After having been up all night reading, Dorothy felt so relaxed and comfy just lying in the warm sunshine with the breeze wafting through her hair and the sound of ocean waves lulling her back to sleep. Wait a minute, she suddenly thought to herself. She hadn’t opened her living room window, because the air conditioning had been running. And ocean waves ...?

Her eyes flew open, and she gasped out loud. She wasn’t in her living room any more!

Instead, she lay outside in the middle of a green, grassy field. Startled, Dorothy quickly sat up and looked around her. She was definitely no longer in her apartment; in fact, her apartment building was nowhere to be seen. She was surrounded by green grass dotted, not with buttercups or daisies, but with tiny white orchids and small pink roses. The young woman subconsciously acknowledged the serene, pastoral setting even while her mind was racing. This has to be a dream. I never should have eaten that leftover pizza ...

Dorothy pinched herself on the arm and then winced. Okay, so I’m not dreaming. Maybe, she thought, if I close my eyes, when I open them back up, I’ll be back in my apartment. Dorothy tightly shut her eyes, counted to twenty, and then cautiously peeked one eye back open. The same tall grass fluttered in the wind. A fat bumblebee casually flitted from one flower to the next. Looking up, Dorothy stared transfixed at a brilliantly colored rainbow arched high above her in the cloudless blue sky. It would be very easy to get lost in the peaceful, end-of-the-rainbow enchantment of this place. She impatiently brushed back the brunette tendrils of hair blowing in front of her face. Details, Dorothy, apply yourself to the details.

Where am I? More importantly, how do I get back home?

The smell of the sea was heavy in the air, and Dorothy could hear sea gulls calling to each other over the sound of waves crashing into the shore. Her grassy field appeared to be at the edge of a cliff overlooking an ocean. That can’t be right, she thought crazily. Dorothy stood up to investigate (she hadn’t been reading Trixie for nothing) and noticed for the first time a tall, white lighthouse cozily perched high on the cliff and situated conveniently next to what looked like a little inn.

“ ‘I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto,’ ” Dorothy remarked to the seagull that had landed on the ground at her feet.

In fact, Dorothy felt very much like Alice in Wonderland when she had fallen down the rabbit hole. The seagull cocked his white head and seemed to look at Dorothy sympathetically for a minute before he took off again to join his friends. She watched the bird fly out over the ocean and envied his knowing where to go.

“ ‘Lack-a-mercy on me, this is none of I,’ ” she whispered in disbelief, quoting one of her favorite lines from the Trixie books. Then, for lack of anything better to do, Dorothy began walking toward the lighthouse. She might as well see the sights while she was here, and maybe she would find someone who could tell her where she was.

“Hello!” a voice suddenly called out.

Well, that was certainly quick. Dorothy looked up ahead and saw a woman in a white dress walking toward her. The sun shone behind the woman making her appear as if she were surrounded by a warm glow.

When the woman reached Dorothy, she smiled a lovely smile of welcome and said, “Hello, Dorothy. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“How do you know my name?” Dorothy asked her suspiciously. Indeed, she’d learned a lot from reading Trixie Belden books, like how to be properly suspicious of strangers.

“I was told you’d be coming,” the woman replied, her blonde hair glinting in the sun. She continued thoughtfully, “My sister’s middle name was Dorothea; she lived in Holland, though.”

But Dorothy wasn’t listening; she was busy trying to figure out how this woman could have known what Dorothy herself hadn’t known. “Who are you?” questioned Dorothy in wonder.

“You know who I am, Dorothy,” gently chided the woman. “I’m Katje.”

Katje?! If the woman before her were Katje, then that meant... “Is this Heaven?” Dorothy asked with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“Oh, no,” laughed Katje, the sound of her laughter tinkling out like music. At Dorothy’s very worried look, she then added, “And, before you ask, it’s not the other place either.”

“But you’re dead!” gasped Dorothy. She knew her Trixie history!

“Technically, yes,” the older woman admitted with a sigh. “But I get to live again in a lot of authors’ universes.”

“Universes?”

“You know, at Cathy P’s Jixemitri,” Katje reminded her. She cocked a blonde eyebrow at the younger woman. “They told me you knew about Jixemitri.”

Oh, so that was how you said it. “Yes, of course, I know about Jixemitri. Well, sort of, I mean, I’m kind of new,” admitted Dorothy. “But, I was up all night reading stories from there.”

“See, so you know,” Katje said, as if that should make everything clear. “I’ve heard that lots of new readers stay up all night when they first get the password.”

Dorothy studied the woman beside her. Katje was so calm, so serene; she acted like it was nothing out of the ordinary to be having a conversation with her. But, while Katje might have been used to it, Dorothy certainly wasn’t, and she really didn’t feel like she knew anything at all.

“Katje, ...” Dorothy tentatively said the woman’s name. With a twinkle in her eyes, Katje tilted her head to the side and waited for Dorothy to continue. “You’re a character, and I’m, well, I’m... not,” Dorothy finished rather lamely. Surely, Katje had to see that this was a tad bit unusual.

Katje sensed her confusion, so she tried to explain it in simple terms, “You’re in the universes, dear.”

