by Treanna

Chapter One
The Great South Land

Trixie Belden ran so fast down the hill from the Manor House she almost fell up the steps that led to Crabapple Farm. Her brothers were just behind her.

"Moms!" Trixie yelled, as she ran into the kitchen. "Where are you?"

"In my room," the call came back.

Trixie, followed by her brothers run up the stairs to her parents room. Her mother looked up from putting away some clothes.

"What do I owe the pleasure of your company so early in the day? You can’t be here to help me. It is not lunch time yet."

Trixie plonked on the bed, trying to catch her breath. "Moms you would never guess what has just happened?"

"Your first kiss?"

"Yuuch," Mart groaned. "You think that I would follow her to impart that type of news to you."

Mrs Belden laughed. She sat beside her daughter and smiled. "I assume this has something to do with another Bob-White holiday?"

Trixie looked at her mother. "You know?"

Moms nodded. "I knew a few days ago but the Wheelers and Lynches wanted to keep it a secret until everything was finalised. So tell me what happened? I only know the basics."

"Well, Moms Mr Wheeler and Mr Lynch are interested in some hotels in Australia and they are bringing the Bob-Whites with them for a treat. It is a sixteenth birthday present for Di, Honey and me. And Jim, Brian, and Mart have been invited along. Please say we can go."

"I already gave my permission a few days ago."

She was interrupted when her three children threw themselves at her. It was there that Peter Belden found them a minute later.

"What is all this?" he demanded.

Helen Belden appeared from the bottom of the pile of bodies and he began to laugh.

"I assume they know we gave permission for their trip?"

Trixie untangled herself and threw herself into her father's arms.

"It is the most exciting news I have had in ages. Imagine, the Bob-Whites in Australia."

Mr Belden smiled down at his daughter. "It is a shame that Dan cannot make it but the police internship he is doing is important to him."

Trixie frowned. "I know. He has missed out on so many of our adventures."

"Maybe Jim would not like to have any competition around."

"Dad!"

Peter Belden laughed. "I love to see you blush, sweetheart."

Helen Belden stood up smoothed down her clothes and hair. "How about an early lunch and we can talk more about this. Bobby is with Larry and Terry so we won’t be disturbed."

Trixie ran downstairs and helped her mother make a mountain of sandwiches.

"So tell me all the details?" Mr Belden asked when they were all seated. The boy's mouths were full so they waved their hands at Trixie.

"Well, we go a week on Thursday and fly to Perth. From there we will stay at three different hotels over the ten days we are there. And do you know the best part?"

"Has to do with a mystery by the gleam in your eye, Trixie." Her mother smiled at her fondly.

"It does. Mr Lynch and Mr Wheeler are making up clues that we have to follow. Each day we are given a new set of clues that will lead us to somewhere of interest. And one of the best things is that the Perth Royal Show starts a week on Saturday and we are going there on the Monday."

"What kind of show is that? Like a play or something?"

Trixie laughed delightedly. "That is what I said. But no. Apparently it is a huge type of funfair that is held each year in October. That is when the schools are closed for the holidays. They show animals and have rides and games and other things. Mr Wheeler told us that there is where our best clue will be."

"The good thing is that Australia uses dollars, too, so we won’t have the problems we had when we went to England with their currency," Mart mumbled between mouthfuls.

"All our meals and everything are already paid for, so all we need is some spending money." Trixie smiled at her parents.

"I am sure that we can spare a little more than usual to help with that," her father told her.

Trixie jumped up and hugged him. "I still have my birthday money that Uncle Andrew sent me so I am going to have plenty."

"With Mart and me working part time for Mr Burnside we won’t need any help financially."

"Luckily, we are on holidays at the moment or we wouldn’t be able to go."

"What about Bobby?" Brian asked and Mrs Belden smiled.

"Larry and Terry are staying with us while their parents are away and the twin girls are staying with Mrs Trask. So don’t you worry about your brother. Just remember to bring him back something Australian."

"We sure will." Trixie smiled in anticipation. "I still can’t believe we are going."

"To the Great South Land." Mart grinned.

"Down Under," Brian joined him.

"G’day mate," Mr Belden spoke and they all laughed.

"Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
With golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by sea

Our land abounds in natures gifts
Of beauty rich and rare
In histories page let every stage
Advance Australia Fair."

Everyone looked at surprise at Moms.

She smiled. "Well, I watched the Olympics and that song was played quite often. I just remember their anthem from listening to it."

"I’m impressed," Mart told her.

Moms stood up. "We have work to do today. Time enough over the next few days to talk more on this subject and what you need to take."

Everyone stood up and started working. Trixie smiled as she dusted the lounge room. She thought of what her mother had originally said. She wondered if the "honorable Jim" would become a little less honorable and kiss her on this trip. After all she was sixteen and she was determined that she was not going too forever be "sweet sixteen and never been kissed".

Trixie put down the pen and paper she was holding and stretched. "Are we finished now?"

Honey picked up the paper and quickly scanned it. "Well, Daddy said that they experience four seasons in one day so to make sure we pack enough cool and warm clothes. And not to forget our bathing suits because all the hotels have heated pools."

Trixie smiled. "I am so glad that we persuaded our mothers to let us buy two pieces this year."

Di flicked her hair from her face. "I was so pleased to find that deep lavender one. And the emerald green one looks so good on Honey and the black one you picked, Trix, is divine."

"Hopefully, we might be noticed."

Honey laughed. "Hopefully by whom we hopefully want to notice."

Trixie looked at her and laughed. "I couldn’t have said it better myself."

Di smiled. "So, girls, what do you want to get while we are over there?"

"My first kiss," Honey sighed and the other two girls sighed with her."

"We are all sixteen now and we are ready but getting the boys to that point is impossible."

"I don’t understand my brothers. You are both gorgeous girls and I would think that they wouldn’t be able to wait to kiss you."

"You are gorgeous, too," Honey told her and smiled as her friend shook her head. "Then explain to me why my brother drools whenever you are around."

Trixie laughed. "He does not."

"Yes, he does," Di laughed. "He would need a baby's bib if he got any worse."

"I just had a vision of our men sat in prams with bonnets on and pacifiers in their mouths." Trixie told them and all three began to laugh hysterically.

It was then that the boys walked in. Seeing them made them laugh even more.

The boys shook their heads. "I don’t want to know." Jim grinned.

Trixie sat up and grinned back at him. "Good, because we aren’t going to tell you."

