Chapter: 25

Drag Strip Drac

The Wheeler's lake was a natural formation. Deep underground streams fed it. As a result, the waters remained icy-fresh throughout the hot summer months. But Trixie had never seen the water table so low before. And she worried about the well at home.

Only she made an effort to hush her mind. The Bob-Whites had earned some playtime. And it was badly needed by all. So with gratitude, the relaxing teenager let her troubles wash away on the wakes created by her splashing friends.

But Trixie's reprieve was short-lived. Jim had pulled himself from the water and had stretched out on the wooden dock. Staring up into the sky, he seemed to be watching clouds, scuttling by. But they were only the ones in his mind. As the view overhead was nothing but a solid hazy blue.

Swimming over to the slimy ladder Trixie climbed to the top and then gingerly made her way toward the quiet boy. As she went, her wet footprints evaporated almost instantaneously into nothingness. The platform was searing hot.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, as Jim sat up and made room for her next to him on his towel.

"Never," he said with a small smile.

Tossing his friend his bottle of suntan lotion, Jim added, "I'd offer to put that on your back, but I believe rule number two was no touchy-touchy?"

Trixie frowned. "If I recall," she replied. "And I imagine if you tried, we'd quickly find out that rule number four is no rubby-rubby."

The freckled boy let out a chuckle. "I imagine so," he admitted. "Glad to see you didn't get in trouble yesterday," he noted.

"Me too," Trixie revealed, coating her sunburned nose with the sweet coconut-smelling oil. "Though I still feel guilty about sneaking out like that. But you should have seen Bobby, Jim. He was frantic and insisted that we tell you about Rusty immediately. By the way, did any of that rocket stuff he mentioned hold up?"

Jim almost dropped the slippery lotion bottle as Trixie handed it back to him. "Sure did," he replied. "You could hardly detect the defect with the naked eye, but the nose cone was off, Trix. I started working on a new one last night."

"Gleeps," the less than surprised girl exclaimed. "I know I keep saying it, but that sure is creepy."

"Everything Bob's said has been creepy," Jim agreed. "And I have to ask myself why am I buying into it? Surely no sane person would? But seeing that spaceship really messed with my head, Trix."

Trixie smiled knowingly. "Feels kind of like someone threw a wrench in that well-oiled machine of yours, doesn't it?" she asked.

"Exactly," Jim concurred.

"Well, don't think that you're alone in that boat," the sympathizing girl went on. "Everyone's feeling the same way. Why there for a while, I found myself believing that Mr. Banks and Mr. Turner were alien imposters who were using the Mayor to develop Never Land, before moving on to conquer the rest of the world. I thought they were going to take over the earth. How messed up is that? Worse, I thought you and every member of my family were under the E.T.s' control too."

Jim lifted his index fingers to the side of his head like antennas and wiggled them at his friend while chuckling. "Honey told me you did," he confessed. "But I take it you don't buy into that theory anymore, do you, Trix?"

Trixie laughed, "Heavens, no. And I don't believe Mr. Maypenny created the crop circle anymore, either - which, by the way, I did. So I guess I'm back to square one, as far the big mysteries go. Well, almost, anyway. I do believe the ship we saw was from another planet, and Bobby, when he says the aliens didn't make the crop circle."

Jim lay back down beside the cross-legged girl and again stared to the sky. "I'd sure like to know what the Baked-Potato-Heads think the aliens' agenda is," he revealed. "It's got me really bothered that Mr. Brown is a part of that club. He knows his stuff, Trix. And he understands how to reach kids. Ted's been a mentor of mine. We've talked for hours, not only about his theories on teaching but also the natural world. The Ted Brown I know wouldn't belong to a group that chases children around with baseball bats. It's got me questioning everything. Including whether I'm fit to open a school for boys."

"What?!" Trixie exclaimed, her eyes protruding. "How could you ever think such a thing, Jim?! Why that's been your dream ever since I first met you?"

Jim laid his arm across his eyes, shielding them from the bright sunlight. Or was he trying to calm his mind? "Trix," the troubled young man began slowly. "What happens if I run across a difficult kid at my school? One like Miles Murdock? I can't exactly go slugging him, now can I? Will I be able to control my temper? Will I know what to do and be able to help him? Or will I even attempt to? Maybe Di was right. I like to think of myself as a humanitarian, but when you get right down to it, am I truly looking out for number one?"

