Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 43

                                                                                      Hit and Miss

     September 2'cd finally dawned and with it the North Side Detectives' start of their Junior year of high school.  Alex and his friends were all taking college preparatory classes that year and their senior year also.  Alex still wasn't sure what he wanted to do as a career so he decided to take Business Ed courses along with the mandatory classes.

     He and his friends arrived at school at the same time and parked their cars all in a row.  Then they walked up to the school together.  First they sought out their lockers and Alex was glad to see that the old run down lockers had been replaced by new ones.  He turned the dial on his combination lock and whooped with glee when his locker opened on the first try.

     Lee, whose locker was next to Alex's (as usual) chuckled at the elation on his friend's face.  "Looks like a lucky year for you," Lee said with a smirk.  Alex was about to retort when a big burly guy stepped up behind Anna who was standing at Alex's side.  The boy had a blond crew cut and a square jaw and was as big as a good size bull.

     Three larger boys moved in to flank their crew cut buddy.  "You're cute,"  Crew cut said to Anna who looked up at him and flinched.  He ignored her body language and asked, "How about me walking you to your first class?"  Anna's eyes flashed as she said, "I don't think so.  My friend here...." she pointed to Alex, "is going to do that."

     Dawn, Chet, Fletch, Glenna and Lee were eyeing the teen distastefully as the boys moved in behind Alex and Anna in case Crew cut and his buddies started trouble, while Dawn and Glenna huddled by Alex's locker.  Alex put an arm around Anna's shoulders and said in a stern tone, "I believe you heard the lady."

     Crew cut and his friends were all now glaring at Alex and the small group around him.  "Well aren't you just the little hero," the burly teen said with a sneer.  "I am when I have to be,"  Alex said pleasantly.  Crew cut shrugged and then said, "I'll be seeing you," pointing a beefy finger at him.  "Buy cutie.  I'll be seeing you too," he said with a wink at Anna that made Dawn and Glenna wince.

     Then Alex and his friends watched them stalk off down the hallway.  "Who does he think he is?"  Lee asked angrily.  "Let it go," Alex said dismissively as he stowed his jacket in his locker,  "We need to get to the auditorium for the opening assembly."  So the group made their way to the two double doors down the hall.

     Lee was still seething over what had just happened as the group took their seats.  Then he spied the four bullies sitting down front.  "I'm telling you Alex, you'd better watch out for that guy.  He looks like he enjoys starting trouble.... and finishing it," Lee said, staring at the backs of the burly four.

     "He's just a guy who likes to throw his weight around,"  Alex said casually.  Then he grinned at Anna who was looking anxious, worrying that this situation wasn't over by a long shot.  As if Alex had read her mind he said, "Look, don't worry, we'll probably never hear from him again," he did his best to sound confident.  But by the looks on his friends faces they weren't at all sure They agreed with him.

     Applause rang out as the drama teacher, tiny Mr. Sullivan took the stage.  "Welcome students to a new year.  As usual the sign-up sheets for the many sport activities we offer are posted in the office; and the sheet for the drama class is there also.  Of course many of you are already signed up for my class," he said, chuckling with glee.