All ages
Dancing the Polka Dot
By Lydia
Dot Murray sat on the bleachers, ready to enjoy watching a good game of basketball, and hoping her home team would win. She watched as the coach brought all the players into a huddle. Ned Schulz ran over to a group of kids she had never seen before and explained to them that there would be a slight delay before the game would start. Stop eavesdropping, Dot, she thought to herself. With that, she picked herself up, deciding to go talk to Mrs. Peters about the preparations they had to do for the dance. She stopped as she saw the three new boys head out on the court with the ball. This should be interesting, she thought.
Dot watched eagerly as the boys at first shot by themselves and then became a three-man team as they dribbled up and down the court, scoring baskets left and right. She looked down. How she wished she could play like that! She had always loved sports and wanted to play so bad, but the school didn’t have a girls' team, and she didn’t have enough time for lessons. She looked up as she heard the crowd cheer as the embarrassed boys walked off the court. She noticed the redhead whisper something to a blonde girl beside him, and she watched in awe as the girl stood up and sunk several baskets. She whistled and cheered along with the crowd as the talented girl sat back down, thoroughly embarrassed. Suddenly aware of the time that had passed, Dot nervously looked up at the clock. When is this game going to start?
When the game was finally over, the crowd thinned out. Dot stayed behind to help set up for the dinner and dance. An hour later, everything was ready. Exhausted, she sat down at a table. Counting the scarce money she had, she got up to buy a meal. She stopped as she noticed the redhead sitting at another table. A flock of girls swarmed around him. She glanced at the other boys sitting near him. The blonde one seemed to thoroughly enjoy the attention, and the dark-haired one didn’t seem too put out either. Her attention returned to the redhead who was sitting there, looking very uncomfortable, with a desperate expression on his face. His eyes darted about the room, looking for a way to escape all the attention. It was then that Dot noticed a girl in particular who seemed to own him, her fingers running up and down his arm as she talked. Oh no. Cassy.
Dot hurried over to the table the boy was sitting at. The crowd was so thick that she ended up having to push her way through to get to him. Once through the crowd of girls, she managed to push herself in front of them, then slowly worm her way backwards, hoping to provide the boy some breathing space.
“Hi!” she called, nodding to a table far away from the other kids. “I was wondering if you could tell me about your basketball team back home.”
At first he appeared hesitant, but the look in her eye seemed to show him she wanted to help. He nodded and eagerly allowed her to pull him through the crowd of girls into a long empty table.
“Thanks,” he said with a lopsided grin.
“No problem. You looked a little smothered in there,” she laughed. “Don’t mind Cassy and her friends. They’re not that bad, really. Just a little…” she paused, trying to think of a nicer word to describe them than some of the words that came to her mind.
“Forward?” The redhead provided, grinning.
“Exactly!” Dot laughed. “I’m Dot, by the way.”
“Jim,” he said, shaking her hand.
“Can I buy you a soda?” Dot asked.
Jim was going to refuse her offer and buy her one instead, but she was all ready up and ordering two small sodas for the two of them.
As she sat back down, Jim smiled at her. “Thanks,” he said.
They sat in companionable silence as they sipped their sodas. “But I really am interested in hearing about your basketball team back home. You guys were spectacular out there!”
Jim blushed and told her all about the team back home and his friends who had shared the limelight on court. Dot noticed how highly he spoke of the blonde one he called Trixie, even though they weren’t dating. After finishing his speech, he asked, “What about you? Do you play any sports?”
Dot shook her head sadly. “I love basketball, but, unfortunately, our school doesn’t have a team, and I don’t have a whole lot of free time. Any free time I do have is spent skating. My mom has always wanted me to be skater. One of her Danish friends teaches the Des Moines Figure Skating Club. I don’t have enough time to dedicate to the club, but since he’s my mom’s friend, he gives me private lessons for free. The rest of my time is spent with my mom. See, my mom and I-”
“Don’t you have anything better to do than bug poor Jim?” Cassy interrupted Dot. “Why don’t you go back to your little cellar and clean the basement like a good little girl?”