Dorothy’s eyes grew wide. She kind of understood about the authors and their universes full of different stories; she’d fallen asleep at the computer reading, after all. And, if Katje were telling her the truth, and if she believed Katje... How utterly intriguing! Still...

“Universes, okay... But that doesn’t explain – ” Dorothy’s words broke off in frustration, and she waved her hand at the lighthouse looming over them.

“The lighthouse?” Katje asked. “That’s rather a recent development.”

“But, there are no lighthouses in Sleepyside! Or Kansas either, for that matter,” scoffed Dorothy.

Katje rolled her clear blue eyes. “I didn’t say you were in Sleepyside. I said you were in the universes. And this is Scarlett’s. Do try to pay attention.”

“Scarlett?” Dorothy shook her head as if trying to clear the cobwebs away. Since when did Gone with the Wind become part of the equation?

“A.K.A. Wendy?” prompted Katje.

“Oh, yeah!” Dorothy remembered. “I think I read a couple of her stories.”

“So you have,” Katje said approvingly. “Then, welcome to Katje’s Lighthouse.” With that, she threw open her arms in welcome and smiled at Dorothy.

Dorothy looked up at the lighthouse behind Katje and then back at the captivating woman standing in front of her. She was still confused, but she sensed a story.

Katje’s smile turned winsome, and she quietly explained, “Win and I stayed at the lighthouse’s inn during our honeymoon.”

“Oh, and so Scarlett – ” Dorothy began.

“I talk to Scarlett,” nodded Katje and then added with a wink, “You might say, Scarlett hears dead people.”

Katje giggled companionably and then fell silent. For a moment, the two women stood quietly together, each lost in their own thoughts. Dorothy was pondering the unique opportunity that lay before her and trying to decide what she next wanted to ask the other woman, and Katje seemed to be reliving some past memory as she gazed at the lighthouse. A sudden gust of sea wind blew around the both of them, whipping Katje’s dress around her legs and making a frizzled mess of Dorothy’s hair.

Blown back to the present, Katje smiled fondly at Dorothy and took her by the hand. “Why don’t we go have a look inside? You’ll find the view ever so clearer from the top.”

With one last look over her shoulder at the grass blowing gently in the wind and the ocean waves crashing below them, Dorothy allowed Katje to lead her to the structure. As they walked down the sandy path, Dorothy peppered her with questions, “But what is Jixemitri, really? And, why am I here? I mean, I’ve read some stories, but that’s it. I don’t really know how to get to Jixemitri, do I?”

Katje just smiled. “Just wait. You’ll see.” With that, she opened the lighthouse’s red wooden door, and they stepped inside.

The inside of the tower was comfortably cool and quiet. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Dorothy realized that she really should still be able to hear the ocean, but the thought disappeared as soon as her eyes adjusted from coming out of the bright sunlight. She gasped in amazement and stared in awe at the interior of the lighthouse. Katje was already skipping lightly up the grated stairs, but Dorothy followed much more slowly. She was too entranced by the framed pictures hanging everywhere on the smooth whitewashed walls to keep up with Katje.

There were pictures of what she thought was Crabapple Farm and the Manor House and even the Lynch Estate. And was that a restored Ten Acres? And, oh goodness! There was a picture of all seven Bob-Whites clad in their red jackets and standing in front of what she guessed was the clubhouse, and they were all exactly how she had always imagined them. Everywhere she turned, there were pictures of the Bob-Whites and their friends and family. Wow, Peter really is hot! There was a picture of Regan standing with his big freckled hands on his hips, and she thought that that was Susie and Jupiter with him. Dorothy whispered “Hello” to the picture of Hoppy as she passed by it and then giggled in delight as she spied a picture of Trixie in her white knit dress and green shoes. Oh! And then there was a picture of the Bob-Whites on a beach with whom she assumed was Pete Kimball! And a picture of Diana sticking her finger in her birthday cake at Green Trees! And Trixie and Dan with the blinking idol! And then the girls in their white bridesmaids’ dresses with the colored ribbon sashes! Was that Sergeant Molinson holding baby Dodgy? And, ay yi yi! There were the guys in their bullfighter costumes! Trixie and Honey cooking supper in the Silver Swan... Mart in his ski suit... Brian standing proudly next to his jalopy! All those little moments that she’d read about for years were here on the walls of Katje’s lighthouse, captured forever in time. She whistled under her breath when she came to the picture of a shirtless Dan chopping wood, and she was positively drooling by the time she got to a picture of Brian, Mart, and Jim working on the clubhouse roof with Jim’s supple form dangling off the eaves. She laughed out loud at the picture of Jim, Trixie, and Honey covered in mud. Oh, there was even a picture of the Bob-White station wagon. If this wasn’t Heaven, it sure was close. Dorothy sighed with pleasure. There were Jim and Trixie dancing together. How perfectly perfect.

While Dorothy was slowly making her way up the winding staircase, Katje was waiting patiently for her on the landing. She smiled fondly as she watched the younger woman take such delight in looking at each picture.

“I just knew you would like my pictures,” Katje said happily.

Dorothy joined her and then stared in wonder at the shadow box attached to the wall behind the other woman.

“Scarlett is the keeper of these items, and she takes her job very seriously,” she told Dorothy, her blue eyes twinkling.

