Sad and Happy, I Guess

[AsylumSeeker]

The Castle Keep series I wrote will soon be gone from this site. It's both a sad and happy event for me. And I apologize if this doesn't fit the editor forum, but as you all are my friends, I thought it appropriate.

The first chapter is where I first began, a story I thought would only be a single chapter. But the readers kept challenging me to add more, to explain, and what ended up as a chapter ended as a 13-chapter, 100k novel.

Thanks to you all for making a dream come true for me.

 

[driphoney]

Why's it going to be gone?

Book deal?

E-book deal?

Congrats, if that's the case.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Why's it going to be gone?

Book deal?

E-book deal?

Congrats, if that's the case.

Yes, I am finally realizing my dreams... of a sort. I have always yearned to be published. And now I am about to be.

Yes, CK here is going away, to be e-published. Someone thinks the story is worthy. Imagine this. Maybe I'll even make enough to buy a cup of coffee. And I don't drink coffee, lol. Crossing my fingers.

This inspires me to work on a novel I have always dreamed of writring. Have I REALLY crossed the road?

I'll give you a glimpse...

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yes, I am finally realizing my dreams... of a sort. I have always yearned to be published. And now I am about to be.

Yes, CK here is going away, to be e-published. Someone thinks the story is worthy. Imagine this. Maybe I'll even make enough to buy a cup of coffee. And I don't drink coffee, lol. Crossing my fingers.

This inspires me to work on a novel I have always dreamed of writring. Have I REALLY crossed the road?

I'll give you a glimpse...

Here's what I have so far...

1

The town was dying, Crystal realized to her great horror. It wasn’t anything like she remembered. Many of the landmarks she recalled from her childhood were gone, either replaced by newer businesses that failed or had simply vanished altogether.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all,” she muttered under her own breath as she slowly piloted her Toyota Camry north along Route 209.

“You growed up here?” her young seven year-old son Toby asked as he sat buckled into the passenger seat to her right, his eyes alternating between the windshield and the side window as he took it all in. “I don’t like it here, Mom.”

Neither do I, she didn’t say, but it was certainly how she felt. After her divorce from Nick she wanted to get away, needed to get away, needed to escape to someplace where… someplace where she knew she could not easily turn away from and run right back into his arms again. Returning to the place where she grew up sounded like a good idea at the time, but now doubt was beginning to creep into her mind.

Turning to face her with an inquisitive look in his bright blue eyes, Toby asked, “Is this Napa… Napa…”

“Napanoch,” she offered, not returning the look as they passed Warren Street and approached the small downtown area she was now unfamiliar with. Her eyes darted left and right as she tried to find something familiar.

Slowing to a halt at a stoplight at Center Street she paused to gaze upon her son. Forcing a slight smile to her pursed lips Crystal explained, “Napanoch was the last town, sweetheart. This is Ellenville. And yes, this is where I grew up, both your dad and I. My family lived over on Elting Court. It’s not far. I’ll show you, okay? Would you like to see the house?”

He shrugged his shoulders uncertainly. She understood - she was starting to feel the same way. This town wasn’t the Ellenville she knew, it wasn’t the town where she first met Nick so many years ago, and it certainly wasn’t the town she remembered at all. Crystal couldn’t help but wonder if someone had blindfolded her and pushed her out a car door along the sidewalk, would she have been able to discern where she was?

Reaching her right hand over, she ruffled his mop of dark brown curls. “Somebody needs a haircut.”

His expression turned sour as his eyes rolled before turning to look out of the side passenger window again. “Hair’s fine.”

Seeing the light had turned green, Toby’s attention focused on the papers he was holding in his hands against his lap. His mom had printed out directions off of her computer and made him the navigator, and he took his job seriously. Raising them up, he visually identified their current location before dutifully reporting, “Next one‘s Canal Street.”

She briefly turned and gave him an appreciative smile. “Thank you, good sir.”

