Disclaimers: All Disclaimers apply. Several cameo appearances are in this story of the clubhouse members. I even wrote a tiny part for me. ;)
Unchained Melody
by Ginger Garland
Chapter One
Fifteen-year-old Honey Wheeler, Trixie Belden and Diana Lynch walked towards their school building, cradling their books in their arms.
"I don't know," sandy-haired Trixie was saying. "Moms acted kinda strange to me."
"What do you mean strange?" Diana questioned.
"Well, she seems so different. You know, happy-go-lucky. And she says when Brian comes back with my mom's cousin tomorrow, she wants to talk to all of us."
Honey tapped Trixie on the shoulder. "How's your dad acting?"
"Well, he's a tad different, too, more serious."
Honey gasped. "Trixie, I think..." she began.
"What?"
Honey smiled. "I think it's almost time for school," she said slowly.
As if on cue, all three girls looked at their watches.
"It's ten till. We'd better hurry!" Di urged, beginning to run. Honey and Trixie copied her action.
Soon they were on Sleepyside High School's grounds. Students dilly-dallied on the property. Some students were getting extra studying in for the big French test that was to take place that morning.
Trixie scanned the yard. There was Dan, a member of the Bob-Whites of the Glen, BWG's for short. Trixie, Honey and Di were members, too, along with Honey's adopted brother (and Trixie's boyfriend) Jim Frayne, and Trixie's brothers, Mart and Brian. Brian was Honey's boyfriend and Mart was Di's.
Dan was behind a tree, so all she could see was part of his back and his head, but she knew who he was, because she could see the red jacket that each of the members wore.
"Hey, I'll see you guys inside. I wan't to see how Dan is doing."
"All right, see you at the office," Di said, referring to the ladies room, where the girls met before school each day.
Trixie walked up to Dan only to be startled that he was talking to a girl.. It was a girl she's never seen before. She was skinny and short, with strawberry-blond hair and green eyes.
Trixie turned and started to run towards the school entrance. She turned around briefly and Dan was kissing the girl. All of the sudden, Trixie felt extreme frustration. She ran through the heavy doors and towards the ladies room.
In the "Office"
Trixie splashed water onto her hot face.
Honey was sitting on the counter next to the sink and Di was applying bright red lipstick.
"Trixie, what's wrong?" Honey asked.
Trixie pumped a paper towel out and ripped the sheet off. She dried her face before replying, "Dan."
"What about him?"
"He has a girlfriend."
"Aw, good for him!" Di praised as she brushed mascara on her long eyelashes. Di saw Trixie's lost look in the mirror and she turned around. "What's wrong?"
"Well, he didn't tell us."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Yes, what else is there?"
"Maybe you're jealous," Di retorted.
"Di Lynch, you know that Jim is the one for me," Trixie said, applying some concealer, which completely covered her freckles.
"Oh, okay, it's just that you sounded like you were jealous."
"Me? You gotta be kidding."
A new student, named, Bernadette, who was considered the prettiest girl in school walked in. She was 5'4; with sapphire blue eyes and almost white curly hair. Several guys were always trying to ask her out, but she was loner. She was athletic, doing Judo, swimming and running marathons.
"Hi Bernadette!" Honey greeted the sixteen-year-old girl.
"Hello," she said nonchalantly.
"How are you?"
"I'm doing fine," she said, primping in the mirror for a moment and then abruptly leaving.
"There is something mysterious about that girl," Trixie said.
Honey shook her head. "Trixie, everything is mysterious to you."
"Yes, but I don't trust her."
"Because you don't know her."
Another student burst in. It was Ginger. She was 5'7 with shoulder- length light red hair and dark brown eyes. Just thirteen, she was the youngest student at the school. Nevertheless, she kept up with the other students and especially loved French class. Her dream was to become an actress and singer. Her idol was Judy Garland.
"Hi-ya!" she greeted them al' happily.
"Hi Ginger!" Trixie, Honey and Di chorused.
"How are you doing?" Trixie asked.
"Reasonably well, thanks," she answered with a smile.
The girls saw that she was just bursting to tell them something.