"Come on, Trix," Brian told her. "We are leaving in the morning so an early night would be in order."

"You had better go, Trix," Honey said, "or we may need to pacify them."

That brought another burst of laughter. Mart had enough as he grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her out of the door.

By the time they got home Trixie was more composed.

"Must have been some joke." Mart smiled at his sister.

"More than you will ever know." Trixie grinned as she headed up the stairs to bed.

As she closed her eyes she smiled again.

If you are not going to kiss me, Jim Frayne, she thought to herself, then maybe I should take the lead.

And with that she fell asleep dreaming of kangaroos and kisses.

Chapter Three
McDonald’s! Down Under?

"Of course, Jim, you can kiss me."

Trixie heard a giggle and opened her eyes. She saw Honey smiling down at her. "Go away," she mumbled. "I was having a lovely dream."

"So, you want to see if my brother did kiss you?"

Trixie sat up shocked.

Honey laughed. "Just be thankful it is only us girls in here or you would have been really embarrassed."

"Just my luck that it was a dream."

Honey again laughed. "Well, I have the same dream quite regularly about a certain guy, and it hasn’t happened yet."

Trixie slid out of bed and stood up. "Well, Miss Wheeler, I am determined that this holiday will not pass without getting my first kiss from your honorable brother."

"Well, I have decided that, too. And your brother just had better watch out."

Trixie looked over to the other bed. "We had better get Her Highness up or we won’t get breakfast this morning."

As they gently shook Di, they saw her smile.

"Of course, you can kiss me, Mart."

Di was rudely awakened as her two friends dropped on the bed beside her laughing hysterically. "I must have missed something," Di grumbled as she sat up and glared at the others.

"Well, it sounds like Mart didn’t," Honey said as she and Trixie laughed.

Di blushed a couple of shades before she also began to giggle.

They were finally composed by the time they got down to breakfast at eight. The boys were already eating.

"Thought you would never wake up." Brian grinned at them as the girls sat beside them.

Trixie smiled at the way the boys had sat a seat apart, leaving a seat beside each of them for a girl.

Trixie looked at Honey and Honey gave her a covert wink.

"I would have still been sleeping if I wasn’t rudely awakened by a couple of cackling hens," Di said.

"So, what caused you two young ladies to laugh so early in the morning?" asked Brian.

"You wouldn’t want to know." Honey smiled at him.

Jim leant close to Trixie. "You are looking a little guilty, Shamus. Is there something we guys have missed?"

Honey heard what he said. "If you have missed it, then it is no fault of us girls," she told him.

Trixie laughed at their confusion. "If you haven’t got it by the end of the holiday, then we will be pleased to share it with you."

"So, is it something we would enjoy?"

Trixie looked up at Jim and smiled. "You can depend on it." Trixie stood up before he could say another word. "I am starving and that food over there looks yummy."

The other girls got up and followed her.

"Did you see their faces?" Di whispered as they got something to eat.

"They have no clue what we are talking about." Honey grinned.

"Well, I am certainly not telling them that we are talking about kissing," declared Trixie. "Look at them. They keep looking at us and whispering. They don’t have a clue."

"Well, I, for one, am going to make sure that I give Mart as many clues as he needs to figure it out," Di said.

Trixie smiled as they walked back to the table. "Me too."

By the time they got back to the table, the Lynches and the Wheelers were sat at the next table.

"We were just telling the boys that today we just want you to explore the city. Tomorrow you can start on with the clues. But for today just have fun. It is easy to get into town from here. You can find somewhere to have lunch and we will meet in the boys room just before six and compare notes." Mr Wheeler told them.

He then reached behind him and picked up three cell phones. "They call them mobile phones here. We have got one for Honey, one for Jim, and one for Di. That way if you go separate ways, either as couples, or the boys go one way and the girls go another, you will always be in contact with each other." He handed the phones over. "We have already stored in each other's numbers and our numbers and any other numbers you might need. So enjoy yourself today. Trixie, did you ring your parents?"

"We rang them just before the movie started last night."

"Good." Mr Wheeler smiled. "Now, finish your breakfast and go and have fun. We will see you tonight."

After a leisurely breakfast they headed outside. It was a warm day so none of them needed jackets.

"I thought you said this hotel was called the Atrium?" Trixie asked.

Honey grinned. "I was so excited about what Daddy was telling me I got the hotels muddled up. This one is called the Hyatt and the hotel we go to on Wednesday is called the Atrium."

"I don’t care what it is called," Mart laughed, "as long as we are here."

"So which way do we go, Jim?" Brian asked.

"Just walk along Adelaide Terrace and turn right down Barrack Street. Dad said we can’t miss it. It is a long walk, but dad said it is worth it and if we are tired, we can get a cab back."

"Taxi, mate," Mart told him.

Jim grinned. "Taxi it is."

As they began to walk their eyes were wide open to the sights they saw.

"Hey, Jim," said Mart, "There's a television and radio station."

"It's ABC.  It's one of the main stations in Australia."

Trixie took his hand a few minutes later to get his attention. "Government house," she said.

"One of the oldest buildings around here. It was built by the convicts," Mart supplied.

"I figured that you would know about it." Trixie turned back to grin at her brother.

As she did, she saw her older brother frown at her and then look down at her hand. Honey  gave her a wink. Trixie turned around.

She went to remove her hand, but was pleased when Jim tightened his grip on hers. He looked down at her and smiled. She relaxed and smiled back.

They turned right on Barrack Street and then walked up to Hay Street. They stopped there for a moment. Even though it was still early, there was a huge amount of people around.

"So, gang, what is the plan?" Brian asked.

"Clothes," the girls chorused and the boys grimaced.

"How about we split up?" Trixie suggested.

Brian shook his head. "You have no idea where you are. You could get lost."

"We are sixteen, Brian. Don’t you think we are capable of looking after ourselves>"

"And they do have a phone with them. We can call them if we want to know where they are," Mart assured him.

Brian nodded. "I have no desire to trail you girls around while you moon over clothes, so how about we ring you in a couple of hours and have some lunch?"

Trixie nodded as the others dragged her away. "Have fun," she called.

Jim watched them go and then turned to face her older brother.

"Jim, I think that you and I need to have a talk," Brian said.

"Brian, I only held her hand."

"Well, Dad, is not here to watch her, so I feel responsible for looking after her."

Mart laughed. "Like anyone could."

Brian smiled slightly. "The girls have seemed to grow up so fast."

"So have we, Brian. And what a way Trix has grown."