He resumed his curious inspection of the passing buildings when his keen ears picked up on the rhythmic ticking sound of the turn signal. He quickly looked at the map and saw quite clearly that they needed to continue on the same road. “Go straight here.”

“Just a quick detour, okay?”

He looked up at her, heavily exhaled, and then decided in a tone that expressed both frustration and hesitant agreement, “Okay.”

Crystal smiled to herself. She was so proud of her son. He’d been such a trooper these past few months. Divorces could be harder on children than on the parents, but he appeared to be adjusting as well as anyone could. Nick had pleaded with her to stay at the house, telling her he would be more than happy to move out, for Toby’s sake.

Was she being selfish bringing him here, uprooting him from the school and friends he’d grown accustomed to? She was the one who seemed to be having the hardest time with all of this.

Crystal had been a naïve girl of nineteen, blindly following her heart, when she married Nick, her high school sweetheart. He was two years older than she and had already enlisted in the army. How could she have possibly known then that he would go on to complete a college degree and become an officer? Or that he would become so successful that his official duties would leave her alone at home for months at a time, constantly worrying for his safety, never really sure when he might next return, or for how long?

She still loved him with all of her heart, and it was a result of this deep emotion that she had to get away. Crystal had to put their life together behind her and forge a new one alone, one that could be built on a foundation of certainty, because the uncertainty was no longer tolerable.

This decision was the most difficult she’d ever had to make. And once it was made, she had to wait for nearly three months before he was home long enough for Crystal to stand up and tell him.

The details of that night were still clear in her mind. She began speaking in a voice that started out strong but quickly wavered, and before she finished they were both crying, his arms around her, holding her tight. When Crystal realized where she was, in his arms, she knew she could not remain there, or she’d never be able to able to establish a sense of self-identity and escape the nightmare she’d been enduring. Crystal had to get away -- very far away.

The emotions she’d experienced since that night ranged from relief to fear, and everything in between. And now, at this very moment, regret - not regret for marrying Nick, this was something she’d never regret - but regret for putting the son she so deeply loved in the position she had so that she could find some sense of control in a life that had known only chaos.

Toby asked in a surprised voice, “This one?”

Crystal jumped as his question roused her back to reality. She’d been so deep in thought that the auto-pilot in her had taken over, an auto-pilot dormant for so many years. Just as she had for several years before leaving, Crystal had driven the car back to the place she used to call home. She had even begun to turn into the empty driveway before catching herself and correcting, pulling up alongside the curb instead.

She turned toward Toby, who was looking out the passenger window, and asked, “What do you think?”

He turned to face her, scrunching up his nose in a look of utter distaste before admitting, “It’s yucky.”

Crystal frowned and nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Not much to look at anymore.”

Growing wary he wondered, “Will our house be yucky like this one?”

I sure as hell hope not, she thought to herself while wondering the same thing. Trying to remain positive, forcing herself not to give up on this idea too soon, she announced, “Let’s find out.”

2

Nick sat back in a padded armchair, rocking forward and back, with his eyes locked onto several framed pictures resting on the left side of his shiny oak desk. He was wearing his dark green Army dress uniform, an impressive array of medals aligned above the left breast pocket. Carefully aligned above the right was his name tag which read “Rogers”.

At six foot one he wasn’t especially tall. Regular exercise kept his slender form fit and trim. With a handsome face, piercing blue eyes, dark brows and closely cropped dark brown hair, he wasn’t particularly imposing, but he did command a sense of calm presence that aided his style of leadership. When the going got tough – which in his line of work it did at times – his demeanor helped to instill a sense of confidence in the men he commanded.

But his leadership experience hadn’t helped one iota when it came to his personal life. He still recalled how shocked he felt as he listened, mind reeling, to the words the wife he loved so much was telling him. He hadn’t seen it coming, had no inkling that she had felt the way she did for so long. What clue had he missed? How could he not have had the slightest notion that this was looming on the horizon?

As hot tears streamed down his face all he could think to do was to pull her tightly in his arms and whisper reassurances that things would change, that everything would work out in the end – words he sensed, even then, that would not change anything. He was left feeling more than devastated. Not knowing how to react, he left. And, except when accompanied by lawyers, he hadn’t seen her since.

