They get up, give Poppy and T.J. a hug good night. They climb up the steps, and Joanna stops Paul at the top. She stays still for a minute. While twittering her finger, she looks away from Paul's confused look. She finally stops, and gives Paul a hug, while hugging him, she says.
"Thank-you for rescuing me."
She lets go of Paul, and goes to bed. The next day they get up early, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Then Joanna brings Paul to the study. The doorbell rings, and T.J. answers it. He comes into the study, and hands two telegrams to Joanna. She reads half of the first one, and a smile breaks on her face.
"What?" asks Paul
"Mom and Dad are coming home tonight." says Joanna. After the rest, she frowns. "But they're only staying for two nights. At least they're coming home."
"Honey, why are they coming home?" asks Poppy
"They say they heard from Mr. Loft what happened and that he saw Joseph and I coming home, then T.J. carrying trash bags down the street. We are in trouble, it also says he described what was on it." says Joanna
"What about the second one?" asks Paul
Joanna reads it, and her eyes get wide. "The police want to come here so I can answer questions." she says
"When?" asks Paul
"In thirty minutes, I'll get ready." says Joanna
She runs upstairs to fix her hair, and brush her teeth. Half-an- hour later the doorbell rings, and T.J. answers it. He tells the cops to make themselves at home. He leaves to get the police something to drink for the police. Paul comes in, introduces himself as Joseph, and the police asks him where Joanna is.
"She'll be down in a moment, in fact I'll call for her right now. Joanna the police are here." he calls
"I'm coming, Joseph." calls Joanna. She climbs down the steps, and leads the police into the living room. The police sit on the couch, and Joanna sits in a chair across from them. T.J. comes in with a tray full of refreshments. He clears his throat after he enters the room.
"Refreshments, Lady Joanna?" asks T.J. They look at T.J. and Joanna smiles.
"Yes, please T.J., just set them there on the table." says Joanna. T.J. sets the tray on the table. "Thank-you. T.J. there won't be anything else, you are excused." T.J. nods, and leaves the room.
"So, Joanna Far, we heard you were kidnapped by Pirates?" asks Cop 1
"Yes, sir, my friend rescued me." says Joanna
"So, you confirm Pirates kidnapped you?" asks Cop 2
"I don't know, I went in the dining room looking for the light switch, and he came behind me, and put a sword to my throat." says Joanna
"Sounds like a pirate. Okay then what?" ask Cop 1
"I yelled for my friend, which my kidnapper mistakes him as my big brother, but I didn't argue." says Joanna
"Very smart, never argue with a guy holding a sword to your throat. Then what?" asks Cop 2
"He flips me over his shoulder, and Joseph comes in. He yells my name, I hoist my body, turn the best I could, yell his name, and asks him to help me. He tells me he'll be there, and to stay calm. The kidnapper puts me down, turns me around, and puts the sword to my throat again. He tells Joseph not to move, and wanted both of us to cooperate if we wanted me to see my 16th birthday. He tells me I'm coming with him, and calls for his men. He takes me in his arms, and escapes through the window." says Joanna
"Then what?" asks Cop 1
"He puts me in a sack, ties it shut, and tosses me to someone else who carries me somewhere far away, and I hear footsteps and stuff dropping. Then they drop me, untie the bag, and chain me by my wrist. Then they leave, and slam the door shut behind them. A while later, I try breaking lose, but I couldn't, I keep trying, and I hear my dress sleeves ripping.I keep going though. I hear glass breaking, and I stop. Joseph jumps down, and comes toward me. He says ' Calm down, I'm going to get you out of her.' He finds a sword, and strikes the chain. He helps me up, and out of the building. I help him get out of the building. I help him out of there, as well. We run for half- an- hour, and stopped for a break. He gave me a necklace of mine. We stay there for a bit, then head home. It starts raining hard, and since we were running, we tripped, and got all muddy. We kept going all the way home." says Joanna
"So, your neighbor saw mud on you? Then we'd like you to explain that to Mr. Loft. What happened next?" asks Cop 2
"Yes, and we'd be happy to, next we got cleaned up, and turned the clothes inside out, put them in trash bags, and T. J. took them to the dump. He said the dump was closed so he gave them to homeless guys, trying to get on a boat." says Joanna
"Oh, we found your clothes, and I'm sad to report that the homeless people got more stains on them, and were smuggling on a ship, and since smuggling on a ship is a crime, they were arrested." says Cop 1
"Yeah, so are we done here? I need to get everything ready for my parents return." says Joanna
"Yes, please excuse us." says Cop 2
The cops bow, and leave the house without another word. For the next two hours they got ready for the arrival of Joanna's parents. Joanna and Paul go over to Mr. Lofts' house. They explained everything to him, the same way that Joanna explained the night's events to the police. He says thank-you for the truth, and he was glad they're alright. They go back home, and wait for Joanna's parents. A little while later, the front door opens.
