Short Stories:
Stories under 10,000 words, many of them written for various challenges. In order from newest to oldest.
Set sometime in the past (in the days before smart phones). While exploring a city, four of the Bob-Whites get just a little bit lost.
Posted on 19 November, 2024 for CWE#28. 1,802 words. Completed. (No couples.)
In the course of one of their adventures, the Bob-Whites leave a mystery unsolved. Matthew Wheeler is bothered by the loose end and does something about it.
Posted on 6 July, 2024 for my 21st Jixaversary. 1,832 words. Completed. (No couples.)
Regan asks a grown-up Trixie for help when he notices something unusual about some horses in his care.
Posted on 21 March, 2024 for CWE#27. 3,338 words. Completed. (No couples.)
A small tribute to the Trixie series and the community it inspired. The Bob-Whites are asked to help solve an unusual problem, but is Trixie’s curiosity going to get her into trouble?
Posted on 22 December, 2023 for CWE#26. 3,878 words. Completed. (No couples.)
During the 2023 Jixanny, a raffle was held and one of the prizes was a custom story to be written by me. Jedi1ant won this particular prize. She is a big Star Wars fan and also a big Jim/Trixie fan. This story was written especially for her, but she thinks that other Star Wars fans will enjoy it, too. It’s 1983 and the Bob-Whites have just been to a party. (May contain spoilers for Return of the Jedi.)
Posted on 25 June, 2023 to celebrate 20 years since my first story was posted. 2,882 words. Complete. (Trixie/Jim.)
Among the other activities of a very busy summer, an exciting discovery is made at Manor House. But trouble is lurking in the background.
Posted on 19 September, 2022 for CWE#25 Every CWE Deserves a Second Chance… Bingo and incorporating the requirements of CWE#4, 12 and 24. 3,137 words. Complete. (No couples.)
In Vivian’s story beginning, Trixie and Honey have gone to investigate their penpal’s disappearance only to find a mysterious stranger and some rather odd things in his house.
Posted on 15 June, 2022 for CWE#25 Every CWE Deserves a Second Chance… Bingo and incorporating the requirements of CWE#20 and 21. 2,020 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Julie/JStar8 provided a plot bunny: “What starts as one manageable unfortunate event quickly snowballs into a day/week where everything goes wrong. How do our Trixie characters cope?” To this, I added the elements of a few other challenges. The result? Mart thought his day couldn’t get worse. He was wrong.
Posted on 1 June, 2022 for CWE#25 Every CWE Deserves a Second Chance… Bingo and incorporating the requirements of CWE#2, 7, 11, 13 and 17. 5,220 words. Complete. (No couples.)
WARNING: This story is unfinished! For CWE#20, we were asked to post an unfinished story for someone else to finish. On a wet weekend away, the three Bob-White girls look for something interesting to do, but instead find themselves in a difficult situation. How does it end? Maybe you can tell me!
Posted on 14 February, 2022 for CWE#25 Every CWE Deserves a Second Chance… Bingo and incorporating the requirements of CWE#3 and 20. 1,000 words. Incomplete. (No couples.)
In the book The Mystery of the Headless Horseman, Alfred Dunham, acting curator of the Sleepyside Art Museum, had big plans… which were disrupted by the Bob-Whites. This story looks at what was happening behind the scenes, both during and after the events of the book.
Posted on 5 February, 2022 for CWE#25 Every CWE Deserves a Second Chance… Bingo and incorporating the requirements of CWE#5, 10, 18 and 22. 3,361 words. Complete. (No couples.)
The second of my two late entries for CWE#20 at Jix (see The Glove Is Not Mysterious, below). This one is a conclusion to a story beginning written by Deanna/Cestmoi, which can be found at her site. Hallie discovers that her college roommate Diana has had a liaison she regrets with a stranger named Tyler. Matters are complicated when Di is confronted by Joeanne Darnell.
Posted on 21 October, 2021. 2,140 words. Complete. (Dan/Hallie; Di/other.)
Two years ago, CWE#20 at Jix challenged writers to submit unfinished stories and then to finish someone else’s story. The challenge may be closed, but the stories are still available to finish. This one is a conclusion to a story beginning written by Julie/JStar8, which can be found at her site. On the first day of a Caribbean cruise, Trixie finds a bright pink, adult-sized winter glove on the pool deck and overhears a mysterious conversation while handing it in to Lost and Found.
Posted on 14 October, 2021. 2,049 words. Complete. (No couples.)
A mother, struggling to provide for her daughter, lands in a situation she is in no way prepared for. Inspired by the prompt: A teenager falls in with the wrong crowd.
Posted on 25 August, 2020. Written for the 20 Prompts for 20 Years of Jix writing challenge. 8,603 words. Complete. (No couples.)
A story told three ways: first, in 2020 words; second, in twenty sentences; and third, in twenty words. Trixie makes a discovery in the attic, to her parents’ dismay.
Posted on 15 April, 2020 for the 20/20/2020 challenge. 2,429 words in total. Complete. (No couples.)
A story told three ways: first, in twenty words; second, in twenty sentences; and third, in 2020 words. Honey has a piece of news to communicate.
Posted on 8 April, 2020 for the 20/20/2020 challenge. 2,260 words in total. Complete. (No couples.)
When one of Molinson’s subordinates makes an arrest, Wendell is forced to examine the contents of someone’s pockets.
Posted on 18 March, 2020 for the What’s In Their Pockets challenge. 2,184 words. Complete. (No couples.)
