>I have 2 separate .exe's, both have READ EVENTS in them. When I call one exe from the other, then close the 2nd one, they both close. It seems the CLEAR EVENTS in the 2nd form causes both to shutdown. Can this be avoided?

How are you starting your second .EXE? If it's with "DO yourexe2.exe", they're both really only using the one READ EVENT. Start the second with "RUN /N7 yourexe2" and you'll start a second instance of VFP (runtimes), each having their own READ EVENTS.