"Joanna, we're home!" calls Mrs. Far. Joanna runs into the room.
"Mom, Dad." Joanna exclaims She runs into her parents arms. "I missed you."
"We missed you to dear." says Mrs. Far
"We need to talk." says Mr. Far
"Now? But you just got here." says Joanna
"I know, but we need to talk." says Mr. Far
"I was afraid you were going to say that." says Joanna. She grabs her parents' hands, and drags them into the living room. Into chairs, and she sits on the couch. "The last thing, I want to do is hurt, and disappoint you...um...I ..."
"Your Jo the greatest pirate alive." says Mr. Far
"How'd you? When did you? " studders Joanna
"Remember your appearance as Jo? You did that smile you do when you come up with a plan. Well, we couldn't let anyone get our baby, so we helped you. We talked, and we decided, as long as you didn't do anything pirate related here on land. We'd be okay, but when we heard about you and your friend were covered in blood. We thought you killed someone, so we came home, but our main concern is that your..." says Mrs. Far
"We didn't kill anyone, he stabbed himself. I just cut off his feet, so he couldn't walk toward us, and try to kill us, or get me back. Whatever he tried to do, he couldn't get closer to us." explains Joanna
" Alright, that we can deal with." says Mr. Far
"Really?" asks Joanna
"Yes, but you're grounded for a month for lying." says Mrs. Far
"That sounds fair. I'm sorry for lying. " says Joanna
"Hand in your dagger, or sword." says Mr. Far.
Joanna lifts her dress a little bit, and grabs her dagger. Then she hands it to her dad.
"Well why not meet your friend, and eat lunch." says Mrs. Far
They go into the kitchen, and Joanna introduces Paul to her parents. They eat lunch together, and talk. Paul talks about his past, and how he got his title. Joanna talks about all her adventures to her parents as well, the whole thing leaving out gruesome details. Since they are eating, while they talk.
"So how'd you guys find out about Joanna?" asks Paul
"Well there was a meeting, and everyone was required to go." says Mrs. Far
"It was about catching Jo dead or alive. Joanna, said she'd meet us there at the center of town, so we left." says Mr. Far
"An hour later into the meeting, Jo came up on a roof, near the stage. Jo had the same smile, Joanna has when she has a plan." says Mrs. Far
"Mrs. Far, calls to me, she says that Jo is Joanna. I look up to where she was pointing. I say I think you're right, but how can we tell that it is her?" says Mr. Far
"I grab his arm, pull him close to me, and give him an icy glare. I say a mother, doesn't need proof, to prove who their baby is, and that is my baby." says Mrs. Far
"Everyone is looking at her, but she looks only at our leader, with daring eyes." says Mr. Far
"Then our leader takes the mike. He says 'Hello, Jo, are you here to turn yourself in?' She smiles bigger, and says 'Tell you what, you catch me, I'll give up. So our leader sends in the cops, and Jo starts running while jumping roof tops." says Mr. Far
"Mrs. Far grabbed my arm, and we run. We tried everything we could think of to block the police, and keep them away from Jo. After that we run back to where we we're standing." says Mr. Far
"Thirty- minutes later, Joanna meets us, and she had a little dirt, exactly same spot as Jo, well same everything like the scar down her hand she usually hid. " says Mrs. Far
Joanna's parents stay for five hours, and then they say their goodbyes. They leave Joanna some advice about Saturdays party. They also tell her to help Paul, with being polite and proper all week. They apologize for dropping all of it on her shoulders, and leaving. Mrs. Far gives Joanna a kiss on the cheek, and Mr. Far gives her a hug.
"Love you" they say
"Love you, too." says Joanna. They leave, and Joanna turns toward Paul. "Okay we have a lot of work to do after practice and now."
"After fencing practice?" asks Paul
"Yes, come on we need to work on talking." says Joanna. "Poppy, T.J. can you help?"
"Sure" they say
"Talking? I already know how to talk." says Paul
"Yes, you do, but that's not what I'm talking about." says Joanna
Joanna explains things for hours. From what not to say, to whom not to say things to. Also, what each person looks like. She even makes a test, and notes to study.