Farewell to the Big City Lights
Topeka, Kansas
2015 - 2018
Matt and Darby Crawford had lived in the Topeka region ever since they had married following their graduation from KU. In the twenty-plus years they had been together, Matt had been involved in a variety of things utilizing his dual degrees in English and history. He had taught for a while, but found that his patience on most days was sorely tested with kids who could not have cared less about Beowulf or the advent of the Reformation in Europe. He had moved on to work as a journalist for one of the local papers in town and was sure he had found his niche. He loved the research that was involved as well as the ability to use his interest in creative writing to craft and mold the stories he was sent out to cover. However, when a new editor came to take over at the paper, the free rein that he had once had to make his byline intriguing…at least to him…vanished.
The new editor had a much different idea of how his reporters should create and present an issue in Topeka. Suddenly, Matt was not so sure that the journalism gig was going to be the life-long career he had envisioned under Phil Nestor, his old editor. Fortunately, Matt had also been toying around with the idea of taking his creative writing abilities far beyond the regular submissions he was responsible for at the paper as his new boss came on board. It was evident that after a few minor disagreements with him that Matt knew he could not do his job there much longer before he went mad.
He had never taken his own writing outside the paper too seriously. It was just something he loved to do and it fed his soul. However, when Darby picked up on his rising discontent at his job, she pushed him to throw himself into his own writing full force. Matt was a bit hesitant at making this jump, but in all the time he had known Darby, even back in their undergraduate days at KU in Lawrence, it was rare that her intuition and instincts were wrong. With her support and encouragement, Matt spent every free minute he had doing just that. In the end, he came out with his first completed novel that had been a work in progress for over three years. He looked the thing over carefully, and after a couple of re-writes and some major editing, he handed it over to Darby for her opinion.
While he waited on her to do a read through and get back to him, Matt did his best to just let go of his attachment to the book. It had been a huge emotional and time-consuming project, but as far as he knew, it was just something for him to ease his growing lethargy and ennui at the paper. Finally, one day, Darby came to him in the family room where he was watching a baseball game with their son, Jasper. Even though just 12, Jasper had begun to develop a real love for a variety of sports, and it was rare for him and Matt to miss a Kansas City Royals game. The glamour and success of the Royals had faded significantly since their real heyday in the 1980s, but as Matt often said, and Jasper agreed readily:
“They could go 0-162, and we’d still tune in…”
Matt looked up as Darby laid the hard copy of his book on the side table and smiled at him in that way she always did when she felt like she had something on him…or knew something he did not and was pleased with herself.
“You finish it?” Matt asked as he felt butterflies in his stomach take flight.
Even though it was just Darby, it was the first time Matt had asked anyone, even if it was just his wife, to read and possibly critique anything he had written outside of his assignments at the paper.
Darby just nodded as her expression remained unchanged.
“And the verdict?” Matt asked.
“Think I can break you away from the game?” Darby replied.
“A 12-2 blowout? I think that could be arranged.”
He followed her into the room they had set up as an office the two of them shared. Darby worked from home as a marketing and strategy consultant for a variety of companies throughout the Midwest, and she sat at her desk as Matt took a seat on the sofa that sat at an angle to both their desks. Matt could not help it as his one leg jiggled up and down in anticipation, a nervous habit he had had since he was a kid. He looked closer at Darby, but she was not giving anything away. If she had been a poker player, Matt thought, she would be a millionaire. The silence was killing him, and he could no longer take it.
“That bad, huh?” he asked.
Darby snorted and shook her head.
“We really need to do something about that inferiority complex of yours, you know?”
Matt reddened slightly, always amazed at how perceptive Darby was at hitting so close to the truth.
“Give it to me straight, boss…” Matt replied as he sat back and prepared himself. “John Grisham has nothing to worry about, right?”
“Grisham?” Darby asked. “Oh, yeah…I think I heard of him before. Is he some sort of writer or something?”
“Very funny…”
“To be honest, Matt, I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to read this. All I know of your writing is from the Topeka Capital-Journal. Hardly a comparison for an author’s first foray into the creative arena.”
“Uh-oh…seems like I should get a drink to brace myself…”
“Perhaps, but not for the reasons you think, my dear. I realize I am your wife, and by virtue of that preamble, I realize I may be prejudiced.”
Matt suddenly felt a shift in his emotions.
“But I thought it was terrific! The character development was incredible, and the story really flowed. Kept me turning pages. Isn’t that what you writers shoot for?”
“Among other things, smart-ass…”
They both chuckled.
“I can honestly say that your prose painted a vivid picture in my mind. I cannot believe you have kept this talent under the proverbial bush for so long.”
Matt blushed again.
“Have you considered shopping this around to see what a professional publisher or two might think?”
“You serious?”
“Why not? What have you got to lose?”
