Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 42

                                                                                      Catching Up

     Alex, Anna, Lee, Glenna, Dawn, Chet and Fletch were all doing well in their classes.  Lee, and Fletch were doing much better than they had a few months before, possible because they hadn't been involved in a mystery of late and had more time for studying.  Alex and the others managed to keep up with homework whether they were involved in a case or not.

     Alex and Lee were excelling in their Spanish class.  Each had a "B" average.  Everyone, including Fletch, who had some trouble in middle school with Science were getting good grades in the course.  Their Science teacher Miss Starr however, was no more sure footed or keen eyed presently as she had been the first day of class; bumping into desks, chairs the blackboard or anything else in the room, including her students.

     Dawn told her friends that Miss Starr probably wore her two inch heels because of her short stature.  But she said their teacher might do better and be less clumsy if she wore flats.  When Dawn brought the solution up to Lee and the others, he suggested that Dawn mention that to Miss Starr; he did it with a chuckle in his voice of course but it still earned him a dirty look.

     All the teens were doing well in their computer class.  And although Alex, Lee and Fletch were still struggling with Geometry, they were maintaining a "C" average.  Fletch said he'd be very happy if he could hold on to it until his final grades came out, and after that he'd never have to deal with the subject again.

     The Sophomores were having a Valentine Dance.  Alex asked Anna to go even though they were just good friends.  Neither one had a boy friend, girlfriend relationship.  Dawn and Chet, Lee and Glenna were paired up and Fletch was in the company of a pretty girl with sandy colored hair and baby blue eyes whose name was Chrissy Brown; and who he had met in his computer class.

     Fletch's brother Matt took his friend Jordan as he usually did to these type functions.  She was an attractive girl with dark auburn hair and bright green eyes.  Both Matt and Jordan were too busy with school for romantic attachment.  The two of them were comfortable together as they would be, for they had known each other since kindergarten.

     Nick and Sam had something else going on and didn't go the dance at all.  Naturally, as always with Nick and either one of the twins, they wouldn't tell anyone what that something was.  When the others quizzed Matt about it he said he didn't know.  He wasn't in on what ever the two of them were doing.

     The friends were all looking forward to March where the drama class was putting on a play called "The Foreigner."  Dawn, Glenna and Lee had starring roles.  When the time came Mr. Wells, Scarlet and Mr. Joshua Bern, (who was dating Scarlet) and Mrs. Books were in attendance along with the teen's parents.

     Alex had thought that Lee would tire of the acting thing after the first play but it seemed to have gotten into his blood.  Dawn, Glenna and Lee each gave the audience a great performance as well did the other actors.  The cast got a standing ovation for their efforts and their drama teacher tiny Mr. Sullivan couldn't have been more pleased.

     The North Side Detectives were all happy to hear that Lee's father had managed to convince his wife that taking Lee out of school when he only had two years left would be a big mistake.  That Lee would be very upset about leaving Glenna behind, not to mention Alex, Dawn and Fletch.  Mr. Martin pointed out to her that the move could have an adverse affect on their son emotionally.  Lee's mother finally agreed that it would be best for Lee if they stayed put.

     Lee was thrilled and thank his parents repeatedly.  But she did tell him very sternly, "I better not hear of you putting yourself in any danger because of this crime solving business."  Lee kept a straight sober face and said, "I promise Mom you won't...."  His mother gave him a satisfied smile and walked away.  ...."hear about it," Lee said under his breath.

     April and May were very rainy and unusually cold months.  But by June first the weather was a very pleasant seventy two degrees and the skies were a periwinkle blue.  June third was the end of another school year and Alex and the North Side Detectives were high school juniors now.  Fletch's brothers Matt and Sam and their friend Nicholas were in their last year of school.  Everyone had plans for the summer.

     The summer that year was an unusually hot one.  So Alex and his friends spent a lot of time at the local swimming hole at High Dive Park.  All except for Dawn and Glenna who took their usual trip to Florida with Dawn's parents.  This year they were to be gone for four weeks.  Lee and Chet tried their best not to be miserable while the girls were gone.

     Alex and Fletch did their best to keep their two friends busy with golf outings, swimming, movies and other activities.  Alex divided his time between his three friends and hanging out with Anna.  But his time with her dwindled down to one day a week when Anna took on a summer job as an assistant landscaper.

    A few days after Anna was employed,  Alex and Fletch found they could make good money mowing their neighbors' lawns and doing other chores that anyone in the neighborhood wanted done.  Chet got a job working in his dad's welding shop and Lee took a job caddying at the local golf course three times a week.

     All were glad that Chet and Lee were back to their mostly cheerful selves when Dawn and Glenna's plane touched down at South Bend's airport on the second of July.  Complete again, the North Side Detectives spent as much time as they could together at bonfires, parties at the beach, boating and other fun activities; trying to cram as many good times in before school started again.  "After all," Alex said, "that's what these years are for."

                                                                           End of Chapter 42