Trixie didn't have to think about that answer. "Jim," she said seriously. "You're the most unselfish and thoughtful boy I've ever known. Di was angry, and Miles had fed her a bunch of lies. If you run across a troubled boy in the future, trust me, you won't hit him. You'll teach him how to build rockets and get him professional help if you don't know what to do. Miles Murdock isn't one of your students. He's your peer, and he's also a big bully. Miles has every advantage in the world, and he uses them to get away with things and steal what he wants. Mart tried to be that crook's friend, once. And look what it got him?"

When Jim didn't reply, the exceptionally grave young lady glanced out at the fair maiden Wheeler, who was currently laughing and dunking her handsome captain over some unknown slight.

"The older I get, the more confusing things become," Trixie went on as she gave Jim a nudge to make sure he was listening and not asleep. "Sometimes, the line between what's right and what's wrong gets a little blurry. But did you ever stop to think that maybe you did Miles a favor by letting him have it, Jim? He's got to learn somehow that he's not the center of the universe. Maybe I shouldn't tell you this. But Bobby said you were brought into Honey's life to not only protect her but to teach her that just because she's always kind and thoughtful to others, they aren't always going to treat her the same way. That's pretty profound if you ask me. Maybe you're the way you are for a reason, Jim? None of us are perfect. And before you go hitting someone again, you'll reflect back on all this and think twice. I know you will. You've already proven it to me."

The handsome boy rolled to his side and propped himself up on one elbow. Trixie was holding her peeling nose righteously high, and her sun-dried hair was going every which way. "Gleeps, Jim thought as he gazed into her eyes. "No girl should be so beautiful."

Reaching up, Trixie's admirer gently pushed down his friend's chin with a finger. "Trix," he said softly. "What's the real reason you came to see me the other night?"

Only Trixie never had a chance to reply. Mart Belden was hopping the pairs way, first on one foot, then the other, crying "Ouch-ouch!" with each step.

Now dripping over the bothered teens, Mart called out to Brian, who was still in the lake, "Ahoy me, Cap'n! Seems yer sneaky first-matie is takin' liberties wit' our tempestuous young vixen, he is. Nah only does he mock rules one 'n two! But the dirty cur be testin' rule number four, which be 'no whispy-whispies'. Wha' do ye say we do wit' the flea laden whelp?"

"I say we feed 'im t' the fishes!" Dan called back, treading water nearby a giggling Honey.

"Aye now," ole cap'n Brian concurred. "We'll make 'im walk the plank we shall!"

As the good Captain motioned for his friends to swim for the dock, Trixie groaned. She finally understood where the expression "Oh brother!" had come from. And the exasperated girl had to wonder why, in her case, it had to be plural! But this Venusian Vixen wasn't about to let her ruddy beau go down without a fight. Those bloody pirates didn't know with who they were dealing.

And she giggled. Laughter was indeed good medicine. Trixie would give the aliens that much.

At dinner around the dining room table that night, Trixie wondered what Honey would be serving at her first dinner party at the house. If Jim were invited, would it be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made with fresh raspberry preserves? Maybe if baby Robert was a toddler, it might.

"Honey sure looked pretty today, Moms," the mischievous girl told her mother. "She was wearing a new swimsuit. It was red with white polka dots." Turning to Brain, who was seated next to her, Trixie added, "Isn't red your favorite color, Brian?"

Brian choked on his bite of pot-roast.

As Moms refilled the poor boy's milk glass, she grinned. She knew very well from where her daughter's question had come. Ah, to be a teenage girl again. But Mrs. Belden came to her son's rescue by changing the subject.

"Mrs. Lynch called this afternoon," she announced, retaking her seat. She tells me that Sergio and his crew slipped into town early this morning. Phoebe said they'll be staying at the house while they're in town. She had Harrison open up the North Wing."

"Gleeps, I bet Di's excited!" Trixie exclaimed.

"No doubt," Mart concurred, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "Yours truly certainly is!"

