ANN'S ANGEL

by

CQB

CHAPTER 2

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

EPILOGUE

Frank and Joe Hardy were bored.  They were on their Christmas break from school, but the temperature outside had plummeted to below freezing, so the boys were not allowed out to play.  

Their mother, knowing Christmas was just three days away, didn’t want to deal with a sick child over the holiday.  

“Let’s play space warriors,” Frank suggested as the two boys lounged on his bed.  

“We already played that,” Joe complained.  “Besides, I’m tired of sitting and playing video games and board games.  I want to run in the snow or go sledding or even skating on the Morton’s pond.”  

Frank smiled at Joe’s suggestion of ‘ice-skating’.  While Joe could skate quite well, it was the younger boy’s least favorite sport.  Joe thought it was too “girlish” to be a real sport.  

Frank was about to make a comment when his mother opened the door.  “I’ve got to go down to help with the food baskets at the Red Cross center,” she explained.  

“Your aunt has run to the store for some more supplies for her project and Dad is in his office,” Laura continued, “don’t bother him unless it’s an emergency.  Your aunt will be back shortly and I’ll be home to fix supper tonight.”  

“I am so bored!” Joe whined after their mother left.  Frank just shrugged and picked up his hand-held video game. Soon, he was absorbed in the play action.  

Joe watched for a few minutes, but then he smiled devilishly.  He reached under Frank’s bed and pulled out a soccer ball.  Waiting for the right moment, Joe tossed the ball at Frank, knocking the game out of his hand.  

“Hey!”  Frank protested, but then grinned and tossed the ball back at Joe.   

Joe tossed the ball back, but this time, Frank ducked.  The ball missed him and sailed out the open bedroom door.  

THUNK!  

Joe bit his lip.  “Uh-oh.  Wonder what it hit?”  

Frank bravely peered out into the hall.  He turned back to Joe, his eyes wide.  “It hit the door to the extra bedroom.  The door must’a not been shut, cause now its open and the ball is just inside on the floor!”  

* * *

The dark-haired girl trudged through the deep snow toward her friend’s house.  She had been feeling bad about not seeing her best friend since school let out for Christmas break, but one she presented the angel doll, she knew she’d be forgiven.  

Soon, the house was in sight.  She made her way up the walk, surprised that it hadn’t been shoveled since the last big snow a few days ago.  

On the porch, the sixteen-year-old knocked loudly on the wooden door. She frowned as she tried to see into the dark interior through the window.  

“They’re not home, honey,” called a voice from nearby.  

The girl moved off the porch and noticed a pleasant looking dark skinned woman on the porch of the neighboring house.  

“Do you know where they are?”  

“At the hospital, more than likely,” the woman answered.  She tilted her round face and looked at the teenager carefully.  

“You a friend of Miss Webber, aren’t you?”  

“Yes, Ma’am,” the girl answered.  

“She took ill a few nights ago,” the older woman explained.  "They been down the hospital ever since.  Maybe you could check there.”  

The girl thanked the woman and walked to the end of the walk.  She debated.  It was late and it was Christmas Eve.  She should go home and be with her family, but if her friend was sick, then the doll might be the perfect thing to cheer her up.  

With a determined step, she headed in the direction of the small community hospital, several blocks away.  

* * *

“What should we do?” Joe questioned fearfully.  He knew they were in hot water, no matter what.   

First, the boys knew better than to play ball in the house – if they left the ball there, their aunt would know they were playing with it inside.  If they went in to get the ball, they would see the secret project their aunt had kept hidden from them for all these years, and they could get caught by their aunt or dad.  

“We gotta get it out,” Frank replied.  “Maybe we can just reach in and grab it, without really looking around.”  Joe nodded in agreement and the pair made their way to the door.  

“You try, Frank,” Joe said. “Your arms are longer than mine.”  

Frank knelt by the door and reached in for the ball, with Joe watching over his shoulder.  The tips of Frank’s fingers brushed against it.  When Frank stretched farther, he fell forward.  His outstretched hand hit the ball and sent it rolling deeper into the room.  

“Now you did it!” Joe cried accusingly.  “Now we have to go in there!”  

“I’m not the one who tossed the ball out here in the first place!” Frank retorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest and scowling at his brother.  

Joe was about to yell something back when his father’s voice carried up the stairs.  “You two alright up there?”  

“Yes!” Joe quickly replied running to the top of the stairs.  “Sorry if we bothered you, Dad.  We’re just playing.”  

“Thought I heard you yelling about something,” Fenton Hardy questioned.  

“It was just part of our game,” Frank offered, walking up next to his brother.  “We were just pretending to fight.”  

“Okay,” their father replied.  “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”  

“Whew!” Joe sighed, glancing at his brother.  “That was too close.”  

“You said it,” Frank agreed.  

“Joe, let’s just go in together and grab the ball and get right out,” Frank said a few seconds later.  

“Okay,” Joe responded.  “We’re both kinda guilty so we both should go after it.”  

“Let’s get this done before Aunt Gertrude gets back,” Frank stated solemnly, leading the way toward the spare room.  

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