My gratuities go forth toward the fine enthusiasts at the Trixie Belden debate and discussion board. Many thanks to Mary for proof reading.

�It�s a good thing that Brian went up to practice his speech, Moms, I need your help with his present,� Sixteen-year-old Trixie Belden finally beamed after a dinner that seemed to take forever. Her brother Brian was graduating from the Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School tomorrow. �I�m horrible at wrapping stuff like this.�

Mrs. Belden smiled as she helped her daughter center the box on the wrapping paper. She knew that Trixie was never really all that good at this kind of stuff. She remembered hastily wrapped presents in the past with a scribbled note. �Honey phoned while you were in the shower before dinner. She won�t be over until about eight o�clock. I didn�t want to say anything because Brian was present and so was Bobby, and the less Bobby knows about Honey coming over the better. That�s why Dad took him into town for some ice cream. I�ll help the two of you as soon as she comes over. I would like to get cookies and milk ready for her.�

�Thanks Moms, you�re the best!� Trixie cried as she swung her arms around her mother.

�Shhh!� Her mother put her finger to her smiling lips as a gesture for Trixie to keep her voice down. �Brian! Remember?�

�Oh Moms, I�m so excited for tomorrow!� Trixie was getting out plates and glasses when she heard a faint knock at the door. It was her honey-haired friend from next door. �Oh Honey, why does she bother knocking?�

�Because she has manners?� Mrs. Belden smiled as her daughter let her best friend in. Three years ago when Honey Wheeler and her family moved into the Manor House just up the hill from Crabapple Farm, she had hopes that some of Honey�s manners and tact would rub off on Trixie. Somehow, she knew she was just throwing her hopes into the wind.

�I didn�t want to knock too hard. Miss Trask helped me wrap Brian�s present. I�m just as lousy at it as you are, Trix.� Miss Trask was Honey�s former governess who, because Honey was too old for that kind of thing anymore, now managed the Wheeler Estate. Since meeting Trixie, she had gone from a sickly frail timid girl who constantly had nightmares and who was afraid of her own shadow to a healthy, bouncy young woman who was just as adventurous as Trixie was.

�Oh please! You are so good at that stuff. Any time I try wrapping anything it looks like a mess. I might as well throw it in a paper bag and roll the top down like a lunch sack.� Trixie started giggling at the thought of handing Brian his graduation gift in a lunch sack. It soon became infectious because Honey started giggling too.

�Girls!� Mrs. Belden scolded with a twinkle in her eye. �Do you want Brian to hear?�

�Sorry, Mrs. Belden. I guess we just got carried away,� Honey replied. Honey was just as excited as Trixie, for her own brother was graduating too. She cherished the last few years knowing that she had a brother. Up until her parents bought the Manor House, she was an only child and spent most of her time in boarding schools. Shortly after she and Trixie met, they met Jim Frayne. He had been a scared runaway who sought freedom from his cruel stepfather, Jonesy. He had befriended the two girls while hiding out in his late great-uncle�s rundown mansion. After his stepfather showed up to steal his inheritance, Jim ran north of Sleepyside to work at one for the few major campgrounds. When the girls found him, Honey�s father readily adopted Jim so he wouldn�t have to worry about Jonesy anymore. Since then, Honey has had what she�s always wanted: a brother. �Where�s Mart? Is he going to help us?�

�No,� Trixie replied. �He�s helping Brian with his speech. Actually I think he�s probably in there being a heckler if nothing else. If Brian�s speech tomorrow is crammed with big words, we�ll know who wrote it.�

Mart was Trixie�s �middle� brother. In fact she called him her �almost-twin� for they were the same age for one month only. Brian was the oldest of the children, and Mart was a year and a half younger than him. Trixie was exactly eleven months younger than Mart, and this irritated him to the fullest. He wasn�t much taller than Trixie and had the same blond hair that she had and looked exactly like her. Bobby was Trixie�s youngest brother. He was eight-years-old and had the same blond tight curly hair that Trixie had. While the three younger Beldens resembled their mother, Brian had his father�s dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and tanned skin.

The girls sat down at the kitchen table and started wrapping their gifts. �How long do you expect Brian to be in his room?� Honey asked, munching on a homemade cookie.

