I’m 15 for a moment
Caught between 10 and 20
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Trixie Belden. Blonde, blue eyed dynamo. Jim rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling hoping for sleep to come. His life had changed drastically since he’d met her and Honey.
He now lived in a mansion, with parents again and a new sister. And it was all thanks to Trixie. Jim thought of her as a best friend, but somehow it was more.
He gave up the pretext of sleep and slipped from the bed. He looked down at the farmhouse nestled into the hollow. He could see the lights, and he swore he could see Trixie’s light on in her bedroom.
Suddenly it went out and he grinned. “Good night Trixie. Thank you.” He whispered into the night.
I’m 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we’re on fire
Making our way back from Mars
“Jim? What are you saying?” Trixie looked up at him with wide blue eyes.
Jim ran his hand through his hair, and sighed. This wasn’t going like he’d hoped.
“I’m saying that I, I want you to be my girlfriend, will you?”
Trixie stared up at him, her mouth hanging slightly opened in shock.
“Why?”
Jim did a double take. “Why? Trixie, you’re beautiful, inside and out. I’ve known you since I was 15 and it feels like it’s been forever. You’re my best friend. I love you.” he finished with a whisper.
Trixie cried out and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily, pulling her tightly against his body.
“I love you Jim Frayne! Yes, I will be your girlfriend!”
15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
“Trixie will you marry me?”
“Jim! Yes! I love you!”
“I Beatrix, take you James, to be my lawfully wedded husband…”
“I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. I love you and I will love you for the rest of my life!”
“This breakfast is wonderful, thank you.” Jim kissed her forehead.
“I like making my husband breakfast!”
“I love it, but not when you aren’t feeling well. Trixie you really need to go to the doctor, this bug hasn’t passed yet.”
I’m 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I’m a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
“Trixie? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at work? Is something wrong, is it still this bug?” Jim stood up behind his desk when she let herself into his office at the school.
Trixie gently pushed him back into his chair and followed him, by sitting on his lap.
“Jim, could you do something for me?” Trixie said, tracing circles on the front of his shirt.
“Anything.”
“Could you stop calling our child a “bug”?” Watching Jim through her lashes, she watched a myriad of emotions flit across his face, finally settling on happiness.
Jim held her tightly, and then realized she probably couldn’t breathe. He quickly stood up and set her lovingly back down into his seat.
“We’re- We’re having a baby?” he asked, kneeling in front of her, grasping her hands in his.
Trixie nodded, smiling. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Jim, I really want some ice cream, could you get me some?” Trixie elbowed Jim for the third time.
“Now? It’s 3am.” Jim tried to shake himself from slumber.
“I can’t help it that your child wants me to have ice cream.” Trixie pouted. “Fine, you sleep, I’ll go get it.”
Jim sighed, “No, I don’t want you wandering around in the dark, I’ll get it.”
He threw the blanket back and got up to get her the ice cream. The door was partially opened and he kicked it before realizing it.
“Ow!”
“Jim, are you ok?”
“Fine, just fine.” He said through his gritted teeth.
Jim proceeded down the hall and down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, he sidestepped a pile of laundry that Trixie had thrown down earlier, that was to be done the next day. But he went too far and tripped on his shoes by the door.
Finally, making it to the freezer, he opened it and had a roast fall out onto his other foot.
Jim bit his lip in his effort not to yell, and tasted blood for his efforts.
Putting the roast back, he dished the ice cream and put that back also. He took extra care to make sure the roast didn’t fall out again.
Jim took her bowl of ice cream up the stairs, and ran up the stairs. He missed the last step, and banged his shin on it. It took some juggling, but he kept the ice cream upright.
Jim finally reached their bedroom and he moved gingerly toward the bed. Climbing in, he softly said, “Trixie, here’s your ice cream.”
Silence.
“Trix?”
Soft snoring and Trixie sighed. In her sleep.
Jim silently groaned and laid his head back onto the head board. He picked up the spoon and ate the ice cream before finally settling back onto his pillow for some more sleep.
“Push Trixie! You’re doing great, sweetheart, push once more!”
Jim lovingly wiped the sweat from her brow. She clawed at his hand.
“I don’t want to do this anymore! I swear if you touch me—Aaaggghh!!”
Suddenly, Jim was laughing and crying at the same time.
“It’s a girl! Congratulations! “Dr. Morris said. The baby began to cry and Jim was cutting the cord, tears streaming down his face.
“Trixie! I love you baby! It’s a girl, we have a daughter!” Jim kissed Trixie, his tears mixing with hers as they held their daughter for the first time.
