17-year-old Tony Prito still loved pizza – and that was amazing, since his father owned a pizzeria and he worked for him there almost every day. 

But then again, the pizzas that Aldo Prito made were something special, and Tony didn’t think he would ever get tired of them. 

The raven-haired handsome Italian youth sat in a booth and picked up a slice of Meat Lovers to chew on as he waited for his friends. 

It was almost closing time on Tips Eve - or the night before Christmas Eve, if you’d prefer - and he was waiting for his friends to drop by.

The malls were open late and Frank and Joe Hardy, along with Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, had called to say that they were going to drop by on their way home from last-minute shopping. 

Tony had fired up a pizza and was now waiting for them to help him eat it.  Phil Cohen, another good friend and Mr. Pizza “regular,” had gone with his father to New York City to spend Christmas with Phil’s grandmother, as they did every year.

Fat white snowflakes fell gently on the ground as Tony peered out into the white night looking for the Hardys’ car. 

There were only a few other people in the joint and Tony was looking forward to going home soon and sleeping in late in the morning. 

He had finished his Christmas shopping early, and intended to spend a lazy Christmas Eve at home until it was time to go to the hospital and watch the school Christmas choir perform late tomorrow night.

“Hey Prito,” a familiar voice called out, and he saw his friends coming in through the door and stomping the snow off their boots on the mat– they must have parked in the alley, he thought, because he hadn’t seen them pull up front.

“Good timing – the pizza’s still warm,” he said, smiling at his friends as they took off their heavy jackets and came over to sit down.  And then noticing that someone was missing, he asked, “Where’s Joe?”

“I dropped him at home – he’s got to rest up for the big event tomorrow night,” 17-year-old Frank Hardy said as he brushed the snow out of his dark brown hair and sat down across from Tony. 

They were talking about his younger brother, who was in the Christmas Choir this year, much to Frank’s amazement.  He didn’t think Joe could sing, let alone be interested enough to sing in the choir.

“Oh.  I’m looking forward to seeing them actually,” Tony admitted, wiping a string of cheese off his chin.  As Biff and Chet chorused their agreement, they noticed a strange look filter across Frank’s face.

“What’s wrong?”  Biff asked, picking the largest piece and stuffing it into his mouth. 

Frank sighed, “I’m not going.”

“What?” they echoed in amazement.  The sons of famous private investigator Fenton Hardy were well known for being very close.  They were shocked that Frank wouldn’t be at the concert.

“Look, it’s no big deal.  I just can’t go,” he said, shrugging his shoulders, although he knew that wasn’t how Joe was going to see it; and the looks on the faces of his friends told him they were thinking along the same lines.

“No big deal?”  Biff said incredulously, thinking of his blond-haired best friend, “Who are you trying to kid?  Joe’s been working on this for the past two months!  Heck he’s even turned down hanging out with me to practice…so you know it’s big!”  This made the other boys laugh and then Chet became serious.

“Have you told Joe?”  Chet demanded, staring at his best friend critically.  He and Frank had been best friends since kindergarten and he was surprised that Frank wasn’t going.

“Well, actually no,” Frank admitted sheepishly, “I just…” He broke off and shrugged his shoulders.  He didn’t know how to tell Joe, because he did know how disappointed his kid brother was going to be – no matter what he tried to tell himself.

“Oh,” Chet said knowingly, “so why aren’t you going?” 

“Because Callie wants me to spend Christmas Eve with her,” Frank said, reaching for a second piece of pizza.  “She’s planned this whole big thing.  We’re supposed to watch old Christmas movies by the light of the tree….You know the drill.”  He saw his friends looking at him. “What?”

“Why can’t you do both?”  Biff wondered, “I mean, you don’t even need to go to the hospital until 11:30 p.m.  You and Callie could both come.  I mean, Iola’s singing too – I figured Callie would want to go anyway.” he pointed out. 

Chet’s younger sister, Iola, was Joe Hardy’s girlfriend and Callie Shaw’s best friend – it made sense.  Frank shook his head.

“No, she doesn’t want to go.  She and her Dad are going away on Christmas Day for the rest of the week, and she just wants to stay home tomorrow evening.”

Frank had already thought about that, and was surprised himself that his girlfriend refused the compromise.  But Callie had been adamant, saying that it was unfair for Joe to take away from what little time they would be able to spend together this Christmas. 

Frank had tried to protest, but then she started kissing him and…well, he found her very hard to say ‘no’ to.

Blushing at the memory, Frank tried to change the subject. “He’ll be fine about it.  After all it’s the season of forgiving and all that crap anyway.”

“Don’t let your brother hear that,” Tony warned, “You know how he feels about Christmas.”

Frank snorted, “Oh yeah I do.  You know I love my little brother but sometimes he is just so immature!”

Uh oh, thought Tony, I smell trouble.  Joe’s love of Christmas was legendary among his friends.  And it had nothing to do with the presents; it was all about the spirit. 

Joe loved the music, the movies and just the way everyone seemed to have more tolerance for their fellow man.  And then there were the cookies that he and his mom made each year…yummy!

“Did something happen?”  Tony ventured wondering if Joe wanting to rest for the choir tomorrow was the only reason he went home early. 

And then as he saw Biff and Chet throw each other a look, he knew there was much more to the story.