�Oh, I don�t really know, Honey,� Mrs. Belden said. �As far as I know he didn�t find out until today at graduation practice that he was the valedictorian. So he should be in there for a while. With Mart in there, I�d venture a guess that he won�t be done until late.�

�Oh good, then we don�t have to worry about being spied on. If Bobby�s in town with Dad, and Mr. Vocabulary is keeping Brian busy, then we have all the time in the world,� Trixie remarked as she put a piece of tape on the package to hold the wrapping paper in place. Oh, Brian will love it anyway. �Honey, did Brian and Jim ever decide whether or not they were going to take a vacation together this summer?�

�Oh, I don�t really know,� Honey answered. �Why?�

�Oh, I don�t know,� Trixie said, �I thought I heard them talk about going on a little trip that�s all.� Summers when the boys all went away to be junior counselors at camp were boring enough. If Brian and Jim were gone, she would be left at the mercy of Mart, who loved to tease her with big words because he knew she never knew what they meant. When Mart would tease Trixie, usually Brian or Jim came to her rescue. If they weren�t there, who�d she rely on? She put the last piece of tape on her gift. �There. Brian will look at that and run screaming.�

�At least Jim�s gift won�t be too hard to wrap,� Honey pointed out with a grin.

�I�ll wrap it later.� Trixie took the small box and stuffed it in her pocket.

Mrs. Belden had finished wrapping one of her presents to Brian. �Let me go put your presents in my bedroom. Dad and Bobby should be getting home soon and I don�t want them to see these. You know how Bobby can be with �see-cruds�,� Mrs. Belden said with a smile.

�This is true,� Trixie agreed as she and Honey cleared off the table so there were no signs of any activity that would involve wrapping presents. They were just in time too since they heard Brian�s door open. Trixie looked at Honey quickly and whispered, �I hope Moms got the presents to her room alright!�

�I�m sure she did. Oh listen! Mart�s trying to keep Brian from coming down here. They must not have seen Mrs. Belden in the hallway. I think we�re safe.� Honey was listening intently to the sounds of Mart pleading to hear the speech again and Brian telling him he was tired of repeating it over and over. Quickly, Honey and Trixie took their seats at the table and grabbed a cookie just in time for Brian to come down the stairs.

�No, Mart, I don�t want to give the speech again tonight. I�m already tired of it.� Brian looked exasperated as Mart followed him into the kitchen. �Oh, hi Honey. I didn�t know you were here. How�s Jim? Nervous?�

�No, he�s taking it easy. He was a bit excited when he came home though. Mother and Daddy are proud of him for graduating with honors. He says he wishes that his true father and mother could be there to see him. He knows they�d be proud.� As Honey said these words, Trixie reflected on the past. The three years she�s known Jim, he�s told her about his birth parents, and how they had died. Tomorrow, Jim would be one of several students graduating with honors and receiving scholarships.

�Congratulations on becoming the valedictorian,� Honey continued. �You know that Mother and Daddy are planning a party for Jim tomorrow night. They hadn�t had the chance to speak with you yet, but when Mother found out I was coming over here she asked me if I would ask you if you wouldn�t mind it if they included you in on that party? If, of course, that�s alright with Mr. and Mrs. Belden.�

�Of course it�s alright with us, Honey.� Mrs. Belden was just coming into the kitchen. �I already spoke with your parents and I gave my approval, but I said that if Brian would like it then it�s ok. If not, then we�ll have to arrange something else.�

�Oh, then it�s all settled!� Trixie bounced in her chair. �We could have music and swim and��

�Now wait a minute, Trix, you�re making plans on my behalf here. I can call Mr. Wheeler and talk with him about it. As far as I�m concerned, I�m alright with it if Jim is. If he wants a party, there�s no sense in my stealing his spotlight.� Brian was always so levelheaded when he made decisions.

�I�m sorry, Brian. You�re right. I guess I just take Mr. Wheeler�s generosity for granted.� I�m always jumping to conclusions, Trixie thought. I always say the first thing that comes to mind and then wish I could take it back. Some day I�ll learn.

�Oh, it�s alright. It was Jim�s idea actually,� Honey explained. �He didn�t really care for the idea of a big party all for himself. Mother and Daddy think it�s a swell idea and they are all for it. So really, Brian, it�s up to you.�

With that, Brian went into the den and closed the door. In a few minutes they heard the soft murmur of his voice. As Trixie reached for a cookie Mart gave her a shocked look. �You�ve been awfully quiet for someone who loves to speak gibberish. What gives?� she demanded.