"Jim," Brian warned.

"Relax, Brian. I am not going to attack her or something. I really like her a lot. Like you feel about my sister. And speaking of Honey... what are your intentions?"

"Most probably the same as mine are for Di and yours are for my sister." Mart again laughed.

The other two turned to him. "Mart!" they both yelled.

"I calls them as I sees them.  I am going to make sure by the end of this trip that Miss Lynch knows exactly how I feel about her. And what about you two?"

Brian and Jim looked at each other.

"How about we start walking and see where we end up?" said Brian.

"Good suggestion." Jim smiled, seeing the double meaning in his words.

*     *     *

Up and down London Court, Trinity Arcade, up to the Carillion, across to Piccadilly Arcade, the girls flew. They each bought a tee shirt from Myers, a large department store. It was fun to see what the Australians were wearing for the forthcoming summer season. Purple and orange were strong colours and the girls were pleased to see that jeans were again from the waist and not the hips. That was one fashion trend Trixie had hated. They tried on clothes, checked out jewellery and went into so many shops they could not remember.

"Ooohhh," Di exclaimed. "My bag is buzzing."

Trixie laughed. "Must be your phone."

Di took it out of her handbag and put it up to her ear.

"Hello. Well, hello Mart, what can I do for you?" She listened for a moment. "We are in a shop that sells everything for two dollars." She then looked up at the girls. "Mart wants directions."

Trixie gave Di the street names.

A short while later, Trixie was looking at lip glosses when she felt someone behind her.

"That strawberry one would taste pretty good."

She looked up at Jim's twinkling eyes. "You want me to buy you one?"

He shook his head slightly. "No, I just might try yours sometime this holiday." He then turned and walked down the aisle and disappeared around the corner.

"Did I just hear right?" Honey whispered beside her.

"Oohh, I hope so," Trixie whispered back.

"So which one should I buy then?" Honey asked.

Trixie smiled. "Well, Brian loves Moms' strawberry shortcake, so that flavor might be a winner."

"Hmm," Di whispered behind them. "Got one that taste like a four course dinner?"

Trixie laughed. "No, but there is one here that smells like bananas and Mart loves them."

Di took it. "Then bananas it is. But you had better give me two. I am not sure that one will last long enough for all the kisses I want."

Trixie and Honey also picked up a second one and went to pay for them. They then went outside. The boys were waiting for them.

Mart smiled. "We have a surprise for you girls."

"By the smile on your face it has to do with food." Di smiled back.

"My fair delectable maiden, it does."

Di put her hand into his. "Then lead on, my knight, we maidens are hungry."

After glancing at Brian, Jim took Trixie's hand in his.

Honey reached over and took Brian's. He turned to her and she looked at him with a smile. "Let’s go, Brian. I am hungry too."

Brian nodded.

"You are kidding!" Honey exclaimed a few minutes later. "They have McDonald's in Australia."

"Yeah." Brian smiled. "McDonald's down under."

Jim laughed. "And Mart literally sniffed it out."

Mart grinned. "It isn’t Wimpy's, but it is the next best thing. Let’s go."

"Dad gave me money to buy all the food we need," Jim told them. "So order up."

The girls gave the boys their orders and sat down.

"I hope we don’t have to walk back," Di sighed. "My feet are hurting and I am exhausted."

Honey nodded. "I want to go to that souvenir shop just around the corner and have a look for some things. But then all I want to do is go back to the hotel and sleep."

Trixie nodded as the boys came over bearing trays laden with food.

"What are you girls planning now?" Mart asked as he eyed his hamburger.

"To be honest," Trixie told them. "We are exhausted. We want to go and have a look at that souvenir shop next door and then we want to crash."

Jim nodded. "So, I guess you don’t want to walk back."

The girls shook their heads.

"But you can," Trixie said. "We can get back on our own."

"We have seen all we want to see for today. I know that Dad has something planned for us this evening, so it might be a good idea if we all have a rest this afternoon."

"Then let’s eat up and we can check out next door and then we will grab a couple of taxis to take us back."

As Trixie walked around the souvenir shop later, she could not help the yawns that came.

"I think someone is exhausted," Jim said.  "I think you have a little jet lag."

She turned and smiled at Jim. "It has been so much fun, but I am tired." She paused at a display and picked up a package that contained twelve small koalas. "These are cute, aren’t they, Jim? You can clip them onto things. Bobby will love them."

Jim nodded. "I am sure he will. I think I will get some for Tom and Celia’s new baby. They can put them in the baby’s room."

He reached past her to get some and his face touched hers. Trixie could smell the aftershave he always wore. And she liked it.

Jim inhaled deeply. He loved the way she smelt. And he could also smell her new strawberry lip gloss. Wouldn’t he like to...

"Are you two ready?"

Jim moved backwards and Trixie turned to smile at Diana.

"I got some of these for Bobby. What do you think?"

Di smiled. "I picked up four packets for my brothers and sisters. I thought they might like them, too."

"Then let's go," Jim told them as he turned and walked towards the others.

"Did I interrupt something?" Di whispered.

"I wish."

It wasn't long before everyone was back at the hotel.

In the girls' room, Trixie took off her shoes and sat down on the bed. She looked at the time.

"It’s two o’clock, girls. How about we set the alarm for five so we don’t oversleep?"

She looked at her two friends and smiled. They were already asleep.

She did not even have time to think as she lay down and let sleep overtake her.

*    *      *

When the alarm went off, Trixie sat up feeling much more refreshed. She made sure the others were awake before heading for the shower. When she came out, Di headed in.

"What do we wear tonight?" Trixie asked.

"Dad only told me that he is sending us out to let us meet some of the Australian youth and to wear jeans and a nice top."

Trixie nodded as she pulled on her favourite black jeans and picked up the top she had bought that morning. It was also black, but had a heart on the front surrounded by diamontes.

"I knew it would look good with your jeans." Honey smiled at her as she headed for the shower.

Di put on her black jeans, but had bought white top with a purple overlay. Honey wore her blue jeans with a blue top with a deeper blue overlay.

"You two look gorgeous," Trixie told them, as she tried to made sense of her unruly curls.

"And if Jim doesn’t kiss you tonight, I will be surprised."

There was a knock on the door and Honey went to answer it.  It was Mrs. Wheeler.

"Hello, Mother," Honey greeted her. "We are just about ready."

"You three girls look lovely tonight."

Honey smiled. "And you look gorgeous. Are you going out?"