“Our little Katie!” Trixie whispered as she kissed her blonde head.
I’m 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I’m heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
“Dad! I can’t believe you are being so unreasonable!” Katie Frayne said to her father.
Jim looked at her incredulous that his daughter could be so clueless.
“Katje Frayne! You snuck out when you knew you aren’t allowed out after dark. You went to the school and met with Jason. And the two of you went out into the preserve at night! Yes, you are grounded! And any further arguments, you’ll get an additional 2 weeks.”
Katie stomped her foot and tossed her curls in a somewhat familiar fashion. She ran up the stairs to her room, and both Jim and Trixie heard the door shut. It wasn’t quite a slam, but she had closed it harshly.
Jim looked to Trixie. “Was I wrong to ground her?”
“Absolutely not! She knows the rules. And she chose to break them!”
“But Trixie, if she is pulling stunts like this when she is 12, what is a few more years going to bring?” Jim sat down hard at the dining room table, resting his head in his hands.
Trixie looked down at the bent head of her husband, and grinned.
Trixie moved closer and put her hand on the back of his head. Her action brought his head up and he looked at her.
Her soft smile lessened his turmoil over his daughter’s punishment and he reached for her hand to pull her into his lap.
Trixie ran her fingers through his hair.
“If it’s any consolation, according to my parents, she comes by this naturally, and it is nothing we did or didn’t do.” Trixie said with a soft smile.
Jim groaned, “Don’t tell me the next step is her chasing down criminals! I don’t remember you like this at 12.”
Trixie laughed, “No silly, you didn’t meet me until I was 13, as you well know.”
Jim rested his head on hers and sighed.
“I seem to recall, your father saying when Katie was born, that what goes around comes around and he was sorry for me already!” Jim’s grin said he was finally finding the humor in their situation.
Trixie giggled, “See, naturally!”
“Trixie, I hate arguing with her. I want it to be like it was.”
“Do you mean when you were her daddy and you could do no wrong?” at Jim’s nod she continued. “You are still her Daddy, and this doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. She is just spreading her wings a little. You are the world’s most wonderful father!”
Trixie kissed him.
“This just makes me feel so old all of a sudden. Where did the years go? I mean, not that long ago, you were 13 and chasing criminals and I was trying to keep you under rein.”
15, there’s still time for you
15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We’re moving on…
“Grandpa! We’re here to spend the summer with you.” Helena ran up to her grandfather.
Jim put his rake down and embraced his 11 year old grand daughter. Over her head, he saw his daughter Katie and her husband John, along with his grandson and namesake, JJ.
JJ was quieter than Helena and younger at just 8 years.
Trixie came out of the house wiping her hands on a towel. The grand kids ran to hug her too. Katie kissed her father’s cheek and then her mother’s.
“Dad, are you sure you should be raking?” Katie asked concerned.
“Katie, I was raking before you were born, and are you trying say that I am not able to do it any longer?!” Jim turned his steady green gaze on his daughter.
Katie grinned, “No, Dad, I would never presume to tell you not to do something. Just take advantage of the fact you’ve got the kids here. Have them help you and let them rake. It’s good for their muscles.” Katie finished with a twinkle in her matching green eyes.
Trixie diverted attention by asking if anyone wanted to eat some of the cookies she’d just baked. As they all filed into the house, Jim waited and let them all go ahead of him. Then he discreetly rubbed his aching back.
I’m 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the days to where you are
Trixie held Jim’s hand quietly looking down at him. His eyes fluttered open and weakly looked up at her from his place in their bed.
“Trixie?”
“I’m here Jim.” Trixie squeezed his hand.
“Trixie, I want—“ Jim coughed and wheezed slightly. Trixie waited patiently.
“Trix, I would not have changed a thing! Every second--- every day--- they were all wonderful---- because of you.” Jim gasped and coughed a little more.
Trixie looked down at her husband of 70 years, and with tears in her eyes she kissed his cheek.
“Me either. I would do it all again! I love you James Winthrop Frayne II.”
Jim smiled slightly, and began to close his eyes.
“I’ll be waiting for you…..” And he was gone.
Trixie held his hand a little longer, taking the moment to remember their life together.
15 there’s still time for you
33 you’re on your way
Every day’s a new day…
15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
The alarm went off at 6am. Fifteen year old Jim rolled over in his bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Then he grinned. Trixie.
Jim hurried to get out of bed and showered and dressed. Today was a new day and it would be perfect.
He suddenly felt like he could look forward to the rest of his life. But today was more special, he was spending it with Trixie.