First mate's log:

October 27, 1973

We were pretty busy at the Pizza Parlor today, so I didn't get the whole story from Peter and Bobby, and I don't know what to think. With Halloween coming up, Mary Ann has "spooky specials," like pepperonis that look like monster faces. The kids and teens are going crazy over it all, especially the prices, although she still makes a profit of course.

Peter told me a few days ago, after his grounding was lifted, what was going on when his date and Greg's were all over him. The girls thought Greg was pranking him by setting Linda up with Peter, but he really was just trying to find a blind date on short notice. So the girls were trying to get back at him. And nobody knew that Mr. and Mrs. Brady were going to take a new client and his wife to the Pizza Parlor. I mean, I love Mary Ann's restaurant of course, but it's not exactly someplace you'd take an older couple to impress them.

Anyway, it all got straightened out, but, yeah, Greg and Peter both got grounded. And it sounds like Greg might get grounded again, if what his brothers told me is true and Mr. and Mrs. Brady find out. Bobby was in the linen closet, getting a clean washcloth, when he overheard Greg up in the attic. Peter came along and both boys eavesdropped. They claim that Greg has a girl up there!

It's hard to believe he'd pull something like that, especially so soon after the "Phil Packer" mess, but he is seventeen and girl-crazy. I don't think his brothers should be eavesdropping on him, but I can see why it'd be tempting. They left to see if they could overhear more, and I tried to focus on work.


Carol Brady's diary:

October 28, 1973

Yesterday was insane! It started out with Mike reading a newspaper story about someone, probably Blenford High students, stealing our high school's new mascot, a chimp. Mike admitted that when he was in school, mascot-stealing was common, although he didn't quite confess that he was guilty of the crime. He and Greg insisted it was just a prank.

I thought the students on our island were too mature to retaliate, but I was very wrong. Greg stole the Blenford High goat! He and some of his football teammates took a boat over to the big island in the middle of the night, and then Greg hid the goat upstairs in his attic bedroom. Yes, if he still shared a room with Peter and Bobby, he never would've gotten away with it as long as he did.

In the afternoon, I in my blissful ignorance agreed to go to another emergency PTA meeting. This time it had nothing to do with a beloved teacher's retirement. The Blenford High mascot was now missing, too. So we ladies, and Principal Binkley, were going to discuss what could be done about these pranks. And time was of the essence, because the two teams were going to face off in a game that night.

Unfortunately, we were meeting at Mrs. Gould's, and she had forgotten that the painters were coming over that day. I suggested we move the meeting to my house. And then when we got here, I offered a tour of the house. I of course had no idea that a goat named Raquel had gotten loose and was wandering around the house, with five of the kids trying to catch up with her. Greg swears only Marcia knew about the prank, and not right away.

Mike knew, too, again not right away, but certainly before I did. Unfortunately, he and Greg had gone over to Blenford to discuss a mascot swap between the high schools. They came back just as my tour was about to start, so I was happy to have Mike there, as my husband and the house's architect. I thought he was being modest, when he tried to stop the tour. And when Greg asked me not to show his room, since it was a mess, that sounded all too plausible.

When I found Greg hiding in the linen closet with the goat, I was shocked of course. But I was drawn into the deception, because I didn't want Greg to be expelled or even suspended. We couldn't keep the goat hidden though, because it escaped Greg and ran into the master bedroom. Greg managed to trap the goat in my closet, but unfortunately Mrs. Gould was hiding in there!

Mike let Mrs. Gould out without Raquel escaping again. And, yes, the mascot exchange worked out. Before the game, Mr. Binkley assigned Greg a 5000-word essay on mascot-stealing, but he was more lenient than he might've been, since at least Greg did his best to fix the situation. I considered grounding him again, but I let him play in the game, and our team won.


October 31, 1973

Even though the actual Halloween is on a weekday this year, the Pizza Parlor was still pretty crowded today. We did close up early though, because we knew people would either be trick-or-treating or going to a party. Then Mary Ann and I went home and handed out candy for a couple hours. This year we dressed as Frankenstein and his Bride, which was a lot of fun in itself.

Oh, and I found out when Bobby and Cindy came by that Greg was hiding the Blenford High goat in the attic last weekend. Yeah, he had to take it back. I don't know if he got in more or less trouble than if it had been a girl, but it was more of a surprise.


November 1, 1973

Bobby and Cindy went trick-or-treating last night, maybe for the last time. They were a cowboy and a cowgirl. Next year, they might think of themselves as too old, like Jan and the others. So I try to enjoy these last moments of childhood while they last.

I know, I'm not even forty yet and I could have another baby if I really wanted one. The thing is, I don't know that I'd want to start all over. I'd rather adopt children, as the Hinkleys have, now three boys instead of one, since Matt missed his best friends. In any case, I think Mike is happy with the bunch we have, and I don't want to rock the boat.