The Stranger

by Kay Lynn

Chapter 1

Trixie sat on the light blue and green plaid cushions that covered the window seats in her bedroom and stared out the window into the moonlit night. The big grandfather clock had just chimed the midnight hour and she had been awake for hours. It wasn't because she was upset or worried about anything, it was more because she was excited. September always seemed like the beginning of a new year for her. And, in a lot of way's it was a time of beginnings. The beginning of a new school year, for one thing. These past few weeks had passed in a whirlwind of activities.

In June, the Bob-Whites had traveled on a sailing yacht to a deserted island and had actually found buried treasure. When they returned, June was almost over and July went by quickly. Last week had been school shopping and all that. She had a fun time as she, Diana and Honey were allowed to take the train to White Plains and spend the day shopping without their mothers. Trixie had been especially careful in choosing her clothes this year and had even purchased make up--more than just lipstick and mascara, which were usually all she used.

As she stared out the window, her thoughts turned to this past summer. This was the time she and Jim had finally gotten together. She didn't think it was ever going to happen for them. All last year, she had watched the relationships between Honey and Brian and Diana and Mart bloom like roses and grow into something beautiful. It seemed during that time as if Jim didn't know that she existed. This summer on the boat, though, their friendship had begun to turn into something more. After returning home, life had been busy, but there had been several stolen kisses and brief moments alone together. There was the morning she had risen early and sneaked off to the lake for a morning swim before starting her chores.  Jim had been there and they shared a few kisses before Mart showed up and let her know Moms was waiting on her to help with chores. She and Jim quickly pulled apart, totally embarrassed. All of the Bob-Whites were shy about displaying affection toward their girlfriends or boyfriends in front of one another, but it was especially true for Trixie and Jim.

There was another time, when she and Jim had gotten to the clubhouse for the weekly meeting before everyone else and fell into each other’s arms. This time Dan had caught them. He walked in and Trixie and Jim quickly pulled away from each other as Trixie pretended to go through some papers she had lain on the table, while Jim studied the blank bulletin board. Dan just watched the two of them and smiled knowingly.   Trixie felt she had to keep the fact that she and Jim were growing serious toward one another somewhat of a secret, because Moms and Dad would just flip if they knew. They were so afraid she would get into a serious relationship and it would interfere with her plans for college.  They knew that a lot could happen when young people entered a relationship.

As Trixie continued to stare out the beautiful moonlit lawn of Crabapple Farm, her thoughts began to grow more serious. It was almost a full moon and with that and the streetlights, she could see all the way across the yard.  I wish summer wasn't over so soon, she reflected as she watched the crabapple trees swaying in the gentle September breeze. She acknowledged feeling a little distressed, because she knew that a lot of girls at school would like to date the handsome, wealthy Jim Frayne, and she knew their parents allow them to date. Not everyone was strict and old-fashioned like Moms and Dad. This was of concern to her. Would Jim grow tired of a girl that wasn't allowed to date? There were also other things to consider. She had to get so many credits this year to be able to graduate in four years. She had joined the drama club with Honey and Diana, which would mean some extracurricular activities and also extra credit. There were also Bob-White meetings to attend to and then all of her chores and helping with Bobby.

"Will there be any time for me and Jim?" she asked herself.

She forced her thoughts to turn toward something more positive and then she began to romanticize. She looked up toward the hill. She could see the lights of Manor House.

I wonder if Jim is having trouble sleeping like I am? she thought, as she clutched her necklace he had given her this summer.

"Maybe he's sitting on the window seat in his room staring out the window and thinking of me. Yeah, right," she said giggling. "Jim's probably been sleeping for several hours now."

Trixie stood yawning and stretching. Maybe, just maybe I can finally get some sleep now, if I try to be still and not think too much. She turned and gazed one more time over the beautiful, moonlit landscape of Crabapple Farm.  I guess I am more sleepy than I thought. She rubbed her eyes. She turned away from the window, preparing to climb into bed. Wait a minute. Something's not right. She turned back toward the window and what she saw made her shiver.

There was a man standing right at the path that led to manor house. He was very tall and his head was shaved, or at least he was bald, Trixie noted, petrified with fear. And he was dressed all in black. He looked right up at the house; Trixie felt that he was looking straight into her eyes as she stood at the window. She shivered and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened her eyes, he was gone. Who was that? She asked herself. "Should I go and awaken Moms and Dad? She started to rationalize. Maybe I am sleepier than I thought. It was probably my imagination.