"What is it?" Di asked.
Ginger hushed her voice. "Well, you know the dance coming up?"
"Yes, you going?"
"Well, yes and no. I'm going, but alone."
"Aw..." Honey sympathized.
"No, it's fine with me, but I'm going to sing for everyone!"
"Wow!" Di said.
The bell rang.
"Oh great!" Trixie said sarcastically.
"Well, talk to you later. See you in French class," Ginger said while she walked out.
The girls grabbed their books and headed off to French class.
Chapter Two
The students we're scribbling on their test sheets, Trixie's head hurt even looking at the test. Who knew the French words for "along the mossy wall"?
Honey was done and so was Bernadette. Ginger was on the last page and Di didn't take the class.
Trixie wrote... 'I don't know' cause she didn't. At least she was honest.
A few minutes later, the teacher took the tests away. "Honey, Bernadette, and Ginger. Come here." The three girls came over.
Where is that girl who Dan was kissing? Trixie thought.
The teacher whispered to the three girls. Honey stood in front of the class.
"Students, while I grade these, Honey, Bernadette and Ginger will quote Ville De France in French, listen. Proceed, Miss Wheeler."
Honey began.
"Le matin, je me leve, et je sors de la ville.
Le trottoir de la rue est sonore à mon pas.
Et le jeune soleil chauffe les vieilles tuiles,
Et les jardins etroits sont fleuris de lilas.""Bernadette?"
In perfect pronunciation she said,
"Le long du mur moussu que depassent les branches,
Un echo que l'on suit vous precede en marchant,
et le pave pointu mene à la route blanche."Who was she? Trixie wondered.
"Qui commence au raubourg et s'en va vers les champs."
"Miss Garland?"
Ginger grinned. In a French accent and with hand gestures. she quoted,
"Er me voici bientot sur la côte gravie
D'ou l'on voit, au soleil et couchée à ses pieds..."Trixie wondered how Dan met whoever she was and why she wasn't in this class. She seemed very bright.
"Calme, petite, pauvre, isolée, engoudie,
La ville maternalle aux doux toits familiers!"Some students snickered, due to her performance, but Ginger didn't mind.
The teacher finished the poem.
"Elle est sans souvenirs de sa vie immobile,
Elle n'a ni grandeur, ni gloire, ni beauté;
Elle n'est a jamais qu'une petite ville;
Elle sera pareille a Ce qu'elle a été."The bell rang.
Thank goodness! Trixie thought.
Chapter Three
Trixie was still puzzled when she and Honey walked into the gym where the dance was going to be the next night.
Students put decorations up, and the orchestra rehearsed.
She saw Dan and his girlfriend. "Dan!" she yelled and waved.
Dan waved back and motioned her to come.
Trixie jogged over to him and his girl friend.
"Hi-ya, Trix!"
"Hi."
"Trixie Belden, this is Chelsea Phipps."
"Hi," Trixie said to the fourteen-year-old.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Okay. Dan, we have a meeting tonight, don't be late."
"I won't."
"Meeting of what?" Chelsea asked Dan when Trixie left.
"Chelsea, I'm a member of a club called The Bob-Whites of the Glen."
"Really? That's wonderful!"
"Do you want to come to the meeting?"
"You want me to?"
"Yes, they'll all love you."
"Oh, you think so?"
"Yes," Dan assured her. "Please come."
"All right, if you insist."
"I do."
Trixie watched them from a distance, feeling left out. She searched around. Honey wasn't there, and Di was chasing Mart out of the kitchen.
"I told you not to eat the sandwiches. They were for the dance, but no, you just had to eat them!"
"Oh, come on, Di! I only ate seven of them," Mart pleaded.
Trixie need to do something, she looked around and saw Ginger, opening a record and putting it in a record player. The song was Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers.
"Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch
a long, lonely time.
And time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much,
are you still mine?
I need your love,
I need your love,
God speed your love ..... to me!"
Trixie couldn't stand it. She ran out the building and headed home to Crabapple Farm.
She arrived home with her face wet with tears. Brian was home with Cousin Humphrey, who was a doctor.
