By the time Trixie got home, she felt like she was going to burst at the seams. She hopped up the steps, bounced into the kitchen, and saw Bobby standing next to Moms. She gave him a big hug and a kiss, and then did the same to Moms.

Bobby giggled and gave her a hug back. "You're funny Trixie!"

Helen Belden, inured to all manner of unusual behavior from her posse by this time, merely smiled at her rambunctious daughter. "Did your problems get resolved dear?"

Trixie, in the process of filching a cookie from the jar on the counter, almost dropped the lid. "What - how - who said I was having a problem?" she finally managed to splutter.

"You're not the only one in this family who's capable of deductive reasoning." Helen briefly assumed a superior look; then, taking pity on her astonished daughter, relented. "Oh my dear, if you could see the look on your face … I've been wanting to do that for the longest time!"

"Moms!"

"What? I thought it was funny."

For a moment, Trixie stared at her mother in disbelief, until the shock wore off. Then she started to giggle as she saw the humor in the situation. "Wow Moms, you really got me!"

Helen joined her daughter in the good natured laughter while Bobby stood looking first at Trixie and then his mother. "What's so funny?" Bobby wanted to know. That sent Trixie and Helen into a fresh burst of laughter, interrupted only by Reddy's barking.

"Oh my, that can only mean one thing," exclaimed Helen.

"Daddy's home! Come on Trixie," Bobby pulled impatiently on Trixie's hand.

"You go on Bobby, I need to help Moms finish getting dinner together. Ok?"

"Okey dokey." Bobby bounded out of the kitchen, followed by Reddy, and rushed to greet Mr. Belden.

Dinner that evening was relatively quiet, with both Mart and Brian getting home late. Trixie rushed through her meal, anxious to finish getting ready for the morrow's meeting.

"Moms, Dad, will there be much for us to do tomorrow? I need to call a special meeting of the Bob-Whites in the afternoon. I'll do all my chores in the morning first," Trixie added in a wheedling tone.

Peter looked at Helen with a semi-serious gaze. "You know, I'm fresh out of industrious projects. How about you dear?" This last statement was accompanied by a wink.

Helen winked back. "Well now, I believe I don't have anything for the kids to do either."

Trixie couldn't contain herself any longer and bounded out of her chair at the table to give here parents a hug. "You two are super stupendous wonderful! Can I be excused to call Honey?"

"Yes, but try not to stay on the phone too long dear." Helen answered. "You still have dishes to do tonight."

"All right, I'll hurry. Thanks" With that Trixie hurried to the phone.

"Honey, I'm so glad you're home. I've got important news!"

"Is it about your big idea?" Honey asked breathlessly.

"Yes! Listen, I want to have a meeting tomorrow with all the Bob-Whites to tell them everything, but I'm kinda nervous. Do you think we could get together a littler earlier, and we could go over it together? You always see things that I miss, partner."

"Of course we can talk over your plan, Trixie, but I don't see what you have to be nervous about. Especially if you've talked to your mystery person already. Didn't you have to run through your plan then?"

"I did, but it's not the same as talking to us. You know how cautious certain members of our club are. And, well, I can be honest with you, Hon," Trixie's voice dropped to a whisper, "I only have an outline of what I - we - should do."

Honey answered loyally. "And I'll bet it's great too!"

"Thanks Honey … uh oh … I hear footsteps! We'll finish talking tomorrow ok? Say right after lunch?"

"You mean I'll have to wait that long! I'll never get to sleep tonight, Trixie Belden…" Honey finally had to stop teasing because she couldn't hold back the giggles any longer. "After lunch it is, and then the meeting at about 2:00?"

"That sounds good. I'll call Di and Dan to tell them and you can tell Jim."

"All right, till tomorrow, you torturer you."

The next afternoon Trixie went to Manor House feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Well, I made it past Regan. If I can convince him…

Honey was waiting impatiently at the steps of the Manor House. "Finally! I thought I was going to die if I had to wait much longer!" She grabbed Trixie by the arm and started dragging her towards the clubhouse. Trixie went along willingly and the two friends linked arms as they raced down the path.

In the clubhouse the two friends quickly got down to business. Trixie handed Honey her research. "Why don't you read through these print-outs first and then tell me what you think."

Honey read silently through the stack, while Trixie chewed nervously on her thumb. Finally, with a trembling hand, Honey put down the last sheet of paper. With eyes brimming with tears, she looked up at Trixie.

"Do you really think we could do something like this?" asked Honey. "Oh gosh, just think of the difference we could make!"

"Well, it's like I told Regan..." Trixie started to answer.

"So that's who your mystery person was," interrupted Honey. She snapped her fingers. "Of course, it makes perfect sense. Jim said he remembered seeing you talking to Regan earlier."

"Ahem!" Trixie cleared her throat. "If you're quite through detective!"

Honey blushed. "Oops! I didn't mean to interrupt." Then she waved her hand airily. "Please, do go on."

"Gee - thanks. Anyway, as I was saying... when I told this to Regan I said that maybe we could start out small like the Saddle Up Saturday program."

"So what did Regan say, how did he react, did he think this is a good idea?"

"Um - which question would you like me to answer?"

Honey grinned impishly at Trixie. "All of them of course!"

"Okay, okay! He reacted about the way you would expect - cautiously non-committal. I knew that would be his reaction." Trixie held up a hand to forestall any comments. "He's right, I know that. After all, his hands are pretty full just with us. That's why I wanted to talk with him first. And you know, all in all, he seemed pretty positive. He seemed more concerned with your parents reaction."

A sudden silence filled the clubhouse.

"Argh, what a goop I am." Trixie smacked her palm against her forehead. "Honey, I didn't mean that in a negative way. Your parents are swell putting up with us as much as they have."

"I know that," Honey answered in a small voice. "But Regan is right. Can you see my mother with a bunch of, of, strangers here? My parents were always so paranoid about my safety before we moved here."

"Yes, but you have mentioned that your parents seem like different people since you moved out here. Maybe - maybe they'll at least consider the idea. If we present it to them right. After all, your dad is a businessperson. I think if we present it to him in a business like manner, he'll accept it easier. You know, instead of thinking it's another one of my harebrained ideas." Trixie grinned ruefully as she recalled some of those 'ideas.'

"I hope so." Honey glanced down at her watch. "Uh oh!"

"Don't tell me the time went by that quickly!"

"Not entirely, we still have a little time to get organized. I guess there's no time like the present to try out your 'business plan.' When the rest of the gang gets here we can try it out on them. How were you planning on telling them? Remember, the introduction is the key to any good business plan."

Trixie stared at Honey in amazement. "See, I was right. You will be the brains in our agency. You always remember the important things. Okay, here's what I was thinking..."