The items were all proudly displayed in the glass-fronted box and neatly labeled: the diamond recovered from the floor of the clubhouse, a small burlap bag of birdseed from the deserted schoolhouse, the SOS tags that Trixie had placed in Jim’s pocket, the bottle of Diana’s perfume that Trixie had borrowed in Iowa, Trixie’s stroganoff recipe, a picture of the boat race that Jim, Trixie, and Pete Kimball had won, the brick that had hidden the emeralds in the wall of the tunnel, a recording of Jim saying, “You look as pretty as Juliana” to Trixie, and, lastly, Jim’s rifle, polished until it shone.

“I would love to have an collection like this!” breathed Dorothy.

Katje shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, that’s easy, Dorothy! All you have to do is e-mail Jixemitri and list which items you’d like to keep. There are lot of good things still left.”

She nodded a bit distractedly. As soon as she got back home...

And then Dorothy saw it. “Is that ...” She couldn’t get the words out; she felt as if she were standing in front of the Holy Grail.

“Yes, that’s the mattress where Trixie found Jim,” Katje replied simply. “But, let’s not talk about that, shall we?”

Dorothy had gone forward to reverently touch the mattress propped against the wall, but, at Katje’s words, she stopped and turned back to Jim’s mother.

For a second, Katje looked distressingly sad, but she smiled tremulously and said, “Why don’t we go out on the observation deck?”

Katje opened the door and ushered Dorothy outside. Dorothy assumed that she would be greeted with a panoramic view of the ocean, but, instead, she gazed down in surprise at an old stone church.

Snow was falling all around the little church, and a lone car sat in the graveled parking lot. Dorothy could see a woman with honey-colored hair inside the car, and the woman was weeping, tears falling down her face like the snow cascading down.

“That’s Honey!” gasped Dorothy. “I remember that story.”

“Yes, she’s recalling the happy golden days of yore,” Katje remarked and then added rather cryptically, “History has a way of repeating itself, doesn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t know. Does it? Scarlett hasn’t written the rest of the story,” Dorothy reminded her.

“Hmm... that is true,” conceded Katje and then gave her an enigmatic smile. “I talk to Scarlett, but I haven’t told her everything... yet.”

The two women continued their walk around the circular deck. When Katje paused, Dorothy looked down below again.

This time, she saw a curly-headed blonde sitting on a dock of a lake, her chin rested thoughtfully on her knees. Dorothy knew exactly who she was.

“Yes, that’s Trixie,” Katje said, as if reading the younger woman’s thoughts. “She’s reflecting on that which lies within.”

Dorothy grinned. “Oh, I know! I can’t wait for the prom!”

Katje laughed. “Neither can my son. Trixie’s his destiny, you know.”

“Not every author feels that way.” Dorothy looked aside at Katje.

The older woman merely sniffed. “Well, I’m his mother, so I should know.”

As they resumed their promenade around the deck, Katje commented, “You probably noticed that Scarlett still has a lot of blank spaces that need to be filled.”

No, really? Dorothy silently agreed with her, as she gazed down at what appeared to be several patches of white fog separating the lake scene from the church scene.

Katje stopped again and gestured below. “But this is really why I brought you up here. This is what I wanted you to see, Dorothy.”

She looked down once more and saw the Bob-Whites’ clubhouse. Dorothy could just barely see inside the windows, but, still, she spied the seven Bob-Whites grouped around their table. The sound of their laughter and happy voices rang out through the clubhouse’s windows and was carried by the wind up to Dorothy’s ears. She was filled with warmth and an overall sense of well-being and friendship.

“You asked about Jixemitri,” Katje began. “And, since I’ve never really been there myself, this is the best I can do. I’ve been told that Jixemitri is very like the Bob-Whites’ clubhouse, Dorothy.”

Oh, I would love to be a part of that! thought Dorothy wistfully.

“Scarlett calls Jixemitri ‘a haven where both the pages of new stories and the doorway to new friendships are opened, ’ ” Katje continued. The signal of the lighthouse swung around then, and she added, “But, I also like to imagine that Jixemitri is akin to the beacon of my lighthouse, shining its light for all to see and guiding everyone home.”

“But how do I get there?” Dorothy wondered aloud.

“Well, dear, since I’ve never been there, I can’t really tell you. You have to find the way yourself, just like Scarlett and the others before you did,” answered Katje kindly.

Dorothy looked into Katje’s fathomless blue eyes and exclaimed, “But I don’t even know where to start!”

Katje considered her thoughtfully for a moment and then responded, “You see the preserve over there at the edge of the clearing?”

The clubhouse had vanished to be replaced once more with the green grassy field. On the field’s left side, a path disappeared into a forest.

“Yes, I see it,” answered Dorothy, wondering how she was ever going to get anyone to believe her. Vanishing clubhouses! Lighthouses in Kansas!

“All kinds of things can be found in the preserve, you know,” giggled Katje merrily. “But follow the path there to the Yellow Brick Glen Road. The road will take you where you next need to be.”

Dorothy was suddenly loathe to leave Katje. It wasn’t everyday you got to actually meet a character from a beloved book. And this was Katje, after all! She wanted to sit down and have tea with her and bask in the friendship the woman offered. Not to mention, she had hundreds of questions for the serenely mysterious woman, and, at the same time, she hated leaving the enchanted lighthouse.