Trixie ran up to her room and cried softly. An hour later, Moms called her.
"Trixie! Come here, please."
Trixie came down the stairs and entered the living room. Mart, Mr. Belden, Brian, and Bobby were seated in chairs.
Trixie sat on the floor. "What is it?"
"Trixie, your mother wants to tell you something," said Mr. Belden.
"O-okay."
"Trixie, I want you and everyone else to know, that your father and I are going to go on a vacation tomorrow night. We won a trip to England. Brian will be in charge while we're gone."
"Oh, Moms!" Trixie exclaimed and covered her face with her hands and cried. Not now, when she needed her the most.
"Oh Trixie, we'll be gone only for two weeks."
Trixie continued crying and ran up to her room again.
Chapter Four
Trixie went to the club meeting with Mart and Brian. They met the other BWGs at the clubhouse, which was on Honey and Jim's property.
Chelsea was there.
Trixie sighed. She looked around. Everyone but Jim was there. "Honey, where is Jim?"
"He lost some money so he's retracing his steps."
"Oh."
Chelsea was sitting next to Dan. Trixie hated seeing them together.
Why didn't it work out with Dan? Trixie and Dan were together at a school dance two months ago. They slow danced, then went for a walk, and she got her first kiss. Now he was kissing another girl, not her. An eighth grader named Chelsea, a home-schooler.
The door swung open and Jim walked in.
He looked disgusted.
"Did you find it?" Honey asked.
"No."
"Find what?" Mart asked.
"Well, can we trust her?" Jim said, pointing to Chelsea.
"Of course!" Dan answered.
"Okay. Well, I went to school late because my dad wanted to pay for the dance today, and he realized he had no checks. When I went to pay in cash, I discovered my money was gone!"
The Bob-Whites gasped.
"How much money was it?" Practical Brian questioned.
"Five hundred dollars."
Mart whistled. "Astonishing, that's a certitude ."
Trixie's stress level was getting higher and higher. First, she saw Dan kiss Chelsea, then she did badly on her French test. Her parents were going on a vacation, and now there was a mystery to solve. She used to love mysteries but now she hated them. She wanted to just be left alone.
"Well, remarkably, we have one hundred dollars in the treasury, so we can pay for some stuff with that," Mart said, trying to help.
"Good idea, Mart," Jim praised.
Mart stood up and took a bow.
"I'm going home," Trixie blurted.
"Why?" Jim inquired.
"Why! You ask me why!" she screamed, storming out the door.
Chapter Five
The big night of the school dance arrived. People hustled around; soft jazz music played while couples slow danced to it. Chelsea was laughing with Ginger. Dan and Jim we're talking quietly. Mart was dressed in black, from head to toe a black fedora and dark sunglasses looking for the potential thief.
Ginger wore a 50s poodle skirt, and was more than thrilled when the principal called her to sing.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention. Miss Ginger Garland will sing for us. Grab your best girl and dance."
Jim walked towards Trixie. "Come on, let's dance."
"Okay." She sighed as Ginger began singing with the high school boy quartet.
Boys: ooo-ooo-ooo-wah ooo-ooo-ooo-wah
Ginger:
Each time we have a quarrel
It almost breaks my heart
'Cos I am so afraid
That we will have to part
Each night I ask the stars
The stars up above
Why must I be a teenager in love
One day I feel so happy
Next day I feel so sad
I guess I'll learn to take
The good with the bad
Each night I ask the stars up above
(I ask them why)
Why must I be a teenage in love
I cried a tear (I cried a tear)
For nobody but you (Nobody but you)
I'll be the lonely one if you should say we're through
Well if you want to make me cry
That won't be so hard to do
And if you should say goodbye
I'll still go on loving youEach night I ask the stars up above,
Why must I be a teenager in love?
Why must I be a teenager in love?
Why must I be a teenager in love?
Why must I be a teenager in love?
The students clapped and Ginger took a bow, a wide smile on her face. "Thank you!"
Instrumental music played. Honey was letting Bernadette dance with Brian. What the ...? Trixie thought.
