*all ages
A Trip to Minnesota
By Melissa
Trixie stared out the club house window wondering when in the world Honey would get there. Honey had called less than 3 minutes ago breathlessly saying she had wonderful news and that she would meet Trixie at the club house in just a few minutes.Barely hanging up the phone, Trixie had darted to the clubhouse and was impatiently waiting for Honey. So after about three minutes of waiting, Honey burst through the clubhouse doors and dropped tiredly into a chair.
"Where the heck have you been Honey? I have been waiting for about 3 entire minutes?"
"Well Trixie, do you want to hear the news or not?"
"Sorry...I was just excited about what ever you're going to tell me."
"Jim called this morning and he thinks he found a perfect place for his boy's school. He wants us to spend a week with him - all of us - Brian, Mart, Dan, Di, me and you. And he put an emphasis on YOU, Trixie dear. Please do say that you can come with!"
"Oh Honey, its perfectly perfect. Bobby left home to be a junior camp counselor up north today, so I won't have to feel guilty about leaving him home with moms and dad. And now that we graduated from high school, Moms is giving me more freedom to do more things. She wants me to broaden my horizons before I become a detective. She'll let me, Mart, and Brian go in a heartbeat."
"I called Di and Dan too. Di can come but Dan just can't possibly get away. Tom will pick you and your brothers up at 9:00. Our plane leaves at 11:00."
"I have just got to go tell Moms I am sure she will say yes. See you at nine tomorrow unless you hear from me otherwise."
* * *
The next morning came super soon and Mart, Brian and Trixie were all ready to go when Tom, the Wheeler's chauffeur, came to pick them up. Di and Honey were already in the car, so it was off to the airport they went. They were going to fly in Mr. Wheeler's private jet. Honey had told Jim she wouldn't tell the others where they were going and despite all the attempts to convince her to tell them, she didn't tell. The only other person who knew where they were going was the pilot and he wouldn't tell either. It was to be a surprise. On the plane Trixie sat back and smiled. She must have drifted off to sleep because before she knew it, Honey was shaking her gently saying they had arrived and that Jim was waiting for them. Trixie undid her seat belt and bounded down the isle way. She hopped down the planes steps and met Jim with a flying leap.
"Oh Jim, Honey wouldn't tell us where we were going so I have no clue to where we are. Just tell me please. I will just die if this place is far away from Sleepyside 'cause I would miss you somethin' terrible."
"Trixie, it is so good to see you and all of your energy again. I missed you." Then he whispered into her ear, "A lot."
Mart, Brian, Di, and Honey had made their way off the plane while Trixie had greeted Jim, but by this time Trixie was about "dying" because she still didn't know where she was at. Now that the BWG's minus Dan, were together Jim told them they were in Minnesota. "I think I picked a perfect spot for the boy's home. This town will need all of us. We are just a short drive from where the house I found is." Everyone piled into the van. The drive to the place was rather quiet because no one knew quite what to say until Honey broke the silence with "Mom, Dad and Ms. Trask say hello and that they miss you." That seemed to break the ice and lively chatter filled the van until they reached the house. Trixie was sitting up front, next to Jim, of course, and saw the house first. But this was no house. It was the biggest mansion she had ever seen. Jim smiled when he saw Trixie's mouth drop because he knew everyone else's mouths were about to drop, too.
Jim finally said "Everyone out. Leave your bags in the van, we he-men, will get them later. I want to give you a tour." Jim showed everyone the mansion. The interior was a little run down as no one had lived in it since 15 years ago but the fixtures like the couches, beds, refrigerator, etc... were in good shape however. Everyone knew it was the perfect place. They would be able to fix it up and make it their own.
Trixie was the first one to speak after the tour was over. All she managed to say was, "Jim, it will be so beautiful after we fix it up. I just hope me and Honey and Di can get jobs around here so we can live in Minnesota and be able to be with you guys."
Brian spoke next, and all he said was, "Trixie is so incredibly right. You picked the absolutely perfect spot. The only problem is this mansion is going to cost way more than a fortune."
That's when Jim stated, "Nope, the bank is willing to sell me the place for $5,000 because the place is run down and they want to see a boys' home started here. I have a half a million dollars from Uncle James, so I would say this mansion is a bargain. Does anyone disagree that this isn't a good spot or a good mansion?
Nobody said anything. And after about a minute or so of the silence Jim just said, "Does anyone want to come into town with me to buy this house at the bank?"
Trixie smiled. This was not an opportunity to pass up.
Honey and Di were already heading up the stairs already to pick the three girls' room. Then Di and Honey and Mart and Brian were going to start a shopping list for things that the mansion would need.