Dot looked around, trying to decide whether to violate her own standards and tell the girl to bug off, or whether to take it and let herself be walked over. Instead, she pointed to herself and replied, “Me? Clean the cellar? Shouldn’t you be the one cleaning?” She waved Cassy away, pointing to where Cassy had originally been sitting.
Jim looked where Dot was pointing, only to see Mart Belden, looking impishly back at him, not knowing what to do now that he had knocked over Cassy’s drink. Cassy turned back to Dot and Jim and shot Dot a warning glare before stomping over to her table and ordering Mart to buy her a new drink.
After Cassy had walked away, Jim raised an amused eyebrow at Dot. “They aren’t that bad?” he asked her, repeating the very words she had said earlier.
“Well…” Dot began, not sure of how to respond. She looked up at Jim and had to laugh.
Jim laughed. “Never mind,” he said.
“I’ll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom,” she said. As she stood up to go to the restroom, she accidentally knocked her drink over, spilling it all over herself.
It was obvious that Jim was trying very hard to hold back his laughter, but when Dot fell back onto the booth laughing hysterically, he couldn’t contain it anymore and he burst out laughing as well.
“Good hands,” he said.
“Haha,” she said teasingly, as she threw her wet napkin at him. “Sheesh. I finally save enough money to buy a new outfit and I spill soda all over it.”
They both erupted into another fit of laughter
Just then Jim’s eyes wander elsewhere, and a look of despair crossed his eyes. Curious, Dot followed his gaze to see what was wrong. She turned around only to see Trixie Belden flirting shamelessly with Ned Schulz. A wave of sympathy washed over Dot. To save Jim from embarrassment, she acted as though she didn’t notice a thing, but she could tell that he really liked this Trixie girl. She began to feel bad, hoping she wasn’t keeping Jim from his friends.
“Hey,” she began. “I’m getting soda all over you. I’ll finish cleaning up this mess. Why don’t you go ahead and sit with your friends and I’ll pick up?”
“No. That’s okay. I wouldn’t want to intrude on their private conversation,” he spat out, his voice dripping with jealousy. Suddenly Jim noticed how rude he must have sounded. “Oh! I mean, here let me help you.” He grabbed some towels and helped Dot clean up the mess.
Dot surveyed the table when they were done. “Spick and span, Frayne!” she cried. “I think we get an A plus!” she said as they exchanged high fives.
“Well done, m’lady,” Jim said as he bowed. “Care to dance?”
Dot took his hand and they made their way out onto the dance floor.
They danced around, deep in conversation. It had been arranged that Jim would get together with Dot sometime on the trip and teach her how to shoot. Dot was thoroughly enjoying her time with Jim, and she could tell Jim was having fun too, but, in her opinion, it was plain to see he would rather be dancing with Trixie. From then on, she purposely danced close to Ned and Trixie, hoping to exchange partners so the two could be together, but whenever an opportunity arised, Jim would cling tighter to Dot’s arm. Finally Dot gave up and resumed dancing and chatting with Jim.
After a companionable silence, Dot spoke up. “You know. I never did meet your friends, and I’m dying to meet this detective basketball star, Trixie.”
Dot watched Jim’s face. It looked as though his desire to forget Trixie and his desire to dance with Trixie were at war with each other. “Come on,” Dot said.
As they danced in the direction of Trixie and Ned, Dot leaned into Jim and said, “After this dance, I think I’m going to take a break. My feet are so sore! Besides, I have to save them for my basketball lessons,” she winked at Jim.
“Oh, okay. That’s fine. This time I’ll buy the sodas,” Jim said, grinning.
Dot sighed. That didn’t go as planned. “You? You don’t need anymore soda, kiddo. I’ll be fine. You just keep right on dancing and work off that huge soda you drank!”
“Oh. I see,” Jim said jokingly. “First you spill soda on me, and now you make me dance all by myself.”
“No. Not by yourself. With Trixie,” she said matter of factly, as though talking to a child. She had given up beating around the bush with him.
Jim looked down into Dot’s eyes. She had just met him, and she all ready knew him too well for his own good.
“No, not with Trixie. She’s dancing with Ned,” he stated in the same manner as she had used
Dot shrugged. “Well, it’s either her or yourself, Buddy.
They finally reached Trixie and Ned, and they stopped in front of them.