 

Chapter 2

Trixie overslept the next morning. She didn't even hear the alarm go off. "Awaken, for it is long passed time to journey to the halls of academe," Mart said, standing in the doorway to her room.

"You mean I'm late for school!" said Trixie. "I have a pop quiz in English this morning and I have to study! I meant to get up really early this morning!"

Mart said something sarcastic and went on to his room to pick up his books and she quickly jumped out of bed.

"I knew I should have studied last night!" she told herself frustrated. But, instead she had finished her chores and gone horseback riding, which was another opportunity to see Jim and when she returned home, it was nearly bedtime. There would be no time to take the special pains with her appearance that she normally took this morning. Trixie quickly put on makeup, the very basics, then pulled on a blue jean skirt and a forest green peasant blouse. She quickly dampened her hair and combed it back. She didn't bother much with jewelry, she wore the id bracelet Jim gave her, the necklace and a pair of tiny gold hoop earrings that she had splurged on when school shopping. After one last look in the mirror, she rushed down the stairs.

"Trixie, I don't want you going to school without breakfast," Moms said. "I need to go into Sleepyside this morning, so if you want to, just take your time with breakfast and I'll take you to school."

"No," said Trixie. "Then I wouldn't get to ride with the other Bob-Whites." Of course, the real reason was that Trixie wouldn't miss seeing Jim for the world. She grabbed a piece of buttered toast, made from Mrs. Belden's homemade bread,   quickly spread homemade raspberry jam on it, and poured a glass of milk.

"You be sure and bring my drinking glass back this afternoon," Mrs. Belden yelled, following Trixie to the front door. "Trixie, you're forgetting your lunch."

Trixie ran back up the steps to grab her brown paper bag. She had trouble concentrating today because she was so tired from not sleeping. She also wondered who the mysterious man was that she thought she saw last night.

At school, she made a C plus on her pop quiz, and that wasn't good, but at least she didn't fail. She planned to really study before the six weeks test. When Trixie left English class, Jim was waiting on her.

"Hey," he said, smiling as she came out the door.

"Hey, yourself," she told him, smiling back. Jim always walked her from English class, because it was closer to the end of the day and it was the last time during the school day that she would see him. He put his arm around her to walk her to Math class. She and Honey had math class together, so Brian and Honey were saying goodbye at the door, when Jim and Trixie arrived.

Jim waited until Brian had left and Honey had gone inside the class before giving Trixie a quick kiss. "See you later, sweetie," he told her and walked away as she entered the classroom. She was so happy when she was around Jim that she couldn't help smiling.

Since Jim and Brian used the BWG vehicle for their after school jobs, the other Bob-Whites rode the bus home everyday. On the bus ride home, Trixie was telling Diana and Honey the thoughts and concerns she had had the night before.

"Why don't you study right now?" asked Diana.

"On the bus?" Trixie replied incredulous.

"Yes, if you can study with the noise."

"Well, that would solve the studying problem."

"Listen, Trixie," Honey told her. "There are all kinds of ways that you can get the studying and homework done. Just take advantage of the opportunities, like the bus riding time or while you're eating breakfast."

"Yeah, that's what I do," said Diana.

Trixie then told them about the mysterious man, she saw or rather thought she saw outside. All three of the girls laughed together at Trixie's imagination.

"I'm just as bad," said Diana. "I think I hear a car drive up and I look out and nobody's there."

"Oh, I do that too," said Honey.

"I guess I want a mystery to solve so bad, that I'm trying to invent one with my own mind," laughed Trixie. "I'm going to stop talking to you guys now, so I can study for my science quiz tomorrow."

When Trixie got home, she rushed inside. Moms was at her garden club meeting, so Trixie spread her homework out on the table. She then took out two cinnamon bar cookies a piece for she and Bobby and poured them a glass of milk.

"Trixie, want to hear what I did at school today?" asked Bobby.

"In a minute Bobby," she replied. She was already busy preparing her English essay.

"Trixie, I don't like it when you study. I like it better when you talk to me."

"I know, love," she told the little boy. "I like it better when we can talk too." But, I'm trying to change my studying habits, so I won't flunk. But, if you'll be quiet and let me study, you and I will walk to Mrs. Vanderpoel's house, all by ourselves."

"Today?" Bobby asked excited.

"No," she replied looking up from her essay. "I have chores to do today and I have to go ride the horses at Manor House. I was thinking that maybe we could go like Saturday morning.