This is my second entry for the second part of CWE#20. (Brief description under Volcanic Eruptions part two, below.) In a story
beginning written by Mary C., Bobby has gone off at night in search of the mysterious twenty-four o'clock. You will find
part one on
Mary C.’s site. Who will he encounter on his journey and where will they lead him?
Posted on 9 October, 2019 as part of CWE#20. 3,511 words. Complete. (No couples.)
For the second part of CWE#20, we were asked to finish a story started by someone else. (My unfinished beginning is found below.) In a story
beginning written by Trish, the three Bob-White girls awaken on Honey's wedding day to a dilemma. You will find
part one on Trish’s site. In my
imagining of the ending, events take a rather unexpected turn.
Posted on 29 July, 2019 as part of CWE#20. 4,086 words. Complete. (Honey/Brian, past Honey/other.)
WARNING: This story is unfinished! For CWE#20, we were asked to post an unfinished story for someone else to finish. The three Bob-White girls find themselves in a difficult situation. How does it end? Maybe you can tell me!
Update: An ending for this story has been written by Dee and can be found at her site. She gives the story quite an interesting twist, with a cameo from one of my favourite minor characters.
Posted on 10 May, 2019. Written for part one of CWE#20: Finishing Unfinished Trixie Business. 826 words. Incomplete. (No couples.)
As the Bob-Whites enjoy some time together after Christmas, Dan sets Trixie a challenge to be completed by her birthday.
Posted on 11 March, 2019. Written for the Jixanny 19 writing challenge. 6,864 words. Complete. (No couples.)
A reimagining of the Mystery on Cobbett’s Island, from the point of view of the island itself.
Posted on 24 October, 2018. Written for CWE#18 …and Trixie Belden. 1,331 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Andrew Belden remembers what it was like to be seventeen years old and roam New York City with a friend.
Posted on 10 March, 2017. Written for Ronda’s Jixanny 17 group writing project. 3,127 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Trixie feels apprehensive about opening the door. A very short story featuring Trixie and Honey.
Posted on 10 March, 2017. Written for Mary N.’s CWC27 Jixanny 17: A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. 1,113 words. Complete. (No couples.)
A reimagining of a piece of history. Join the Bob-Whites on a voyage of discovery, with a pair of very childish explorers.
Posted on 27 September, 2016. Written for CWE number 14: Doomed to Repeat It. 4,278 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Peter Belden is plagued with inner turmoil as his daughter discovers the fate of some villains she just helped to put away.
Posted on 27 October, 2015. Written for CWE number 12: Die, Villain, Die! 3,292 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Some friendly teasing between the Bob-Whites leads Mart to issue a challenge… which goes slightly wrong.
Posted on 6 July, 2015, for my twelfth Jixaversary. Written for CWE number 10, Cherry Pop. 6,667 words. Complete. (No couples.)
During a summer visit home, the college-aged Bob-Whites encounter some stormy weather, both literally and figuratively. A meeting at the clubhouse turns into something more.
Posted on 6 July, 2014. Posted for my eleventh anniversary of joining Jix as an author. 7,833 words. Complete. (Begins with no couples. Eventually one traditional couple.)
The Box Trilogy
Three short stories that begin when the girls are teenagers and span many, many years. Each is self-contained, but relates to the one before. The three titles are:
Posted on 9 September, 2013. 2,313 words, 4,790 words and 1,955 words. Complete. (Begins with no couples. Non-traditional.)
For CWE#6, we were asked to cast the Trixie characters in a movie. Which movie did I choose? Read on to find out!
Posted on 13 June, 2013. Written for CWE#6 Trixie as…. 6,787 words, most of which are not mine. Complete. (No couples.)
The way that you look at a problem can have a big effect on whether you can find the solution. Dan finds this out the hard way, with some help from Honey and Trixie.
Posted on 17 September, 2012 for CWE 3: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. 2,044 words. Complete. (No couples.)
When Honey hears of a problem, she draws the rest of the Bob-Whites into helping to solve it. Can they discover the secret of the Blue Room before it is time to go home?
Posted on 6 July, 2012 for my ninth Jixaversary and including the elements of CWP Anniversary 9. 6,522 words. Complete. (No couples.)
This story was written for Circle Writing Event number 2, in which participants got to claim a plot bunny to write. I chose the following plot bunny, adopted it, fed it and grew it into this story: While tackling a large scrapbooking project, the Bob White girls uncover something VERY disturbing...
Posted on 11 May, 2012. 8,320 words. Complete. (Traditional couples.)
A short piece inspired by the elements of the VTC CWC. Trixie is going through something of a rough patch, but a new neighbour is there to issue a challenge and help her see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted on 4 August, 2008. A Submission for CWC#16, the Virtual Trixie Camp CWC. 2042 words. Complete. (No couples.)
People shouldn’t challenge me to write unhappy stories. I have discovered that I have no scruples whatsoever about killing off characters, so long as the story is a stand-alone. Be warned! (A big thank you to Kaye KL, who announced this story for me when I couldn’t make it to a computer.)
Posted on 1 April, 2007 in response to a challenge issued by Robin and Kaye. 2567 words. Complete. (No couples.)
Mart once taught Bobby that revenge was saccharine sweet. Now, he and Trixie are testing the idea for themselves.
Posted on 13 March, 2007. Posted as part of the seventh Jixaversary celebrations. 2108 words. Complete. (No couples.)