As if reading her mind again, Katje smiled fondly at Dorothy once more and hugged her good-bye. “Away with you, my dear. All kinds of adventures await you!”

Reluctantly, Dorothy broke away and made her way to the door leading to the stairwell. “You won’t come with me?” she asked, looking back at Katje.

“Oh, no!” Katje sweetly laughed. “You have to make this journey yourself. I’m going to stay up here and enjoy my view. But, you can come back anytime you want. Just like at Jix, you are always welcome at Katje’s Lighthouse, dear Dorothy.”

Katje turned away to look out across the ocean of time. For just a moment, Dorothy stood silently and watched the blonde woman. This was Katje who, in her own way, had been the catalyst for the Bob-Whites, and Dorothy knew she would never forget her. Smiling, Dorothy started back down the many stairs of the lighthouse, stopping, of course, to look one last time at all the pictures. When she stepped back into the sunshine, she walked a few steps, and then turned to wave to Katje.

“Bye-bye, dear! Have fun! If you see Jim, tell him I said hello!” Katje called down to her.

"Watch your step, please!" she heard someone with a very high, squeaky voice call out. She looked all around her, but couldn't see anyone.
"Down here!" the voice called out. "You're stepping on my tail!"

Dorothy moved her foot and looked down. A small mouse wearing a thimble on its head was nursing his poor tail. "I'm so sorry," Dorothy said, very confused. "But I didn't see you."

"Quite all right," the mouse muttered, though he didn't sound like he meant it.

Dorothy knelt down next to the mouse. "I don't suppose you could help me, could you?"

The mouse was a rather adventurous sort, and, since he had really enjoyed his last encounter with a young woman, he quickly forgave her and was eager to offer his assistance. "Certainly, my dear. What can I do for you?"

"I think I might be lost." Dorothy looked around her again. "I was trying to find out how to be a part of Jixemitri."

"Jixemitri? Jixemitri ..." The mouse twittered nervously. "I know I've heard that name before. Can you tell me more about this Jixemitri? Is it a castle that you've lost? If so, I know someone who could help you find it."

"No, it's not a castle," Dorothy answered. "Let me start over. Where am I now?"

"Why, that's easy. You are in 'Once Upon a Time', a land where magical things happen, and romantic endings abound. Well, usually the endings are romantic and happy." The mouse scurried up into Dorothy's lap. "It's a ... um ... universe, I believe, is the correct word, written by a woman named 'El'. She has this thing for fairy tales, and she's told me many other authors do as well, but I get a little confused by that." The mouse took off the thimble and scratched his head. "Yes, that's it! Jixemitri is where all these authors share their stories so others can read them."

"Yes!" Dorothy cried in excitement. "And I do remember seeing the name 'El' recently. So I'm in one of her universes now? And a fairy tale universe, too? How cool is that?! Any chance I can see any of the characters here?" Dorothy scooped up the mouse in her hand, stood up, and looked around. Alas, all she could see were more trees.

The mouse stood on his hind feet and pointed with one paw. "James and Beatrix live over yonder." Turning in another direction, he pointed again. "And the young prince, well, maybe he's a king now, used to live in that direction, but his modest palace seems to have been closed up, for I never see anyone there anymore."

"Oooh, that sounds mysterious! Perhaps I should call on Beatrix, and she and I could explore that mansion, I mean palace." Dorothy rather liked her idea and started walking in the direction the mouse had first pointed. She was so excited that she didn't watch where she was going and fell into a lake. Once she realized she was under water, she quickly swam up to the surface and pulled herself out. "That was rather silly of me!" she exclaimed to herself. "Oh, dear, where is that little mouse?"

She heard some chuckling and, somewhat embarrassed, she turned to face whomever might be laughing at her. "Maybe it's Jim in tights!" she thought bemusedly. Instead, a group of teenagers were coming over. The two boys reached her first.

"A damsel in distress." Mart smiled and reached out a hand to help her up.

Dorothy recognized him fairly quickly, and she also noticed that he was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Guessing that she was no longer in a fairy tale land, she asked the obvious question. "So whose universe is this?

Dan grinned. "This is El's universe."

"But I was just in El's universe: Once Upon a Time." Dorothy looked confused. A look I'm getting much too used to wearing, she thought ruefully.

"Who are you?" Trixie asked bluntly as she, Honey, and Di caught up with Mart and Dan.

"Are you okay?" Di asked.

"You must be wet. Let's go back to my house and get you some dry clothes." Honey smiled kindly at the stranger.

"I'm Dorothy. And you are Mart, Dan, Trixie, Honey, and Diana." Dorothy smiled at everyone. She looked down at her clothes, but, for some reason, they weren't wet at all. "That's odd. I should be wet, but I'm not." Shaking her head, she thought of something else. "Does El have two universes, too?"

"You're not wet? That is mysterious." Trixie had a familiar gleam in her eyes.

Dorothy and the Bob-Whites started walking toward Manor House.

Di laughed lightly. "Don't worry about Trixie. Everything is mysterious to her. To answer your question, this is El's original universe. I think she calls it 'From the Other Side of the Window.'"

"What happens in this universe?" Dorothy asked.

Honey answered their new friend. "I wish I knew! El writes so slowly, and she writes so many stories at once, that she never seems to manage to complete one!"