Daddy asked his middle son to pass him the bowl of potatoes and carrots. "I must say I am too," he revealed. It'll be good to see ole Serg again. We had a lot of fun in those days, didn't we, Helen?"

Mrs. Belden replied with a soft faraway smile. "We certainly did," she said. "It's too bad Andy can't be here. It'd be like old times."

"What was Sleepyside like back then?" Trixie asked her mother while chasing her peas around her plate with her fork. "What kinds of things did you and Daddy do on Saturday nights?"

"We spent most of our time down at Speedway," Mr. Belden admitted. "Your uncle Andrew had a souped-up stock car, and I was his mechanic. Your mother, let's just say, was a part of our pit crew. And Sergio would videotape the races."

"Gee," Brian remarked as he cleaned his plate. "I sure wish the race track hadn't shut down, Dad. That sounds right up my alley! What else did you do?"

"Your father and I played a lot of miniature golf out on the strip," Moms chipped in. "In our day, Route 99 was the place to be. There was a bowling alley, a roller skating rink, and even a drive-in movie theater. Of course, there were also a lot of silly tourist traps like the Headless Horseman Museum. And you can still see remnants of them today. Though most of the old motels and gas stations have been bulldozed over for safety reasons."

"Man-oh-man!" Mart exclaimed. "Sounds like we missed out on a lot of fun!"

Daddy grinned. "You've had plenty of excitement of your own," he noted. "And there's plenty more to come. You see," Mr. Belden went on, pushing back his chair at the end of the table. "There was a big announcement in today's newspaper. Sergio and his investigators are holding a Town Hall Meeting tomorrow night. They are encouraging the public to come forward to share their U.F.O. accounts. The meeting will be filmed and appear in the Way Beyond episode, which will air later this fall. Your mother and I thought you all would like to attend? "

"Gleeps, would we ever!" Trixie exclaimed, bouncing from her chair. "But aren't you worried that the Baked-Potato-Heads will be there too, Daddy?"

Mrs. Belden sighed and put down her spoon. "Trixie, dear," she said. "Please stop using that terrible name. It's offensive. And yes, your father and I are concerned. But we plan to be there too. We feel it's important that you children have the chance to air your voices. You're making history, after all."

"Moms and Daddy says I can goes too," Bobby announced, sitting up tall. "And yous can invites the Bob-Whites, ifs you wants."

"If we 'wants'?" Trixie exclaimed, "May I be excused to go call Honey, Moms?!"

Mrs. Belden asked her daughter to sit back down. "You may want to hear the rest of this, first," she advised.

"There's more?!" Mart exclaimed. "Great googly moogly!"

Trixie couldn't remember the last time she'd heard Mart use words with so few syllables. He had to be really excited!

"Yeahs! There's gonna be a gigantics party in towns! The schedule was ins the paper todays!" Bobby revealed. "Moms let me cuts it out and puts it on the 'fridge. Daddy says laters this weeks he's gonna takes off work and takes us. Mr. Lynch ordered lots and lots of ray-guns this times. And I'll be able to gets ones when we goes. Ohs, and Brian, you can asks Honey ifs you wants to," he added with a silly giggle. "I asks Moms for yous. She said yes."

As Mrs. Belden's fixed-up son looked as if he wanted to crawl under the table, his mother said, "All of the Bob-Whites are invited. Your father and I have agreed to chaperone. So share the list of the activities with your friends, and see which day you'd like to go."

"Sergio also plans to have his team of investigators out at the cornfield early in the morning," Mr. Belden added. "They want to take soil and crop samples before the first tour of the circle, which is set to start at eleven o'clock. The firemen will begin their airlifts at ten, and people are allowed to watch the filming of the show from outside the fence. Mr. Lynch tells me that once Sergio and his crew have completed their study, they intend to sign autographs for the crowd."

"Your Dad and I thought you wouldn't want to miss out,' Moms added. "And since both Mr. Lynch and Mr. Maypenny will be there, we have no problem with your going. Mr. Lynch has offered to introduce you to Mr. Zabatino. Sergio is very anxious to make the Bob-Whites acquaintance, I hear."

