Friday Barnes and the Case of the Incriminating Trousers

When her boyfriend/nemesis Ian Wainscott is accused of cheating in an examination, Friday hurries to investigate. She soon proves that there's more to the incriminating evidence written on his trousers than meets the eye.

For all the #frian fans out there, you'll know this story as the one with the first kiss.

My new book 'Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story' is now on sale as a paperback, ebook and audiobook read by me. If you'd like to buy a copy ask your local bookstore if they've got a copy or search for it on your favourite online retailer. Or use this link... https://amzn.to/4hzE1Mw

If you enjoyed the podcast please like, review and/or subscribe!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:24

Hello, and welcome to bedtime stories with me, RA Spratt. Before we begin today's story, I just want to tell you about an online event. I'll be doing this weekend. If you follow me on social media, you may already know about it. I'm going to do a live stream event on Facebook of me recording nanny. Piggins saves Christmas for this podcast. I'll do it all on video so you can see me doing the whole thing. There'll be a lot of fun. You'll be able to see my office and meet my dog. It's going to be super cool. Now the thing is I've had to change the time of this event by one hour. And I'm very sorry. I'm sorry to mess you about, but I realize I doubled booked myself. You see I've written an activity play for the local church, and it's just a lot of fun to watch the kids do the show. So I didn't want to miss it. So I'm going to move this live stream event back one hour, just by one hour. So anyway, if you're going to tune into the event, forget what I told you on social media a couple of weeks ago, these are the new times it's going to be on 1:00 PM on Sunday, the 13th of December and that's Sydney, Australia, time, 1:00 PM on Sunday the 13th. So now you've got, if you're somewhere else in the world and you're working out what time that is for you, just be aware that if you're in America, the time difference between Sydney and America is so great. That it'll be a different day, not just a different time. So if you're in LA or at the same time zone as LA, the time you need to tune in is 6:00 PM on Saturday the 12th, and then in New York, it's Saturday the 12th at 9:00 PM. And if you're in the UK, it'll be, Oh, sorry about this. It's 2:00 AM for you. So I suggest if you're in the UK, just get a good night's sleep and listen to the recording. The following day, it'll be there on Facebook. You can get up and listen to it and watch me while you eat your breakfast. Okay? So I hope wherever you are in the world, you can work out your time zones from that just double-check it's 1:00 PM Sunday, the 13th Sydney time. Just make sure you get the right time and the right day that's key. Okay. So hope you can join me. I'll post the new details on Facebook and Instagram. So you can see it written down. I know I like synthetics things written down. Okay. Now we've explained all that. Let's get into today's story. It's a Friday Barnes mystery, and it's a really good one. I've got for you. It's the case of the incriminating trousers. This story is from Friday bonds. Eight, never fear. And I'm going to read to you chat to 13 examination day, which leads into the case of the incriminating trousers. It was Wednesday of Dr. Bell crate. His third week as headmaster. When the time came for Ian to take his exam, it was actually going to be three exams spread over three days. First maths, then English, and finally science Friday had planned to wish him luck when she saw him at breakfast, but he was sitting at a tablespoon cereal into his mouth while doing last minute cramming, it looked like he was revising mathematics formulas. So she didn't want to disturb him. Are you going to go over, ask Melanie? When she noticed the direction her friend was looking, I was going to, but it looks like he's busy, said Friday helping herself to a pancake. She looked back at Ian. I don't want to distract him when he's trying to concentrate. She put another pancake on her plate and glance back again, besides I don't believe in luck. And I don't see how making hypocritical statements it would be helpful. You're just being a coward said Melanie Friday turned and looked at Ian again. I suppose I shouldn't say something, but what? You don't have to say it with words said, Melanie, you