"Then she has the nerve to go start another universe while we're hanging out here wondering what's going to happen," Dan added.

"How did you get here?" Trixie asked. "Are you another new character that El dreamed up?"

"No." Dorothy laughed. "I'm just a reader. I'm trying to find out how to be a part of Jixemitri. Do any of you know?"

"Alas, no." Mart sighed. "Jixemitri sounds wonderful, though!"

"I hear they have a message board," Honey said. "I know El spends a lot of her time there instead of writing about us."

"The message board is great," Dorothy admitted. "Oh! Is that Manor House? And those must be the stables!"

Dan laughed good-naturedly. "Yes and yes."

"Come on," Honey said, and she led the group in a quick jog to the house.

"Bobby! Watch where you're going!" Regan called and hurried over to Dorothy, who had once again fallen on her butt. Bobby quickly reined in Jupiter and, rather than letting him spook, made him continue on to the far end of the arena to work figure eights.

Adelle quickly followed Regan saying, "Don't you think you can walk away from this conversation, William Regan. I'm telling you that buttercups, even if they are poisonous, are perfectly safe because horses don’t see them as food."

"Not now, Adelle. Can't you see she might be hurt?"

"Then when, Regan? Mrs. Wheeler wants me to beautify the stable area by next Friday and I have to place the order for the flowers by the day after tomorrow so I can get them in time to plant them."

Regan turned to Adelle and gave her a scorching look. “I said, not now, Adelle. We’ll get back to this later; first, let’s help this poor woman off her hind end.”

Adelle, although furious that Regan took that tone with her, had the good grace to blush.

“I’m sorry,” Adelle said as she helped the woman up. “I’m Adelle.” She hesitated then added, “From Lindsay’s Universe, Keeper of the Horses.

“I’m Dorothy. I’ve never met you before,” Dorothy hesitated looking closely at Adelle. Adelle just smiled and stepped out of the way.

“William Regan, but please, call me Regan. Everyone else does,” Regan shook her hand. “And that’s Bobby,” Regan pointed to where Bobby was riding Jupiter at the far end of the arena. “That’s Jupiter he’s riding.”

“Wow, when did he get so good at riding?” Dorothy asked.

“You remember all those times the Bob-Whites left Bobby with me?” Regan grinned proudly. “Well, this is what we did. And he got really good, really quick. He’s already won more ribbons in shows than all the other Bob-Whites put together.”

“Speaking of the Bob-Whites,” Dorothy started, finally realizing what was missing. “Where are they?”

“They don’t come around much anymore. They’re too busy with college to bother helping out with ‘horsey’ chores,” Regan laughed.

“That makes sense,” Dorothy smiled, and then looked at Adelle. “So what is it that you do?”

“I’m just the lowly landscaper. Don’t mind me,” Adelle grinned at Dorothy, but shot a glare at Regan just for good measure.

“So you work here too, sort of,” Dorothy said.

“She sure does,” Regan answered for Adelle, barely able to hide a grin when she sent him a scalding look. “She works over at Jim’s school site, too.”

“Oh, really?” Dorothy asked, eyes wide. “Jim must keep pretty busy.”

“Sure. Between making decisions on which design he likes best and telling the construction workers what to do, he’s a very busy guy,” Adelle answered before Regan could.

Dorothy couldn’t contain a smile. It was obvious that both Adelle and Regan had met their match. Regan and Adelle stared each other down for a few moments until Regan finally turned back to Dorothy.

“It was wonderful meeting you, Dorothy, but I think it’s time for you to be on your way again,” he said, shaking her hand again.

“It was nice meeting you. I sure am sorry about that first impression you got of me.” Adelle blushed furiously as she shook Dorothy’s hand.

“I hope that I can come back sometime and spend a little more time here,” Dorothy said with a smile. The other two nodded.

Regan gave a little whistle to bring Bobby and Jupe over. Jupiter snorted and nosed at Regan’s pocket, looking for a treat. Regan patted Jupe and pushed his nose away.

“Why don’t you ride with Dorothy to keep her company? It will give you time to cool off that horse.”

“Sure thing, Regan.” Bobby turned Jupiter towards Dorothy. “You ready to go?”

“I think so,” Dorothy walked beside Jupiter with one hand on his neck, gently patting him.

Dorothy turned to get one last look at Regan and Adelle. Adelle had one hand on her hip and was poking Regan in the chest with her index finger. It was painfully obvious that she was giving him what for about using that tone with her. Regan glowered down at her, tempted to just turn and walk away again.

“Have you ever heard of Jix, Bobby?” Dorothy asked to break the ice.

“I have,” Bobby nodded and looked down at Dorothy.

“Well… what do you think about it?” she asked, knowing he wasn’t going to elaborate.

“Jix is a great place, I guess,” Bobby said thoughtfully, “but everybody writes me as a spoiled brat. I’m really not. Not many people seem to like writing me the way I really am though.”

Dorothy stifled a laugh and waved as she continued into the preserve without Bobby.

Dorothy wandered through the Preserve, more than a bit chilled by the frosty air. I thought it was summer, she thought. Why does it feel like November?

Reaching a small clearing near a brook, Dorothy spotted Trixie huddled beside a large log, staring despondently into the water. Noting the single, large tear coursing down her cheek, Dorothy was reluctant to approach her.

