Archie of Outlandish

by Lynnette Kraft

  “I’m sorry, dear. I just got here right before you came in. Thomas was here when she checked out.”

  Archie stared at the underside of his umbrella while he tried to figure out where she might be. He finally said, “Thank you, Mrs. Collin,” and hurried out the front door.

  Now Archie ran—toward the parking garage.

  When Archie got there, he ran through the entrance and saw a taxi driving away through the exit. He bent over to catch his breath feeling certain he’d missed Tallie by only a few moments, then stood, cursed, and kicked the concrete wall beside him.

  He turned to lean against the wall, put his head down, and sighed.

  “Did Archibald Benjiro Plumby just curse?”

  Archie looked up quickly but didn’t see anyone.

  “Who’s there?” he asked.

  “Who else knows your middle name?” came a voice from the outside of the exit.

  He turned in a circle and finally saw the top of a hat on the other side of an opening in the concrete wall. He walked over to it and said, “Tallie, is that you?”

  She stood and turned to look at him with a look that expressed a little guilt. “Yes. It’s me,” she said quietly.

  Archie ran out of the garage and stood before her.

  “What on earth are you doing here?” he asked. “More importantly, why are you leaving?”

  Tallie sighed and took off her hat. “I’m sorry, Archibald. I came . . . to see you, but . . .”

  “But?” he questioned impatiently.

  Tallie put her head down and moved one foot back and forth for a moment. “I know things have changed between us.”

  “Why have things changed, Tallie? Your letters have been so unusual over the past couple of months. Please don’t tell me you’ve met someone.”

  “No,” Tallie answered quietly.

  “Then what?” Archie asked. “I’ve perceived anger in your letters, and you even posted a photograph in the PC Buzz without first asking for my permission as you said you would. That’s not like you.”

  Tallie kept her head down. “I only did that so you would think of me.”

  Archie lifted her chin with his finger. “Tallie, look at me.” Tallie looked up at Archie and he said, “I’m always thinking of you.”

  Tallie kept her head up but turned her eyes away and said, “I heard Gemma on the phone with your agent and she said you had gone dancing together.” She finally looked at Archie and said, “You wouldn’t even dance with me.”

  “Tallie, I can explain.”

  Before he could continue, she added, “I saw you at the restaurant in The Lupine, too.”

  “You saw me there and didn’t come to me? Tallie?”

  “You were with her,” she said sounding a little annoyed.

  “Yes, Tallie. She’s my agent. I’ve been with her a lot over the past few months. Remember, it’s you who sent her to me.”

  He stood staring at her, waiting for her to reply.

  “Well, you just seemed so happy to be with her and I thought maybe . . .”

  “Maybe what?” Archie asked. “I’m so confused. What are you accusing me of?”

  “Well, I did leave, and I shouldn’t have expected you to wait for me. I mean, I thought you would, but I shouldn’t have expected . . .”

  Archie took Tallie’s hand. “Tallie, I’m desperate to know what you’re trying to tell me. Please just say it.”

  Tallie hesitated and finally said, “I just want you to be happy. If you’ve fallen in love with Sybil, it’s okay. I understand.”

  Archie laughed. Feeling a great sense of relief, he said with a wide smile, “Fallen in love with Sybil?”

  “What’s so funny?” asked Tallie with a little irritation.

  “Sybil is my agent, Tallie. I’m not in love with her. I’m in love with you. How could you even think that?”

  Tallie felt her chest get heavy and she let herself cry. “You’re not in love with Sybil?” she managed to say through little sobs.

  Archie didn’t answer Tallie. Instead, he put his palm gently against her cheek and leaned down to kiss her. When his lips met hers, Tallie didn’t resist but kissed Archie back as tears ran down her cheeks.

  Their kiss was tender but long, and when their lips finally parted, Archie smiled at Tallie and wiped her tears away with his hand, one cheek at a time.

  “I could never love anyone but you, Tallulah Z. Greenleaf. Haven’t I convinced you of that?” Dropping his head to the side, he said quietly, “When I thought I missed you today . . .”

  He didn’t finish. Tallie touched his lips and smiled. “When you thought you missed me you used a particular four-letter word. You must have been pretty upset.”

  Of course Tallie was just teasing Archie, but he pressed his lips together, and closed his eyes as if being hit with guilt. When opening his eyes again he said, “I’m sorry you heard that.”

  Tallie smiled and said with a little sarcasm, “Well, it was a tense moment.”

  “Oh, but that wasn’t my only slip. I’ve been yelling curse words at the top of my lungs in my sleep. I guess it’s where I’ve been venting my frustrations. Although that’s no excuse. Dream or no dream, it must be somewhere inside of me.”

  Tallie covered her mouth with her fist, trying to keep a straight face because of how serious Archie was being. She knew his remorse was sincere, and she tried not to find humor in it all, but she finally surrendered to her lighter side and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked innocently.

  Tallie couldn’t answer.