�Oh, my dearest sweet Beatrix,� Mart started as he yanked the cookie out of her hands. �Consumption of such calorific morsels will most certainly enlarge your petite feminine stature to an overly extensive shape.�

Trixie just wrinkled her nose and grabbed another cookie. �Sorry I asked. Say, thanks for keeping Brian up stairs while we,� she looked at the den�s closed door, �wrapped gifts. How many times did he have to repeat the speech to you before he got tired of it?�

�Do not you two squaws have the utmost confidence that I, Mart Belden,� he bowed slightly and gestured toward himself, �have ability upon ability to keep my elder sibling entertained so that you two can,� he wrinkled his nose at the pair of scissors on the kitchen counter, �keep persistent with women�s work without risking the probability that the men folk of the house might, per chance, come down to the survival quarters for sustenance and wander in among the flying wrapping paper and impetuous task of cleanup?�

�Oh Mart, knock it off, will ya? We all know that you can�t spell those words anyway, and I don�t think Brian even saw the scissors. If he had, so what, people do things with scissors everyday. Maybe he just figured you were down here earlier cutting off those beautiful curls that my almost-twin would have if he let them grow.� She grinned with victory because she knew that no big word in the dictionary could overpower the slight observation that he did, in fact, look like her.

�Triumphant, ye may be, dear sister,� Mart scowled as he tugged on one of her curls, �but I shall have the last laugh on you, Miss Sherlock!�

�Really, you two,� Mrs. Belden spoke up. �You get worse every year. You know, when Brian is off at school next year, I don�t know what I�m going to do. Usually he�s the one who can cool the both of you down.�

�I�m sorry Moms. I guess we do argue too much. But if we didn�t, you�d know something was wrong.� Trixie was right. The two argued because deep down, they had the utmost respect for each other. Of all the scrapes she had ever gotten herself into, Mart was usually the first one to tease her about it, but he was also the first one to jump at her defense when someone other than her friends teased her about it.

Just then Brian walked out of the den. �It�s all settled. The party will be for both Jim and me.� Trixie and Mart cheered and Honey clapped in excitement.

�Oh I think that�s just wonderful!� Mrs. Belden cried.

�Are you sure, Moms?� Brian was concerned. �I mean, you had all these preparations and plans.�

�Oh Brian,� Mrs. Belden sighed, �Don�t worry about all that. I already made plans with Mrs. Wheeler to combine our food together.� Mrs. Belden had planned a big dinner with a turkey and stuffing and crabapple pie for dessert. Both Mrs. Wheeler and herself had decided that their cook could prepare the turkey and Mrs. Belden insisted on making pies for the party. If she didn�t have to make an elaborate dinner, she�d have time to make about five crabapple pies. They were a favorite among Trixie and her friends.

�Well, then,� Honey said getting up from the table, �I think I should start for home. Mother wants us to get to bed early tonight so we have time for the hairdresser tomorrow. More for Mother than myself. I�m just getting a trim. I wish I could have seen Bobby tonight to read him a story, but I guess, Trix, you�ll have to do that for me.�

�Don�t worry about it. Bobby�s eight now and doesn�t really care to have me read to him anymore. I know he still likes it when you come over. He�s practically six again when you show up.� Trixie walked Honey to the door and opened it for her.

One of Trixie�s chores was taking care of Bobby, which was usually a hassle since she�d much rather be out doing things with her friends than looking after her kid brother. He was forever getting himself in jams and she�d have to come to his rescue. Now that he�s older, he was more willing to be on his own than tag along after Trixie. Most of the time, Trixie would take him up to the Wheeler�s house and leave him with Regan. Regan worked for the Wheelers and enjoyed his job as a groom for the horses. He loved those horses more than anything and took his job seriously, but he always had time for young people like Bobby.

�Thanks for the cookies Mrs. Belden,� Honey called, to which Mrs. Belden smiled her thanks. �Congratulations, Brian, and we�ll see you tomorrow.� With that she was out the door and hurried up the path to her house.

That night Trixie could barely sleep. She lay there thinking of memorable times in the past that included the Bob-Whites. The Bob-Whites of Glen included Trixie, Jim, Mart, Brian, Honey, Diana Lynch, and Dan Mangan. The club was a semi-secret club organized for the sole purpose of having fun and helping others. Honey had always dreamed about being part of those clubs that she often read about, and now it was a reality. Since then, the adventures seem to have been non-stop. A few months after the club was formed, Di Lynch joined the club. Her family had become wealthy overnight and she was having a hard time adjusting to it. With Honey�s help, Trixie was able to break her spell and Di was happy again.

