Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 57                                 

                                                                   Family, Friends and Farewells

(Dear Readers,  I am spacing out the last chapter of this book over a few updates.  I suspect each update will be a long read.  Please enjoy them at your convenience and I hope you will like what you read.  I am hoping to start the next book in the series in a week or so.  Stay well and safe.)                                                                                        

     All of Alex's friends were back home from their vacations in time for Alex's 18th birthday.  Alex's sister Lyn, who was fourteen now, invited her new boyfriend Spencer Holdeman to the party and introduced her brother to him right away.  Alex tried very hard to find something wrong with him, (he still wasn't used to his sister having boyfriends,)  but after spending some time with "Spence" as he wanted to be called,  Alex had to admit he was actually a nice young man.

     After Spence wandered over to the buffet table that Alex's mother had set up, Lyndell came over to whisper in Alex's ear.  "You're just going to have to get used to the fact that I'm growing up big brother."  Alex grinned his lopsided grin at her and said, "I know you are.  But there's no law that says I have to like it."  Lyn smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

     Alex's friend Jed began a conversation with Anna at the party and while the two were talking, he told Anna he was going to Harvard.  (This was Alex's suggestion)  Anna was visibly pleased at the news.  And when she looked away for a moment, Jed gave Alex a thumbs up.  Jed also mentioned to Anna that he was into photography, not knowing when he said it that, that was one of Anna's passions too.

     Fletch was close enough to Jed and Anna as he passed the food table to overhear the "Harvard" remark and made a bee line for Alex.  "Did you know that Jed's going to Harvard?"  Fletch asked wide eyed.  "Alex grinned at Fletch's surprise look and said, "Yes I did."  "Well, I think something's brewing between those two," Fletch told his friend.  "I think you're right," Alex said with a smirk at him. 

     After Alex got his food, he went to sit at the large dinning room table between Fletch and Lee.  "So this is okay with you.... you know.... um, if Jed and Anna....start dating?" Fletch asked him.  "Yeah.  Anna's just my friend.  We might have thought of being more, a time or two, but it didn't happen.  I think Jed and Anna will make a great couple."  "Well, I'll say one thing, they must be among the few couples, that began a relationship after the girl threw the boy across a room."  Alex and all who heard Fletch's comment roared with laughter.

    

     There was an aura of excitement that followed the seniors every where they went.  It was the last year of school for them and anyone could tell by seeing their smiling faces, that they were anxious to get on with the next adventure in their lives.  For many seniors, their classes were much shorter now this year; due to most of the senior classes being electives.  Some of those classes were held at the Elkhart Career Center.

     Alex and Fletch were especially happy about two things  this year.  One was that Gym class was not required for the seniors, so Alex and Fletch were not taking it.  That meant they would not be pinned down in wrestling by two giant teens who were bent on, in Alex's words, their total destruction.