"We have a dinner engagement with the company that your father and Mr Lynch are interested in."

"Jim said that Daddy had something for us to do?"

"That is what I am here for," Mrs Wheeler told them. "Your father is in with the boys now and he will tell you what he has planned."

"Where are my parents?" asked Diana.

"They are talking to your brothers and sisters and will join us in a few minutes."

The girls grabbed their handbags and followed Mrs Wheeler to the boys' room. Mrs Wheeler opened the door and ushered the girls in. The boys were on the bed talking to Mr Wheeler and seemed embarrassed when the girls walked in. But then they really saw them. They stood up in unison and all grinned.

"Well, girls, you look lovely tonight," Mr Wheeler told them and the girls smiled.

"They certainly do," Jim spoke and the others nodded.

"Mr Wheeler, what are we doing this evening?" Trixie blurted.

He laughed. "Well, Trixie, I am sending you to a Blue Light Disco."

"A what?"

"It is a disco that is run by the police force. They hold them for the youth and promote no drugs or alcohol. All they serve is soft drinks. It is a place where youth can go and have fun, but also feel safe."

"Sounds good, Dad." Jim smiled.

"I have booked a larger taxi to take you there and to pick you up when it finishes at ten." He handed the paper to Jim. "The taxi will be downstairs in five minutes.  We have to go, but you have fun."

After they had gone, Honey turned to the boys. "Do you think we will need a jacket?"

"It is a little cold outside," Brian said. "So run and get one and we will meet you at the elevator."

The girls hurried back to their room and grabbed a jacket and then hurried downstairs.

A large van was waiting for them and they all piled in.

"What kind of car is this?" Jim asked the driver.

He smiled. "This is a Toyota Tarago son. Only a year old. So where are you from?"

"Just outside of New York."

"You six kids can’t be here by yourselves, surely? You don’t look old enough."

"We are here on holidays with our parents," Jim explained.

"I see some kids about your age coming here for weekends of trouble, so I wasn’t sure."

Jim shook his head and the man smiled.

"Nice to see young folks like yourselves being smart. Fourteen-year-old girls having babies when they are babies themselves is a crying shame. And the government giving them money to do so."

"It is the same in America," Brian spoke up.

"Same everywhere," The man sighed and then pulled up outside the building. "I will pick you young folk up at ten."

When Jim reached for his wallet, the man shook his head. "It has already been paid for, son, so go and have fun."

Jim smiled as he got out of the van and the others followed.

The disco was in full swing by the time they arrived. There were at least a hundred young people there, from about fifteen. The room was dark with flashing lights everywhere. Trixie could see a disc jockey in the corner swinging to the music.

"Let’s dance, Trix?" Jim asked and she nodded.

It was a terrific night. She danced with Jim to the fast and the slow numbers. She had lost sight of her friends, but wasn’t worried. She knew they were having fun.

"How about a drink, Trix?" Jim asked as they sat down on chairs in the corner.

She nodded and he headed for the bar.

"Hey cutie, here alone?"

Trixie looked at the boy that sat beside her. He was tall with dark hair and looked about seventeen.

"I am here with friends," she told him.

"Cute accent, where ya from?"

"Just outside of New York," she said the same as she had heard Jim say.

"Well, cutie, my name's Paul and you are the sexiest number that has come into the disco tonight and I would love to slow dance with you."

"No thanks."

"Now, doll face, I can’t have you sitting here on your lonesome. A cute chick like you needs a stud in your arms. And I am the stud for you."

"I am quite happy sitting here."

He reached over and took her hand in his. "Come on, chicky babe, let’s party."

Trixie tried to pull her hand away, but he held firm. Where was Jim?

As if on cue, a voice said, "Trix, are you okay?"

Paul looked up and saw Jim standing there with fire in his eyes. He let go of her hand.

"Sorry, mate, didn’t know she was someone's property."

"Well, she is."

"Chill out, mate, I was just hanging with her."

"Well, hang with someone else."

Paul stood up and grinned. "With a cute chick like that, mate, I wouldn’t want to have her out of my sight either. Bet you don’t have it hanging for long."

And with that he left.

Jim watched him go and then sat down next to Trixie. He put the drinks down and took her hands in his.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "I have dealt with criminals but he was..." She shuddered.

"Someone who needs their face arranging."

"They speak so differently to us, but I got the idea about what he was saying. I think."

Jim let go of her hand and gave her a drink. "Just some sex-starved teenager wanting to hit on a cute girl."

Trixie smiled. "So, you think I am cute?"

"The cutest chick here," he told her.

She laughed. "I will take that as a compliment."

"It was given as one."

They drank their drinks in silence and then Jim stood up. "It is almost time to go home, so how about a last dance?"

She nodded and he took her hand and she stood up. They walked back onto the dance floor and Jim took her into his arms. Trixie did not want to be anyplace else at that particular moment.

Chapter Four
On a Ring and a Prayer

"Trixie, it is nearly the end of the night and I really want to talk to you about something."

"Sure, Jim."

"Can we go outside? It is a little more private."

She nodded. "Is anything wrong?"

He shook his head. He took her hand and led her outside.

There were people everywhere, so he led her down the corner where it was more private.

He was silent for minute and she was again worried. But then he spoke.

"When I saw that guy speaking to you tonight--"

"It’s okay, Jim."

"But it isn’t, Trixie. Apart from being angry at him, I realised that I was extremely jealous."

Her eyes widened. "You were?"

"Trix, I have been beating around the bush over the last few months not sure how to approach you with a more serious relationship, but now I feel I have to."

"Jim I.…"

He put his finger against her lips. He then leant towards her, his breath fanning her face.

"I don’t want to be Mr Honorable anymore, Trix, and I am going to kiss you. If you don’t want me to, then you have to move away now."

"I am not going anywhere, Jim."

He grinned as his face blocked out the streetlight and she closed her eyes in anticipation.

Trixie opened her eyes and sighed. She sat up in bed and saw that her friends were also stirring. The clock told her it was a little before seven.

"Good morning, Trixie. Sleep well?"

Trixie smiled down at Honey. "I had a wonderful dream, but I woke up before it was finished."

"You still didn’t get that kiss?"

Trixie shook her head. "But I would rather it be real and not a dream anyway."

She stood up and walked to the window and looked outside at the day that promised to be warm.  "How about a swim before breakfast? The pool is heated."

Di sat up and smiled. "It’s too early for breakfast anyway."

