Trixie Belden and A Visit from Saint Nick

By Mandy Floyd

 

15-year-old Trixie Belden sighed with relief as she gave the old Maplewood dresser in the guest room one last swipe with the dust rag. She looked around the nice, clean room at all the work she had done. She had even added a few decorations for the guest that would be spending the next weeks there. There was a small tree, which her friend and fellow BWG member, Dan Mangan had found and cut down for her. She and her 18-year old brother Brian had decorated it. There was a handmade calendar, which at present time read Dec 23.

"There", she said, sitting on the floor next to her 15-year-old friend Honey Wheeler. "All ready for our guest."

Honey laughed. "I was hoping this wouldn’t take long," she said, "I know how you loath house work."

Trixie started to laugh herself but stopped and added," I just wish Moms was here to see how well we’ve got the house looking."

Honey put her arm around her friend. "I know," she said comfortingly, "But just think what an experience this will be for your Moms, Dad and Bobby. Not only is your Dad starting a new job but, they’re getting to see a beautiful country they never been to before."

"Yea," said Trixie, cheering up a little. "That was super of your Dad to hire my Dad to work at his new company."

Mr. Wheeler, Honey’s father, had just recently brought a branch of a publishing company called Random House. And, one of the first things he did was give Mr. Belden and Mr. Lynch jobs as his new VPs.

The only bad part was that the office he now owned was in London England and they would all have to be out of the country for most of the month of December. Their older children, which included Trixie, Honey, Brian, 15-year-old Di Lynch, Trixie 16-year old almost twin Mart Belden, Honey’s adopted brother 18-year old Jim Frayne and 17-year old Dan Mangan (the nephew of the Wheelers' groom, Regan), would all be spending Christmas at Crabapple Farm.

"Daddy was so excited when he left," said Honey. "He said their first project would be to republish a series of books about a girl detective and her best friend. I don’t know why he was so happy to buy the rights to a series of books for young boys and girls but, whatever makes him happy."

Just then, Brian walked in. "Everything looks great," he smiled. "So when is our first special guest arriving?"

"Any time now," answered Trixie eyeing the old grandfather clock in the corner. "She’ll be riding up here with Dan."

"I’m glad Dan has someone like her now," said Brian, "I know how great it feels when you find that someone special," he added winking at Honey.

"I know," agreed Trixie thinking of Jim. "Kathy seems to have done wonders for Dan."

"I’ll never forget the day they meet," said Trixie,

"They were both at Zap’s and they were both buying the same book by the same author."

Zap’s Books & More was the Bob-Whites new favorite place. Zap’s was a great place where you could buy books, magazines and records. You could also sample coffees and pastries from all over the world.

It was then that Trixie realized what Brian had said before. "Brian?" she asked. "Did you say one of our special guest? Who else is going to spend Christmas with?"

Brian smiled mischievously, "You’ll see," he said.

Trixie mind was racing as she followed Brian and Honey back up stairs. "Who else would be spending Christmas at Crabapple Farm?" she wondered.

"So," asked Honey a few minutes later when they were alone in Trixie room unpacking her bags," What did you get Jim for Christmas?" she asked.

Now it was Trixie turn to be mysterious. "I’m not telling," she said," It’s a surprise."

Trixie had spent months working on Jim’s present. She had got the idea for the present on her birthday earlier that year and since then had spent almost every day working on it or worrying weather or not he would like it. It wasn’t easy coming up with reasons as to why she had to spend so much time at Mrs. Vanderpoel’s. But, she just knew it would be worth it. Mrs. Vanderpoel had said so.

"They’re here!" called Mart.

Trixie and Honey got to the front door just in time to see Dan and Kathy riding up on Dan’s horse. Their suitcases had been dropped off the day before. Trixie also saw, following close behind was Di and Tad Webster on Di’s horse.

"Tad Webster?!?!" she thought.

Brian noticed the confused look an Trixie face and said," Didn’t you know? Di and Tad are thick as thieves now a days."

Trixie turned to look at her brother," Is he the other special guest?" she asked him excitedly.

Brian grinned," One of them," he said slyly, looking at his watch," The last one should be here soon."

"Who?" Trixie asked.

"That’s for me to know and you to find out," he answered as he held the kitchen door open for everyone.

It wasn’t till several minutes later, has everyone was sitting down to a late breakfast that Trixie noticed Mart acting kind of odd. He was leaning on kitchen sink watching everyone else eat and looking kind of dazed. Concerned, Trixie quietly lead Brian out side.

"I think there’s something wrong with Mart.", she said in hushed tones.

"Oh." said Brian, pretending he hadn’t noticed "Like what?"

"He’s not eating or talking for one thing," she said.

"He’ll be all right in," he paused to look at his watch," a few minutes."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Trixie

"Christmas secrets?" asked Mart sticking his head out the kitchen door.

"You could say that," said Brian.

"Really," said Mart mischievously, "What did you get…"

He stopped, mid-sentence, as a taxicab came to a stop at the top of their driveway.

