The short tale of Alex

Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex. He was incredibly talented and intelligent.  He had graduated from Harvard at the age of 17. He was 21 at the present time.  He was very intelligent yet had no career. He only had a hobby. A very well paying hobby. Alex was a writer. He wrote many kinds of literature.  He had a column in a New York newspaper about his opinions.  He had written 4 successful novels. Each bringing home a hefty profit of $500,000. Obviously,  he was very wealthy. His parents had both been chefs and owned a restaurant.  When they heard Alex wasn't going to go on to run the family business,  they had sold the restaurant.  They currently were retired and living in Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Alex was living in the downtown area of Sparta,  Wisconsin.  He had bought a small shoe store and made it a book store. He had over 115,000 books. Either in the store, storage,  or in his personal collection.  His own books were obviously featured. He lived alone above the store. He had renovated everything. Himself or with the help of friends. It was extremely modest.  Very homey to anyone of any class. He was the oldest of four children. His younger brother a politician,  campaigning to be Governor of Wisconsin.  His sister was a modest housewife in Michigan.  His youngest brother a librarian in Milwaukee.  I have mislead you of course though. Alex did not live alone, besides his books he had a dog and a cat. Spark and ruby. They were magnificent creatures that were fiercely loyal to their master.

It was June 3rd, the day the local children started their summer vacation.  During the summer Alex was a legend with the towns children. Not because of his books or fame. His meetings. Alex had bought a small second home on the edge of the town and had a large backyard.  One day 2 tears ago, he was sitting, reading,  in that yard when a young boy ran up. Alex asked what he could help the young boy with. The child replied homework.  Alex was happy to oblige but worried where the boys parents were. For three hours the boy stayed there. Alex helped him complete the assignment and checked it for him. Then they talked.

Alex learned the boys mother was very young, twenty four, and that the father had run off. The boy was distraught.  His father had been his hero. The one true superhero in the world. Until he left. Which happened to be that morning.  From there the boy decided going home was smart but Alex didn't want the child walking home alone so he walked with him all the way to the boys house.

The next day the boy returned with a friend. He Introduced her as Janet.  When questioned Janet revealed that she was the boys mom and that she wanted to meet the man who had made her sad child happy. The three of them talked all day. John (the boy) and Janet returned almost every day the rest of the summer. They liked the company and Alex needed the social interaction.  Gradually John would bring one friend, the two. Then five, by the end of the summer there was twenty five children and teens between the ages of eight and sixteen. Their parents would occasionally come. Janet always did.

During the meetings they would all just talk. About books, other friends, life. They were all truly happy. When school started Janet and Alex wondered what would become of the club. They found out on the first Saturday of the school year. All twenty five children were there. Now the meetings were every Saturday.  They stayed away from gossip and leaned towards the topics of school and futures. Alex lived for his new friends and everyone of them adored him.

One dreary day in mid February,  Janet came rushing into the bookstore,  crying. Alex ran up to her and helped her into into a chair. She told him a story of how John had run away when his father returned last evening. Janet had refused to let him in. She stood nervously in their living room until he left their door step.  After he did she made supper and brought it into John's bedroom.  When she opened the door she found a note. It read as follows,

"Dear mom,

I can't live here where the man who disappointed me so much left us. He is a horrible person.  I saw you kick him out. But the sight of him made me realize.  I want to be in a place where that man couldn't find me. So I've run away. I will be in a safe place with every cookie we own. Sorry. But I'll be back soon. I just need to be away a while to think.

Love,

John"

She had cried the whole evening and uselessly searched the whole house. The only person who she trusted was Alex. He was touched by that but had a idea where John might be. They raced to his summerhouse and found John eating cookies at the kitchen table.  He stopped mid bite when he saw them. Janet thanked John with a hug then left with John. John. Noticed this and asked if his mother liked Alex.  She hastily replied that she didn't,  but John knew she did.

Janet took john's wish to heart. She looked for a new home. Not many houses were for sale and all above her price range.  So after months of searching, she came to Alex.  It was late June. Alex was living in his summerhouse again. It was right after a meeting. She asked very business like if she and John could move in with Alex as room mates. He accepted the request.  They were all settled a week later.

It was a while after they had moved in and comfortable,  Alex and John were sitting in the living room of the summerhouse watching a movie.  Janet was in the kitchen washing the dishes. She stood In the doorway to the living room when she was done. Watching Alex and John laugh together and just just be happy. That was when she began to realize that John had been right. She did like Alex.

Later that week when John was staying at a friends house,  Janet and Alex went out to dinner.  At a simple diner near the bookstore. They ate and laughed for a long while. Then they took a walk, to the park and fed the night time ducks. Then they headed for home. When they reached the door to the house, still laughing,  they stopped. Both smiling.  When they looked at each other, Alex simply kissed her. Then walked Inside and went to bed. She went to her bedroom too. Both as happy as can be. When they went went to pick up John the nest day John realized something.  Alex and his mom were acting different together. More laughing and happiness. He rather enjoyed it.

Over the next few months Janet and Alex became very close and happy together. One could say they were dating.  I'll spare you the details. John was ecstatic.  He had loved Alex a long time ago but now he Alex had become a father like figure in John's life. He adored Alex, and Alex adored John. It was the perfect picture.

During this course of events Alex had been writing a book. A book about his experiences with Janet and John and the people who he cared about and who cared about him. It was published and saw some of the best profits ever in the world of literature.  Everyone loved it and and he gave a copy to Janet. She kissed him then and there. They were deeply in love and married five years later. They had one child together. They named her Kathryn. The pair grew old together and of course eventually died. John and Kathryn stayed In there parents town and ran the bookstore together with their families.

What had become of Spark and Ruby you may ask? They lived a long life with the family and were quite happy.

The End.