Trixie wandered down the stairs and padded through the family room in her bare socks. She was just about to enter the kitchen to join her brother Mart and their friend Dan when she heard her name mentioned.

"Trixie? Trixie?" she heard Mart say.

"Yea, Trixie. Um...you got a problem with that?" questioned Dan to Mart.

Trixie paused at the doorway, unseen by the two. She stepped back quickly, careful to not make any noise.

"I know I shouldn't be listening but, gleeps, I wonder what they're talking about," she said under her breath.

Mart spoke again, "Trixie?"

Trixie heard Dan answer, "Yes, Trixie. What's wrong with Trixie?"

"Trixie?" Mart queried, his voice weakening.

"Mart, look, Trixie's smart, sassy, loving, sexy as hell, not afraid of anything, and a complete natural."

"Trixie?" Mart repeated in a faint voice.

"Mart, come on. Is that all you're going to say? If I had known that telling you I have a crush on your sister would reduce you to one word, I would have said something a long time ago."

Mart looked at Dan. "Trixie?" he whispered.

Dan threw up his hands in exasperation and stood up. He put on his jacket and left through the back door. Outside the kitchen, in the shadows of the family room, Trixie stood stunned, her mind whirling.

"Dan has a crush on me? On me?" Her eyes widened.

Unknown to Trixie, the shocked expression on her face turned into dreamy glow. Taking a peek into the kitchen, Trixie saw Mart still sitting at the table. Although no sound came out of his mouth, she could see the word "Trixie" as it formed on the lips of his puzzled face.