know, some people think a kiss is lucky. I don't see how sad Friday looking perplexed. Saliva is full of bacteria and viruses. How can increase in someone's exposure to disease? Be lucky. Some people are worth the risks said, Melanie said Friday, considering the matter, I suppose it would be an acceptable level of risk. If you had plenty of vitamin C in your diet to ensure that your immune system was working optimally, she put more pancakes on her plate. You've got to say something to him said, Melanie, you can't keep standing here picking up pancakes. You've already got 15 on your plate. Friday looked down and realized Melanie was right. My mind wandered said Friday. She used the tongues to put 12 of them back. Boys have that effect said, Melanie, I know, Oh, I totally forgot to do my math homework last night. Just because Harrison smile. Oh, that me really said Friday also because I fell asleep shortly afterwards, said, Melanie, it's hard to do homework when you're asleep. All right, I'll do. It said Friday, steeling herself for action. She handed Melanie, her tray and walked over to Ian. He was engrossed in his studies in such Friday and looked up, but his eyes were glazed from the intellectual fog of mathematics Friday, cleared her throat and launched into speech. You're going to do really well. You're a brilliant thinker and a hard worker. And your innate self-confidence will serve you well in the standardized examination format and looked puzzled. Are you wishing me lucky asked? No, I don't believe in the concepts of Friday. I'm telling you I have faith in your ability to Excel in the examination. Thank you. I guess, sit in. Although it never would've occurred to me that you didn't have faith in me until now that you said it, because that inherently implies that you think it's a possible option to not have faith. Melanie came over, what are you doing? She asked Friday. I think I've lost control of this conversation and communicated the exact opposite of what I meant. Yeah. Friday Melanie side. Why can't you have just wished him luck. Apparently she's too principled said, Ian, I don't know, said Friday, throwing up her hands. Words, words, words. I mean the ones I say, I know what they mean because I've read the dictionary several times. And apparently I managed to say things. I don't mean she having some kind of breakdown. I think so said, Melanie, let it out Friday. It's good to express your emotions. Friday took a deep breath, ready to get it off her chest. But then she couldn't think what to say. She knew she was having feelings of worry about Ian being kicked out. She was having feelings of confidence because she knew how smart he was that he would do well. She was having an excess of feelings. Generally. The fear of our specials was probably contributing to that. But she didn't for the life of her. No. What to say about it all she said, eventually, obviously this didn't say what she wanted to say, but it did convey some of the meaning. Then she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him on the lips and was too shocked to speak. Melanie was too thrilled. Friday had apparently forgotten the English language. She looked it in nodded and walked off in turned to watch to go. He watched until she disappeared into a marquee with Binky and a group of year twelves, he reached up and touched his lips. Did that just happen? He asked, I hope so said Melanie. Otherwise I'm having some really full-on hallucinations and mainly to see a psychiatrist Up to 14, the case of the incriminating trousers, 45 minutes later Friday was finding it very hard to concentrate in English. Mrs. Cannon could have been talking Portuguese for all. She knew her mind was totally absent from the conversation. She could hear Mrs. Cannon's voice, but she wasn't following a word. She was saying Friday was thinking about Ian and what she'd done. And that weird feeling on her lips. She didn't think about her lips much. Normally, unless she accidentally bit one or something heavy slammed into them in PE suddenly there's a sharp pain in her ankle. Friday looked down. She realized the pain had been caused by Binky's foot. He'd kicked her Friday, looked him in the eye. He waggled his eyebrows meaningfully. Mrs. Cannon, Mrs C is asking you a questions that Binky really asked Friday. What question? What's your Delaware are goons. Bonds live with us or the moment they asked Mrs. Cannon Friday frowned, is she speaking Portuguese she's been