About four months later Regan brought his nephew, Dan Mangan, to Sleepyside to live and work with Mr. Maypenny, the Wheeler�s gamekeeper. He had fallen in with the wrong crowd in New York City and had learned that toughness was the way of survival. At the time he was only fourteen, but had learned life�s lessons the hard way. He too joined the Bob-Whites after realizing that he had found true friends. Since then they�ve had many adventures that has taken them to many different places.

School would definitely be different without them, but fortunately, they weren�t going too far from home. Jim had plans for Ten Acres, his Great Uncle�s property where his mansion used to be. He was going to run a school for orphaned boys where he would teach the normal lessons and school subjects, but would also to teach them about survival. Because his uncle had left him a trust fund of half a million dollars, that had been collecting interest for the last few years, he knew that his dream was not far from becoming reality.

Brian was going to medical school after summer vacation, after which, he will be an intern at one of the emergency centers in New York City. Once he has completed his schooling, he will take up residency at Jim�s school and open a children�s clinic there. Dan agreed to work at the boy�s school too, but only after he receives training from the New York Police Department. He knew how easy it was for young orphaned boys to get caught up with the wrong people. Mart was working for a scholarship in science and agriculture and he, too, would work at Jim�s school.

By this time, Trixie and Honey will be going to law school, as they had planned. Since they had met, they had gotten a real taste for mystery and adventure. They didn�t go seeking them out, nor did anyone call upon them. It just fell into their laps. Di wanted a more relaxing lifestyle and chose a career in art. Her father was a huge fan of art and historical preservation. Di�s love of art keeps her at the museum most of the time studying sculptures and artwork from all over the world. With all this going on, she had to wonder if the Bob-Whites would always be together, or would they be too busy to help with projects?

But all of the sudden there was one concern on her mind. Trixie quietly got up out of bed, tiptoed across the wooden floor to her dresser. Quietly she opened the top drawer and pushed her things aside to reveal a small ring case with a piece of dirty paper underneath it. She took the case and paper out, closed the drawer, and carefully tiptoed back to the bed and set the ring case down on her nightstand. She opened the note in the moonlight and read it. As many times as she has read this letter, something always hit home with her.

�Dear Trixie:
    You and Honey are great sports but this is good-by. I heard Jonesy yelling last night and now that he thinks I�m dead my troubles are over�...
As soon as I get settled somewhere I�ll come back and try to repay you two for all you�ve done for me. But in the meantime I want you to have my great aunt�s ring to remember me by. After all, you found it and you saved the money from the fire. If you like, I think you can sell it for enough to buy that horse you want so much.
    Please don�t you and Honey forget me. I�ll see you sometime.
            Yours,
            Jim.�

Trixie sat on her bed just gazing at the scrawled handwriting. She remembered all this like it was yesterday. They were checking up on the Frayne Mansion to see if the doors were all locked while Old Mr. Frayne was in the hospital. Once inside, they had noticed Jim asleep on a mattress on the living room floor. Trixie had accidentally knocked over a stack of books and startled him awake. She hadn�t been afraid of Jim, even though he held his rifle ready to fire, and had even accused him of breaking and entering, when it was really she who had intruded. She remembered his threat: �if you girls tell anyone I�m here I�ll fix you good.� Trixie opened the ring case to find the beautiful engagement ring that had belonged to Jim�s Great-Aunt Nell, which they had found in a wall safe at the Frayne Mansion. She slipped the ring on her chubby finger and watched as it glistened in the moonlight.

The grandfather clock in the living room started to announce eleven o�clock and Trixie knew she�d better get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day. Quickly she removed the ring and slid it back into the box, folded up the note, and placed them back in her top drawer. She didn�t plan on wearing it tomorrow. She just liked to put it on once in a while.

Again she lay in bed with her mind spinning. Mysteries just won�t be the same with Brian and Jim busy with their studies. Who would be there to try to talk her out of delving into a new mystery? She chuckled as she thought about Mart trying to take the place of Brian. Brian was always nearly successful in talking her out of such things, but Mart�s scolding only made her want to do it all the more. Jim more often than not gave into her adventurous spirit, for that�s what he admired about her. Trixie yawned and nestled deep under her covers.

