blogwithvalor

Here’s another old story I wrote during my creative writing course. If you’ve read my previous old story, ‘A Tainted Soul’, then you might remember that I mentioned a story that received criticism from my instructor as having too much ‘telling’ what’s going on and not enough ‘showing’. It was a decent criticism that I took to heart to write ‘A Tainted Soul’. But at the time I loved this story and really thought it was something special.

I know both have their good points and downfalls that I can recognize and learn from. I still look back on this story fondly as one that showed I truly was passionate about writing.

This one is something I think would do much better as a short novella, but I don’t think I’m the one to write it. At least not as it stands. This one is set in a time period I don’t have much familiarity with and to write a novella, I’d have to learn much more about it. Not impossible, but not something I’m really interested in doing right now. Maybe someday.

The overall theme can be transported to modern times though. It deals with a pious man who seemingly has a perfect life but becomes extremely jealous after a mysterious stranger comes to town and befriends his wife. Not hard to change time periods, but I think it does work better in an older time or a more rural area.

Anyways, enjoy.

…

Fallen Angel

In a small town on the outskirts of the newly created West Virginia there lived a man named William Tucksbury. A well respected gentleman that was looked up to by many of the townspeople. William was a leader, a husband, and a father. He had been married to a woman named Katherine for 21 years and he was 3 years her senior. William had aged only slightly with time, but Katherine had kept her looks and many men were envious of William’s youthful wife.

The Tucksbury’s had three children. All of whom were very well mannered, playing when appropriate and settling down during church and dining periods. The townsfolk said this was on account that they had two of the best role models around. Katherine and William never argued and were very happy together. If they were to come to a disagreement they would calmly talk it over, find common ground and that was that. They were looked up to as the model family by the town and everyone continuously tried to mimic the Tucksbury’s and all of their lifestyle.

Women around town went to Katherine for advice on cooking, housekeeping, children and men. They learned how to find a good man and how to make him fall in love. Men went to William, to discuss politics, religion, and women. William was well known for his advice on women. He kept men civilized about their pursuits. He taught men how to be well mannered, kind, have strong morals, but he was also well known for how he taught men to settle disputes and disagreements peacefully. William had never once been in a fight, and he always dealt with everything calmly and made everyone happy. He was a man of reason and a firm believer in Christianity. He lived his life as a true Christian should people say. If he were to be slapped in the face he would turn the other cheek and then afterwards ask why, although no one was so unkind as to harm any of the Tucksbury’s.

Now it was in November of 1861 that their world was torn apart. It all started in the late-August when a mysterious stranger entered the town. He was a tall and handsome young man, who was very mysterious. No one knew who he was or why he had come, but everyone of course was curious.

He stayed at the old inn, which seemed to become the center of the town upon his arrival. All that he had he carried in a satchel, which was always found sitting at his side. Many wondered what he could be carrying in that satchel, but he never ventured far from it.

The young women around town were fond of this mysterious stranger and wanted get to know him, but when they approached he would only sit there quietly, keeping about his own business, and give them a large grin and nod. He never said a word. It came to be said that he was a mute or even a Confederate spy. These rumors started the entire town rustling about in want of some strong facts about their quiet stranger.

The Tucksbury’s were never much for gossip or rumors. They never trusted in what passed from ear to ear.

One day in mid-September Katherine decided that she would go meet the young stranger. William was enthusiastic about Katherine’s decision to do so and was eager to know the truth about the stranger.

“Katherine, do so invite him to dine with us tomorrow. I’d like to meet the boy myself.”

“Of course William, you don’t expect me to keep him a secret now do you?”

William chuckled and lit his pipe with some wood from the fire as Katherine left the house heading for the inn.

As soon as Katherine’s intentions were known people from around the town began gathering about the inn. By the time she reached the door of the inn, what seemed like the entire town was waiting to see Katherine’s attempts at conversing with the stranger. Katherine asked the inn keeper politely which room the young man was staying in and immediately headed for his door.

Katherine walked up to the second story of the inn and knocked softly on his door. The door opened slowly and he stared at Katherine as though she were a queen on his doorstep. He quickly welcomed her in and she sat down on an old chair the room had provided.

There was a long pause of silence as Katherine looked about the room and he hurriedly tidied his room.