Bernadette seemed to be enjoying herself. Honey must be doing it to make Bernadette more comfortable.
Suddenly, the lights went out and it was pitch black. Trixie squinted into the darkness while Chelsea and other girls screamed. A minute later the lights came back on and people naturally divided into groups to chatter about the incident.
"Bernadette, how would you like a soda?" Brian asked.
Trixie looked towards Dan who was whispering to Chelsea. She saw Ginger drinking a glass of lemon juice and for a few seconds Trixie watched the sour expressions she made. Jim was talking with Nick Roberts, and Mart was sneaking around, while Di talked to three other girls about food. Trixie was alone.
At the refreshment stand, Brian discovered that he had to pay for sodas, so he pulled out his wallet and let out a startled gasp. Trixie and the other Bob-Whites rushed to his side.
"What is it, bro?" Mart asked.
"My money; it's gone!"
"How much was there?"
"Thirty-five dollars."
"It must've happened when the lights went off," Trixie stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, but who would do it? We're all friends here!" Brian said.
"Jim," said Trixie, pulling him aside, "most likely the person who stole your money is the same one who stole Brian's. We need to narrow the suspects down."
"Okay, but how?" asked Jim.
"Well, for starters, who was the last person you both saw before you checked your wallets?"
"I-I don't remember."
"Try! Is it someone here?"
Jim looked around. "I don't know."
Trixie closed her eyes and thought. She opened them, looking towards the doors at the other side of the gymnasium. A familiar girl was handing something to Bernadette.
"Jim, is that the person you saw?" Trixie pointed at Bernadette.
Jim squinted and then looked at Trixie. "That's her."
"Great! Now, we need to tell the principal."
"Whoa, slow down Trixie, who is that girl?"
"Her name is Bernadette. She was dancing with Brian before the lights went out."
"Oh, I see," Jim said.
Chapter Six
The next day, the Bob-Whites and Chelsea met at the clubhouse.
"Yes, and Bernadette confessed to the whole thing! Stealing the money because she was really a Russian spy!" Mart exaggerated.
"Mart, she wasn't a Russian spy!" Trixie exclaimed.
"How do you know? She could be! She wasn't really sixteen, she was twenty, and she was undercover."
"Stealing money from students seems lousy to me," Brian stated.
"Well, five hundred dollars isn't too lousy. And maybe she was trying to get to bigger dough, but just needed a little cash to do it."
"Maybe," Trixie agreed.
The clubhouse telephone rang.
"I'll get it," Trixie said.
It was Deputy Banks, the new deputy, and an interesting character, he sounded like he was eating something. "You know that girl we arrested last night? Bernadette?"
"Yes, what about her?"
"She's gone."
"Gone?"
"Yep. Not a trace of her. Nothing."
"Not even fingerprints?"
"Nope, not a thing."
"Wow. Thanks for calling." Trixie hung up the telephone and related to the rest of the Bob-Whites who were just as shocked as Trixie was.
"Well, we can't do anything about it," Dan said.
"Yeah, it's a pity," Trixie sighed.
"You can't win them all, Trix," Jim comforted.
"I know, but I can try!"
"Since all we can do is keep our eyes peeled, I have a proposal to make."
"Go ahead!" Mart said with half a sandwich in his mouth.
"I propose that we make Chelsea a Bob-White of the Glen."
"I second that motion," Brian said. "All those in favor of Chelsea joining the Bob-Whites, raise your right hand."
Everyone raised his or her hand, except Trixie. Everyone's eyes were on her. She smiled and raised her hand.
"It's unanimous. Welcome, Chelsea." Everyone congratulated her.
Trixie looked out the window. Dan was happy with Chelsea, that's all that really mattered. What troubled her now was that Bernadette was loose. Maybe she wasn't a spy like Mart suggested, but maybe she was more than just a common thief. The thought sent chills up her spine.
The End
Authors Notes: Thanks to Chelsea, and Bernadette for wanting to make cameos in my story. Unchained Melody (lyrics by Hy Zaret), Teenager in Love ( Doc Pomus - Mort Shuman)In addition, Ville De France. Used without permission.