"Is that?" Trixie whispered to Brian.

Brian nodded and watched as a short, tan girl with shoulder length blonde hair got out of the back seat. Trixie recognized her at once. She was Mart’s pen pal from North Carolina, Mandy.

Mart had been writing to her for over a year when she won a spot in her school’s student exchange program. She stayed at Crabapple Farm for eight months; she arrived the first of February and left the second week of October. Trixie laughed to herself as she remembered Mandy was supposed to leave the first of October but, Mart some how got it changed.

Mart stood dumb stuck for a minute before breaking in to a huge smile and running to greet her. He picked her up and spun her around several times before putting her back on her feet.

After everyone had been greeted one another, they filed into the living room, and talked excitedly about their plans for the next week. Trixie was so happy; everyone was there, everyone but Moms, Dad and Bobby that is. But at least, she was with her friends. Dan was behind the TV trying to plug it in, amongst all the other extension cords for the lights and the tree. A few seconds later, the lights going around the window died but the Television came alive, with The Year without A Santa Claus. They had just started to run the credits when, all of the sudden, the news interrupted.

"Breaking news," came the reporter’s voice as the TV warmed up. "The local foundling home caught fire a few hours ago when the kerosene heater they were using to warm the childrens' bedrooms was accidentally knocked over." The Bob-Whites and company watched in horror as they saw the ruins of the only home those orphans had known. "Luckily no one was hurt. Sergeant Molinson of the Sleepy Side PD gave a temporary home to the ten orphans and their care giver, John," the camera then showed a picture of John whom, the Bob-Whites knew from Zap’s, "in the local county jail. The children range in age from 18 months to 7 years."

"Jail?" thought Trixie, disgusted. "What crime could those children have possible committed." Her eyes wandered up to Jim’s. And even though no words passed between them, it was like an instant understanding. With out saying anything, they both stood up and headed for the door.

"Where are you two going?" asked Brian.

"Where do you think?" said Jim reaching for his and Trixie coats.

"We’re right behind you," said Mart, as he and Mandy followed them.

In no time Jim, Dan and Kathy were in Dan’s new Suburban followed by Trixie, Mart and Mandy in the BWG station wagon. Brian and Honey had taken Brian’s "new" cherry red, 1964 ½ Mustang (a graduation gift from Mrs. Wheeler) and gone up to Manor house to get things ready.

In what seemed like only minutes the Bob-Whites were at the station helping John put the little ones in Dan’s SUV.

"You kids can’t take care of ten orphans all by yourselves!" exclaimed Sergeant Molinson as the Bob-Whites told him their plans.

The response Sergeant Molinson got was as much a surprise to Trixie as it was to Sergeant Molinson. Mart simply smiled, mockingly kissed the air, pointed to himself then turned and patted his butt. He then turned, put one arm around Trixie the other around Mandy and headed for the SUV, laughing all the way and, leaving a very red faced Sergeant Molinson far behind.

Upon arriving back at Manor House Trixie was very surprised to see a huge van out front marked ZAP’S on the side. Just as she stepped out of the car, Honey came running out to greet them.

"Trixie!" she exclaimed," It’s just perfectly perfect! First, Zap found out we were taking the orphans in here and came by to donate all kinds of things! She not only brought food but she also gave us all kinds of stuffed animals and toys to give the children for Christmas!"

Trixie couldn’t believe her ears.

"Then," Honey went on," Mrs. Vanderpoel came by with all kinds of treats and hand made goodies for the kids too."

"Gleeps!" exclaimed Trixie," It’s just like that movie It’s a Wonderful Life."

The Bob-Whites and their friends had the time of their lives. The first order of business was to find rooms for all of their new guests to sleep. Ms. Trask and Celia were a great help. Dan and Tom Delanoy, the Wheelers' chauffeur helped Honey bring down trunks of her old clothes for the kids to wear. The children were so happy to have new cloths they put on a little fashion show in the nursery.

Once everyone was settled down Brian cleared his throat and began to read out of a large green and red book,

" 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that ST. NICHOLAS soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,
AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT."

Everyone clapped as he sat down next to Honey and Dan took his place at the front of the big family room and began to read. "This is a letter a little girl wrote to the New York Sun and the answer she got back", he explained and began to read, "I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "'If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon'.

"'Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world, which neither the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? Thank God, he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.'"

Then Mart got his guitar and sang, "I believe in Santa Claus. But there was a time I thought I had grown too old for such a childish rhyme. He became a dream to me till one Christmas night. When someone stood beside my bed with a beard of white. "So your too old for Santa Claus", he said with a smile, "Then your too old for all the things that make a life worth wild. For what is happiness but dreams and do they all come true? Look at me and tell me child, what is real to you?"

