Summary: An evening full of fun and pranks, but who has the last laugh?<\/p>\n
Rating: K; Word Count: 600<\/p>\n
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Pranked!<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben and Clementine exited Piper\u2019s Opera House sharing smiles and laughter after the play they had just seen.<\/p>\n \u201cCoo, Benjamin, when that body dropped from the ceiling, I thought Miss Abigail Jones was goin\u2019 to faint dead away.\u201d She paused in their walk to catch her breath.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s deep chuckling didn\u2019t help. \u201cAnd Joe\u2019s expression was priceless when the headless horseman ran toward him. He\u2019s not going to live that down any time soon when his brothers get wind of him running to the back of the theater.\u201d<\/p>\n As the merriment settled down, the couple strolled happily to Clementine\u2019s boarding house.<\/p>\n \u201cCoo, Benjamin, I thought I left a lamp burnin\u2019. Will ye come in until I get something lit, and perhaps have a spot o\u2019 tea?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be pleased to. Hand me the matches and I\u2019ll light your lamps while you fix the tea.\u201d<\/p>\n A short while later, the two friends enjoyed tea and crumpets while continuing their discussion of the play. It was All Hallows Eve and the school children had performed their own version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.<\/p>\n As Clemmie refilled their cups, a thump and moan came from the stairs. The two froze and looked at each other. Clemmie set the pot down, scooting closer to Ben. Before she could speak her thoughts, she watched in horror as Harry\u2019s weights rose off the table. With a scream, Clemmie practically jumped into Ben\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n \u201cBenjamin, what\u2019s \u2018appenin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes were transfixed on the floating five hundred pound weight, but then were drawn toward the fireplace.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s \u2018arry\u2019s tights, th-they\u2019re dancin\u2019.\u201d She moaned and squeezed Ben\u2019s neck so tightly he began to turn blue.<\/p>\n A voice came from above and around them. \u201cBenjamin, you\u2019ve done me Clemmie a disservice. I know \u2018ow ye feel \u2018bout \u2018er. Ye need to tell \u2018er, now. I won\u2019t rest \u2018till ye marry \u2018er.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben drew his gun before realizing he couldn\u2019t shoot a voice. Instead he hollered at the voice. \u201cClementine and I are just friends. She\u2019s fine with that so you can just leave us alone….Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Benjamin, my \u2018arry ain\u2019t one to give up. There\u2019s only one thing you can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben already looked horror-stricken but Clemmie\u2019s suggestion made him stop breathing. \u201cClementine, you can\u2019t be serious!\u201d He squeaked out.<\/p>\n She reached up with both hands and yanked on his jacket lapels to pull him down. \u201cNever more serious in me life. I\u2019m terrified of \u2018arry bein\u2019 back from the grave. Please, Benjamin\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ben swallowed hard, knelt down, and looked up into Clemmie\u2019s worried face. \u201cClementine, will you\u2026\u201d He never got to finish, for Clemmie broke out in a huge grin and laughter as she was joined by Adam, Hoss and Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Pa\u2026don\u2019t let us interrupt you. Best be gettin\u2019 on with it, Ducky, \u2018fore \u2018arry gets any madder.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben slowly rose up to his full height bringing black eyes and brows to bear on each of his sons. Fuming, he silently snatched his hat, turned and headed to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Clementine.\u201d And he was gone.<\/p>\n While the four pranksters continued laughing, Harry\u2019s weights dropped and his tights began to float away from the fireplace.<\/p>\n The four froze, then clambered out the door, blaming Adam for the extra tricks, as Clemmie clung tightly to Hoss. \u201cI didn\u2019t do any of that!\u201d<\/p>\n Sneaking out the way he came in, Ben could no longer contain his laughter after releasing the weights and maneuvering the tights. He decided he wouldn\u2019t reveal that he had turned the prank around on the original pranksters, at least not for a while.<\/p>\n