Book 1-Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

Continue Alex Bishop and the North Side Detectives

     August was suddenly upon them and the last of the balmy weather and the clear blue skies were soon to end.  Soon it was Alex's fourteenth birthday.  The guest list was all the regulars, Dawn and Glenna who returned from Florida the day before; Fletch, Lee, Mrs. Books and of course Lyn, Amy, Michael and Nikki.

     Alex agreed to blow out his candles only at his sister's urging.  His mother dispensed with balloons as the year before but did hand streamers and hung a big banner with "Happy Birthday Alex!" written on it, which Alex did think was pretty cool.  Throughout the evening Alex's favorite tunes played in the background, while various video games were entertaining Alex and his guests.

     Lyn fell asleep on the living room sofa around nine o'clock, but the party didn't break up until eleven when at least Alex's parents were ready to call it a night.

     Two days after Alex's party came the first day back to school.  Alex and Lyndell ate breakfast and hurried off to the corner where the buses were waiting for them, along with their friends.  Alex, Fletch, Lee, Dawn and Glenna spent the trip to North Side discussing their summer vacations.  The girls told the boys about visiting Bush Gardens and all the fun they had at Disney World.  The boys told Dawn and Glenna about Mrs. Books writing her first novel and that it was about Mr. Wells' life.

     Thinking about Mr. Wells' case reminded Alex of something he wanted to tell his friends.  "Do you know what Lyn said to me a while ago?"  "Obviously not."  Dawn said with a smirk.  "What is it?"  Alex chuckled before he answered.  "She asked when she and her friends could join the North Side Detectives."  "You're kidding?"  Lee said cringing.  "No.  I'm not.  And I can tell you she wasn't kidding either," he said earnestly.

     "Oh, she'll probably forget about it.  Won't she?"  Fletch said hopefully.  "I don't know. I think we're going to have to be careful what we say in front of her."  Alex said wisely.  "I think you're right Alex."  Dawn said with a frown.  She's a smart kid and I think she will snoop to try to hear if we're on to another mystery."  Dawn said with a giggle.  "I really don't see any humor in that."  Lee said glaring at her.  "I don't either."  Alex agreed.

     Alex, Dawn, Fletch and Lee had just barely reached the entrance hall when they were bombarded with questions by several students asking them to relate again the Mr. Wells' case.  Not to mention, that more than a few of them wanted to join up.  Alex very firmly told them that it was a one time thing.  And that he and the others hadn't formed any detective group.  Alex's classmates walked away looking very disappointed.

     "I hope they settle down about this thing."  Lee said, looking annoyed.  "The way their acting, you'd think we had brought in Al Capone or somebody.  Alex, Dawn, Fletch and Glenna laughed.  It'll wear it's self out."  Alex assured him.

     "Shall we check out our lockers?"  Lee asked, changing the subject and smirking at Alex.  (Alex had had trouble opening his locker the previous year.)   "Ha. Ha."  Alex retorted.  "Cheer up.  Maybe you'll be able to open it this year."  Lee snorted.  Fletch was having trouble containing his amusement too.  However, Glenna and Dawn gave Lee and Fletch dirty looks.   Fletch had the good grace to look ashamed of himself, and Lee ignored the girls completely.  Alex's reply was to punch Lee on the arm, a bit harder than he meant to.  "Ouch!"  Lee yelled.  Glenna and Dawn did find that amusing.

     Alex looked down at his schedule which also carried the number and placement of his locker.  "Mine is down this hallway on the right," he said glumly.  "Mine is too."  Dawn squealed.  Lee peeked at Fletch and Glenna's papers.  "Ours are on the second floor, but we'll come with you for now."  Lee said, smirking again.

     "Aren't you going to check yours out?"  Alex asked warily.  "We only have about seven minutes till class."  "We'll make it.  We already know how to open our lockers."  Lee said, then quickly jumping out of the way as Alex hurled his arm out at him again.  Then he just shrugged and set off down the hall with his friends following him.

     Alex kept looking over his shoulder to find Lee grinning evilly at him.  Finally he reached the tall gray locker.  It had the number 13 upon it.  "Oh, brother."  Alex groaned.  Lee and Fletch burst out laughing.  Glenna gave Alex an encouraging look, and Dawn nodded at him to go ahead.  Alex took a deep breath and worked the combination he read off a small piece of paper in his hand.  Then he put his hand on the handle, closed his eyes and pulled.  It opened.  His friends clapped loudly, which caused passing students to cast the group curious looks.  Alex didn't care.  He was beaming as he hung up his jacket inside of it.