Dorothy studied this version of Trixie in wonder. Her longish curls cascaded in disarray, framing a thin, pale, and drawn face. She seemed awfully fragile for Trixie Belden, and there was an aura of sorrow and pain about her.

Looking up, Trixie spied Dorothy. She gave wan smile and spoke softly. “Hello, Dorothy. I’ve been expecting you.” She patted the seat beside her and held up a thick flannel blanket.

Eager for the warmth of the blanket, Dorothy rushed over and sat beside the young girl. After making herself comfortable beneath the flannel, she turned to Trixie and asked, “What do you mean, you’ve been expecting me?”

“Kaye asked me to meet you here,” Trixie said. “I didn’t ask a lot of questions, because I was just happy to have an excuse to come out here alone. It was getting kind of loud at home, and my head was pounding, so I wanted to be somewhere quiet.”

Dorothy looked around. “Well, it is quiet here. Pretty, too.”

Trixie smiled brightly. At that exact moment, the sun appeared from behind the clouds, leaving the illusion that Trixie’s smile had literally brightened the world. The effect was breathtaking, Dorothy had to admit.

“I love this place,” Trixie said. “It’s one of my favorite spots in the woods. I come here to think, to dream, to vent to the four winds. We all spend a lot of time in the woods, so I’m sure other people know about this place, but I’ve never seen anyone else here. Except when Jim and I come here together.”

“So, is Jim your boyfriend?” Dorothy asked.

“NO!” Trixie said harshly. Regaining her composure, she was instantly apologetic. “Sorry. Touchy subject. But no, he’s not. Jim and Brian are away at school in Boston. He’s there and I’m here. So, he’s got all kinds of college girls fawning all over him, and I’m dating a couple of guys here, and we’re just best friends.”

“Who are you dating?” Dorothy asked curiously.

Trixie smiled again, and again the clearing seemed to shine with her inner light. “Two boys from school. Tad Webster, Spider’s younger brother, is dark and gorgeous, with these melt-you-into-a-puddle aquamarine eyes. I’d say tall, dark, and handsome, except he’s nowhere near as tall as Chris Zack. He’s the captain of the basketball team, with soft blond hair and these clear grey eyes that see right into your soul.”

Trixie sighed, then grinned impishly. “Why the two hottest guys in school both want to date me, I’ll never know, but I’m having fun with it!”

Dorothy laughed. “Who is this Kaye that you mentioned?”

“She’s a writer, and she’s responsible for this particular story. I think she’s evil, and she hates me. You would not believe how much that woman likes to torture me!”

“But the story is about you, isn’t it?” Dorothy wondered.

Trixie shrugged. “Well, yeah. And she says she’s been a fan of mine since she was a little kid. But if she likes me so much, does she have to make me so miserable? What kind of fan adoration is that?”

“You have a point,” Dorothy conceded. Then she noticed a cave entrance across the brook that she was pretty sure hadn’t been there a minute ago. “What’s that?”

Trixie followed the direction of Dorothy’s gaze. “A cave, of course.”

Dorothy rolled her eyes. “Obviously. But it’s strange-looking. I mean, we’re outside, but when I look at the entrance I feel like I’m in the cave looking out.”

“We are,” Trixie said matter-of-factly. Seeing Dorothy’s confusion, she tried to explain. “Kaye’s place is Bob-White Cave, where all the different sections are in different ‘Caverns to Explore’. This universe is the first cavern; I hear she’s busy starting a second cavern. Eventually, that evil plot twist gremlin will help Kaye open up several more caverns.”

“But aren’t we in the Preserve?”

Trixie nodded. “We’re in the Wheeler’s Game Preserve, in Sleepyside. At the same time, we’re inside a cavern at Bob-White Cave. I personally think it has some sort of relationship to the T.A.R.D.I.S., because Kaye has spent way too much time watching Doctor Who with her husband. But she says it has to do with Jixemitri.”

“Really?” Dorothy squealed loudly. Trixie winced and held a hand to her throbbing head. In a much quieter voice, Dorothy asked, “What do you know about Jixemitri?”

“Not much,” Trixie admitted. “I know this place is somehow connected to it. And I know Kaye spends an awful lot of time there. Kaye says all her best friends are there, and that’s where she goes to laugh, cry, vent, and chit-chat. But that’s about all I know.”

“That’s not much,” Dorothy murmured in disappointment. “But it is something.”

Trixie nodded, and returned to studying the reflections of sunlight on the babbling brook. Enjoying a moment of peaceful rest, Dorothy breathed deeply the crisp, clean, fresh air. No matter how nice the city in which one lives, nothing can quite compare to the fresh air of forest clearing, miles from civilization.

Returning to her study of the girl beside her, Dorothy noticed a troubled look on Trixie’s face. “Are you okay, Trixie?” she asked.

Trixie shrugged. “I just have a headache.”

Recalling a story she had been reading recently, Dorothy frowned. “I’ve heard about your headaches. They’re really starting to worry me.”

Trixie snorted. “You and everyone else. You wouldn’t believe the questions Kaye’s been getting about my headaches. But she’s evil – she has no intention of enlightening anyone anytime soon. So I continue to suffer.”