It only took them a few minutes to put on their bikinis and robes and head for the elevator.

When they got there they stood behind the glass. Inside, the boys were already standing by the pool. Trixie also noticed two girls sat beside the pool watching them. Trixie could tell that the boys were laughing.

She watched as Jim stretched and she saw the ripple of muscles on his arms and body. "What a six pack," she sighed.

Honey laughed. "They are all built so differently, aren’t they?"

"Well, Jim is one cute bit of muscle."

"And Brian is slim like your dad. And perfectly gorgeous."

"And Mart is not slim but is perfectly cuddly. Very solid and dependable."

"Trix, do you like Jim just because he is the only one that is not your brother?"

Trixie looked at Honey in surprise. "How could you ask that?"

"Because I love to see your reaction."

"Well, you had a choice between Brian and Mart?"

Honey grinned. "Brian was the perfect choice for me."

"I am glad." Di grinned. "Because Mart was the perfect choice for me."

As they watched, the guys sat down on the edge of the pool. The girls watched as the two girls already near the pool made their move. Walking towards the boys with an exaggerated wiggle, they sat down beside the boys and began to talk to them.

Trixie saw something greener than Jim's eyes and turned to the other girls. "Hey, they are in our territory. Let’s go."

The other girls followed her as they opened the glass door and walked towards the boys.

Jim saw them first.

"Thought you girls would still be asleep?"

"Thought you would be, too. We decided to have a swim before breakfast."

"Same here."

Trixie put down her towel and whispered to Honey and Diana,  "Now, let’s see if these bikinis have the desired effect."

Jim and the other boys slid into the water and headed for the edge. The two girls beside them stood up and headed back to their towels. Picking them up, they headed out of the pool area.

Trixie undid her robe and slipped it off. The other girls followed suit.

If Trixie could have described the boy's reaction she would have said they looked like guppies with their mouths wide open. She could see Mart quite happily ogling, but she could see in Brian and Jim an indecisiveness between ogling and shock at what their respective sisters were wearing.

Trixie walked towards the pool. "How is the water? Is it warm?"

"Too warm," Jim told her as he looked up at her standing on the edge of the pool.

Because the water where the boys were was shallow, she walked to the other end and dived in, hoping profusely that nothing would shift on her person. A quick check underwater assured her that the bikini held. She then surfaced as the other two girls dived in.

In the corner of the pool, she could see the boys in a tight circle talking.

Honey and Di surfaced and looked over to the boys.

"Bit of a pow wow going on over there." Honey smiled.

"Yeah. Let’s crash it."

And they did.

The boys turned to them as they moved closer.

"The water is perfect." Trixie smiled.

Jim smiled back. "Everything seems pretty perfect to me too from where I am standing." He walked closer to her.  "That is one nice bit of material, Shamus," he whispered for her ears only.

"We got them a few days before we left."

"I don’t think your brother is too pleased."

Trixie sighed. "He is worse than my father."

Jim sighed with her. "Tell me about it."

Trixie looked behind her and saw the other two couples paired also.  She looked up at Jim. "I had a really nice time last night."

"Today should be good, too."

"Do you know anything about the clues for today?"

Jim shook his head. "All my dad said to me was to remember that we will find the answers on 'a ring and a prayer'."

Trixie thought about it. "I am going to have to think on that, but for now I came here to have a swim and that is what I intend to do."

"Then, Shamus, I will join you."

The others had already left the pool when Trixie and Jim finished swimming. They headed for the edge and Jim took her hand to help her out of the pool. He smiled at her. "Definitely a nice piece of material." Then he walked over to where his towel was.

"Trixie."

She turned knowing what it was about. "Brian, Moms was quite happy with me buying it."

He put up his hand. "I know, Trix, but it shocked me to see how much you have grown up."

"I am sixteen, Brian."

He nodded. "I know. But when I see some other guy looking at you the way I..."

"Look at Honey?"

He again nodded. "I guess I have to get used to the fact that soon my little sister will be dating."

Trixie hugged her brother. "Pay more attention to Honey, Brian. I can look after myself."

"I am intending to, Trix."

The Wheelers and Lynches were already at breakfast when the Bob-Whites went down. They got themselves some breakfast and  joined them.

Mr Wheeler watched Trixie fidgeting and began to laugh.

Trixie smiled. "Mr Wheeler, please put us out of our misery."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to his son as he stood up. "Have fun."

Trixie leaned over towards Jim as he read the piece of paper aloud.

"When the dragon slayer prays he goes to here,
Look then for a ring and then it will be clear,
To the top you will climb and look for a steer,
The fun for the afternoon is not over here."

When he was finished, he commented," "Boy, my dad isn’t very poetic."

"It doesn’t matter as long as we can sort out the clues," Trixie said eagerly.

"Let’s finish breakfast and then go back upstairs. There is a phone book up there. We might have some luck there."

They finished breakfast quickly and went up to the boys' room.  As they walked in, Trixie stopped.

"George," she said.

"What?" Honey asked.

"Wasn’t Saint George the dragon slayer?"

"Smart girl, Shamus," Jim congratulated her. "And isn’t that St George's terrace up the road?"

Brian nodded. "And St George's Cathedral is just there."

Trixie laughed. "The first clue was easy."

"But the next three aren’t."

Jim walked over to the phone and picked it up. "I will find out what time the Cathedral is open and then we can go from here."

*     *     *

The church was large and old. Almost somberly they walked up the front steps.

"St George's Cathedral was designed by Edmund Blackett and built between 1879 and 1888," Honey read from a plaque.

Inside the church, Trixie  looked up to the ornate Jarrah roof and the lovely blue stone columns around.  The service was about to start, so they all sat down.

"That was a lovely service," Trixie  sighed as they came out after it had finished. "But now I am hungry."

"Me too," Mart said. "And we found the perfect place to eat."

They went back to Hay Street Mall and Mart led them down a steep set of stairs to a food hall.

"Take your pick guys," he told them. "There is food here from most countries in the world."

They all stood for a moment just sniffing in the wonderful smells that permeated from the stalls. And then they all disappeared in different directions as their taste buds sent them.

Trixie sat down beside Honey and smiled. "I love Chinese food. What do you have?"

"Vietnamese. I love the spicy flavours."

For the next half an hour they all enjoyed the meal before them and tasting from each other's plates.

"I am never going to get back up those steps," Trixie groaned as she pushed back from the table.

"That is okay," Jim teased. "I can pull and the others can push you up."