Jim introduced them all, saying, “Trixie, this is my friend Dot. Dot, this is Trixie whom I was telling you about.
Dot smiled politely and greeted Trixie warmly, only to receive death glares from the short spunky blonde. Dot, sensing the tension, quickly nudged Jim in the ribs. Jim looked down nervously.
“Next dance, Trix?”
“Yes, Jim.”
Dot smiled as the couple moved out onto the floor.
“I guess it’s just you and me, then, Dot,” Ned said from behind her.
Dot smiled at Ned and went on to dance with him, satisfied that she had helped Jim and Trixie fix whatever had gone wrong in their relationship, and also a bit sad that she might have been part of the problem. Dot was enjoying friendly conversation with Ned when she noticed the clock.
“Oh no!” She cried. “I’m sorry. I have to go home now. My mom- I gotta go!”
Ned nodded knowingly. “You guys need any help? I’m not doing anything tonight.
“No, but thanks, Ned. That’s really sweet. We’ll be fine, but I really do have to go. See you later!”
Before Dot left, she took one look around the dance floor in hopes to say good-bye to Jim and Trixie. When she couldn’t find them, she reluctantly headed home.
* * *
Dot gasped. “Mr. Bigsby! I can’t accept that! That’s spectacular!”
Dot’s ice skating instructor insisted, “Go on, dear. It’s yours. You need something other than your old rags to skate in, now go home and don’t forget to tell your mother it’s free!
“Yes sir!” Dot said with a grin. “Thank you so much! This outfit is beautiful!”
With that, Dot ran home to prepare for the ice skating show.
That night, Dot decided to call the Bob-Whites.
“Hello?” Jim answered the phone.
“Oh, hi Jim! It’s Dot. Is Mr. or Mrs. Gorman there?”
“Actually, they’re really busy now. Can I help you?”
“Oh. I was just calling to see if the Bob-Whites wanted to come skating tomorrow. A ton of us will be there, and you’d all have a blast!”
“Oh,” Jim paused. “I’m sure we’d love to come, but we have to help Mr. Gorman and Ben. Sorry, Dot.”
“Oh, okay. That’s fine. Well, I guess I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, definitely. We still have to get together and work on your three pointers.”
“Oh. If you’re busy, you don’t have to. I don’t mind.”
“Hey, nonsense.” Jim said. “Name the time and place, the Bob-Whites will be there.” He paused. “Just not tomorrow, because we have to help Mr. Gorman.
Dot laughed. “See you around then,” she said and hung up the phone.
The next day, Dot was in her new outfit and ready to skate, when she saw Trixie and Honey. She waved enthusiastically at them. Before she knew what was happening, a pair of hands covered her eyes.
“Guess who?” A voice said.
“Jim!” she cried and jumped around to give him a hug. “Have you seen the rink yet?”
“Lead the way,” he replied with a smile.
Dot frowned. “Shouldn’t we wait for the other Bob-Whites?”
Jim turned back to where Trixie and the rest of the Bob-Whites were. He watched enviously as Trixie talked to Ned.
“Nah, they’ll catch up,” he said.
Dot frowned, but led him into the building.
Once inside, they heard the jukebox playing. They talked, laughed, and joked as they both pathetically tried to swing to the beat. Dot, still feeling bad for leaving the other Bob-Whites, tried to find them. When she found Trixie, she felt bad for her. She looked so self-conscious! Dot felt sort of out of place herself. She was grateful to Mr. Bigsby for the new outfit, but she would have felt much more comfortable in jeans. Dressing up wasn’t quite her thing. Well, she decided, turning her thoughts back to Trixie. We’ll just have to make her realize how great she is! She motioned Jim to go sit with the other Bob-Whites, and she walked over to talk to Mr. Bigsby.
Mr. Bigsby announced the Bob-Whites, and Trixie and Honey got up and skated around the rink. They looked beautiful out there! Dot clapped and cheered along with the crowd as their routine came to a close.
Mr. Bigsby thanked the girls and announced that it was Dot’s turn. “Like I’ll ever be able to top that performance,” she whispered to Jim.
“You’ll do great!” He whispered back as he led her out to the center.