Mart's face dropped. "I've got to go to work," he said gloomily. "I'm supposed to be at Mr. Sanderson's by seven."

Brian shook his head and tossed his balled-up napkin at his brother. "That's no problem, lamebrain" he said. "Just ask Mr. Sanderson if you can take your lunch break at eleven? If he says it's OK, Trixie and I can swing by and pick you up, Mart. The farm's just a stone's throw from there. We'll still make the tail end of the first tour. Then, once you've gotten a chance to meet Mr. Zabatino and get his autograph, we can run you back to work." Brian always knew what to do! That's why he was the captain!

At five to eleven on Monday morning, Brian pulled up in front of Mr. Sanderson's gate. Giving the car's horn two quick beeps with his fist, he and Trixie waited for their brother to emerge from the tall green fields.

"If we were a little earlier, I'd take you to see those giant pumpkins Mart's been feeding," Brian told his sister. "You wouldn't believe your eyes. One's got to be twice the size of the Jalopy, Trix. I've got no idea what's in that Miraculous Multiplier of his, but it's got to be radioactive."

Trixie pulled down her sun visor and checked to make sure she'd gotten all of the white zinc oxide removed from her sunburned nose. She wouldn't want Jim to see it. He and the other Bob-Whites would be waiting for the Beldens at the crop circle.

"Shh," she told Brian, with a teasing giggle. "The Baked-Potato-Heads...pardon me, the nice gentlemen who like to wear aluminum head-pieces... might have the backseat bugged. Mr. Lytell already believes that radiation from the spaceship is making his hair fall out. Why if he overheard what you'd just said, he'd likely…."

Trixie never got time to finish her thought. Mart came jogging his siblings' way with his camera swinging at his neck. Nearing the fence, Mart picked up speed and then leaped over the gate, using one hand to help propel his thick body over the top rail. "Wow!" Trixie thought, flopping back in her seat. "Maybe there is something nuclear in that mix of his, after all!"

Rushing to catch up with the rest of their party, the Beldens were pleasantly pleased to see Miss Trask among the crowd of tourists milling within the pattern in the corn. With a book in hand, Honey's former governess seemed to be recovering well from her breakup with Mr. Lytell.

To Trixie's great relief, the lovely lady was smiling. And she looked like a million dollars. Miss Trask was dressed in a flowing white tunic and a pair of matching slacks, which she'd accented with chunky turquoise and silver jewelry.

Also in the mix of people were a few faces Trixie found less welcoming. They included Diana, Susie Swanson, Miles Murdock, and Jack Turner. Feeling somewhat bitter, Trixie knew she shouldn't be surprised that the little clique was in attendance. Mr. Zabatino was staying with the Lynches. And Miles and the others were Di's new friends. Only Trixie found it awkward. And apparently, Diana did too.

As the violet-eyed girl cast an uncomfortable glance in the Bob-White's direction, she smiled ever so slightly, and Trixie waved.

Only as Diana began to lift her hand to return the gesture, Miles took notice and slid his arm around the slim girl's waist. And that put an end to that.

"At least it's a start, Trixie thought sadly.

Returning her attention to the guided tour, Trixie realized with a start that she should have been listening more closely to Mr. Maypenny's spiel. Tugging on Honey's arm, Trixie then pointed silently to her ear. Out of respect to Mr. Maypenny and the other visitors, the excited young lady didn't want to speak out loud. But she needed to let her partner know that the two detectives needed to be taking note.

The gamekeeper was currently explaining to the crowd of enthralled listeners how reportedly, during the nineteen seventies, a pair of men in Great Britain had made similar crop circles using nothing but pieces of rope and wooden planks! Neither Trixie nor Honey had found time to research the particular method yet. So this was quite intriguing.

"The tricksters Crowley and Bowler claimed to have roamed the English countryside at night stamping out the curious shapes," Mr. Maypenny bellowed. "By attaching long lengths of rope to each end of four-foot boards, the men were able to loop the ropes around their necks. Then, with the boards on the ground in front of them, they are said to have pressed down with their feet to move the boards forward. Mr. Crowley and Mr. Bowler would repeat this motion until the crop circles were complete."