She grinned. "I think you pulling me up will suffice, Jim."

"No problem."

They headed back up the stairs. Jim helped Trixie up and when they got to the top he did not let go of her hand.

She looked at her watch. "It is almost 12:30 and we still have no idea of the next clues.

Just then they heard bells.

"What a lovely ring," Di sighed.

Trixie laughed. "Di, you found the next clue. Let’s go."

Di was extremely pleased with herself as they hurried towards the sound.

As they neared the river, they saw before them a huge glass building.

They walked over.

"Swan Bell Tower," Trixie read. "This must be it."

"Built between 1999 and 2001," Jim read. "It stands 82.5 metres tall and houses the twelve bells of St Martin-in-the-field that were made in the 14th century.

"The clue said we have to climb to the top and look for a steer," Trixie said. "But it is a strange place for cattle."

Jim paid their admission and they headed to the top floor. All around them was the city skyline and the river.

"I don’t see any animals," Honey sighed.

Jim laughed. "My dad has a sense of humour. Look."

All Trixie could see was the boat moored against the jetty. She shook her head and looked up at Jim and he grinned.

"What do you do with the wheel in a boat?"

"Oh! You steer it," she giggled. "It certainly is clear now."

"What was the last line?" Honey asked.

"The fun for the afternoon is not over here," Jim told them.

"I guess that means we have to go on a boat. But where?"

As she looked, a boat was leaving the other side of the river and heading back. She looked at the empty mooring and grinned.

"That boat there is the Zoo Ferry."

Brian laughed. ‘Then we had better hurry or we will miss it."

It was definitely fun that afternoon. The Bob-Whites got to see animals that they had only seen in pictures. As they compared notes later, Honey told them she loved the butterfly enclosure the most. Mart, apart from the kiosk, had loved the tigers, and Di was drawn to the new orangutan enclosure. Brian had loved the elephants and Jim the kangaroos and koalas.

Trixie smiled at all of them. "Personally, I loved the nocturnal house. It was so dark and mysterious."

Everyone groaned.

Chapter Five
Top of the World, Lights and Dreams

"Does anyone have a clue what is happening today?" Trixie asked as they got back to their room.

"Dad and Mother and the Lynches are sleeping in this morning because it is a public holiday here."

"What?"

"They call it Labour Day and everyone gets a day off."

"Cool." Mart smiled. "But what do we do?"

A knock sounded on the door and Brian opened it.

"Is there a James Frayne here?" The concierge asked and Jim nodded.

"That’s me."

"Your father instructed me to give this to you after you had breakfast and told me to tell you to enjoy your day."

Jim took the envelope. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, sir, and have a good day."

Jim closed the door and turned around. He opened the envelope and spread the contents on the bed.

"There are six tickets here to the Royal Show." Trixie smiled. "And a train timetable and a plan on how to get there."

"There is also another rhyme," Jim told them. "Listen to this."

He recited:

"Go to a place where the land is fun,
Go ask the boy Matt who looks like a brother or son
Where the top of the world is and all in a twirl
When the lights shine over, dreams come true for boy and for girl."

Jim groaned. "They are definitely getting worse."

Trixie sat down on the bed and thought. "We go to the show and find a place that is fun. And then look for someone called Matt who looks like one of the boys."

"Good thinking, Trixie," Honey commended.

"Maybe, but the rest is not making sense."

"Well, then let’s go and find out," Mart said.

"I don’t think it will be wise for you three to take handbags. Dad mentioned that it is quite busy and thieves are rampant."

Honey laughed. "Mother warned me t0o, so we have a solution." She walked over to a drawer and pulled out three black things. "We bought them at the two dollar shop. They are called bum bags. We clip them around our hips and we can put our money and other stuff in."

"Good idea, bad name." Jim laughed.

"Now, if you boys will leave us we will get changed."

"You look fine as you are."

Trixie smiled. "Mr Wheeler said that there are horses and other animals there and also lots of rides. The clothes we are wearing are too good. We want our comfy clothes on."

"Point taken. We will go back to our room. Come and get us when you are ready."

"Thanks Brian," said Honey.

When the boys left the girls changed into more comfortable clothes and shoes. It only took them a few minutes to change and then they put their purse and comb in their bum bags.

"Don’t forget the lip gloss." Honey smiled.

Trixie sighed. "The last line of the clue says dreams coming true for boy and for girl. I hope they do tonight."

"Me too," Di and Honey chorused together and, laughing, they headed out the door and towards the boys’ room.

Trixie knocked and Jim opened the door. Trixie was the one that felt like a guppy as she stared at Jim. He also had changed. He wore hip hugging jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt with an open shirt over it. She was drawn to the wide expanse of chest just before her.

Honey nudged her.

"Are you ready?" asked Trixie.

"Let’s go," Brian told her.

"Is everything okay, Trix?" Jim asked her.

She looked up at him and smiled. "From where I am standing everything looks perfect."

He stared at her in surprise at her statement.

"Are you two coming or are you just going to moon at each other all day?" Honey said.

Jim smiled at his sister. "We’re coming."

Jim closed the door and they followed the others to the elevator.

"The last line of the clue mentioned dreams coming true, Trix," he whispered.

"What dreams do you want to come true tonight."

She gasped. It had been the same thing they had talked about earlier.

"The same as Di and Honey I would imagine," she whispered back.

"I will let Brian and Mart look after their dreams. I am only concerned with yours."

She looked up at him but he just smiled and ushered her into the elevator.

Even though it was a Public Holiday the Perth Train Station was already packed. And it was only ten o’clock. They found the right train and got on. It was busy but they managed to find seats. As they got nearer to the Showground Station, the train got more and more crowded.

"I am glad we got seats," Honey whispered to Trixie and she nodded.

As the train stopped at the station everyone began to move towards the doors. Jim stood up and took Trixie’s hand. But the crowd was so tight he put his arm around her shoulders to protect her from them. And Trixie did not mind.

When they got off they stood back until the crowd thinned. And then they saw their friends. Jim slid his arm off her shoulder and grasped her hand. "Let’s go and have some fun Shamus."

It took almost five minutes before they even got through the door. Jim had a map so they studied it. The show smelt of roasted peanuts, greasy hamburgers and animal manure.

"So gang where do you want to go first?"

They all just looked at each other blankly and Jim laughed.

"How about we just start wandering and then decide as we go."

Everyone nodded. Jim again took Trixie’s hand and they began to follow the crowd.