Just then, Jim tapped Trixie on the shoulder and pointed up. They were setting under the mistletoe. With one quick look around the room Jim leaned over and kissed her. Trixie was on cloud nine. So much so that she didn’t even see the glass ornaments flying off the wildly spinning tree. Nor did she see Di running out the front door with a flaming turkey. She didn’t noticed Brian and Dan scraping cranberry sauce off the ceiling. She was not even aware of poor Mart. Down on his hands and knees trying to fish a huge strand of garland out of the down stairs toilet.

 

After a wonderful dinner of chicken and several more carols, and stories, the Bob-Whites led the sleepy children up the stairs to the guest rooms. Tucking them in and kissing them on the forehead.

"They're so precious!" Mandy exclaimed. "Why doesn't someone adopt them."

"Mandy, in a world such as ours, one ponders many things. All we can do is accept them." Mart replied putting his arm around Mandy's shoulder and leading her down the stairs. Trixie, Di and Honey followed closely behind.

Later that night, back at Crabapple Farm, as Trixie and Jim sat alone by the fireplace, Trixie decided to give Jim his present early. As she had watched him earlier that day with the children, it became even clearer that her chose of presents had been right. With out saying anything she reached under the tree and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box and handed it to Jim. Jim looked confused for a minute. "I thought we were waiting till in the morning so we could open our presents with the kids," he said.

"I know," she said blushing to the roots of her hair," But I couldn’t wait."

Jim laughed as he unwrapped the box and pulled out a huge book. Not just any book though, a scrap book, filled with all the pictures Trixie could find of Jim with his mom and dad. Pictures of Jim and his mom the day he was born. Pictures of Jim and his dad taken the first time he rode a horse. Pictures of Jim and both his parents the day he took his first steps. Ms. Vanderpoel had added something of her own as well. On the front cover was note which read, "Jim, always remember, the people we love most never truly go away. Your parents are alive in you and I see them more clearly every day you grow more in to the man they would have wanted you to be and less what others have tried to make you."

Jim looked up, and for the first time since they had meet, Trixie saw Jim cry.

Her heart dropped to her feet as she jumped up and flung her arms around him.

"Jim I am so sorry I never meant to hurt. I can so stupid sometimes. I…"

Jim cut her off," It’s best presents anyone could have given me."

After Jim had given Trixie his gift to her, a new CD by Jessica Andrews with the song Who I Am (Rosemary’s Granddaughter), the two head up stairs for bed.

They were about half way up the stairs when they heard a sound. They stopped and listened. The house was quite except for the faint sound of foot steps coming from the kitchen. Trixie and Jim carefully tip toed back down and peeked around the corner just in time to see Santa. Trixie blinked twice and rubbed her eyes. But she had seen right, Santa was on his way out of the Beldens' kitchen. Jim and Trixie stood dumb stuck several minutes after he left before Trixie remembered. She laughed, "It was Mart," she told Jim. "He got Dad’s old costume out of the attic and was going to surprise the kids up and Manor house."

Jim laughed and the two headed back up stairs. "I can’t wait to see the faces on all those children in the morning when they see what Santa Mart left them," said Trixie.

Jim smiled," They’re great kids and…" the rest of his words broke off as he came to a stop in front of Mart’s room. Trixie looked inside the open door and to her surprise saw Mart sitting on the floor opening presents with Mandy.

Early the next morning, while most of Crabapple Farm’s inhabitants were still sleeping the phone rang. As Trixie was the only one awake she answered it. "Merry Christmas," said a kind voice on the other end of the line. Trixie recognized it at once to be John.

"Merry Christmas," said Trixie back. Trixie then listened as John went on to tell her how the children had woke him up early to see what Santa had left.

"I can’t wait to talk to you all this morning," said John," I have to know how your brother managed to get all these gifts in here without us knowing."

Trixie laughed," You don’t know Mart."

John continued," The bikes alone would have been hard enough to…"

Trixie interrupted," Bikes?" she repeated. "You mean, as in bicycles?"

"Yes," answered John sounding confused.

"The only gifts that I knew off were stuffed animals, books and clothes," said Trixie.

"Really?" asked John. " So, you don’t know where the doll house and play pen came from either?"

"Doll house and play pen?" asked Trixie.

As soon as Trixie had said goodbye to John she got up and went in to her parents room was Mart was sleeping having give his room to Mandy.

"Mart," Trixie said slowly opening the door. He was sitting on the bed putting his shoes on.

"Merry Christmas," he said with a smile.

"Merry Christmas to you too," she said," Mart, tell me, where did you get bikes, a play pen and a doll house to give the kids?"

"Say what," was all Mart could out.

Trixie told him all about her phone call from John.

"It’s a mystery to me," he said," all I had was what was brought over last night."

Trixie paused for a moment as her eyes fell on an old Victorian Christmas card setting on her parents' night stand. On the cover was a beautiful painting of Saint Nick. She slowly turned to her almost twin to see he was looking at the same thing. "You don’t think it was," she paused and nodded toward to card. She waited for Mart to answer but for the first time ever he was speechless.

The End

Happy Holidays IV