A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth as he admired her photograph. They’d been on a cross-country working vacation as he moved the family from Fort Leonard Wood in California to Fort Meade in Maryland. Driving primarily from west to east on I-40 after enjoying the California coast north along Highway 1, they took their time and made several stops to see the sights.

On this particular occasion, as they were passing through Flagstaff, Crystal spotted a sign announcing the upcoming turn for _______ to the Grand Canyon and spontaneously told him they were going there. He was taken aback as the woman he knew to be his wife had at no other time previous to this point demonstrated any signs of spontaneity. Toby was only five then but he eagerly and quite noisily agreed.

Finding himself outnumbered, with no specific arrival date required of him at Fort Meade, Nick saw no good reason to object. And now, more than ever, he was glad that he hadn’t. He had taken this picture, which showed his wife from the waist up, with a portion of the Grand Canyon in the background. Her shoulder-length blond hair was spilling over the shoulders of her slender form, green eyes sparkling. There was a slight wind and several strands of hair pulled across the center of her lovely face.

She was smiling widely and looked so very happy at that moment. What changed? That was just two years ago – how could she have gone from happy to desperate in such a brief span of time? And how had he missed it? Of course, in his gut, Nick knew. The reason why he hadn’t seen it coming was because he hadn’t been there to take notice.

He couldn’t help but linger on her face – the radiantly beautiful expression that had turned him on so much that he couldn’t wait until Toby was fast asleep. He’d ravaged her and she’d ravaged him in so many spectacular ways that night, in some nondescript hotel room as their son slept. His heart had been filled with such love and joy, as surely hers had been, yet here they now were – alone, apart, and in his case yearning to be together once again. Nick could only hope she still felt the same way.

3

“I remember walking down this next street to go to school,” Crystal mentioned as she continued their drive down Route 209, which was also Main Street. “Maple Street,” she added in a whimsical tone.

Her comment sparked Toby’s interest since this might very well be the same school he’d start attending once summer ended. “What grade?”

She glanced over at her son and smiled. “Ellenville’s not like where we used to live, it’s different here. From Kindergarten until you graduate, it’s all the same place.”

Toby’s mind could not comprehend this information and he turned to look at his mother with an expression of wide-eyed astonishment written across his face. “Everybody goes to the same school?”

“Everybody,” she confirmed while realizing this was not the case in most places.

Still holding the directions against his lap, Toby fell silent as he processed this revelation. Crystal knew her way from here anyway. She might not have been able to name the streets, but she knew where she was going as they drove north along Route 209 – Main Street – over an arched bridge, past storefronts she no longer recognized, the McDonalds she’d frequented and even worked at during her junior of high school, and began ascending a long hill.

Signaling a left-hand turn she paused, waiting for a break in traffic, before turning onto Ellen Ridge and veering to her left onto Phyllis Drive.

“It’s too tall,” Toby whispered in a horrified voice.

Crystal heard him talking but failed to pay attention as she pressed harder against the gas pedal, revving the engine as they ascended a steep hill. On either side were identical red-bricked homes built on level foundations despite the extreme angle of the slope they were constructed on. Each had a single-car garage underneath, just as she’d remembered.

After finding their house she pulled up along the curb in front and turned to look at Toby, who was visibly upset. “What is it?”

“It’s too tall,” he repeated in a voice that was beginning to break.

Her brows furled as an expression of concern appeared. “What’s too tall, sweetheart?”

“The road, it’s too tall!” he repeated a third time, thrusting his arms out for emphasis.

It took her a moment to make sense of what he was trying to convey before she finally understood. Toby loved to ride his bike in the evenings after dinner while she sat out front on the porch. But Phyllis Drive was so steep, he wouldn’t be able to ride – the busy road at the bottom precluded him from safely riding down, and his legs certainly weren’t strong enough to allow him to make the climb on a bicycle.

“Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry, I didn’t even think to check,” she explained in an apologetic tone. “We’ll figure something out, okay? I promise.”

Toby crossed his arms across his chest. “Yeah, just like dad promised he’d never leave me!”

She watched as his eyes filled with tears, the emerging man in him trying his best not to cry. Crystal was deeply touched as she pressed the release button for her seatbelt and leaned across the car to gather him into his arms as best she could, kissing his forehead while hugging him tightly.

“Mommies and daddies say things, they make promises they never intend to break,” she spoke as she consoled her son, the little boy life was making grow up much more quickly than was natural. “But things happen, Toby. Not all promises can be kept. Don’t blame your dad for not keeping his promise.”

Wiping the tears from his rosy cheeks he looked deeply into her eyes. “Will you keep yours? “

Crystal was confused. “What?”

Making a point of being strong he reminded her, “You promised me everything would be better, that this move is best for us. You promised we’ll be safe, be happy. Or will you break yours like dad broke his?”

With hot tears filling her green eyes and spilling down her cheeks she vowed, “I will never, ever break the promises I have made to you. Do you hear me? Never-ever.”

Unable to control his tears, he turned away and in a broken voice responded, “Big payback if you ever do. Christmas-big.”

As her heart filled with pride she playfully ruffled his hair. “You got it. I love you, Toby, so very, very much. Even more with less hair.”

He glanced in her direction and rolled his eyes. “Hair’s fine.”

4

After rising from his knees Salim discarded the traditional Muslim clothing and voiced discomfort at having to don Western garb. This was an affront to his religion, to his dignity, and those of his people. He did this for no other reason than to make the vile infidels think he was one of them. But this would soon change. The world would know him by his Muslim name, not the false identity they currently knew him by.

“Allah akbar! Soon I will fulfill my destiny!”


5

“What street’s this?” Toby asked as his mom stopped on Main Street across from a motel, the left turn signal blinking.

“Maple. The school’s down here.”

At least it used to be, she thought as a feeling of uncertainty began creeping into her mind. The street was shorter than she recalled and after a few moments saw the familiar -- at once again unfamiliar -- high school end of it.

“Aw shit!”

Toby was quick to respond. “That’s a bad word, Mom!”

She briefly glanced over at him. “You’re right. I’m sorry, sweetheart. Forgive me?”

“No haircut?” he offered hopefully.

Crystal couldn’t help but smile. “You are so getting a haircut, my young son. Why the aversion, anyway?”

Toby’s brow furled in confusion. “Don’t know.”

She knew this was his way of expressing his lack of understanding and so she elaborated for his benefit. “Why are you so against getting a haircut?”

His shoulders shrugged. “Just like my hair this way.”

Crystal drove past the school until Maple Street dead-ended into Yankee Place. This was the same route she’d traveled so many times as a passenger in Nick’s car. And how many times, after school, did they drive up Route 52 to the overlook and make out? Everything was the same but at the same time so different.

Turning left, Yankee Place fed into the back end of the school’s parking lot. On this end the Kindergarten classes started, and as she drove further up she passed the elementary classes, the main entrance where the auditorium was located, before veering left outside the larger portion of the building which housed the junior and senior high school area.

 

[sr71plt]

If this is the series that's been posting at the top of the New list for the last few days, the editors here seem to agree that it's as good as the e-publisher who has selected it thinks. If this is a different series, it looks like you have another one that could be e-booked. Congrats.

 

[_Lynn_]

Congrats, AS. I know you've wanted this a long time.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

If this is the series that's been posting at the top of the New list for the last few days, the editors here seem to agree that it's as good as the e-publisher who has selected it thinks. If this is a different series, it looks like you have another one that could be e-booked. Congrats.

I have written something posting at the TOP of something? This bears checking out. Thanks SR!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Congrat\\s, AS. I know you've wanted this a long time.

Thanks, ML, you've always been, and continue to be, an inspiration to me. Huggss!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

If this is the series that's been posting at the top of the New list for the last few days, the editors here seem to agree that it's as good as the e-publisher who has selected it thinks. If this is a different series, it looks like you have another one that could be e-booked. Congrats.

