Who was Lenny Loftis?

 At Larry Templeton’s retirement party his colleagues gathered around when he agreed to share a work-related story he described as “bizarre.” Serving as a guidance counselor at Madison High School for over forty years, he’d seen it all.

He finished off his Jameson and cleared his throat.

“The damnedest thing I ever saw was when the class of ’91 asked me for assistance in planning their ten-year reunion.”

There was some light laughter among those in attendance because 1991 was ancient history to them.

“I was in charge of their graduation so I still had all the addresses and contact information. Small class. Fewer than a hundred. Class president was a girl named Helen Riddle and she was first to make the discovery.”

Templeton paused when another whiskey was placed in front of him.

“My kind of party.”

Everyone laughed.

“Helen Riddle was going through the 1991 yearbook and spotted a name and face that didn’t belong. Right there among the class pictures, between Tony Layton and Debbie Marsh was a complete stranger named Lenny Loftis.”

“That boy never went to Madison High. How did his picture suddenly appear in our yearbook?”

“Everyone in the class of ’91 pulled out their yearbooks in preparation for the reunion and discovered the bizarre interloper. My phone was ringing off the hook from alumni. Some were scared and crying. ‘Who is Lenny Loftis and what’s he doing in our yearbook?’”

“When Lenny Loftis sent an RSVP indicating he would be present at the reunion, those kids completely freaked out.”

Templeton paused and his colleagues exchanged nervous glances. A young counselor spoke up.

“So, who was Lenny Loftis?”

Templeton finished off the whiskey and smiled. “Well, he’s the fellow who was preparing for his ten-year reunion, opened his yearbook, and recognized no one.”