Trixie Belden and the Secret in the Ballot Box

by Hannah

Part I

"Class," Mrs. Brownwell, teacher of the 8th grade class at the Junior-Senior High School of Sleepy-Side announced. "It's that time of year again."

She gave a pause as the class groaned; thinking it was time for a big test.

"We're going to choose a new school President," she paused again and watched as the class suddenly put on a look of interest. Then she resumed her speech: "I know many of you are eager to be elected as school president. But--as many of you know--we are only allowed to choose one student from this class. Then you could have a chance to be one of the two that the school can vote for. If you're interested in becoming school president, stay after school and we'll see which one of you we think might have a chance in succeeding the election."

As Mrs. Brownwell closed her speech, the school bell rang. This indicated that school was out for the day.

"Trixie," Honey asked her best friend as they cleared off their desks. "Are you going to try out?"

"Of course," Trixie said, trying to hide a grin. "Why not?"

"I don't know," Honey said. "I know I wouldn't do it."

"And why not?" Trixie demanded.

"I don't know," Honey replied. "I guess I'm just not as daring as you.

"You'd better get up there before soon. See you at home!" Honey exited the room.

Trixie tucked her homework and schoolbooks under her arm and went up to the desk where Mrs. Brownwell was.

"Settle down," she calmly told the four children that were standing at the desk. "Give me your names and ages and then sit down in one of the chairs over there." Mrs. Brownwell pointed to a group of chairs that were facing each other at the other side of the classroom.

The children lined up at the desk.

First in line was a boy. "I'm Alex Sanders," he said. "I'm 13."

"Next," Mrs. Brownwell said after she had jotted down the boy's name and age.

A small girl came up to the desk and said: "My name is Evelyn Pastchel and I'm 13."

Just as she turned to go to the chairs, she said: "My last name is spelled P-A-S-T-C-H-E-L."

"Thank you," Mrs. Brownwell said as she crossed out Evelyn's last name and rewrote it the correct way.

Next in line was a very hyper girl. She said excitedly: "I'm Priscilla Jackles. J-A-C-K-L-E-S. I'm 12."

Then she quickly ran off to sit in one of the chairs.

Then it was Trixie's turn. "Are you the last one?" Mrs. Brownwell asked.

"Yes," Trixie said. "I'm Trixie Belden and I'm 13."

"Do you spell that -EN or -ON?"

"-EN."

"Thank you," Mrs. Brownwell said. "You may have a seat."

Three of the four children sat quietly in their seats. Priscilla was talking softly to herself.

I sure hope I get to be one of the two kids to be voted for, Trixie thought to herself. I know all the Bob-Whites'll vote for me. The other kids--well, I don't know.

Soon, Mrs. Brownwell arose.

"Kids," she said. "In five minutes I want you up to the gym. That's where we're going to see which 1 student from our class is going to be.

"In that time you may talk, put your homework away, or anything you want. I'll be at my desk if you have any questions."

Trixie arose from her seat. I'm going to put my homework and papers away, she thought. They sure are heavy.

Trixie walked into the hallway where the lockers were. Trixie put her stuff in her backpack and got a drink of water from the water fountain.

Since she was near the lunchroom, she took a peek inside to see what time it was.

Oh, man! Trixie thought. I'd better be getting up to the gym or I'm going to be late!

She ran towards the steps that led upstairs.

When she reached the gym, she let out a sigh of relief. The other kids were just getting there.

She went into the big room.

She remembered the time when the Bob-Whites had had a pet show there. Everyone won a prize. And best of all, Reddy, the Beldens' Irish Setter, had won the people's choice award!

Boy, Trixie thought. This gym sure is used for a lot of things.

"Is everyone here?" Principal Buxton’s voice boomed through the microphone in front of him.

"Yes!" called out a boy.

When Trixie heard his voice she thought it was Ryan Kales. He and his family had just moved to Sleepyside.

They lived in an apartment on Editor Ave. in the busy part of Sleepyside.

"Now, children," Mr. Buxton said. "I know you are all very excited. This is an event that is waited for by many of you. But I must ask you remain as calm as you can. We will call your names out in order of where they are in the alphabet.

"First is Trixie Belden. Please come up front, Trixie Belden."

Trixie rose from one of the fold-up chairs that were in a line in the middle of the gym floor. There was a microphone not far away from them.

Trixie walked over to the mike and asked what to do.

"Just say some stuff about you and what you would like to do for the school if you're ever elected."

"Alright," Trixie said.

"Hello," she said into the mike. "I'm Trixie Belden and I'm 13.

"If I'm elected I would like to stop the littering all over the lunch-room.

"I would also like to have a 45-minute recess instead of a 20-minute one."

The children murmured a little at the thought of having a longer recess.

"Also," Trixie said, smiling. "I'll solve any mystery you have for free."

Trixie walked back to her seat.

Mr. Buxton stepped back up to the mike.

"Jessi Billings. Please come up, Jessi Billings."

Jessi had thick red hair and bright blue eyes. She was in 10th grade.

When she had reached the mike, she started her speech.

"I'm Jessi Billings and I'm 15.

"When I'm elected I would like to change recess from 20 mimutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

"Of course I'll talk to teachers first," she said with a sly glance at Trixie.

She is so rude! Trixie thought. I bet she thought that up right on the spot to annoy me. I heard her speeches last year. They were much worse than that!

And I can't believe she "When I'm elected"! I know quite a few people who are most certainly against her.

Jessi soon resumed her speech.

"I would also like less homework for us students.

"Of course I'll ask the teachers about that, too.

"I have numerous other things that I am for and against. If you want a list them, my e-mail address is imdbest@aol.com.

"Well, that's my speech.