“Thanks, Darby, but the publishing game is not so simple anymore.”
“I am well aware of that. What would you think if I told you I already passed it along to a couple of contacts I have from my work?”
“You what?”
Darby shrugged and just looked at him blankly.
“That publishing house I just took on as a new client last year…Verdant?”
“Yeah…”
“Tom Jerkins, the founder, and current CEO, is always whining about how hard it is to find decent new unknown writers these days. He hates dealing with literary agents and prefers to work directly with the authors.”
“Are you saying…”
“Did I overstep here?”
Matt felt as if the ground had just shifted under his butt. His pulse was pounding, and it felt as if his heart was no longer content behind his rib cage.
“I…uh…well…”
“Before you chastise your ‘grab-em-by-the-horns’ wife, how would you feel about a meeting with Tom next week?”
Matt could not believe his ears. Had Darby actually stepped in as his unofficial agent? If he had not been so attached to the book and had not had so much confidence in Darby in what she did for a living, he might have thrown a fit. But it seemed as if she might have just paved the way for him to be able to say “ta-ta” to the paper and his micromanaging editor.
“I really don’t know what to say, Darby.”
“How about…gee, honey…that is fantastic! I don’t know how to thank you!”
They both laughed at her faux ridicule.
“You have time off banked at the paper, right?”
Matt nodded.
“Good. Here’s Tom’s number.”
She handed him a business card.
“Call into the paper, block off a couple of days, and get your ass up to Chicago.”
Matt smiled broadly this time as he swept Darby up in his arms and kissed her.
“Just remember…” she said as he was leaving the room to go back to Jasper and the game, “I expect my 10% fee…
”
Matt laughed again as he looked over Tom Jerkins’ card.
“And Matt? That Grisham character you are so enamored of?”
Matt nodded.
“He should watch his ass…”
……….
And just like that, Matt Crawford was able to walk away from his job at the Topeka Capital-Journal. In his wildest imagination, he had never thought his dream of being an actual professional author was truly within his grasp. Tom Jerkins could not have been more gracious and glowing in his meeting with Matt, and before he could realize what had just occurred, Matt had signed a contract at Verdant Publishing as part of their push at a program featuring unknown but talented authors. Verdant had been looking for a unique new marketing scheme that no one had yet thought of trying out, and Matt was now the lead author in that effort. He had assumed that his boss at the paper might at least show some small indication of concern that he was leaving when he tendered his resignation, but it had been like a non-event. It was then that Matt knew he had made the right decision. He said his farewells to a few of his closest colleagues and then departed, remembering only the looks on their faces. The looks seemed as if they envied him and wished they could walk away as well.
Time went by, and Matt pulled out a few things he had been working on since his university days to have Tom Jerkins look over and get polished up for a portfolio as well as some new projects that came to him from ideas seemingly out of the blue. All was perfect. Matt was fulfilling his lifetime dream, and Darby continued her work as a consultant as well as Matt’s initial editor as each new work got cranked out. It seemed as if their lives could not have been more on track. That was until the dark cloud of school safety, and gun violence came a calling. Both Matt and Darby, like many parents, never gave much thought to this issue living in Kansas. It was not like they were living in a large metropolitan area where these horrors seemed commonplace anymore. But when they received emergency text warnings one day when a similar incident was narrowly thwarted at Jasper’s school, they felt the bubble of protection in Topeka had shattered.
Fortunately, their daughter, Melody, now 19, had just graduated the year before and had decided to take a year off before making any decisions about college or another option. It was partly financial, but more along the lines of her really not knowing what she wanted to do or if she even wanted to go off to school or not. Jasper had just made the transition from elementary school to junior high when the incident came about. He was never in any real tangible danger, but just the thought of it made Matt and Darby pale with fear. For years, they had both considered a simpler life in the country, away from the noise and pollution and temptations to the kids from the city. They were both from rural backgrounds, and the idea of having their family return to such a setting was immensely appealing.
Matt’s career was flying high, and it was obvious that he could write from anywhere. As well, Darby was still working out of a home office, save the occasional trip to qualm a client’s anxiety. In addition, Jasper seemed to be gravitating more toward interests in the outdoors versus options that the city was offering. A move out of the suburbs and into the farmland of Kansas seemed a logical step for them. Matt was thinking primarily of his family, but in his heart, he was sure the peace and quiet of rural life would make his writing efforts more focused and enjoyable. They talked it over with Jasper and Melody. While Melody seemed cool to the idea overall, it was like Jasper was ready to pack that day.