The next morning sunlight poured into Trixie�s bedroom. As she opened her eyes she realized the house was quiet. Her eyes found her alarm clock at the side of her bed and realized it was only just after six o�clock. She sat up and stretched her arms and wiggled her toes, and cheerfully, she jumped out of bed and began to freshen up for the day. After a nice hot shower she quickly slipped on her new sundress she and her mother went shopping for. It was a light blue sleeveless simple cotton dress. Mrs. Belden loved the times when Trixie would actually agree to go shopping for a dress, so whatever Trixie liked was usually what she got. Trixie was not interested in lace and frills, let alone any type of dress. She looked at her tanned legs and decided that it would be too warm for stockings. After quickly running a comb through her unruly curls, she declared herself ready for the day.

By the time she was finished getting ready she could smell breakfast coming from downstairs. She slipped on her sandals and hurried to meet her family for breakfast.

�Well, look at this!� Mr. Belden beamed at seeing his daughter all dressed up. �We can make her look like a lady!�

�Good morning Daddy,� Trixie laughed gaily at his comment and kissed her father hello.

�Oh, Peter,� Mrs. Belden sighed to her husband, �she is so beautiful. You�ll be turning heads today, you know.�

�Oh Moms, knock it off. It�s just a dress, but everyone knows I�m not really cut out to wear stuff like this. I don�t look like Honey and Di, who I�m sure will closely resemble princesses.�

�Trix,� Mr. Belden smiled at her, �You aren�t Honey and Di, you are my daughter and I happen to think that there are at least two women in this world who will be turning heads today. One is my daughter, and the other is the woman she takes after.� He got up from the table and strolled over to his wife for a kiss.

Trixie never really considered herself a �lady� nor did she think of herself as beautiful. She was Tomboy Trixie to kids in school. If anyone was a lady, it was Honey and Di. They were tall and slim whereas Trixie was short and stubby. She didn�t think she�d ever outgrow her baby fat. �Moms, can I borrow some of your make up? My face looks rather plain and I�d like to spiff it up.

�Sure borrow as much as you want, dear.� Mrs. Belden winked at her daughter.

�Oh stoppit, you�re making me nauseous.� Trixie, as well as never considered herself a lady, also didn�t like praise that much. She often blushed when complimented. She took her usual seat at the table. �Are Brian and Mart up yet?�

�Mart is helping Bobby get dressed. Brian has been up for a while,� Mrs. Belden said as she set a waffle on Trixie�s plate.

�Yummy,� Trixie gazed at the waffle. �Raspberry waffles made from scratch.� She reached for the syrup and drizzled it all over the waffle. Upstairs she could hear Mart instructing Bobby on how a gentleman acts on special occasions such as today. Brian came down the stairs and sat down at the table. He looked so handsome today. Pretty soon, Mart and Bobby joined them and everyone ate a cheerful breakfast.

�Well, we�d better hurry if we need to get there an hour ahead of time,� Mr. Belden said as he looked at his watch.

�Everyone just put your dishes in the sink,� Mrs. Belden instructed. �I�ll do them later.�

�Oh Moms,� Trixie wailed at her mother, �what about the party?�

�Dear, I still have to make those pies too, so I�ll do the dishes while you guys are up at the Wheelers swimming or something. Don�t worry about it.� Mrs. Belden turned to Brian. �I don�t want either of you kids worrying about housework today. Brian, this is your day. We have all summer for chores. Now hurry.�

Soon the Beldens were all piled into the family car and on their way down Glen Road to the junior-senior high school. After Brian had parted from them to get ready for the commencement exercises, they found their seats with Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and the Lynch family. Miss Trask, Dan, and Regan showed up with Mr. Maypenny. It took a long time to convince Mr. Maypenny to go, but finally, seeing that he wasn�t winning in the dispute, gave up. He wasn�t big on celebrations like this, but since the Bob-Whites played such a big part in his life, he would do it.

Both Honey and Mrs. Wheeler looked astounding while Mr. Wheeler looked as handsome as ever. Honey was wearing a dress just as simple as Trixie�s. She wore a light pink linen sundress with white sandals and her hair was perfectly flowing around her shoulders and framing her beautiful face. Her wide hazel eyes sparkled at the excitement she was feeling. Had Trixie�s influence not taken any effect on Honey, she would have been dressed in frills and lace. Di wore a simple straight skirt and a blouse, lavender of course. This was Di�s favorite color because it brought out the purple in her eyes. She had shoulder length black hair that flowed around her shoulders as well as long dark eyelashes that accented her pretty eyes. Di was known as the prettiest girl in school. Dan wore his usual school clothes, which were a white button down shirt and dress slacks, and his jet black hair was neatly combed.