"Yeah, Yeah. And then, they'd sneak back out, the same way they entered," Miles Murdock called out, rudely interrupting the speech. "We all know that, old man. But you left out how Crowley and Bowler also used special eyepieces to keep their lines straight. So why don't you tell us something we don't know, huh, buddy? "

"What a lame tour," Trixie overheard Miles tell Di, as Miss Trask shook her head with clear disapproval.

Only Mr. Maypenny wasn't shaken. "Well now, young man," he said, giving Mr. Murdock a big one-sided grin. "Have you ever heard of the Mowing Devil of Hartford-shire?"

As the gamekeeper began his favorite tale, Miles and Jack seemed to lose interest, and Trixie watched with disgust as the two boys strayed off alone into the cornrows. Upon entering the circle, the visitors had been asked not to veer off the matted path. But par for the course, the rules apparently didn't apply to the Mayor's son.

And Jim was incensed. Trixie knew her angered friend well enough to read the dancing sparks in the boy's green eyes. "Be right back," he whispered in her ear, unconcerned that he'd broken rule number four.

"You aren't going after them, are you?" she hissed.

Jim shook his head and then winked at the worried girl. "No. I'm going to go get Miles and Jack some professional help," he uttered.

A few moments later, Trixie's companion returned with security guard Dandy Andy in tow. After pointing out the spot where Mr. Murdock and Mr. Turner had left the pathway, Jim returned to Trixie's side.

Shortly after, Officer Anderson emerged from the cornstalks marching the two sheepish culprits in front of him. Diana and Susie ran after them as Dandy Andy escorted the caught boys from the crop circle.

"Their loss," Trixie thought smugly as Mr. Maypenny led the rapt crowd on to the next circle. She also had to admit that maybe the dapper watchman was the right choice to take on the Devil. And that idea left her smiling.

Once the tour was complete, the Bob-Whites and Miss Trask browsed the open-aired souvenir stand.

Miles and his teen groupies were hanging out at the table too, and as the despicable Mr. Murdock picked up a T-shirt, he yelled, "Hey Jack get a load of this! You and I definitely need these!"

Jack snickered as his friend displayed both sides of the black shirt for all to see.

On the front, printed in red, was the phrase, "I went to Sleepyside", and below it was what Miss Trask explained was a woodblock print from the 1600s, showing a devil with a scythe standing in a flaming ring of grain. On the back of the tee were the words, "The Mowing Devil made me do it," in the same fiery letters.

While Jack laughingly caught the tee his grinning pal threw him, Miles picked up another. Then, he pulled out his brimming wallet to pay the clerk. Trixie had never seen so many bills in all her life, and she gasped. Why, there was enough to buy out an entire sporting-goods store in there. So why had Miles stolen the Bob-Whites' tennis rackets and other outdoor equipment? That young man definitely had problems.

But Trixie decided not to let her worries about Miles ruin her day. The cast of Way Beyond would be emerging from their tented lab to sign autographs shortly. And she could feel the excitement of the waiting people building in the air.

Mr. Lynch had set up a special stage for the event, and there were already a number of tourists standing in line. The Bob-Whites and Miss Trask would have been among them too, only Mr. Lynch had insisted they wait. He had something else in mind for the V.I.P.s.

Now coming the young people's way, Diana's grinning father prepared to escort the young people and their lovely chaperone towards the portable science station where Sergio and his investigators were busy performing tests. En route, the intimate group passed by Mr. Zabatino's production crew, who was currently filming interviews with the out-of-town visitors. It was all so thrilling, and it gave Trixie goosebumps!

But as she entered the crowded canvas shelter with the others, the bubbly girl's prickles nearly doubled. Sergio Zabatino seemed larger than life.

Though of average height, the slightly chubby man had a great shock of bushy black hair, making him appear taller than he actually was. The television icon was also dressed from head to toe in khaki, which only added to this illusion. But it was the beaded scarab choker about Mr. Zabatino's neck, which caused Trixie to giggle. He looked as if he'd just stepped out of a mummy movie. And the tickled girl was reminded of Drag Strip Drac. She mustn't forget to ask Mr. Zabatino about her mother's mysterious movie role!