“But she has to do something about them, doesn’t she? How can she finish the story without dealing with the headaches?”

Giving Dorothy a withering glance, Trixie said, “She didn’t do anything about them before she finished the last seven stories, so why should she start now? I’m telling you, that woman is evil. Just ask anyone.”

Dorothy had a thought. “Well, maybe she just hasn’t figured it out yet. I’ve heard some authors start things without knowing exactly where they’re going to go.”

Trixie shook her head, then winced as the world spun. “Nope. That lunatic has a complete story outline for the next 15 years. I keep trying to sneak into her computer and read it, but she has it passworded. I think she’s trying to keep me away from it because she knows how much I’ll hate it.”

“Fifteen years?” Dorothy asked incredulously.

“Well, yeah,” Trixie stated matter-of-factly. “I’m only 15. I have to grow up sometime.”

“Then she must know what’s happening with the headaches,” Dorothy mused.

“Of course she does,” Trixie said in exasperation. “Right now she’s too busy laying out those other caverns to care how much pain I’m in.”

“That can’t be true,” Dorothy said. “She must care… why else would she plot out that far in advance? She must have lots of grand adventures planned for you.”

“Maybe,” Trixie conceded. “Or it could just be lots of torture.”

Dorothy considered her situation. “I don’t know. After all, while she’s torturing you with headaches right now, she’s also showering you with affection from the cutest guys in school.”

Trixie brightened. “That’s true! Maybe she’ll give me lots of good to go with the bad.”

“Speaking of cute guys at school,” Dorothy asked slyly, “do you think you’ll stay with Chris or Tad forever?”

“Forever?” Trixie repeated in surprise. “Of course not.” Her face took on a wistful, longing quality, as her eyes focused on some distant point Dorothy could not see. “There’s only one place I can find forever.”

Dorothy suddenly felt like she was intruding on some intensely private moment. Clearing her throat nervously, she inquired, “I hear Kaye is a traditionalist. Do you think that means you’ll end up with Jim?”

Trixie gave Dorothy a gentle, enigmatic smile. “This universe is named ‘Will You Wait For Me’. The question, Dorothy, is will you wait to find out?”

Dorothy stared at Trixie for a long moment, trying to decide how to answer her. Finally she sighed and rose to her feet. “I’ll probably come back to find out, but right now, I need to be on my way. I still have to find out how to get to Jixemitri.”

Trixie nodded. “It was nice to meet you, Dorothy. I hope we see each other again. I hope you don’t mind if I just stay here a while longer…”

Shaking her head, Dorothy smiled. “That’s quite alright, Trixie. I’ll manage without you. See you soon.”

Dorothy wrapped the blanket tightly around her, and headed in the general direction of the Manor House. The closer she got, the warmer it became. She didn’t even notice when she dropped the blanket on the ground behind her. She kept walking, and the light around her seemed to change.

The world did seem a little different, Dorothy noted as she approached the Manor House. The air was warmer and brighter, and from the stables she could hear music blaring. Recognizing Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” she realized that the music seemed to match her movements. Now curious about the music, she changed direction and headed towards the sound.

Besides, she wanted to see if Regan’s stables were really as neat and organized as they were portrayed in the books. Walking in, it was immediately apparent they were. Every saddle, every piece of tack, even all the grooming supplies - everything was in its proper place. The floor was clean, other than an occasional piece of straw here and there, and the air smelled of horses, leather, and hay.

“Yoo-hoo, anyone home?”

Not receiving an answer, Dorothy looked around. Peeking in the individually marked stables, she was thrilled to see Lady, Strawberry, and Starlight standing straight and proud in their stalls. She was, however, greatly disappointed that Jupiter and Susie were nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, as Pink Floyd’s music came to a thundering crescendo, she heard the pounding of horse hooves. Dorothy stood off to one side of the building, ecstatic to see Jim and Trixie enter the stables on horseback. Wow, the books are right, she thought as she admired Jim, he really is an expert horseman.

Dorothy was surprised when Jim immediately vaulted off Jupiter and ran over to help Trixie down from Susie. Since when does Trixie need help dismounti - whoa.

Her eyebrows rose as she saw Trixie slide off the horse and down Jim’s body. Jim quickly turned Trixie around, pinning her up against a stable door and kissing her passionately. Trixie returned his enthusiasm, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his.

Well, she’s definitely with Jim in this universe… whomever this one belongs to. Dorothy stood there awkwardly, unsure whether she should interrupt the moment or not. Besides, she was picking up a number of tips. Hmmm, Dorothy observed, Jim seems to be an expert kisser as well.

Suddenly, Trixie seemed to sense there was another person around and peeked around Jim’s shoulder. She glanced around and spotted Dorothy standing there.

“Um, Jim, we have a visitor,” Trixie said, gently pushing Jim away and walking out behind him. “We should, um…. take a break.”

Jim looked disgruntled as he turned around, “Why? Our dating isn’t a secret anymore.”

Trixie smiled, “True, but we don’t know this person. And it would be rude to ignore her. Besides, aren’t you curious?” Trixie walked up to Dorothy. “Hi, I’m Trixie Belden and this is my boyfriend, Jim Frayne. Who are you? Are you a friend of Regan’s or something? Or maybe a relative? Wow, it would be great if Regan and Dan had some relatives!”