The three families were chattering back and forth about their plans for the evening and what each person bought for Brian and Jim. It seemed as if everyone was just as excited as the Beldens and Wheelers, for no one noticed Mr. Stratton, the principle, trying to get their attention. Finally a hush was swept across the crowd.

Mr. Stratton started out his speech by thanking everyone for showing up, that it was truly a great day for the graduates and their families. Soon �Pomp and Circumstance� filled the air and the graduates came into the gymnasium two at a time, and took their seats. Brian looked so dark and handsome as he slowly strolled to his seat, while Jim�s red hair contrasted beautifully with the black mortarboard cap. He too, walked tall and proud. Bobby was standing so he could see as Mart pointed to Brian and Jim.

Mr. Stratton was finishing his speech when he asked for Amy Lynn Baldwin, James Winthrop Frayne, and Lois Ann Sanderson to please come forward. Each of the students stood as proud as ever in front of their graduating class as Mr. Stratton announced that all three had been excellent students and that each had completed two years in one because of diligent study. Each were given an opportunity to step forward and say a few words. Amy Baldwin had been sick with leukemia last year, so she studied extra hard and was able to make up the whole year while finishing her final year of school. She thanked her family, friends, teachers, and all her supporters. After an applause, Lois Sanderson spoke about how she had received a scholarship that required she start next year so she had to do two years in one, but she never gave up on this requirement. It wasn�t anything she had to do, but, to take advantage of a scholarship that meant her future, she had to. The crowd applauded her speech too. Finally, Jim stepped up to the microphone.

�Life is not always easy. Sometimes things happen that we can�t control, but we have to keep going strong. Amy, Lois, and I are just a few of the students graduating today with Honors, who have had unfortunate times or difficult decisions to make, but we�ve held our head high and were determined to stick to it. We have our parents, best friends, and special friends, to thank for their unconditional support. My family and friends have never discouraged me in my studies, and because of them I see a future for myself. I completed two years of high school in one to prove to myself that I was capable of making decisions and sticking with them. Our decisions affect our lives, and the people we hold close to our hearts. Living here and going to this school, I have learned that you must endeavor to look to the future instead of living in the past.�

With that Jim stepped back in line with the two other girls. Trixie felt goose bumps as she looked down at her identification bracelet. Jim had given it to her when the Bob-Whites vacationed in Iowa at her uncle�s sheep farm. She felt warm as she thought of Jim�s words to her when he handed her the bracelet. �You know what it means, don�t you? It means you�re my special girl, Trixie�As if you didn�t know that already.� Her heart fluttered as she realized the crowd was applauding Jim�s speech. She happily started clapping.

Mr. Stratton stepped up to the podium and asked Brian Andrew Belden and Tammy Lu Olson to come forward. As Salutatorian, Tammy Lu shook hands with Mr. Stratton and spoke to the graduating class about the importance of school and persistence. She spoke about how dreams become realities. After thanking her family and friends, she again shook hands with Mr. Stratton and stood next to Brian. Trixie then noticed that Brian didn�t have his speech with him. Did he leave it at home? After Brian was introduced, he stood behind the podium for a few seconds not saying anything. All at once, Trixie�s gut started to panic. As if she could use mind waves to speak to him, she silently told him, �your family is here to support you, Brian. Just say what comes to your mind�. Finally Brian looked up to the seniors that sat before him.

�Five years ago I told my family I wanted to be a doctor. When asked, �why?� I gave a reason: because I wanted to help people. That is what life is all about. As we merge our lives with people who live outside of high school, we must always strive to help out others, because they will, in turn, help us. Humility is another lesson for us. Some of us may go on to be successful businessmen and women, but it makes no difference how much money we make at our jobs, there are still dishes to be washed, beds to be made, cars to be maintained, yard work to be done, gardens to weeded, and little brothers to be read to.� At that comment, Bobby immediately beamed with his big blue eyes shining flamboyantly.

