Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note: “The Riddle Of The Frozen Flame” was written by Mary E. and Thomas W. Hanshew and is part of their “Cleek” series à check it out at Project Gutenburg (http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page)
Pairing: None
Rating: Suitable for people over 13
Feedback: Email TT at ttsmiscellany@yahoo.com

Back To School - Finally!
By TT

Children, especially ten-year-old boys were supposed to dread the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. While most of his friends, and even his brothers did so, Joey Morelli actually looked forward to getting back to school.

It wasn’t that he particularly cared for the class work, though he did truly enjoy learning and, particularly, solving puzzles. The reason he looked forward to school starting wasn’t even that he could avoid his father with the excuse of homework.

No, the reason he really looked forward to school starting could be found in the far back corner of the library, in a section no one went to anymore.

In that back corner existed Joey Morelli’s secret passion – detective stories, mysteries. In his most secret dreams, the one he barely even admitted to himself, he was a brilliant detective – sometimes a private eye, other times a police detective – who solved the most baffling mysteries, won the admiration and respect of the police and was wealthy enough that all he had to worry about was where to eat dinner each night.

It was a life he was sure he could live.

Even the comics that he smuggled into his room were about solving mysteries.

Of course, he never let anyone in his family see them, though he suspected his mother knew. Thankfully, she never said anything. Letting something like that slip, letting his father know his dream wasn’t to follow in the old man’s footsteps, would be a sure way for him to meet the business end of his father’s belt.

At the very end of last year, he had gotten in trouble and had to spend all of his recess in the library.

Old Mrs. Murphy didn’t really care what he did there as long as he was quiet about it.

That had been a blessing for young Joey. The secret stash of mystery books had become a refuge for him. Though he would never say anything to his friends, since he would never hear the end of it if he did, there were times he got in trouble specifically so that he could be sent to the library during recess, especially when he got to the best part of the mystery.

The last week of school last year he had been working his way through one of the “Cleek” books that were on the shelf. They were harder than some others to read because they were written in British English, not American English. Some of the phrases meant very little to him, but he still liked the way that Cleek could figure things out even Scotland Yard couldn’t.

Unfortunately, the school year ended before he could finish the book. This year he was determined to finish it no matter what. He had to know who was behind everything.

This year, for the first time, he had a backpack. Granted, it was a hand-me-down from his older brother, but it was still cool. With any luck, he’d be able to bring his backpack to the library with him and smuggle the book, “The Riddle Of The Frozen Flame”, home with him.

While he was allowed to check out any book he wanted, according to the teacher, he didn’t want any record of his having the book. Though it was slight, his father might just find out and that would be unacceptable.

Now he just needed to figure out how to get into the library to get the book.

With that thought running through his head, Joey hefted his backpack onto his shoulder and walked downstairs to see what his mother had for breakfast.

He set his backpack in the hallway by the others and then went to the kitchen.

Slipping into his chair, he saw that his father and older brother were eating eggs and bacon. His mother had oatmeal at her place.

Joey looked over toward his mother and waited for her to turn around. When she did, he noticed she already wore her makeup. He also noticed that the side of her jaw was swollen. His jaw and fists clenched as he turned his eyes to his own plate, knowing that saying something would only cause more trouble for everyone. He once more determined within himself that he would never be like his father. He would find a way to get away from the Morelli curse, to live his dream of being a detective.

Slowly letting go of his anger, Joey relaxed enough so that he could eat the cold cereal and fruit that awaited him.

Ten Years Later

Twenty-year-old Joe Morelli stood stoically beside his father’s grave, his eyes every bit as dry as his mothers. Both were thankful the man was dead.

Two year ago Joe had started a stint in the navy. To become a police detective, he would need a certain amount of schooling. There was no way his father would pay for it, nor was there any way he would get there if he stayed in Chambersburg.

Knowing that, he left his home and signed up with the Navy. He could serve his time and earn money for college. It would delay his boyhood dream of becoming a detective, but not by much.

That plan changed when his father had one drink too many and then took the wrong woman to bed.

At least he was gone.

But so was Joe’s Navy career.

Despite his siblings being in the area, none of them would lift a finger to help their mother. That lot fell onto Joe’s shoulders.

He was granted compassionate leave and would have to look into being excused from the additional two years he had yet to serve. It shouldn’t be too hard, though. His C. O. was already working on it for him. He should have word by the end of the day.

As the graveside ceremony came to an end, he stood beside his mother and waited for everyone to go.

When all condolences had been given, the family headed toward Rossini’s where they had rented a back room to serve a buffet lunch.

It didn’t take long to get there and the food was already hot and waiting when they arrived.

Joe ate a little, but the longer he was around his family, the less of an appetite he had. His relatives had been hard enough to handle when he lived there. Having been away from them for two years, they were unbearable. His cousin Mooch was much the same as always and Aunt Rose, his mother’s sister, was still his favorite, but most of the others he pitied.

Rising from his seat, he mumbled some excuse and left the room.

He skipped the restrooms and headed out the back door hoping for some fresh air.

As he leaned against the outside wall of the building, Eddie Gazarra came up to him dressed as a busboy. Obviously he was working at Rossini’s.

“Hey, Joe,” he greeted. “Sorry about the old man.”

Joe just grunted.

“You going to finish your time in the navy?” Eddie asked.

“Probably not,” Joe answered. “Mom needs me here.”

“Tough break, man,” Eddie sympathized. “Do you have something lined up?”

“Not yet,” Joe admitted.

Eddie was silent for a moment. “The new training class for the TPD starts in six weeks. I’m going to be there. I figure if I get a job on the force I can finally propose to Shirley.”

“You’re still seeing her?” Joe asked, amazed that anyone could put up with her whining.

Eddie just shrugged and looked away, a slight blush on his cheeks.

“Not sure I could be a patrolman,” Joe admitted.

“Maybe you could look at being a detective,” Eddie suggested. “Joe Juniak’s the chief of police, he’s here now, but I’m sure you could talk to him about career options.”

Joe said nothing, but in his mind he had already determined to speak to the chief today if possible. There had to be a way for him to make his dreams come true. This might not be the way he had mapped out, but that didn’t make the way impossible. “We’ll see,” he said, standing straight, knowing he needed to get back to his family.

Turning toward the door, Joe clapped Eddie on the shoulder. “See you around Gazarra,” he said. As he stepped into Rossini’s once more, he mentally added, at the academy.

End.

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