Dorothy smiled as Trixie rambled on, jumping from one conclusion to another. “Actually, I’ve only met Regan once before. My name is Dorothy.”

Trixie smacked her forehead. “Gleeps, that’s right! Cathymw said you’d be dropping by. I was so excited about meeting you, but then Jim here… um… distracted me.”

“Cathymw? Oh, I saw her name at Jixemitri. Isn’t she the author with stories about secrets or something - oh wait! It’s see-crud, isn’t it? Like Bobby says,” Dorothy corrected herself.

Trixie giggled. “Well, more like Bobby used to say. He’s nine in this universe, so he doesn’t use too many of those cute words any more.”

“No, he’s almost too smart now,” Jim grumbled.

Trixie laughed and smiled at Jim, grabbing his hand. “You’re just still mad that he guessed our secret.”

Dorothy looked curiously at the pair. “So, what is the big secret?”

“Oh, that. It’s really nothing now that everyone knows,” Jim replied. “It’s more - Ow! Darn it, Jupe! Stop it already.”

Dorothy laughed as Jupiter headbutted Jim in the back a second time. Jim lurched forward, but quickly caught his balance. She smiled as she noticed that even caught off guard, Jim never let go of Trixie’s hand.

“I guess we should groom the horses now,” Jim said to Trixie.

Luckily, Regan chose that moment to walk into the stables. “Hi, there,” he nodded to Dorothy. “Since you two have a new friend to talk to, I’ll take care of grooming the horses. But just this once.” Putting his freckled hands on his hips, he added. “Hey, who put on my Pink Floyd album?” He turned around in time to the music and walked over to the CD player on the shelf.

Trixie quickly prodded Dorothy and Jim out of the stables and down the hill. “If Regan’s going to offer to help us out, we better run before he changes his mind. Why don’t we just head down to Moms? I’m sure she’ll want to meet you, Dorothy.”

Dorothy quickly agreed, anxious to get her first glimpse of Crabapple Farm. I’m still not sure if this is a dream or not, but I’m really enjoying the experience. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, you never did tell me what the big see-crud was.”

“Oh right,” Trixie said as they walked briskly down the well-worn path. “Well, basically when Jim and I first started dating, we decided to keep it a secret from the other Bob-Whites.”

“You did?” Dorothy asked in astonishment. “But you two hate to lie! Why did you do that?”

“Because everyone was either trying to force us together or keep us apart. They were all sticking their noses where they didn’t belong,” Trixie replied. “And stop smiling, James, I know you think that’s a trait of mine too. But I try and let people have private lives, you know, unlike the other Bob-Whites.”

“But now everyone knows?” Dorothy asked. “I bet they were furious that you hid something that big from them.”

“Oh, they were,” Jim replied. “Especially Brian. But Trixie’s worth any flack I get from him.”

Awwww… Dorothy thought to herself as Trixie smiled sweetly at Jim. “But they’ve forgiven you, right? Cause it would be horrible if something came between the Bob-Whites.”

“Oh, everything’s fine now. In fact, I think my brothers might finally have learned their lesson about being overprotective.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. I always loved how close you all were in the books… and now in all these wonderful fan fiction stories I’m reading at Jixemitri.”

“Yeah, I know that’s one of Cathymw’s favorite things about Trixie Belden and about Jix,” Jim said seriously. “In fact, that’s why she spends so much time there. She said that hanging out there is just like hanging out with fellow Bob-Whites. Everyone is so friendly and supportive of each other, even though everyone comes from different backgrounds.”

Trixie stopped dead in her tracks, frustrating Dorothy. She could see Crabapple Farm just a few hundred yards away. Surrounded by trees, the quaint farmhouse was just as she had pictured. I’ll just die if I don’t get to go inside.

“Hey, how do you know what Cathymw thinks? Since when have you been talking to her?” Trixie demanded, letting go of Jim’s hand and crossing her arms over her chest.

“Umm… well, we were just talking the other night,” Jim answered uncomfortably

Trixie scowled. “You know, I’m not sure I entirely trust that woman. I think she is way too enamored with you sometimes.”

“Um, guys, can we talk more about Jixemitri? There’s so much more I want to know,” Dorothy pleaded, trying to divert Trixie’s attention.

“What? Oh, right,” Trixie paused to glance at Dorothy. “Actually, why don’t you go on without us and see if anyone’s at my house. They might know more. I think Jim and I need to have a little talk.”

“Not another talk, Trixie.” Jim sighed, but seemed resigned to his fate. He turned to Dorothy. “Well, Dorothy, it was very nice to meet you. I hope you find answers to all your questions.” Dorothy quietly contained the thrill she felt as Jim took her hand to shake it. No reason to add to what she already suspected was a jealous Trixie mood. Dorothy gave Jim a shy smile goodbye and peered a final time into Jim’s emerald green eyes. My God, they are so green, not blue like that silly mistake in Bob-White Cave.

“Yes, it was great to meet you, Dorothy!” Trixie added, “I hope we can talk again soon.” With that final goodbye, Trixie grabbed Jim’s hand and dragged him towards the lake.

Dorothy stayed for a moment to watch them go before turning back toward Crabapple Farm, drawn by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked pie.