�We are here today because we have worked hard and strived to meet our goals. There are many people we have to thank for this day: our parents, teachers, brothers and sisters, best friends, and each other. The best of luck in your future as you venture out into the world. I ask one thing, though: never, never forget the twelve years you have spent being taught by people who only want to help others. Thank you and Congratulations!�

The crowd cheered as Trixie looked at Honey, who was beaming with joy. The two students sat back down in their seats. Mr. Stratton walked back up to the podium and spoke a few more words. Finally, he started the commencement procedure. As he read names, each received their diplomas, flipped their tassels over, and continued back to their seats. Finally, the whole exercise was over and Mr. Stratton introduced the Sleepyside Junior-Senior Graduates. The sea of black erupted as each threw their caps in the air and congratulated each other. The three families had trouble finding their graduates so they decided to wait outside since it was such a nice day and it was stuffy inside. Pretty soon Brian and Jim found them and the celebration started. Each family took turns taking pictures with the boys and then the Bob-Whites all got together for a group picture. Jim and Brian did some silly poses and even took a few pictures with Bobby.

�Congrats! I�m so proud!�

�Your speeches were great!�

�You look so handsome!�

�Whoa!� Brian raised his hand for silence. �You guys are talking like wild fire. What do you say we all head back home and go for a swim?�

�Sure!� They all yelled in unison.

�Trix,� Jim came to her side, �Do you want to ride with me? I have the Bob-White car.�

�Sure, just let me ask Moms.� Mrs. Belden said it was alright and soon Jim and Trixie were off in his car.

She buckled herself into her seat as Jim started the engine. �There�s one place I would like to stop first, if you don�t mind,� he started. �I have something I should pick up.�

�No, not at all. Say, what you said today was sweet. Thanks.� Trixie�s eyes twinkled.

�Oh, it�s not what I had planned to say,� Jim explained as he pulled out of the parking lot, �but when Brian got here he and I compared speeches and they were exactly the same. I don�t know how we did it, but the both of us said the same thing. Just the basic, follow your dreams. So we decided to rip up our speeches and say what we really meant. I�m really glad we did it that way.�

�Oh yes,� Trixie cried, �I think your speeches were better than anyone else�s. They were�perfect!� They rode along in silence for a while until Jim pulled up to a stop light. �Did you really mean what you said in your speech? About special friends?�

�Oh Trix,� Jim sighed. �You know that if it weren�t for you and Honey, I probably wouldn�t be here. I might even still be at Jonesy�s truck farm.� He took a hold of her left hand and felt the bracelet she was wearing. �Trix, I meant those words I said to you on the airplane coming home from your uncle�s place. You are my girl. I owe my life to you.� He smiled fondly at her as his green eyes met her blue ones. All at once the outside traffic was gone and they were the only ones in the world. He started the car going again and turned into a large parking lot. �I�ll be just a second. You stay here, and no funny business,� he ordered but Trixie knew he was just being silly.

She wondered where he went. He parked in such a way that she could not see where he had gone. Quickly, she shrugged and put the thought out of her mind and rolled down the window for some fresh air.

Jim is such a nice guy, she thought looking at her bracelet again. He might declare that he owes his life to Honey and me, but secretly, I owe my future to him. He�s a swell person and, even though he�s awful protective at times and looks out for me, he cares enough to encourage what I like doing. She grinned as she remembered the time when Jim, Honey, and Trixie were stranded in a flood in Iowa. Jim had insisted on going with her to spy on sheep thieves. She was glad he did. The trip to Cliveden, Virginia will always be a favorite time for her. He had come to her rescue a few times and the whole time he was just as enthusiastic at finding the emeralds as she was. Then there was the time when Trixie had convinced her father that she was �lady� enough to be able to wear the ring that used to belong to Jim�s Great-aunt so she could impress Ben Riker, Honey�s cousin, but it was really to be used as collateral to keep Mr. Lytell from selling the car that Brian wanted so much but couldn�t buy right away. To do this, she had to convince everyone she was in love with Ben, and then needed to �break up� with him so no one would ask why she wasn�t wearing the ring. She remembered the look Jim gave her when Honey mentioned that Trixie had a broken heart because Ben was spending all his time with Di, which was part of the plan. That was the first moment she realized that Jim�s friendship was more than special.

Pretty soon Jim came back to the car carrying a paper bag. He opened it up and took out a clear plastic carton with a bow around it and a card.

�For you,� he said as she took the box. It was a corsage. �Open it and let me put it on you.�

�Oh Jim,� Trixie protested, �let me read the card first.� She opened the card and there in simple text were the words she would never live down.