Thanks, SR. We have walked a very long road together. Shakes.

 

[Raisa_Greywood]

I'm going to have to get moving if I want to read it before it goes poof. Do you have a date it will be taken down?

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm going to have to get moving if I want to read it before it goes poof. Do you have a date it will be taken down?

Or you could wait until it's out and buy it.

 

[sr71plt]

I have written something posting at the TOP of something? This bears checking out. Thanks SR!

Yes, it's your "Gone Missing" chapters that have been posting at the top of the New list. Won't now, though, because the Nude Day Contest has started, and those get posted to the top.

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Yes, I am finally realizing my dreams... of a sort. I have always yearned to be published. And now I am about to be.

Yes, CK here is going away, to be e-published. Someone thinks the story is worthy. ...

I have never doubted that your writing was good enough, as I have said in the past.

Now, as to your sanity ...


... but then all good writers are a little mad.

 

[Raisa_Greywood]

Or you could wait until it's out and buy it.

LOL I may do that anyway.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I'm going to have to get moving if I want to read it before it goes poof. Do you have a date it will be taken down?

Laurel told me 4 to 7 days. And this was when I submitted it, which was on Saturday, I believe. The editor who is publishing it did some whacking away of the sex scenes, which she felt were redundant and a distraction from the real story. It weighs in at 80k words now, but I must admit the story itself really jumps out with the fewer sex scenes.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Or you could wait until it's out and buy it.

Nice plug ML, thanks. I like the way you think

 

[jomar]

Congrats AS!

 

[sxyoldguy]

Congrats! You've accomplished what many of us seek.

Thanks with your help with my stuff as well!

SOG

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yes, it's your "Gone Missing" chapters that have been posting at the top of the New list. Won't now, though, because the Nude Day Contest has started, and those get posted to the top.

Ah, thanks for solving the mystery. Yeah, the same epublisher mentioned wanting to publish the Gerry series if and when enough could be made into a book (she loves the genre). I had to dig a few pages into the top list to find the first two chapters. I'm not surprised at the score, as it does lack sex and is more plot, something that many Lit readers are not here to read. But I post anyway, don't care so much about scores anymore, just about exposure.

I'm really appreciating the Recent Activity link under the Submissions option, allowing me to see if any comments were posted. And to see how many made or broke my heart, lol. It's a chore to scroll through 235+ stories, and this way I don't have to fret over the scores either.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Congrats AS!

Thanks. I still think of your adventure series from time to time that I edited, the title slips my mind now. And then my little tirade when I went about killing trolls, lol. Fond memories.

Go hard!

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Congrats! You've accomplished what many of us seek.

Thanks with your help with my stuff as well!

SOG

Keep writing, SOG, you have talent. We'll see where this all leads to... maybe nowhere, or it could open doors, time will tell. I always felt I had a novel in me, and maybe this is not the one, but I haven't stopped writing either

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I have never doubted that your writing was good enough, as I have said in the past.

Now, as to your sanity ...


... but then all good writers are a little mad.

Yes, I have had my moments, I agree. But as genius and madness share a border, perhaps writing and madness does as well.

You've been a good friend and ally over the years, which I have always, and will continue, to appreciate.

 

[jomar]

Thanks. I still think of your adventure series from time to time that I edited, the title slips my mind now. And then my little tirade when I went about killing trolls, lol. Fond memories.

Go hard!

Ha! Better than flaccid.

Some of the Cooder stuff seems funny and silly looking back. Fun though. In the eventual rewrite maybe they'll shoot sound wave pulses or something hi-tech. Frangible rounds are so 90's.

I hope your book takes off.

 

[Beth87]

Congratulations on the e-publish

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Congratulations on the e-publish

Thanks to you, Beth, and all who have responded. I'll keep you appraised of its status and success, or lack thereof. I'm skeptical, but I've read that erotica is going more mainstream.