As Mr. Lynch introduced the Bob-Whites and Miss Trask, the Way Beyond host smiled warmly. Sergio seemed genuinely pleased to make their acquaintance. And the feeling was overwhelmingly mutual. But to Trixie, it seemed especially so in Miss Trask's case. Why, Honey's long-time governess appeared almost smitten with the worldly man! And Sergio Zabatino was openly captivated.

Honey had told Trixie once that Miss Trask was a well-educated woman. And Trixie knew from conversations she'd had with the woman that she had a keen interest in archeology and anthropology. But the stunned girl had never imagined Miss Trask to be a fan of the television show!

"Goodness, the pleasure is all mine," Miss Trask said as the famous gentleman shook her hand. "I recently finished reading your book, The Paradox of Puma Punku, Mr. Zabatino. And I find your theory that extraterrestrials built the ancient site quite fascinating. You see, I had the great fortune to have traveled to ruins when I was in college. And I found the precision of the cut stone blocks indeed unfathomable. Your book opened my eyes to ideas I'd never considered. And I must confess I brought the volume with me today in hopes you'd sign it."

Mr. Zabatino grinned, "Why I'd love to," he admitted. "But there are two conditions. The first that you call me Sergio. And the second, that you grace me with your presence tonight at dinner, Miss Trask. There used to be this little Italian restaurant down on Maple that served the best rigatoni…."

Trixie would have sworn that Miss Trask was blushing. And Honey was tickled pink. Mr. Zabatino was a significant improvement over Mr. Lytell; make no mistake there. But the governess was a few years older than her suitor.

"You must mean Antonio's," the charmed lady said. "And I would be delighted to join you, Sergio. But please, it's Margery."

While Mr. Zabatino and Miss Trask had been confirming their date, the boys had been eyeing the wide assortment of precision instruments on the lab table. Catching sight of the interested young men, Sergio said, "Here now, I've been rude. Let me present to you the brains behind the show."

Trixie and her friends were very impressed. Mr. Zabatino had chosen his team of experts carefully. Taylor Troves was a noted astrophysics who coincidentally had the same hair color as Jim. Sandy Ryan was their chief Biophysics, and Allison Marx was the team's Meteorologist. Besides the scientists, Sergio had enlisted the help of former military intelligence official Emilio Ellando, who just so happened to have a lot of information on Trixie and Honey.

"It's not every day that files with the names of fourteen-year-old girls come across my desk," the chuckling man admitted.

Trixie and Honey exchanged startled glances. They didn't know if the muscular Mr. Ellando was being serious or not. But one thing was for sure. Every member of the Way Beyond cast was as friendly as they were knowledgeable.

"If you don't mind my asking, what kind of tests do you normally perform when studying a crop circle? Brian asked Ms. Ryan and her accomplished teammates.

"Allison investigates the atmospheric conditions on the day the anomaly was first reported and evaluates current conditions," Sergio's Biophysicist said. "She also searches past records for any unusual wind and lightning patterns that have been recorded in the region. I, myself, look at the internal structure of the plants and the soil within the designs to see if they've been exposed to electromagnetic or microwave energy. There have actually been cases where insects were found fused to the grain by this high heat. Can you imagine that?"

"Actually no," Jim confessed. "That's pretty wild."

"Even wilder is that fact that scientists have found particles of space dust embedded in some of the plants within the circles," Taylor Troves added. "Some of the grain samples have been become magnetized by it."

"Of course, we also carefully look for signs of forgery," Emilio noted. "Such as postmarks, footprints, and the complexity and evenness of the patterns in the crop."

Looking over Ms. Ryan's shoulder, Dan remarked, "I know it's a bit early to be asking this, but have you been able to conclude whether or not our circle here in Sleepyside is man-made?"

Before any of his people could reply, Mr. Zabatino stepped in with a grin. "Well young fella," he said. "You wouldn't want us to go ruining the show, now would you?" Leading the young people back to where Miss Trask and Mr. Lynch were waiting, Sergio let the scientist get back to work.

