Joe spoke.
"Where's Hannah, by the way?" he asked. The Drew housekeeper was considered as much a part of the family as Nancy and her father were, as far as the young man was concerned. He knew his family cared about the older woman as well.
"She's off visiting relatives in Colorado," Nancy responded. "But she sends her greetings."
With conversation going again, the group slowly relaxed and enjoyed the meal.
After dinner, Nancy helped Frank store the leftovers while Joe did the dishes. "Hey, look," Frank said, holding up the wishbone. "Want to make a wish?"
"Sure." Nancy found herself blushing faintly as his hand brushed hers when they grasped the bone.
"On the count of three," Frank warned. Joe turned to watch the scene with amusement, noticing his brother also bore a faint blush. "One….two…three!"
They both pulled, the bone snapped, and Nancy held the larger half. "What'd you wish for?" Frank asked curiously. She smiled coyly at him.
"A woman never shares her secrets, Frank…especially not wishes, which must remain secret, or else not come true."
"Oh, come on," Joe protested. He too was curious about Nancy's wish. "You can tell us." Nancy glanced at the pair of them, and she blushed again when her eyes met Frank's.
"Nope," she said, turning her gaze back to Joe and grinning. "You won't learn what my wish was unless the Bayport High Band plays something other than their version of "Joy to the World" tomorrow."
Both boys groaned. The Bayport Santa parade had been a tradition for several years…and the Bayport High Band, which marched in it, never deviated from their standard tune.
"And now," she said, yawning, "I think I'll turn in…good night, boys."
"Night, Nancy," they chorused, their disappointment plain on their faces.
Downtown Bayport, NY
The next day, however, Joe was gloating. "You have to tell us now," he pointed out as Nancy continued to shake her head.
Frank, Joe, and Nancy had woken earlier that morning to make it downtown for the annual Santa parade. Though the morning was chilly, they didn't mind, because the parade was entertaining. Now, the Bayport High band was passing, and Joe fully intended to make Nancy reveal her wish, as the band was not playing "Joy to the World."
"How was I supposed to know the band was under a new director?" she protested.
"Doesn't matter. You only said they had to play something different than "Joy to the World….and that sure sounds like "Jingle Bell Rock"…so spill."
Nancy crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "No way," she responded.
"You made a promise," Joe said, smirking. Then his smirk changed to an expression of shock. "No…" he exclaimed, as Nancy suddenly grinned widely. "Oh, this is not fair!"
The band, though it originally had been playing "Jingle Bell Rock" had switched mid-tune to a jazzy version of "Joy to the World"…apparently, their new marching tune was a medley of Christmas songs.
"It's just our tough luck, little brother," Frank said, his tone a mixture of disappointment and amusement.
"That shouldn't count!" Joe protested. Before Nancy could reply, however, a scream pierced the air.
All three teens swiveled around, searching for the source of the sound. A short distance from them, one of the floats was stopped. The crowd, Frank noticed, seemed to be moving in that direction, so he motioned that he, Joe, and Nancy should do the same.
"Excuse me, excuse me," they chorused as they moved to closer to the stopped float, to see what was the disturbance. Joe plucked the sleeve of a man standing near the scene.
"What's going on?"
"Some crazy guy ran out of nowhere and jumped onto the float!" The man exclaimed, pointing.
Joe frowned. People don't just leap onto floats unless they want to cause trouble…He turned to face his brother and Nancy. "Let's get closer," he suggested.
"Sir, please...come down from there," a policeman was pleading as Joe, Frank, and Nancy approached the float.
On seeing the three teenagers, the man began shouting incomprehensibly, waving a knife around. "Guess he doesn't like us," Joe muttered to Frank and Nancy.
"Stay back!" The policeman attempted to restrain them as they drew nearer to the float, but they easily evaded him, and clambered aboard.
"Don't come closer!" The man yelled, brandishing his knife at them.
"Hey, relax," Frank said soothingly. "We just want to talk."
"Well, maybe I don't..." The man gave no warning before he leapt down among them.
"Look out, Joe!" Nancy cried as their assailant landed in the middle of the group. Joe jumped back in time to narrowly avoid being grazed by the man's knife.
"C'mon pal," Joe said. "You don't want to do this."
"Three against one," Frank added. "Your odds aren't good."
"Wanna bet?" The man growled, spinning toward Nancy and swinging the knife through the air in a downward arc. She stepped back, but not fast enough to avoid getting nicked. She hissed in pain.
The two Hardy brothers immediately jumped into action, Frank lashing out with a karate kick to the man's knee, and Joe aiming a chop at the man's wrist, hoping to make him drop the knife.
"Ha! Have to do better than that, boys!" The man laughed at them as he blocked them both simultaneously. The boys exchanged startled looks. Clearly, this man had been professionally trained somewhere.
Nancy, meanwhile, made an attempt of her own. Since the man was seemingly giving his full attention to the Hardys, she issued a swift judo kick of her own.
Without even thinking about it, the man reached forward with lightning speed, and grabbed her leg. He twisted it sharply, causing her to lose her balance and fall rather painfully. She stood up again, but with difficulty.
"Okay pal," Joe growled. "This has gone quite far enough." He nodded to Frank, and once more, both brothers moved together to take the man down. This time, they were successful.
Suddenly, a shrill, piercing whistle cut through the air. The man suddenly stopped struggling, and released his knife.
"Let me up," he grunted. "I give."
However, as they helped him stand, he broke free of their hold, leapt from the float, and took off into the crowd.
They attempted to pursue him, but the crowd was large and most of the people were so confused by the whole situation that they didn't move out of the way easily. By the time the Hardys and Nancy, who was limping slightly due to her sore leg, had made it through the crowd, the man had vanished.
"Scuse me?" said a voice to their right. The three teens turned around to see a small boy holding something out toward them. "The man said I should give this to you."
Frank reached out and took the object from the boy - it was a small flag, similar to the ones that venders were selling to the parade-goers. However, wrapped around it was a slip of paper, which, when Frank pulled off, unfurled to reveal a single word.
"'Congratulations,'" Joe read aloud, his jaw clenched. He glanced at the other two. "So this was another Network test."
"Well," said Nancy, wincing as another stab of pain shot through her leg - she guessed that maybe a muscle had been pulled - "I sure hope that's the last one."