Disclaimer: Random House will soon be making tons of money off the Trixie series. I can feel it in my bones. I can also feel that unless they hire me to write them, I will continue to make no money off of my Trixie work. I do however give major credit to the late Ms. Julie Campbell, without whom I would have no fun characters to play with.

Author’s Note: Okay, you’ve convinced me. Or I have convinced myself. I’m just going to go to where it all started and try and make it through all 39 books with my "shorts". There are stories behind these stories we’re attached to. And mine are just that: my view and opinion. We will travel through the series, and come what may with the rest. So without further ado, please enjoy the beginning of the first of my three universes that I have yet to title, as I present a short from The Secret of the Mansion. (Please note that all will be written present day style, regardless of what year they were first published/written).

The Beginning of the Beginning

By Heather

 

July 30, 2003

Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, New York

 

Dear Jim,

As I write this letter, I am looking up towards the ruins of your great Uncle’s house. It’s a good thing he is not here to see this. But then again, he never really took care of it after your great Aunt died, so maybe he wouldn’t care. In any case, I’m looking at the ruins all at once mad as a hornet at you but also desperately wanting to see you again. Why’d you have to run Jim? We found Mr. Rainsford this morning and everything looks like it will work out. He wants to adopt you, but I am secretly hoping that Honey’s family will get to and you and she can be brother and sister. I think that would be better after all, than you living here and becoming my brother, don’t you agree?

But I am not really writing you this letter to tell you these things. I am trying to face the fact that I might never see you again. I know Honey said she had a strong feeling we would, and very soon. But maybe I am too much of a pes… pestimis… pessinistic (my brother Mart could tell you what word I want here, but I can’t seem to remember what it is or how to spell it). Or maybe I really want to see you again more than I want to admit. And that is why I probably will never give you this letter. I’m not a girl who is afraid of most things, Jim. But I’m afraid of having too much hope in seeing you again. You see, Jim – I am so glad I got to meet Honey this summer and I am so glad that we’ll be great friends. But (and I’m trying to not be shy here, and really tell you what I’m thinking), I really felt that we had a different sort of connection, you and I. What I mean is, Jim, there was something special around us when you and I were together. Do you know what I mean? Did you feel it too?

When Honey and I found you on the floor, and you first looked at us, I know I sounded tough, but I was a bit scared. Even more so though, I was fascinated by you. I think I already knew you were something special. When we first sat on your mattress talking, I remember turning towards you just a little bit more so I could simply study you. And when you told us your dream of having a year round school for boys, I knew then that you were the most wonderful boy in the world. I just don’t know that I was ready to admit it quite then. I started to giggle a bit when you ate my chocolate bar as fast as you did. But then I remembered how long it had been since you had eaten and I stopped myself in time. That doesn’t always work, as you know. I realized last night as we were putting out the fire, or trying to, that I never really said I was sorry to you for saying that you had made the whole mad weasel story up. Jim, I am sorry for that. I know you didn’t stay mad for long and Honey said you said you were too sensitive, but still… I’m sorry for what I said. And the silly thing is, when we were eating lunch and learning how to whistle, I, well… oh Jim, I just had this overwhelming urge to move closer to you. I liked being next to you, so I scooted over and there I was, right there. I don’t know why I felt that way. I think you must have done something to my milk when I wasn’t looking. But not a short time later, I was insulting you. Will I never learn?

Honey told me after you’d left, that you thought I was courageous. And Jim that made me feel better. But I’m not half as courageous as I felt you were, to have put up with Jonesy like you did, and run away not knowing what would happen. She also told me the next morning that you weren’t mad at me. Honestly, I was so worried about Bobbie before that, and I still was a little afterwards. But I hadn’t realized how much it meant to me that you weren’t upset. Jim, it meant the world to me. And if you ever have a chance to read this, please know that your opinion of me means a lot. Perhaps more than it should Moms is always telling me that we must love ourselves and value ourselves no matter what others think. But I value what you think, Jim no matter what.

I do have to admit I was a little irritated when you called me a "little fool" for riding Jupiter the way I was. Jim Frayne, you should know by now I’m not that dumb! But anyway, I forgive you. I guess I deserved it for what I said to you.

But now that I think about it, while I’m telling you how you irritated me, you scolded me for almost barging into the summerhouse. Of course I know that snakes like to nest in places like that. If they were there when the Fraynes used it, why wouldn’t they like it there when no one used it! But you’re a fine one to talk! You went ahead and went in first as though a snake wouldn’t bite you if you came in. Are you such the great woodsman that snakes won’t even come near you? I’m sorry Jim. There I go again. But still, you, yourself said I was courageous. I guess maybe I need to start separating courage from common sense, huh?

I didn’t want to be the one to tell you that your uncle was dying – but at the same time, I did. I felt it was our own private moment. I know that after that I encouraged you a lot to find the money I just knew your uncle had left you. It wasn’t because I thought you’d be greedy about it or anything. I hope you know that. But I knew you wanted to do something good with it. And Jonesy wouldn’t have if he had found it. And I really think that your uncle would have wanted you to do something good with it as well. Maybe after your aunt died, he didn’t want anything to do with society, but he still cared enough to leave you a trust fund along with the money in the mattress. That must mean he felt something!

I was so excited when you agreed to search the top floors. And Jim, to be honest, I was excited at the thought of getting to be alone with you. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. I don’t even know what this feeling is! But I know when I was upstairs with you, looking through the rooms…. I was almost crying for joy when we found that the will had been stored in the Bible. I just wish we had found Mr. Rainsford before this morning, or that Honey’s parents hadn’t gone to Canada.

I was so glad that Regan was a good sport and let you ride Jupiter. I knew when you first saw him how badly you wanted to and when you swung up on him that first time, it was like watching two separate things slowly blend into one. I could have watched you ride him all day. I wanted so badly to jump with you and Honey though. I didn’t want to spoil your fun by pouting, but just for the record, I was hurt. I understand though why I couldn’t. But maybe it was more jealousy than anything else because you and Honey got to do something together that I couldn’t… like the ride you two went on Sunday afternoon.

Anyway, at one point, you told us that if "we" were going to do a lot of roaming through the woods, we should carry snakebite kits. My heart almost leapt out of my throat! I thought that meant that you were planning on staying after all. Jim, I think I was really in pain when we found you gone this morning. I wanted to plead with you so badly to stay. Getting you to stay at my house was the last thing I could think of. But, I guess I know why you left. Oh Jim, if you only knew what we know now! Honey and I are going to go on a trailer trip with her governess, Miss Trask. And Jim, we will find you or my name isn’t Trixie Belden. You belong here in Sleepyside. And saying this is probably why I will never let you read this letter… you belong here with me. We can have so much fun together, and maybe one-day I’ll understand why it is I feel the way I do. Maybe I’ll understand why I’m writing you this letter I won’t send or give you.

But know this, Jim Frayne: one day, whether it’s ten days, or ten years from now. We will meet again. So until that day comes, please take care of yourself. I miss you.

Yours,

Trixie