The next morning, Hank and Paul were going to take their test. The instructor told them, "I can only test one of you at a time. Who wants to go first?" Once again, Hank requested to let Paul go first. Paul looked back at Hank. Hank tried to hide how stressed he was and said, "Good luck, Paul." Paul said, "Thanks, Hank." Pretty soon, Paul began his test. He took a deep breath and thought, Don't overthink this. Just remember what Dad taught you. Once he completed the test, the instructor said, "Nicely done, Paul. You have passed with flying colors." Paul returned to Hank and his mother. Paul said, "I passed the test." His mother said, "Congratulations, dear." Hank hugged Paul and said, "I knew you could do it." Paul said, "Good luck on your test, Hank." Hank said, "Thanks, Paul." Unlike Paul, Hank did not do well on the test. It was clear that he was distracted. The instructor said, "Hank, I think you need to clear your head and try again later." Hank said, "You mean, I failed?" The instructor said, "I'm afraid so. I'm sorry." Hank went back to Paul and his mother and said, "I failed the test." His mother said, "I'm so sorry, Hank." Paul hugged Hank and said, "It's okay. You can take the test again." Hank said, "I know." When they had lunch, Hank barely touched his food. His mother said, "I know you're disappointed, Hank, but I promise it will be okay." He tried not to cry and said, "It's not okay!" He then ran into his bedroom. His father said, "Something's not right here. I haven't seen Hank this upset in a long time." His mother said, "I don't think he'll talk to any of us." Paul said, "He'll talk to me. When he won't open up to anyone else, he'll open up to me. I'll go talk to him." With that, Paul went to knock on Hank's bedroom door.
Some time later, Una and Everett were settled in a cozy small cafe eating sandwiches and sipping pumpkin spice lattes while foil cutouts of cute ghosts and pumpkins hung from the walls around them.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"What lead you to the club where you first saw us, Henry?" Les asked. Henry replied, "One of my neighbors told me that a rock band called A Wave Tossed in the Ocean was going to perform at the club that had opened the previous week. I thought that the name sounded interesting, so I asked him what kind of rock music, and he said, 'I think it's stuff from the sixties and seventies.' I was eager to hear the songs from my youth. When I saw you perform, I knew you were the right fit. Of course, you know how we met backstage." Jimmy said, "And the rest is history." Everyone laughed. "Yes," Henry said. "The rest is history." Just then, Felix looked at his cellphone and said, "It's 10:00, guys." Henry said, "We better go to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow." The boys all said, "Okay. Good night, Henry." Henry smiled and said, "Good night, boys. Pleasant dreams." With that, they retired to their beds for the night.
THE END
THE END