speaking Portuguese or lessons had Binky. She's practicing for our next vacation. And because Mr. Cannon says it makes her sound a luring are your right Friday as Mrs. Cannon. I know you get a lot of head injuries. You look like you're suffering a concussion. No said Friday. Then she thought about it for a moment. At least I don't think so. But perhaps I hit my head then forgot. That can happen. If you get hit hard enough. She's fine said Maribela. She's just daydreaming because she snogged wainscot in the dining tent. There were gasps from everyone in the class. Now not the least from Mrs. Cannon. I cried Mrs. Cannon. Tell us all about it. Actually don't tell us about it. Romance must maintain its mystique. Plus I have a very vivid imagination so I can probably imagine it better than it actually was. I was just wishing him luck said Friday. I believe under those circumstances. It's traditional. Oh, you pour sweet girls and Mrs. Cannon, you go back to staring out the window. We won't bother you again for the rest of the lesson. In fact, I'm not going to bother you again for the rest of the year. You automatically get an a for finally kissing in Wayne Scott. No, make that an a plus because he really is seriously good looking. And that type of thing deserves top marks. Give her a round of applause. Everyone. The class clapped Friday, blushed as red as a beetroot. I went back to staring out the 10 flap. She was so distracted by her first romantic conquest. It took her a few moments to realize that someone was standing in the tent flap staring back at her. It was Parker said, Parker Friday, stared at him, blankly. She was too adult to figure out how to respond. Do you want something? Parker as Mrs. Cannon, you sound like a leak in bicycle tire. Sorry to interrupt said Parker, sheepishly, but Barnes needs to come with me. There's a mystery for her to solve her needs me. This time asked Friday, Wayne Scott said Parker. He does ask Mrs. Kennedy excitedly for more Kirsi, I don't know, said Parker. Dr. Bell Crady was yelling at him at the time. I think it's more trouble related than kissing related. Maybe he's got himself in trouble as an excuse to see her again. Suggested Mrs. Cannon. Quick Friday. Hurry to him. Wainscott needs you Friday got up and walked out of the tent. Don't worry. I'll pack up your things. Binky called out. Her Friday had completely forgotten that she had things. She just nodded and followed Parker. She heard Mrs. Cannon address the class behind her. Right? I'm giving you an assignment said, Mrs. Cannon, I want you all to write a 500 word essay on what it must be like to kiss someone as good-looking as Ian Wayne, Scott, as she approached the tent with Parker Friday could hear Dr. Bo. Crady trying to talk in a quiet, reasonable voice. Unfortunately, quiet, reasonable voices can often be so much worse than yelling. Angry voices, angry people calm down, but reasonable people hold their resolve Friday. Couldn't make out what Dr. Bell Cody was saying something about contact your parents and following protocol. As Friday stood in the doorway of the tent. She saw Mrs. Quinn, a nice retired teacher was always brought in to invigilate exams. And there was Ian. He was much less measured than Dr. Bell. Crady in his response. Fine. I don't need this school. I don't need you. He screamed at Dr. Bell. Crady Mrs. Quinn, who was standing next to her. Holding several papers, looked thoroughly shocked. Friday had never seen Ian so upset. His face was red and screwed up with anger here. Take them. He yelled, take your evidence, use it to get rid of me then. And it's something that really shocked Friday. He started unbuckling his belt and taking off his pants. Friday's first instinct was to cover her eyes. She hadn't expected to encounter nudity. What's going on as Friday. Try not to look but unable to resist glimpse in, in between her fingers, his pants were around his ankles and he was hopping on one foot to pull the trouser leg off his shoe. Terrific shattered. And now my girlfriend is here. My humiliation is 100% complete. He ripped the other traveler like off through the pants that Dr. Bell created and stormed out. Wayne, Scott, get back here. I said, Dr. Bell credi, following him to the doorway. She yelled after him. You cannot speak to me that way. You're only making matters. Worse for you in spun around and glared at her Friday. Mentally noted that stand in their face, contorted with rage and wearing nothing but a shirt