So Jim and Trixie headed back into town. The bank closed at 5:00 so they had plenty of time to settle the deal with Mr. Maplewoon the banks real estate manager. Jim and Trixie walked into Mr. Maplewoon's office sat down only to get up after the signing of the deed took place. The mansion was now going to be the boys home Jim had always dreamed of. Walking out of the bank hand in hand Jim and Trixie were so happy. Jim's green eyes glowed with happiness and Trixie's blue eyes were sparkling more than ever before. They had just got to the car when Jim turned to Trixie and kissed her on the cheek and then helped her in. Trixie just smiled more. She thought to herself that this day couldn't get any better. Jim is such a special friend.
When they arrived back at the mansion Brian Mart Di and Honey's list had grown long and was still growing.
By the time the list had been completed it was time for supper. Mart, Brian and Jim had said they were going to do the cooking. The girls sure weren't going to argue about that. The hamburgers and hot-dogs provided by the boys were delicious, but everyone agreed that the boys home would need a full time cook. After the meal was over Trixie volunteered to do the dishes as so long as someone helped her dry them. Brian claimed that he had promised Honey that he would help her move the girls' dresser. Mart said that there was no way that he was ever going to do the dishes not after he cooked. And he didn't want Di to do dishes either because he didn't want to sit on the porch alone. That left Jim to help Trixie with the dishes. He didn't mind, he liked working by Trixie. The dishes were soon done and Jim took Trixie's hand and they went for a walk.
"Jim, I think you have a beautiful place. I just hope I can find a job around here so I won't have to leave. That would just break my heart."
Jim smiled at her. He held her hand as he twisted his knee to the ground. He looked into her eyes and spoke softly as he watched her every move. "Trixie, these past 4 weeks having been without you has been pure torture. I have realized how much you mean to me, and how much I look forward to being with you. I don't know what I would do without you, your sandy curls, spunky personality, and those beautiful eyes of yours. I love you and always will. Will you give me the honor of marrying you?" He watched her face blush scarlet and her eyes dance.
Trixie looked back into Jim's eyes and she said, "James Winthrop III, yes, I will marry you. I always knew I loved you. This is the most perfectly perfect day in the whole entire world." And having those words said Jim slipped a beautiful diamond ring on Trixie's finger and rose from the ground. He took Trixie in his arms and they shared their first real kiss. Trixie finally pulled away after it seemed like hours had passed. Trixie breathless exclaimed, "Oh, Jim how are we ever going to tell Honey, Di, Brian, and Mart."
Jim smiled as he said, "Well what we could do is get the ice cream out and dish everyone up some. Then we could act like we were celebrating about the house when you or I could tell them about us."
"I think that's a great idea, but you are definitely going to tell them."
"Come on lets go get Di and Mart from the porch and then we'll send one of them up to get Brian and Honey." Jim and Trixie took off. Soon that everyone was sitting around the little table in the sun room watching the beautiful sunset and eating ice cream. That's when Jim stood up. He said, "Today is the most perfectly perfect day as Trixie called it. We have a home that we will all fix up and make our own, but I have some more wonderful news. You have all known that there has always been something special between me Trixie, and well now we're engaged. I asked her by the lake and she said yes."
Honey managed to spit out the words, "It is about time." With that she got up and hugged Jim and then her best friend. She had tears in her eyes because she was so happy for them.
Mart got up and gruffly said, "Jim, what can I say - she knows how to cook and clean - she'll be perfect for you. And I guess you already know that she is pretty nice too."
Brian spoke up, "You know Jim I always thought you and my sister would make a good team."
Di the only one who hadn't said anything finally spoke, "I can see this was a party for the house but to also to let Jim and Trixie share their news. And congratulations to you lovebirds. I couldn't be happier for you, but on the day when I become engaged all I am going to want to do is be with my sweetie," she glanced at Mart and then returned her violet eyes to Trixie, "so I am going to get up from this party and I am going to take Honey, Mart and Brian with me. We are going to go fix something on this house."
With that having been said the sun room lost four occupants, Jim sat down the first time since he had told everyone the news. He pulled Trixie onto his lap. "Trixie, I am sooo glad you said yes. I really don't know what I would have done without you here in my life."
"Oh I don't know what I would have done if you wouldn't have asked me because I would have never never ever been able to find some reason to stay here and not make it obvious that I loved you." She looked up into Jim's eyes dreamily she and she said, "I'm so glad I found you! I love you."
Jim looked right back at her and just simply said, "I loved you from the moment you came bursting into my life."
The End