In the corner of the Showgrounds was a chair lift and they headed for it.

"We can see the whole show from here." Brian smiled as they paid for the tickets.

Trixie smiled as Brian and Honey went first. The chair lift did not stop so they just had to jump on as it came towards them. Mart and Di followed next. Trixie took her place and suddenly she was swept off her feet, going up in the air. It was Jim that dropped the safety rail for her.

The grounds were huge as they looked around. One side was full of rides and sideshows. The other end seemed to be filled with pavilions. The centre of the ground contained a huge grassed area and Trixie could see horses jumping in the centre. She pointed it out to Jim and he smiled.

"If we were lived in Australia that could be us, Trix."

All too soon the ride ended and they had to jump off at the other end. There was a guy there that grabbed her arm and helped her off. As he let her go he winked. Trixie smiled back and then felt Jim’s hand in hers.

"Let’s go, Trix."

Down the ramp they went to find the others.

"That was so cool." Di, who was usually afraid of heights, smiled. "I could do that again."

"Maybe later," Mart assured her. "But for now, let’s explore."

The chair lift had deposited them right in the middle of sideshow alley. There was stall after stall full of turning clowns, shooting galleries, basketball games, and fishing games. As they walked around they came to the fairground rides.

"Oohh!" Di exclaimed. "Look at that one."

It was called Superbowl and people sitting in the helmet shaped seats whizzed around, up and down, round and round.

Mart shuddered. "That would put me off my lunch."

The next ride was called the Slingshot. A television showed the two people being strapped into the seat and then suddenly they were shot into the air like a giant bungee ride. Trixie gasped as they were thrown up and then fell back down at incredible speeds.

"Uh uh." She shook her head. "No way."

"Well, Trix, if you wanted to, it would cost you ninety dollars per person for the ride, T-shirt and video."

"Phew!" she exclaimed. "That is about one dollar a second."

There were two rollercoasters, one called the Wildmouse and the other Crazy Coaster.

None of the Bob-Whites were interested, so they continued on.

"My stomach is having a conversation with me and it is telling me that it is hungry," Mart groaned and the others laughed.

"Then Mart we should go and find us something to eat." Brian smiled.

As they came up the hill, Jim felt Trixie stop. He turned around to see her staring at something. She pointed to a man, standing on a platform, with a microphone in his hand. She then pointed to the words on the tent next door.

"Funland," Jim said and then smiled. "The land of fun. Great spotting, Trixie."

"Look at the guy. Whom does he remind you of?"

The man walking up and down was of medium height, with curly blond hair. He was stockily built.

"Mart," Jim said.

"Yeah?"

"No. That guy over there looks like you, so he must be Matt."

"He looks nothing like me."

"Look in the mirror more often, brother," Brian laughed. "He is a lot like you."

Mart grunted. "Looks like I won’t be eating anytime soon."

Di hugged his arm. "I am sure you can wait a little longer."

He nodded.

Trixie watched not the game he was on but the man himself. After about a minute another tall thin man pulled himself up and was given the microphone. The other man jumped down and headed in their direction.

"Matt?" Trixie queried and he turned around.

He smiled. "Now, you have to be Trixie and that must be Jim." The men shook hands. "Your father was here yesterday and told me that you were coming here today and to help you with a clue."

Trixie nodded. "Something to do with on top of the world and lights."

Mart nodded. Look behind you, Trixie, and tell me what you see."

Trixie turned and looked up. "A Ferris wheel."

"Tonight at nine there will be fireworks and your father wants you on there. He told me you would figure out the rest."

"Thank you, Matt." Then she looked around. "Do you own all this?"

"I wish," he laughed. "I work for a man named Paul. My two aunties are over there and they work the eight days too."

Trixie and Jim turned to see the two women hard at work.

"That is my Auntie Jackie and my Auntie Treanna."

"That’s weird," Trixie said thoughtfully. "It seems funny, but I feel like I have met one of them."

"I was just about to say the same thing," Jim told her.

As Trixie looked the one named Treanna looked up and gave her a warm smile. Trixie smiled back.

"Now, I had better get back to work or my boss will skin me alive," said Matt. He walked over to a stall and picked up a couple of soft cotton balls. As he began to call customers in they decided to leave. "Come earlier tonight and you can try some of our games."

Jim smiled. "That would be great."

They began to head up the hill towards the cattle yards.

"Hope we aren’t planning to eat here." Di grimaced, holding her nose.

"The food areas are over near the central ground," Brian assured her. "We can grab something to eat and sit down and watch the horse jumping if it is still on."

"You girls sit down and we will get something to eat," Jim told them and they nodded.

They found a seat and Jim turned to Trixie. "What is your pleasure, Trix?"

Apart from you? she thought. "Surprise me."

He smiled and nodded.

The girls sat down. It looked like the horses were leaving the stadium. In the corner a couple of cars were waiting. As the last horse left, they came tearing onto the grass.

The boys arrived just before they started the stunts.

Jim had brought Trixie a chicken roll, chips and a drink. She smiled her thanks as he sat beside her.

The cars were tiny minis that had a crash bar that totally surrounded the car. So when the car stopped suddenly it rolled over and ended back up on its wheels.

They were mesmerised as the two little cars performed magnificent stunts, even jumping over each other and then rolling over each other. They all applauded when they finally left the ground.

They then got up and, after putting their rubbish in the bin (believe me, not many do), they headed back down the hill.

"I would like to see those horses," Brian commented and the others agreed.

The stables were situated at the bottom of the hill and they headed for the first stall.

It was something that the girls would regret.

As soon as the young women realised that the men knew something about horses, they were instantly surrounded. Trixie, Di and Honey found themselves on the outer part of the circle.

Trixie stared at the others and smothered a giggle.

"How about we disappear and do some shopping," she whispered to the others and they nodded. "Jim, we are going to go for a walk," she told him and he nodded. She was not sure whether he heard her or not.

It was about fifteen minutes later that Honey’s phone began to ring.

"Hello. Well, hello, Jim." She listened for a moment. "Trixie told you that we were going to do some shopping. Weren’t you paying attention?" She listened some more. "No, I am not sure where we are. No, we’re not really interested. Okay, ring us a little later and we will meet then. Bye, Jim." She put the phone back in her bum bag. "It took them fifteen minutes to realise we weren’t there," she giggled.

"So, what did they want?" Di asked.

"They wanted to come to us, but I told them I wasn’t sure where we where. Jim said that they were going on a few fast rides, but I told them we weren’t interested. They are going to meet up with us later."