“Go tell Trixie congrats for me, will you?” she asked Jim.
She blew him a kiss good-bye, blew the warm crowd a kiss, and began her routine.
As she was finishing her routine, she skated past just in time to hear Jim give Trixie his own compliments. She returned to the middle and bowed graciously. She smiled wistfully as Jim came to escort her back over the board floor. She enjoyed spending time with Jim, but she hated feeling like she was in the way of Trixie and Jim’s relationship. At the same time, this matchmaking thing wasn’t her style at all. She had never had an interest in teen drama and romance, but this time she felt the need to help correct the situation, since it seemed to her that Trixie thought she was taking Jim from her, which wasn’t her intention at all. Somehow, she felt partly responsible. She just wanted to help a friend and have a friend at the same time. So far, it wasn’t working.
“Follow me,” she whispered to Jim. She slipped off her skates and led Jim to a gift shop. “I just love it in here! Everything is so neat! I was planning on coming here to pick out my mom’s birthday present, and I thought maybe you’d like to come too and pick out some stuff for your friends!”
“You’re sure right, Dot. It is keen in here!” Jim said. He searched around for things to give his friends. Finding something for Mart was easy. Brian not too hard either. Trying to put himself inside a girl’s brain wasn’t an easy task. He picked up some lipstick and some perfume. “Do you think Trixie would like these?” He asked Dot.
Dot quickly took the items from him and put them back on the shelf. “Please Jim,” she said. “Never imply that a girl needs lipstick or perfume, Jim,” she said as she turned and walked away, hoping to find something the girls would like.
“Really? Why not?” he asked, as he turned to chase after Dot.
They picked out items for Diana and Honey pretty quickly. It was Trixie they got stuck on.
“I don’t know. What do you think I should get her?” Jim asked.
“Ooh! How about one of these!” She squealed, pointing at a rack of bracelets, each displaying names on them. “They kinda of look like little ID bracelets. I’ve never been one for jewelry, but I think they’re cute!”
“Trixie, Trixie, Trixie,” Jim muttered, fingering through the rack of bracelets.
“Hey! I know! Why don’t you get her one with your name on it instead!”
“Would she like that though?”
“Of course she would. It’ll show her how special she is to you. As if she didn’t know that all ready.”
“Well, okay,” Jim said. “If you say so.
* * *
Dot put down her broom and sat down for a break. A week had passed since Dot had heard from any of the Bob-Whites. Realizing she hadn’t said a formal goodbye to Trixie and Jim and that she hadn’t even met the other four Bob-Whites, she decided to call Mr. Gorman and see if they were still around.
“Hello?” Mr. Gorman answered.
“Hello Mr. Gorman. This is Dot Murray. How are you?”
“Ah, Dot. I’ve heard of you. I’m fine, dear, thanks. How about you?”
“I’m well, thanks. Say, does Jim happen to be there?”
“I’m sorry, Dot. He’s not here. They all left for home a while ago.”
“Oh,” Dot said, not bothering to hide the disappointment from her voice. “Well, thank you anyway, ir.”
“Not a problem, Dot. Not a problem. They did arrive home safely, I heard, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
“Oh, okay. That’s good. Thank you! Goodbye.”
They both hung up.
Dot picked up her broom and continued sweeping. She didn’t really mind the fact that Jim never got around to teaching her basketball, but she was sad that she hadn’t gotten to properly introduce herself to the other Bob-Whites, or at least say goodbye. Oh well. Maybe we’ll meet again. Some day.
The End
Disclaimers and the like:
So there’s my first attempt at Trixie fan fiction. Hope you enjoyed. I always felt bad for Dot. I didn’t think Trixie’s view of her was very realistic. Though, mine may not be either, but hey, all’s fair in love and fanfiction. ;-) Except plagiarizing, of course, which brings me to my next point.
These characters are not mine. I’m not making any money off of them or this story. Most of the scenes and settings in the story were from the book, The Happy Valley Mystery. I made up the gift shop myself. Any resemblance to any real gift shop is completely coincidental. ;-)
I know I left some things about Dot a little mysterious. If this fanfic turns out well, maybe I’ll write another story explaining it.
Yup. That about covers it.