"Okay," said Bobby, he finished his cookies and milk and left the table.

Trixie looked up from her essay. Bobby looked sad as he walked away.

Trixie quickly finished her chores and then went in to the upstairs bathroom to freshen up before going to Manor House. She put on a pair of faded blue jeans, and a lightweight pink sweater. She quickly combed her hair and put a couple of barrettes in it.

"Moms, I'm going to Honey's to ride the horses," she yelled. She tried to leave before her mother saw that she had fixed herself up to go and ride horses. She knew that would make Moms suspicious.

 

Chapter 3

It was Saturday and Trixie was trying to finish her chores, so she could make a quick trip to Mrs. Vanderpoel's with Bobby. She had invited Jim to come along with them, but he had to go someplace with Mr. Wheeler today. Trixie and Bobby walked along the path, Trixie deep in thought and Bobby talking. She was only half listening. Her thoughts were as usual on Jim. She wished that she could make the next few years of high school and college quickly passes so that they could be together all the time.

"Who was that man?" Bobby asked Trixie.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Trixie absent-mindedly. "What man are you talking about?"

"The one I saw in the yard yesterday. He was following you up to Honey's house, but he didn't look like he wanted you to see him."

"I didn't see anyone," said Trixie, puzzled. Was Bobby imagining things? "What did he look like?"

"Oh, he was really big, like those wrestlers that Mart watches on TV on Saturday afternoons, and he was dressed all in black and he didn't have any hair."

Trixie hadn't thought of the man she saw in the yard that night anymore. She had chalked it up to her imagination.  Maybe it wasn't her imagination. She looked around the dark wooded trail and shivered. What if he were following them now?

Trixie temporarily forgot about the mysterious man, when she and Bobby arrived at Mrs. Vanderpoel's. Brom was there and Bobby couldn't wait to hear him tell his stories. "Good afternoon child. It is so good to see you and Bobby." Said Mrs. Vanderpoel hospitably. "Do come in. I've just made a batch of windmill cookies." She said and started pouring glasses of milk, without giving Trixie a chance to answer.

Trixie sat at the table with Mrs. Vanderpoel, while Bobby had joined Brom in the living room to listen to stories.

"How have you been?" Asked Mrs. Vanderpoel. "It’s been way too long since I saw you last. You're getting prettier every day. It seems I don't see you nearly enough."

"I know." Trixie said. "We're just so busy, with school and everything."

"And it couldn't be that young Jim Frayne is keeping you a little busy too?" she asked smiling.

Trixie blushed to the roots of her blonde hair. "Uh, Jim and I are just friends." She informed her. She knew she didn't sound very convincing though. But, she sure didn't need Mrs. Vanderpoel telling Moms.

"I didn't know "just friends" kissed like that." Mrs. Vanderpoel said, laughing.

"Oh gosh, what is she talking about? When did she see us?" Trixie frantically asked herself, staring into her glass of milk as if she thought she might find a bug in it.

"Now don't go getting upset child. I didn't see you. It was Brom that saw you. He said you were on the horses and the two of you leaned toward one another and kissed. He thought it was quite sweet."

Trixie just sat there not knowing how to respond and feeling decidedly uncomfortable. She normally enjoyed visiting Mrs. Vanderpoel, but this time she definitely wished that she could crawl under the table and hide. Besides, she didn't know what she would tell Moms when Mrs. Vanderpoel mentioned it to her. Now, she knew exactly which time Mrs. Vanderpoel was talking about. It was one day last week, when she and Jim had managed to go riding alone.

Trixie desperately tried to figure out how to change the subject, but could think of nothing to say. Mercifully, Mrs. Vanderpoel was the one to change it. "Did you know someone is staying in that old abandoned house, in the woods behind here?" asked Mrs. Vanderpoel. "I didn't even know it was still livable. It's just been sitting there for so long."

"Oh," said Trixie, leaning forward, an interested look on her face. "Who's staying there, I mean, is it like a family, or a single person...?"

"Oh, I think a guy is staying there alone," she told her, pouring another glass of milk. "Brom said he saw him. In fact, the day he seen you and young Jim Frayne on the horses, he said the man was very close by. Brom seemed to think the man was watching you."

Quickly, Trixie gulped her milk down. She was starting to feel very apprehensive. She had heard all kinds of stories about stalkers. She also knew that through her mystery solving, many had gone to jail and either they or their relatives would probably like revenge on her. She felt very disturbed.