Thursday, May 24, 1984
Sleepyside High School
“...and Dad will have a car pick us up from the train station and drive us to the apartment,” Jim told Dan. “Our bags went up with Mother and Honey, so we can just concentrate on finishing up our work here, and then we’re off to the city.”
“I’m just glad we don’t have to tag along while your mother and Honey shop.” Dan shuddered at the thought. “The idea of all of those Fifth Avenue shops gives me the willies.”
Jim laughed. “Me, too. I just don’t get that whole shopping thing. Fortunately, Mother doesn’t require my presence when she buys clothes.”
Dan grinned back at him. “Yeah. Just wait. You’ll end up wearing an orange silk shirt and parachute pants under your graduation robe.”
“Nope.” Jim shook his head. “Madeleine Wheeler does not do trendy. She does classic. Fortunately for me, classic is usually relatively comfortable.” He shrugged. “She’s good at what she does, and I trust her judgment.”
Dan felt a slight twinge of jealousy, and quickly tamped it down. Directing the subject away from family in general and mothers in particular, he asked, “What time is the interview, again?”
“Friday at eleven is when we meet with Mr. Davis for the preliminary interview,” Jim answered. “If that goes well, we’ll have a second meeting on Saturday, at two. I understand it will be him and maybe a couple of his board members. Did you get your stuff?”
Dan nodded, looking at Jim sheepishly. “Yeah. It came by registered letter on Tuesday. I made two copies in your father’s home office. The original is with Mr. Wheeler, I have a copy at home, and I have one with me. I didn’t want to take any chances.”
“Probably a good idea.” Jim’s head swiveled as the first bell rang. “I’ll meet you here right after fifth period, okay? That way we have plenty of time to get to the station.”
Dan nodded, swinging his pack over his shoulder. “I’ll see you later.” They separated, hurrying off to their individual classes.
“I can’t believe you’re going to miss our visitors,” Trixie complained to Jim, as she gathered up her lunch garbage. “I mean I’m glad you’re doing this, but you, Dan, and Honey, are totally going to miss Uncle Andrew and my new cousin. It’s just wrong.” She cast a glance at Dan, whose dark head was bent over something that Josie was writing, his attention focused on whatever she was sharing with him. “You will be back for the parade, though, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it!” Jim assured her. “Of course, one can only hope that it will be slightly less exciting than last year.”
Trixie giggled. “What, no explosions this year? You’re no fun.”
“I’m plenty of fun,” Jim protested good-naturedly. “I just prefer to have my fun without fiery explosions.
“Spoilsport!” Trixie teased.
“Only when it comes to non-firework explosions,” Jim teased back. “And kidnappings, and guns, and...” Trixie’s laughter interrupted his discourse. Jim looked at her, her cheeks flushed from laughing, her blue eyes sparkling, and he couldn’t help but laugh right along with her.
“You know, Trix,” Jim said, as the laughter subsided. “I’m sure your uncle will be visiting again when they get back from Hawaii. I’ll meet your cousin then.”
“Oh, I think you’ll have ample opportunity to meet Tess,” Trixie teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “But that’s my secret, and I’m not telling.”
“Oh?” Jim asked. “A mystery for me to figure out? That’s different.”
“Well, you boys are always saying that you can solve mysteries as well as we girls can. Here’s your chance to prove it--and you can’t ask Mart or Brian, either. Just you.”
“That’s hardly fair,” Jim protested. “You have a partner.”
“Not this weekend, I don’t,” Trixie informed him. “So you have to be on your own, too. Ha!”
The bell rang. As the rest of the Bob-Whites cleared the table and headed for class, Jim tugged one of Trixie’s curls. “Fine,” he said. “You have fun with your family this weekend, and I’ll solve your little mystery all by myself. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Monday it is.” Trixie flashed Jim one last smile. “Good luck with the interview.” And then she was gone, a whirlwind of energy and bounce. Jim watched her go, admiration in his eyes.