"Gleeps, Mr. Zabatino," Trixie exclaimed breathlessly. "Will we really have to wait until the episode airs to find out? Honey and I tried to do some investigating but haven't been able to come up with the answer yet. My little brother Bobby says the aliens didn't make it. You know, the ones with the spacecraft we saw. And Mr. Maypenny, the Wheeler's gamekeeper, insists it was the Mowing Devil. But I tend to think…."

Mart clamped a hand over his sister's mouth. "Our deepest apologies, Sir," he said. "Beatrix here has a bad habit of rambling on and jumping to conclusions."

The laughing man gave the boy a slap on his back. "Takes after her mother, does she?" he said.

Brian let out a cough of surprise. "Excuse me?" he said.

Mr. Lynch grinned. He knew what was coming.

"She is Helen's daughter, isn't she?" Mr. Zabatino asked his old friend, seeming a bit confused.

"Indeed she is," Mr. Lynch replied with a smirk. "You see, Serg, Peter and Helen have sheltered the children some. Would you believe the young people have yet to hear about Drag Strip Drac?"

Mr. Zabatino started hiccuping with laughter, and even Miss Trask's eyebrows rose with curiosity. "Well then, I do believe it's time they learned," he said.

"Back in the day," Mr. Zabatino began, as Trixie pulled away from Mart and drew in close," Your Uncle Andrew and your mother were King and Queen of the speedway. Your mother was your father's girl. But Andy had the fastest car in town, and nobody knew how to drive it like Helen did."

"On the racetrack?!" Brian exclaimed, his mind now blown. "Not Moms?"

"Yes, 'Moms'," Sergio replied, laughing at the unfamiliar title. "And your mother had this pair of short-shorts …."

Mr. Lynch cleared his voice as Trixie's mouth dropped open, indicating to his friend that some topics were still off-limits.

Winking back his understanding, Sergio went on, "Anyway, as I was saying, I used to hang out down at the track and film the races. That's when I got the idea to shoot a movie for our high school Senior Frolics. There was this old local legend about vampires, you see, and I thought it'd be fun to turn it into a screenplay that incorporated the footage I'd been taking out on the strip. Back then, vampires and cars were all the rage. And your mother and Andy were up for some kicks."

"Sounds like a real gas," Dan laughed, making a pun. "What was the plot, Mr. Zabatino?"

Sergio elbowed Mr. Lynch, not wishing to hog all the fun, and said, "Would you like to tell them, Phil? Or should I?"

Mr. Lynch grinned and checked the time. "I'd love to, honestly," he said, bowing out gracefully. "But I need to go ready the stage. So why don't you finish up here, Serg, and I'll meet you out there in ten minutes to start the signing. It's your story, after all."

As Diana's father made a quick exit, the star of the hour went about spinning his tale. And boy-oh-boy was it proving to be a doozie! Trixie couldn't quite believe her ears. Was Mr. Zabatino pulling the Bob-White's legs?

The movie, it turned out, centered on a beautiful young girl called Lead-foot Lydia – A.K.A., Moms. Lydia's nagging mother was anxious to marry off her race-car-driving daughter. And all of the boys in town wished for the comely girl's hand. But Lydia's only love was speed. And she had the fastest ride in town. But her badgering mother wouldn't let up, so her tomboy daughter agreed to marry the first boy who could out-race her.

Only Lead-foot Lydia knew that none of the young men had a heap fast enough to win her hand. Except for one. And that was Percival Mellencamp, who was played by none other than Uncle Andrew.

But unlucky Percy was afraid to put his foot down. He feared dying in fiery a car wreck. But still, each night, he'd go down to the track to watch Lynda blow her intendeds away - for the timid Percival was madly in love with the beautiful speed demon.

Then one night, while he was sitting in the darkened stands, a looming figure in a black cape swooped down upon the pimpled teen. Count Drac Van den Boogaard (Daddy's big cameo) had come to suck Percy's thin blood. And the sniveling Percival was instantly transformed into a vampire.

Now a member of the undead, the young creature-of-the-night no longer had death to fear. So he ran home to tune up his souped-up rat rod and then headed back to the track the following dusk to challenge his heavy-footed darling with a proposal of an everlasting life together.

And, of course, Lydia accepted. She believed Percy to be nothing but a terrible chicken. He simply didn't have the guts needed to win.