and boxer shorts, and still looked amazingly good. Cried. Ian, his voice cracking with emotion. There were tears in his eyes. It can't get any worse than this. He turned and ran Dr. Bell credi hurried after him Friday was left. Standing next to Parker. Totally stunned. Parker was the first to break the silence. So, uh, he began did Ian just say you his girlfriend. I think so. Right. She was unsure how she should feel about this development. The kiss was one thing, but the G word made her feel even more Tingley and confused. Oh, that's a shame said Parker, slumping. It is us Friday. She'd not expected this reaction. Yes. I always thought you and I were set Parker looking meaningfully at Friday. Well, you know what? Asked Friday, she was totally confused. You know, kindred spirits. Like-minded peas in a pod said Parker, that one day the two of us would get together. Friday was stunned. Oh no Parker. I want to be crystal clear. That was never ever going to happen. Right? So Parker, he was taken aback. I don't want to be mean said Friday, but I do want to be clear. Never, ever got you. So don't worry. No offense taken. I get that quite a lot. Friday walked back into the tent and took in the scene. Ms. Quinn was tidying up. There were papers, strewn everywhere. And Ann's pants lay in the middle of the floor. What happened as Friday, as she picked up in strauss' and inspected them. Wayne Scott was doing the exams and Ms. Quinn, he seemed fine. He was methodically working through the paper. Then with 15 minutes left to go, Dr. Bell, he came in, she interrupted the exam. Last Friday. This was surprising. Teachers usually treated exams as being sacred and uninterruptible. She discovered that someone had stolen her USB with the exam papers and Ms. Squint, the only person with, to do that was Wayne. Scott Friday shook her head as if shaken off the ridiculous thought, but that doesn't make any sense. Anne would never cheat. She's his girlfriend Pocker explained to Mrs. Quinn. Can't see the fellow's fault. I can't to see his faults argued Friday, turning on Parker. He's narcissistic cruel, sarcastic, and bitter, but Ian would never cheat. He's too. Besides he doesn't need to. He's been studying hard for this exam. I saw them revising formulas. I have a breakfast, perhaps he's been studying two hearts at Parker, not in sagely that can happen. You know, then you forget everything and you have to cheat. We're not talking about you. Parker said Friday, we're talking about Ian. His brain doesn't get sucked empty, like an airplane toilet. He's too clever to need to cheat or perhaps he's so clever. He thought of a really good way to cheat said Parker. That's ridiculous said Friday before turn into Mrs. Quinn. What did Dr. Bell Crady say he'd been doing it was very clever. Said Ms. Quinn. She said she'd been told that he'd written all the answers on himself using a fluid that was only visible under a black light. That's crazy said Friday. It sounds crazy said Mrs. Quinn, but Dr. Bell Craddick brought a black light with her and shined it on him. And the answers were all there were asked Friday on his pants said Ms. Quinn pointed to the pants folded up in Friday's hands. Oh, that makes sense. At Bocca. I wondered why he took his pants off. I thought maybe he was going swimming. You're saying there are answers written on these pants in some sort of invisible ink asked Friday that can only be seen under a black light. Yes. Said Mrs. Quinn, did he have one on him as Friday? Dr. Bell Crady found a little flashlight in his pencil. Kay said, Mrs. Quinn pointing to what? Looked like an ordinary black pen lying on the grass Friday. Picked it up. And when she twisted the cap, the end lit up. It was definitely a black light. She shook out the pants and turn the light on the material. Oh my gosh. Exclaimed Parker. The ordinary 10 chinos suddenly lit up with dense written texts. There were dozens and dozens of answers covering every square inch of fabric. Wow. Said Friday, this is impressive. Cheating. Isn't impressive. Said Dr. Bell Crady Friday spun around the headmistress had returned. She was a little out of breath. Evidently she chased in a long way. Did he catch up with him last Friday? No said Dr. Bell crazy. He disappeared into the treeline. I'll have to contact his parents. Good luck said Friday, his mother and stepfather and Italy and his father's in the Cayman islands. Oh, that makes you as next to Ken doesn't it said Parker, your step