Part V
"What this all about?" Di Lynch asked Honey when she arrived at the clubhouse.
"Don’t worry," Honey said. "It’s not as bad as you might think it is. It’s just that Trixie’s chance of becoming school president is in danger."
"Oh, all right," Di said. "I thought something had happened to one of you.
"Oh, by the way, where is everybody?"
"You’re the first one here," Honey explained. "Trixie must have called you first. I came down here to tell everyone not to worry."
"Okay," Di said as she entered the clubhouse.
* * *
When everyone was gathered around the table in the clubhouse, Trixie said, "Don’t worry, I’ve just called you here today because Honey has found out some news that puts my chances of becoming school president are in danger."
Everyone gasped.
"Ahem," Trixie said. "Jessi and James are planning to set up a club to get people to vote James. Honey, will you please take over?"
"Thanks, Trixie," Honey said. "Jessi Billings and James Webbert are going to start a club for all the boys and girls at our school. Once they join, they have to vote for James or they’ll be kicked out of the club. Jessi and James aren’t going to tell this to the kids till it’s time for the election—then they’ll not only have a lot of kids in their club, but they won’t have a lot of time to think about who to vote for.
"But we can do something about it. We can spread the news to our friends, who can tell their friends, and Jessi and James won’t even know what we’re doing. Not only will we stop a bad club from starting, but people won’t trust James as much, so they’ll want to elect Trixie, which would be perfectly perfect!"
"What a wonderful idea!" Brian Belden, Trixie’s older brother exclaimed.
But Jim Frayne, Honey’s adopted brother had other feelings.
"What’s wrong, Jim?" Trixie asked. "Do you want to say something?"
"No," Jim said. "I—I have to go."
"Wait a minute!" Mart Belden, Trixie’s other brother, older by just eleven months said, examining Jim’s jacket. "You can’t leave just yet! I see a button missing from that jacket!"
"Leave me alone," Jim said after he had tossed a dime onto the table. "I’m going home."
"What’s eating him?" Dan Mangan asked. Dan Mangan was Reagan’s nephew whose parents had died. Reagan was the Wheelers’ horses’ groom.
"I don’t think he agrees with Trixie and Honey’s idea," Di said. "I wonder why he doesn’t just talk about it."
"But I wonder why?" Trixie said. "It seems to me to be the only answer to the problem."
"Maybe it’s not," Honey said. "Maybe there’s another way."
"Like what?" Trixie said. "What else can we do?"
"Oh, I don’t know," Honey said. "But I just have this feeling that we can do it another way."
"Well," Brian said. "I think this meeting should be over."
"Me too," Di said. "Jim left, and nothing is right."
So everyone said good-bye and left the clubhouse.
* * *
Honey went back to Manor House to talk to Jim. I wonder what’s wrong with him, Honey thought. He sounded like he didn’t like the plan at all. I hope he feels okay.
When Honey tried to open the door, she found that it was locked, so she rang the doorbell. Jim answered the door. "Sorry, Honey," he said. "I thought the meeting was still going on."
"No," Honey said as she entered the house. "We all left because you did. What’s wrong?"
"I don’t think it’s right that you fake you like James. It’s just not right. He’ll be really angry at you and Trixie when he finds out the truth."
"Oh, Jim, I don’t like it either, but if we want this election to be fair."
"I guess you’re right," Jim said. "I’m sorry I acted that way. It’s just that I kind of like James a little, and I don’t want to see him being tricked."
"So what you’re saying is that what James is doing is right?"
"No!" Jim exclaimed. "I don’t think that what he’s doing is right at all! But I don’t think you’re doing something very nice, either."
"I know," Honey admitted. "But how else can we stop James and Jessi?"
"Good question," Jim said. "Well, I guess it’s alright. Just don’t make this a habit of yours."
"Oh, Jim," Honey said. "You’re too funny! I didn’t want to do this in the first place!"
"I know," Jim said. "It doesn’t sound like you."
* * *
Ring! Ring! Trixie’s phone rang.
"Hello?" Trixie answered.
"Hi, Trixie, it’s Honey," the voice at the other end said.
"Hi, Honey!" Trixie said. "What was wrong with Jim? Did you get to talk to him?"
"Yes," Honey replied. "He said that he didn’t think that my pretending to have a crush on James was right, and he was mad about it. He also mentioned that he knows James a little."
"He knows James?" Trixie eagerly questioned. "That’s great! We can have this thing all over with in just a few days!"
"It’s not that easy, Trixie," Honey said. "We’re casting our votes in two weeks. They’re probably advertising their club right now. Maybe calling some friends."
"You’re right," Trixie said. "Oh, man! This is bad. They have two weeks to earn friends. This is bad. Very bad."
"Trixie," Honey said, her voice slightly quavering. "Do—do you think there is another way we can do this? I don’t really think that pretending I have a crush on James is nice."
"Oh, Honey," Trixie said. "I know, but you’re actually solving the mystery for us! Please try to understand that this means a fair election! If James starts the club, then there is no chance for me!"
"Trixie," Honey said. "I—I have to go now. I have to talk to umm…I just have to go."
"Honey?" Trixie said. "Honey what’s—" The phone line was dead.
To Be Continued