  Of course, at this point, Archie was beginning to see the humor in the conversation, and he did enjoy watching Tallie laugh, so he laughed with her until they were finally all laughed out.

  Archie smoothed Tallie’s hair and said, “You know, I was paid a decent advance for my books, and I was thinking I’d get a place of my own.”

  “Really?” she asked, wiping the tears of laughter from her face.

  Archie continued. “The only thing is I don’t think living alone will suit me very well.”

  Tallie didn’t realize his meaning. “I’m sure you’ll get used to it, and your parents are right here in town. You’ll be fine.”

  Archie moved closer to Tallie. “I’m not much of a romantic, as I’m sure you’ve realized by now, but I was making fairly romantic preparations for an important question I planned to ask when a certain someone returned from New Zealand.”

  Tallie was beginning to understand his meaning.

  “However, with your unexpected return . . .” Archie stopped and questioned, “You are back to stay?”

  Tallie bit her lip and said, “Well, I hadn’t planned to. I told Gemma I’d be back after Christmas.”

  Archie shook his head, “No.”

  Tallie was surprised at his resolve. “You don’t want me to go?”

  Archie shook his head again and repeated, “No. Absolutely not.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t think living alone will suit me very well, but I do think you might make a good roommate.”

  “I can’t just live with you, Archibald. It goes against my beliefs. You know that.”

  “No, that came out wrong. I’m not asking you to just live with me, Tallie.” He laughed. “It goes against my beliefs, too.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “Tallulah Z., I was hoping you might agree to marry me.”

  Tallie’s chest began to rise and fall, and she put her hands over her face.

  Archie asked, “Is that a good sign . . . or a bad one?”

  Tallie took her hands off of her face and wrapped her arms around Archie’s ribs, pressing the side of her face against his chest. Archie held Tallie with his free arm and let his cheek rest on the top of her head. They didn’t speak but only stood together under Archie’s umbrella c
oming to terms with the confirmation of their love.

  While still in an embrace, Archie said, “I’m sorry. I would have had a ring if things would have gone according to . . .”

  Tallie unwrapped her arms and put her finger on Archie’s lips. “Shhh. I’m the one who messed up your plan. Don’t apologize. It’s entirely my fault . . . and marrying you would make me the happiest person alive.” Shaking her head slowly, she continued. “I’ve been so lonely since my mom died, and you’ve made me so happy. I never would have gone to New Zealand if I had seen this in our near future. When I left, you didn’t have the book deal, and I didn’t see any way I could come live here in Outlandish. Archibald, I left out of desperation. I needed that security. And I kept remembering the promise I made to my mom . . . about not being alone. I wouldn’t have left you otherwise. I want you to know that.”

  “Did Gemma take care of you? Did she make you feel safe and cared for?”

  Tallie nodded. “Archibald, I know you don’t really like Gemma, and I do get why. I know she has selfish motives sometimes and is definitely too bossy and direct, but she did give me a sense of security I couldn’t find anywhere else, and I think God used her to help me when I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

  “I did question her motives,” Archie said, “especially when she asked you to go away with her for an entire year, but I’m grateful to her for providing what I couldn’t. I did want to, you know. I just didn’t know how. My life was just as unstable as yours was.”

  “I know, Archibald. You were right, though.”

  “I was right? About what?” he asked.

  “You were right about Gemma being unhappy. The night before we both flew away for the holidays, she broke down and cried. Can you believe it?”

  Archie’s expression revealed compassion. “No, I can’t, but I knew there was more to her.”

  “Yeah, you did. You saw it before I did. She admitted that she’d gotten on the wrong path and wasn’t happy with her career or her life. She told me she was going to move on and find out what makes her happy.”

  “That took a lot of courage,” Archie said. “I hope she finds happiness.”

  “You know what she told me?” Tallie said smiling.

  “What?”

  “She told me you were her first inspiration to leave her career.”

  “Me?” asked Archie. “How?”

  “Yes, you,” she answered. “She said your perseverance in following your own path, especially in such tough circumstances was enough to make her really look at her own life and look for opportunities that suited her better.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “I can,” said Tallie. “You were an inspiration to me from the very first day I met you.”

  Archie rolled his eyes. “Oh yes, that day on the beach . . . when I ran away from you. I can see how that’s very inspiring.”

  They both laughed and Archie said, “I guess I should thank you for persisting in meeting me. We both know I deserve no credit for that. God knew I’d never meet anyone unless they chased me down.”

  “It is funny thinking back on it,” Tallie admitted.

  Archie brushed Tallie’s hair away from her face with the back of his hand. “I should also thank you for insisting I write my book, and even calling an agent on my behalf. You know, I never would have been able to ask you to marry me if my career was at a standstill.”

  “Well, Gemma deserves at least some of the credit for that,” Tallie added. “She’s the one who gave me Sybil’s name and number.”

  “Yes, I’ve thought of that,” said Archie with a nod.