"Oh, yeah. My other speeches will be much more detailed and much longer, too."

Jessi walked superciliously down to her seat.

When she passed Trixie, she looked at her and shook her head.

* * *

After all the speeches were finished, the teachers went into the hall to talk over which two students would be chosen.

In about 20 minutes, they came back in.

Mr. Buxton walked up to the microphone. "I don't want anyone to feel left out, angry, and I especially don't want any revenge on anyone.

"Anyway, the two students we chose are James Webbert and Trixie Belden.

"James and Trixie, would you please come up here?"

The two did.

Mrs. Drake gave each of them a daisy.

"Congratulations," said Mr. Buxton.

Then all the children started to clap.

Trixie looked at all the kids.

They were all smiling and clapping except for Jessi.

She was sitting with her arms folded and an angry face on.

Trixie heard her muttering something under her breath.

"Now, now, Jessi," Mrs. Drake said into the mike. "Let's not have a mean face on. You might make it next year."

"Next year!" Jessi said. "Next year I'll be in 11th grade. I'll be much too mature for this stuff. And if I do run; I'll make sure I win!"

"Jessi," Mr. Buxton said. "I know you're a little jealous. But being the school president is a big responsibility."

"You call that a big responsibility?" Jessi exclaimed. "That would be one of the smallest I'll ever have!"

Mrs. Quart, the teacher of the 9th grade class, stepped up to the mike.

"Now that we know which two kids are running, I suppose we could all go home now."

"I'm not going home until I get to the bottom of this!" Jessi shouted. "Trixie probably said she’d pay you a hundred dollars for making her one of the two!

"This is absolute unfairness! I can't believe anyone would do this to me!"

By this time, all the kids except for Jessi were getting on the 3rd bus, the last bus.

"I guess Jessi really likes walking home!" laughed Priscilla Jackels. "If she ever makes it to be the school president, I bet she'll make sure there's a 4th bus--just so she won't have to walk home every day!"

A few kids laughed.

But not Trixie.

She was thinking about what she was going to tell Honey.

She had to tell her everything.

About how she was one of the two.

About Jessi.

And especially about how rude she had acted.

But Trixie just couldn't believe it.

She was one of the two!

I can't wait to tell Moms and Dad and Brian and Mart, Trixie thought. And everybody! I can't believe it! I'm one of the two! I made it!

* * *

When Trixie got home, she told everyone that she was one of the two.

"I'm very proud of you," said Mr. Belden. He came home early.

"Moms," Trixie said. "Can I use the phone?"

"Sure," Mrs. Belden said. "But you can only stay on for an hour."

"Thanks, Moms," Trixie said as she skipped towards the phone.

Trixie dialed Honey’s familiar number.

Ring.

Ring.

"Hello?"

"Hi," Trixie said. "It's me, Trixie. Could I talk to Honey?"

"Sure, Trix," it was Jim. "How'd it go?"

"I'm one of the two!"

"Whoa! How'd you do it?"

"I don't know. Jessi put up a big fuss about not being chosen, though."

"Oh. Who's the other kid?"

"James Webbert."

"No way!"

"Yes way."

"He's my class."

"I know."

"Well, here's Honey."

"Thanks, Jim."

"Hello? Trixie? It's Honey."

"Hi Honey."

"How'd it go?"

"James Webbert and I were chosen!"

"Wow!"

"Hey, can you sleep over tomorrow night?"

"I'll go ask Miss Trask."

"Okay. I'll hang on."

Honey set down the phone.

She soon picked it up again.

"It's all set. I'll get off the bus with you."

"Okay. I'm going to go change. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye!"

The girls hung up their phones.

Trixie walked up the stairs.

"Trixie!" Bobby whined. He had just come out of his room. "Read me a book!"

"Oh, Bobby," Trixie said. "I have to change. Anyway; I'm too tired to read a book right now."

"I'll holp you!" Bobby said hopefully. "I'll holp you!"

"I'm sorry, Bobby," Trixie said. "I also have to work my speech.

"But tomorrow Honey'll read as many books as you her to. She's sleeping over."

"Yay!" Bobby said jumping up and down. "Can she sleep in my room?"

"No, Bobby. There's not another bed in your room for her to sleep on."

"There wouldn't be in your room either if Mart hadn't made that silly truddle bed!"

"It's trundle bed. Not 'truddle bed.'"

"Okay. I'm going to go pick out some books for Honey to read."

"Alright," Trixie said turning to go into her room.

* * *

When Trixie had finished her speech, it went like this:

Hello, I’m Trixie Belden and I’m going to tell you what I’m for and against.
I am for an hour-long recess instead of a 20-minute one.
I would also like to have less homework. I don't think we should have pay for our lunch.
I am against guns in our school.
If you elect me for school president, I'm sure that you won't be sorry.

* * *

When Trixie had finished her speech, which was pretty short, she went downstairs and asked Moms what she could help her with.

"You can set the table," Moms answered. "It’s almost time to eat."

"Okay," Trixie said.

* * *

After dinner, Trixie asked Moms if she could go to the library with Honey.

"It’s only six o’clock," she said.

"Well, alright," Moms said. "But be back by nine. I want you in bed by ten."

"Oh, thanks!" Trixie said as she ran out the door.

Trixie ran all the up the Wheelers’ driveway without losing her breath. She knocked furiously at the door. She knew Honey had finished dinner. They had planned to ride their bikes to the library together.

Honey answered the door. "Where’s your bike?" she asked.

"Oops," Trixie said. "Can I ride your bike down to the farm?"

"And then what’re you going to do with it?"

"Umm…"

"Ha-ha-ha!" Honey laughed good-naturedly. "You walk down while I get my bike out and ride it down."

"Okay," Trixie said as she started back.