"Suits me," Trixie told them. "They are really boring when it comes to shopping."

"Let’s go and have some fun."

Finding another TWO BUCK shop was a great find and they picked up a couple of extra bargains.

"I love this light up necklace." Di smiled.

"And this spray-on perfume is cool." Trixie grinned.

They were walking back through the cow stalls when Honey pointed to a brick building.

"I hope that is a bathroom because that Pepsi I had a while ago is doing a dance with my bladder."

"Was just about to say the same thing," Di told her.

As they left, they heard Honey’s phone ring again.

She picked it up. "Hi Brian." She listened for a minute."We are down where the cows are…Okay we will wait here." She laughed. "Mart is always hungry." She put the phone away and smiled. "They will be here in a few minutes."

"Ooh, look," Trixie sighed. "Twin calves." She hurried over. "Hi, gorgeous."

"Hi, yourself," a voice said behind her.

She jumped. They turned to see four cute cowboys standing behind them.

"Are these yours?" asked Trixie.

He nodded. "Would you like to pet them?"

Trixie smiled. "I would love to."

By the time the boys arrived, four tall, lean men surrounded Trixie, Honey, and Di.

Trixie saw the boys first. "Jim, look at these cute calves."

"Are they friends from America, too?" the man named Joe asked.

"They are my brothers, Brian and Mart, and that is Jim."

That is Jim, Jim thought. Thanks for the introduction.

He watched as she patted the two tiny calves. The one named Joe moved closer to her and she smiled up at him. That was enough for Jim."

"Trix, we need to go or we won’t see everything today."

It seemed to Jim that she nodded reluctantly.

"Thank you so much for letting us pet your calves," she told the men as she walked towards Jim.

"Anytime sweetie." Joe grinned.

Jim took her hand and positively glared at Joe. She felt herself being dragged away.

What’s good for the goose, she thought.

They got to the top of the hill and he stopped.

"I have had so much fun," she told him.

He looked down at her smiling slightly.

"I smell a little animally," she told him. She pulled out her new spray perfume and sprayed it on herself. She watched as Jim inhaled deeply. She was glad she had made the right choice.

As she looked at her friends she could see they had also found the opportunity to spray their new perfumes.

"What did you buy?" Jim asked.

"I got this cute necklace." She lifted it up and showed him. "See, when you push it it flashes and glows."

He nodded. "That is nice."

"And of course the new perfume. Do you like that, too?"

"Oh yeah," he said, then seemed to recover. "Hungry?"

She nodded. "A little. We were going to get some showbags, but thought we would wait for you."

"Showbags?"

"You remember. They have all different sweets or potato chips or other things in. You buy them."

He nodded. "Let’s get something to eat and then we can go showbag hunting."

*     *     *

"How about we split into couples now?" Jim suggested at dinner. "It is getting busy and we all have a different idea about what we want."

The other two boys readily agreed.

So, after dinner Jim and Trixie went off together.

"Well, Trix, what are you interested in?"

"I would like to go up that other big wheel." She pointed.

This wheel was flat and attached to a tower. It moved from the ground to the top of the tower and then turned around slowly at the top.

He nodded and they made their way over there. The sun was just setting as they reached the top of the tower. As they turned they could see the lights of the city beginning to appear. And far below the showground was full of people.

"It’s beautiful, Jim," she breathed.

"Sure is," he told her.

When she looked at him, he was looking directly at her. Embarrassed, she turned back to the scene and was disappointed when they descended.

"How about we go and get some of those show bags you were talking about?"

She smiled. "As long as they contain chocolate."

He laughed. "You're on."

The crowd became worse as they headed around the stadium to where the showbags where.

Jim was holding her hand when a man passed by arguing with his girlfriend. As they passed, he threw his hand up and hit Trixie squarely on the side of her left breast.

"Ow," she groaned, pulling her hand out of Jim's and wrapping it around herself.

Jim put his arm around her and led her out of the crowd.

"You okay, babe?" he asked worriedly.

She nodded. "I am fine. Just a little sore." Then she thought, Did he just say babe?

He smiled gently. "Afraid I can’t rub that better."

She looked up at him and then blushed. "Don’t think so," she mumbled.

He put his arm around her and hugged her. "Come on, Trix, let's go and find those showbags."

He kept his arm around her as they began to walk. Feeling a little more confident in herself, Trixie slid her arm across his back, underneath his open shirt. She knew he was pleased by the way his arm tightened around her shoulders.

At eight-thirty, they arrived back at Funland.

Matt smiled as they approached. He was again on the microphone and he waved them over. "Have a game," he invited and Jim got out his wallet.

"How much?" he asked Jackie.

"Four dollars a turn."

Jim paid. "So, what do we have to do?"

She turned on the lights on numbers seven and eight.

"Okay. See that plunger there that looks like a gearstick in a car?"

Jim nodded.

"Push that down and you will see that the tennis ball goes through that box."

Again he nodded.

"Everytime you put the ball through the little footballer behind you rises a little. When Matt blows the whistle, you keep putting the ball through until someone reaches the top. He's the winner."

Jim smiled. "Thanks."

Trixie concentrated on getting the ball in as many times as she could.

"Okay, everyone. When I blow the whistle, start."

When the whistle blew, the noise was almost deafening. Trixie tried, but impatiently missed a few times. When the bell went. Trixie looked up. She was only three quarters the way up. But Jim’s light was on.

"Congratulations," Jackie told him. "You have won."

"What?"

"You can pick anything you want."

Jim looked around at the huge toys. "They will never let me on the plane with any of those."

Treanna walked up and smiled. "I have an idea." She reached behind the large toys and pulled out a small black and red ladybug. It was about a foot long and was the cutest thing Trixie had ever seen.

Jim looked at Trixie's face and smiled. "Perfect," he told Treanna.

"Something cute to give your girlfriend," Matt said as Treanna handed over the prize.

Jim turned to Trixie and put it in her hands. "Here, Trix."

She looked at the toy in her hands and then threw her arms around Jim. "Thank you."

His smiled would have reached either side of the showgrounds.

"You're welcome."

Someone came to relieve Matt again and he jumped down and joined them.

"Phew," he said his voice raspy. "My voice is almost gone." He walked over and picked up a bottle of water and drank thirstily.

"So, all you do is work on these games?" Jim asked.

"It is not a bad job, but the worst is when we have to take the joints down."

"Joints?"

To Be Continued