cousins, aren't you. Hey, can you even be his girlfriend of your cousins? That's a bit wrong. Isn't it? On that laws against that kind of thing. We're not genetically related said Friday. Rolling her eyes. So sounds dodgy to me. He said parka that's because you have no grasp of Mundelien genetics or genealogy said Friday. You can't bamboozle me with big words at Parker creepy his creepy pocket. Put his arm around Friday shoulders, but don't worry. It doesn't change. How I feel about you. When he breaks your heart, I'll be waiting Friday, shrugged Parker off and turned to Dr. Bell. Crady you better get a search party. Looking for him said Friday, you're going to have to apologize. What said Dr. Bell credit? After the way he yelled at me, it's understandable in the circumstances said Friday. He was being wrongly accused. The evidence is right there on his pants that Dr. Bell Crady. Yes. The evidence that someone tried to frame him said Friday, but that someone did not have an eye for detail. What are you talking about? Asked Dr. Bell crazy. The whole thing with the black light and the writing on the pants is brilliant. Said Friday, sniffing the pants. I think they wrote on it with laundry detergent. So Ian wouldn't notice an unusual smell. Several well-known detergents are luminescent exactly said Dr. Bell crazy. And from what I've learned about Wayne Scott, this is just the sort of devious plan he would come up with. It's clever a great Friday, but not as clever as Ian. You see if Ian would go to this much trouble to cheat in an exam, he would at least make sure he had the correct answers written on his pants. What are you talking about? Ask Dr. Bell credi. Look at the answer. Set right? Question one. Charles Dickens question two anthropomorphism question three haiku. Yes. There. The correct answer said Dr. Bell credit. I wrote the exam myself. I should know. These are the answers for the English paper set. Friday. This morning in was sitting the maths paper, English isn't until tomorrow. He knew that he was revising algebra formulas at breakfast. Why would he write the English answers on his pants? Dr. Bell credit grabbed the pants out of Friday's hands shown the black light on them and was a ghast. Oh, no. Said Dr. Bell Grady that poor boy, he got so upset and is terrified of being expelled. He doesn't have a well-functioning relationship with his parents said Friday. This is the closest thing to a home he's got. He would be devastated. The prospect of leaving high crest, who would set him up this way. I talked about credit. It's just cruel. There are lots of thoughtless, cruel students at the school said Friday, but the most thoughtless and cruel of them all is trust and financial. And Ian did do a similar thing to him last week when he wrongly accused him of being the streaker that wasn't Triston as Dr. Bell crazy. But I gave him detention for a week. For that. Anyone could have told you that wasn't Tristen set Friday. I'm surprised he believed in when he said it. What do you mean? Asked Dr. Bell credit. Triston is very lazy and unathletic set Friday. Whereas if you saw the streaker, you would have noticed rippling abs. Kristen does not have any of those rock hard thighs as well said, Parker I've chiseled biceps. Dr. Bell, Friday and Friday looked at Parker. It's true. SubAQUA uh, Phil I'd have to be blind not to notice. So who was the streaker asked Dr. Bell. Crady some sort of roving Adonis. I'm not going to tell you except Friday. Gosh, I know said Parker suddenly realizing, don't say said Friday, Binky cried, Parker, Parker, exclaimed Friday. It's a Parker. When you think rippling, abs you think of Binky, Pelly. What? A mess at Dr. Belk. Ready? Yes. You've run off the brightest student in year. Right? So Friday I thought that was used at Parker. I mean, year 12 now said Friday. Remember you were the one who carried my things to my new room. So I was said, Parker, crikey, remembering all the gossip at this school is harder than keeping up with the classwork. Thank you for listening to support this podcast. Just buy a book by me, RA SPRAT. There's lots to choose from, from across the Friday. Bonds, pesky kids and nanny pig and series. Now there's also the audio book of the adventures of nanny Piggins. You can order them through your local bookstore or go to my website, RA spratt.com and click on the book. Depository banner. They have all my titles and free international shipping until next time.

Speaker 2: 21:57

Bye.