Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

     Alex, along with everyone else in the theater had just seen the great crystal chandelier fall from the ceiling above the stage unto the floor.  For a moment he was paralyzed with fear, watching as Lee pushed Glenna out of the way of the plunging crystal ball.  Gasps and screams rent the air and parents stormed the stage shouting and crying to their children.

     Alex suddenly unfroze and he and Fletch Leaped over row by row of seats until they reached the stage.  Dawn ran down the isle pushing her way through the many patrons to get to her best friend Glenna.  When Alex, Fletch and Dawn arrived at the stage they saw that Lee and Glenna's parents were already kneeling beside their children.

     Lee was lying face down his legs covering Glenna's.  Glenna was lying face up, her eyes staring horrified at the scene around her.  Dawn immediately grabbed her hand and whispered words of comfort to her.  Glenna was bleeding profusely from various cuts on her head and body.  Lee wasn't moving.  Alex and Fletch helped Lee's father pull him off of Glenna as the screams from the people on stage and the audience reached a fevered pitch.

     Glenna was trying to sit up.  Her father was about to tell her to lie still but she seemed determined to do it, so he helped her into a slouching position and she fell against his chest.  Lee still wasn't moving.  His father was gently patting his face trying to bring him around.  Alex and Fletch knelt beside their friend saying his name hoping he would wake up.

     Alex was relieved to see that Lee was breathing, his chest rising and falling.  Dawn continued to hold her friends hand and was now sobbing quietly.  Suddenly there came a soft whisper somewhere around Alex's knee.  He looked down and almost whooped with happiness.  Lee was moaning softly.

     Principal Fuller shouted above the din for everyone to remain calm, that the ambulances were on their way.  Lee's father began assessing Lee's injuries as best he could.  Glenna was being cradled by her father and her mother sat close to both of them.  Alex looked up for a moment to move his stiff neck from side to side and while doing so spied Kelly Conner's dad, ( Kelly was Alex's former girlfriend) Mr. Conner was a physician and he was walking among the inured and tending to their wounds, his doctors bag in hand.

     Mr. Conner was just finishing up with one of the cast who appeared to have just superficial wounds when he spied Alex.  He quickly made his way over just as Alex said, "Where are the ambulances?  It's been fifteen minutes already!"    "They'll be here in a couple of minutes.  I just talked to the head medic."  Mr. Conner said kneeling between Glenna and Lee.

     Suddenly Alex heard a familiar booming voice above all the chaotic noise around him.  "Alex!  Alex!"  Mr. Wells shouted as he pushed his way through the crowds in the isles to the stage, (Scarlet right behind him) where Alex was now on his feet a look of relief on his face.  Mr. Wells jumped up on the stage while Scarlet stood shaking before it.

     Mr. Wells knelt down between Glenna and Lee and Alex and Fletch each put a hand on one of Mr. Wells' strong shoulders.  Mr. Wells reached over and patted Dawn's arm and smiled down at Glenna, who gave him a small smile back.  The ambulances had arrived and the medics hurried on stage.  The noise in the theater dropped substantially with their arrival.

     Suddenly Lee opened his eyes.  Alex and Fletch heaved a collective sigh.  Glenna looked over at him and said softly, "You saved my life."  Fletch put an arm around her his other hand placed gently on Lee's shoulder.  "I was directly under that light.  I could have died if you hadn't pushed me away," she ended, her eyes tearing.

     Lee turned his head slowly towards her and said just above a whisper, "Yeah, you're a real bother, you are," he finished with a grin, then wincing in pain.  Glenna giggled through her tears which made everyone else feel free to laugh too.  Two medics came stretchers in hand and everyone around Lee and Glenna backed up to give them the room they needed.

     They got right to work taking lee and Glenna's vitals, bandaging them up and putting on a couple of neck braces.  Then the two teens were put on the stretchers.  The medics spoke to the parents for a couple of minutes and then with the help of two other aids carried them off the stage.  Alex, Fletch, Dawn, Scarlet and Mr. Wells followed their friends down the isle and into the hall.  "We'll see you at the hospital,"  Alex said, taking Glenna's hand for a moment and waving to Lee.  They both nodded at him as the medics wheeled them away.

     Suddenly Fletch was chasing down Lee's stretcher just as it was reaching the front doors.  Lee's parents were taken by surprise as Fletch stopped short at Lee's side huffing a puffing from his run.  Lee looked up at him as Fletch grabbed his hand and said, "Whatever happens, we're best friends right?"  Lee smiled, "Always" he said.  Then the men took Lee to the ambulance and it drove away.

     Alex, Dawn, Scarlet and Mr. Wells waited by the auditorium doors while Fletch had his conversation with Lee.  Alex couldn't hear what was being said, but he knew that his best friends were friends again.  The theater was pretty much empty now.  The principal was talking with Mr. Sullivan and the fire chief who had brought one engine along just in case it was needed.

     Alex, Dawn and Fletch's parents along with Mr. Wells and Scarlet were standing in a semi-circle in the hallway discussing getting dinner and going to the hospital.  Janeen said that they probably should eat first because it would take some time in ER to evaluate the kids' injuries and then more time to move them to their rooms.  Then she said, smirking at her son.  "As you all know I have some experience with this sort of thing."

     Alex gave his mom a sheepish grin and everyone laughed, except Mr. Wells, who said with a very sober face, "I have more bad news I'm afraid."  Alex suddenly remembered what he was so concerned about before the chandelier fell.  "Mrs. Books!"  Every face suddenly became tense and worried.

     "On on way to the school tonight we had an accident," Mr. Wells told them.  Alex's eyes were wide with fear again.  "The breaks failed and we hit a tree,"  Mr. Wells' voice began to tremble as he continued, "Violet is in intensive care at Elkhart General,...and it doesn't look good,"  Mr. Wells ended, silent tears rolling down his face.