But the young heroine hadn't expected the race to be so intense.

Neck and neck, the two cars sped. But slowly, Percival began to pull away. Only unexpectedly, the slick-haired monster hit an oil spill which sent his vehicle spinning off the track. As his jazzed-up jalopy violently hit a tree, Lydia crossed over the finish line.

But Lead-foot Lydia hadn't won. By coming close to beating her, Percival had stolen the cold girl's heart.

Racing back around, the now impassioned young lass rushed to tell the boy she'd marry him. Only when Lead-foot Lydia opened the car door, with a crowd of spectators looking on, she found the dying young vampire, crumpled in his wreck, impaled through the heart on his gear shift!

Trixie hadn't been expecting the plot twist, and she giggled. How campy! But Mr. Zabatino wasn't quite done with his synopsis.

"And so it was, with tears in her eyes, Lydia hopped back in her ride and revved the motor," Sergio went on. "And do you know what Lead-foot Lydia called as she laid on the gas and took to the wind?" he asked the smiling teenagers with a smirk.

When his captive audience merely shook their heads, Sergio laughed and said, "Eat my dust, Suckers!"

The Bob-Whites all groaned, and even the governess had to chuckle at the cheesy line.

"I never said it was a cinematic masterpiece," Mr. Zabatino admitted, without apology. "But it did win first prize at the talent show."

As the famous Sergio Zabatino took Miss Trask's arm to lead her from the tent, the lovely lady batted her eyes and said, "I'm sure it did! How fun!"

Exiting behind the giddy pair, Mart told a dazed Trixie, "Gleeps, would I ever like to get my sticky needles on a copy of that movie! Makes me want to produce one, Trix! Just think, you're brilliant brother could be following in a master's footsteps!"

Trixie shook her head. She could only imagine what kind of kooky story Cosmo Mc Belden would dream up. "You're following in them, alright," she said with a sigh. "And you'd better step it up if you're going to get back to Mr. Sanderson's on time, Oh Great One."

Then, as Trixie blinked at the bright light outside, she added, "Can you believe Moms actually acted in that ridiculous movie? And drove a race car?! Why I can't wrap my head around it."

"Boggling, isn't it?" Brain admitted, catching up with his siblings. "To think, Moms and Dad were once teens like us."

As Trixie chewed on the notion, the wise ole captain continued to muse out loud, "When you're a kid, you think your parents are deities or something. All-knowing, all-powerful, and just plain perfect. But then one day you start growing up. And when that happens, suddenly they become as mortal and flawed as you. Crazy, isn't it Tinkerbelle?"

"Insane," Trixie replied with a sign. "And pretty uncomfortable too. But hilarious nonetheless."

"I'd say!" Dan laughed from close behind the Beldens. "Did you catch the name of that Vampire your Dad played, guys? 'Drac Van den Boogaard'. You don't think that legend Mr. Zabatino based his story on had to do with the family, do you?"

"I've heard all kinds of stories about witches and ghosts living in the hills around here," Brian replied. "But never any about blood-sucking vampires."

None of the other Bob-Whites had either. But all agreed the notion had upped the creepy factor another notch. Ah, the joys of living in Never Land!

But it was time to head home and get back to work. And as the six young people prepared to leave, Mr. Maypenny waved to say goodbye. His next tour would be starting in approximately five minutes, and he already had quite a crowd.

"Have fun today?!" the towering man called to the B.W.G.s, clearly enjoying his new role as a tour guide.

"Oh heavens yes!" Honey exclaimed, giving him a wave back, "And you taught us a lot too, Mr. Maypenny! Thank you for sharing all that wonderful information!"

Trixie chipped in her agreement. She had picked up some helpful tidbits on the tour. But the up-and-coming detective was suddenly reminded of something she'd been meaning to ask the gamekeeper.

"Mr. Maypenny," Trixie called out as Brian pulled her toward the parking lot. "Any luck finding the owner of that wristwatch?"

The laughing man, who had begun gathering people's tickets, gave the girl a shake of his head. "No one's stepped forward to claim it," he replied. "But I have yet to check with the Mowing Devil, young lady."