  “And we can’t forget Sybil,” Tallie added. “After all, she’s the one who made your dreams come true. I mean, you are a published author now.”

  Archie looked tenderly at Tallie. “No Tallie. It was you who made my dreams come true.”

  Tallie closed her eyes. “This feels like a dream. This is the last thing I expected to happen today.”

  “You were leaving,” Archie added seriously.

  Tallie opened her eyes and said seriously, “What about Sybil? Archibald, do you think she has feelings for you, because it sure looked that way to me.”

  Archie shook his head. “No, she doesn’t have feelings for me, but Luke might have found his perfect match.”

  “Luke?”

  Archie nodded. “I don’t ever remember seeing him so love-struck, even with Lily.”

  “Really?” Tallie said with a childish excitement. “That’s wonderful! He seemed so sad when I talked to him last. It broke my heart, it really did.”

  “Yes, well, his being love-struck almost kept me from finding you in time. He came to tell me he saw you yesterday when I was at my book signing, but when he began talking to Sybil he completely forgot why he was there.”

  Tallie bit her lip. “I ran away from him yesterday. I didn’t think he would recognize me with my hat, but then he said my name, and I panicked and took off.”

  “You thought your hat would disguise you?” Archie asked with a chuckle.

  She put the hat on. “Well, what do you think? Would you have recognized me?”

  “In a second,” he said, cupping her face in his hand.

  Tallie looked at Archie with admiration. “I wish I could have been there with you at your signing. I’m so proud of you.”

  “You could have been there, you know.”

  “I know. I feel so stupid now. I read everything wrong and messed everything up, didn’t I?”

  Archie smiled tenderly and shook his head. “No, you didn’t.

  “Tallie, I prayed God would give you to me, and when you went away I thought he was telling me it wasn’t meant to be. I’ll admit, I was angry, even at you. I’m sorry for that. I can see now that God was working out a plan that needed to play out just as it did.”

  Tallie cried again. “I prayed that, too. That God would give you to me. When I called Sybil before I left with Gemma, I really hoped it would lead to a book contract for you. I don’t think I could have gone to New Zealand if I hadn’t done something to give us some hope.”

  “It worked,” Archie said with a nod. “God used that connection to make it possible for us to be together. He answered our prayers, Tallie. He did give us to each other—just as we asked.”

  Tallie smiled and wiped a few lingering tears with her fingertips. Archie put his arms around her and, leaning down, whispered in her ear, “Tell me again that you love me.”

  She stood on her toes and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Archibald.”

  Again he whispered in her ear, “Tell me again that you’ll marry me.”

  Tallie pushed away from his chest and looked up at Archie. “Yes, Archibald Plumby. I will marry you.”

  Archie smiled warmly and pulled Tallie close once again. She pressed her cheek against his chest, and they stood embracing each other in silence underneath Archie’s umbrella. When a few moments passed, Archie stepped back and said to Tallie, “Shall we go and tell Mother and Father?”

  Tallie put her hand against her chest. “Mother and Father. I like the sound of that. You know, I only asked God to give me . . . you. But he’s also giving me another mother . . . and the father I never had. I don’t think I’m coming off this cloud anytime soon.”

  Archie kissed Tallie on the cheek. Taking her hand from her chest, he placed it on his arm and moved to her side. He leaned down to smile at her and asked, “Shall we?”

  Free Soundtrack

  Archie of Outlandish was created to be experienced through words, illustrations, and music.

  Download your free copy of the Archie of Outlandish Original Book Soundtrack at:

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  Bios

  Author: Lynnette Kraft loves a good story—real or imaginary, inspiring or hilarious. She uses
her own stories to entertain, to illustrate lessons, and to celebrate individuality, crediting God as the giver of all inspiration. When she’s not writing (or telling) stories, she’s likely chewing on herbs and wild plants, doing yoga in the sunshine, admiring pieces of nature, reading something light, or watching movies and playing games with her family. When she’d doing regular stuff, like cooking dinner and sorting laundry, she’s also dreaming about living on the beach, because she’s a sensible dreamer.

  Illustrator: Abigail Kraft is forever nine years old, believes in magic, and likes to draw pictures. She has decided, a childish spirit is her favorite avenue to creativity, so she fills her days with music, family, giggles, daydreams, and animated movies. Then (in true, childish fashion) she cries, grumbles, and sighs her way through unpleasant work, and shows her mom as soon as she’s made something she’s proud of. Most of all, she loves her Creator, who gave her a super fun life and promises her eternity in the most funnest place of all.

  Composer: Jared Kraft is a composer for film and media. His passion for music began with experience through listening, moved to expression through piano and eventually arrived at creation through composition. He finds his purpose and inspiration in his perfect Savior, his loving wife, and his wonderful family, and will always value the timeless phenomenon in which organized noise is translated into a universal language.

  Acknowledgment

  For the story idea and direction, the illustrative vision, and the musical expression, we’d like to give credit to God—the Creator of all Inspiration.