Melody would have loved to gone off on her own, but her finances made that option impossible. She was still in this holding pattern over her goals ahead, so in the end, she just acquiesced and agreed to the move as well. Matt and Darby poked around for a good spot, and finally found the small town of Bonner Springs, just a few hours from Kansas City and around the corner from Lawrence. They figured it would be a good idea to have a major city not too far away…medical emergencies, good access to an airport for Darby…that type of thing…but liking that it was far enough from the reasons they wanted to leave Topeka in the first place. They loaded up the kids and drove out one weekend to look around the area. Matt, Darby, and Jasper loved the place immediately, as Melody just sighed and nodded at all the right times when asked her opinion.
The main drag of Bonner Springs was charming to them, and though it had grown slightly in the last few decades, it was still just the land of tranquility that it had seemed to be when they had discovered it on the internet.
Most of the housing was still large independent farms scattered in a rough circle around “downtown” Bonner Springs, and it seemed initially as if finding a place to live might be a challenge. Looking on their own was not getting them anywhere, so Matt engaged the assistance of a real estate agent to help them out.
“New to Bonner Springs?” Cynthia Bowman, the perky agent asked.
“We are,” Darby replied. “Just looking for a slower pace of life than in Topeka.”
She gave Cynthia a knowing look as she spoke, and the woman nodded as her smile toned down a notch. Darby did not have to fill her in on the recent mess at Jasper’s school. It had been in all the papers statewide.
“Looking for a farm?” she asked.
Matt and Darby both snorted in laughter.
“No…” Matt replied eventually. “We’re about as clueless in running a farm as anyone. We are wondering if there might be a place around town that is not a working farm?”
“Actually, Mr. Crawford,” she replied with hesitation in her voice, “there is one place that might fit the bill. It’s just on the edge of town. Perfect size for the four or you. Walking distance to Main Street, but still very quiet and isolated. It’s just…”
She hesitated, wondering how to frame it.
“Just?” Darby asked.
“It’s been empty for quite a long time. Probably needs a bit of TLC.”
“Something tells me there is more to the story,” Matt added.
“There is. I sometimes try and skirt around it, but what with the internet and all these days, I think that unwise. Plus, you seem like a wonderful family. You should know the background on it.”
Matt and Darby leaned in as Cynthia went through the story of the Crisp family and the tragedy of Charlie. She put as soft a touch on it as she could, but did not gloss over what had actually happened.
“How horrible!” Darby exclaimed. “They never knew why?”
“No. It came as a real shock to everyone. Seemed like such a close-knit family from what I have been told. Like a bolt from the blue…”
Matt was shocked as well, but in the back of his mind, the idea for a new book began to percolate.
“Just thought you should know before we go out and take a look. For some, it’s enough to ward them off.”
“Thus, the long vacancy?” Matt asked.
Cynthia just nodded.
Matt looked at Darby, who shrugged.
“Might as well take a look, Matt. The town looks delightful, and it seems as if we want to consider Bonner Springs, there may not be a ton of options. The price is good, even if it does need some work.”
“OK, Cynthia…” Matt replied. “Let’s run out there…”
Farm Life
Bonner Springs, Kansas
May 17, 2018
After looking the house over, Matt and Darby agreed that considering all the time the place had sat empty, that it was in pretty good shape. It was just mostly in need of cosmetic touches as the overall structural skeleton was sound. At the time, Matt was between books at Verdant, and looked back on his summer jobs with the carpenter he had worked for with admiration now. With just a couple of exceptions, he could take on most of the needed fixes required, getting a professional contractor to tackle the ones he could not. If pressed for some deadline or another, this might have pinched him, but he had an unusual open block of downtime at the moment. As for new ideas…well, he was still mulling several over, but had not been able to get one going.
“You have any other though
ts on the eerie background surrounding this place?” Darby asked him one afternoon when the kids were off choosing which bedroom was whose, as he was sanding down some rough edges on new molding he had just installed.
“Not really…” Matt replied as he raised his goggles to talk to her. “Bonner Springs hardly seems the place where what we just avoided in Topeka might happen. But I guess it just goes to show you how any kid anywhere can go awry.”
“Think maybe he was getting bullied? Sometimes that pushes kids to that decision these days?”
“Maybe…maybe. Hard to say. From all indications, he was a happy and normal kid. Cynthia said without exception that everyone in town was in total shock.”
Darby just nodded, but the incident made her a little nervous all the same.
“I saw that look in your eye when Cynthia spilled the story, Matt. Tell me you’re not considering some sort of book on it.”
“The thought did occur to me, Darby. But the more I think about it, the less I like it. Being new in town, I think it might get us shunned. Even if I made it so vague that the associations would be hard to link up.”
“I’d second that motion.”
Just then, a loud commotion arose from upstairs that drew their attention away from their conversation. It was Jasper and Melody going at one another like cats and dogs. Neither Matt nor Darby could ever recall the kids having a disagreement of this magnitude.
“Got time to calm down that Arab-Israeli conflict upstairs?” Matt asked as he smirked at her.
“I’m on it…” she replied. “This is a new one for us…”
Haunted House Tales Page 124