“Oh dear, please sit. There’s no need to tidy so much. My name is Katherine Tucksbury. I’ve come on behalf of myself, my family and my town. I would be honored if you would do me the pleasure of introducing yourself.”

The young man paused for a long minute, “Pardon me ma’am, my name is Christopher Wren.”

“Welcome Christopher Wren, to this small town. Now may I ask what is your business here?”

Christopher looked out the window staring at something he was leaving behind. “I have left my home in Virginia to further distance myself from the Confederacy. I only come to this town for food and a place to sleep. I do not yet know my duration of stay and I do not yet know my destination, but after meeting someone seeming as well disposed as yourself I may wish to stay longer.”

Katherine blushed at Christopher’s compliment, but was quick to mention her marital status. “Thank you very much Christopher. My husband and I would very much like it if you were to join us for dinner tomorrow.”

Christopher’s eyes lit up, “I can only hope that your husband is as kind and welcoming as yourself,” and with those words Christopher accepted Katherine’s dinner invitation.

Katherine was pleased to see that Christopher was so eager to visit the family. She spent the next hour or so speaking with Christopher. They got along very well and found out that they had very much in common.

Katherine left the inn with all the townspeople standing outside waiting for the news of the young stranger. The people cried out for an answer, but Katherine only told everyone his name and his reason for stay. Although she had given them little information, many people were surprised that he even spoke and were happy all the same.

As Katherine got home William was still by the fire and still smoking his pipe. He stood up and put his arm on her waist, “How did it go?”

“His name is Christopher Wren and he has come here to run from the Confederacy. His family and friends stayed back at home and he needs some companionship.”

William spoke quickly, “Did you invite him to dinner?”

“Of course dear, the boy looks as though he’d been starving for days.” Katherine then paused for a moment and said quite curiously, “He seemed very happy to meet me.”

“Why would he not?” William reassured her, “He had the pleasure to speak to the most beautiful woman here in this great state of West Virginia.”

“Oh William, you really are too much,” she said happily, “We are going to have a guest tomorrow, so I must prepare the house.”

The next day Christopher left the Inn with satchel on side and walked calmly to the Tucksbury’s home. All the people in the town watched his every step and word began to spread all round. He was very amused at all the spectators watching. By the time he reached the house everyone in town knew of his dinner affair with the Tucksbury’s.

His knocked on the door and was greeted by William, “Good afternoon, Christopher, I am William Tucksbury, Katherine’s husband. I’m very pleased to see you.”

“Thank you sir I am very grateful that you and your wife have invited me to dine with your family.” Christopher looked about the house as he left his satchel near the fireplace and was led into the dining room. “I must say I haven’t eaten in quite some time and I am certainly famished.”

“Katherine guessed as much. We have the table all set. Please come and enjoy.”

Christopher walked to the table and greeted the three children. He sat at the end of the table opposite of William, while Katherine brought food in from the kitchen.

“Good afternoon Katherine, would you like a hand bringing anything in?”

“No thank you Christopher, I’ve got it all here. Now lets all sit down for grace.”

William held out his hands and everyone soon followed in joining hands around the table. “Dear Lord thank you for this meal which we are about to receive, thank you for the beauty that prepared it…”

“William please…” as Katherine nudged William attempting to tell him to stop the flattery.

“… thank you Lord for my beautiful children as well, and I would especially like to thank you for our guest tonight, Christopher Wren. May you protect him in his travels and help him along his journey. In your name…”

“Amen.” Everyone then began passing around platters and taking their share of the feast. Potatoes, corn, bread, and other foods were picked up, scooped up, and gobbled up. All the while the Tucksbury’s and Christopher began exchanging stories and jokes, listening and laughing.

All was well until William began noticing something occurring right in front of him. Christopher had just a little too much interest in Katherine. He gave her a little too much attention and by the end of the dinner he offered to help Katherine tidy the kitchen. William decided not to mind and allow Katherine to handle the situation. After all he trusted her and he would not let a little thing like this break that trust.

William sat in the living room next to the fire. He noticed Christopher’s satchel and thought of opening it to see it contents, but William knew it was unkind to go rummaging through others belongings and he let it be.

Christopher left that night after speaking with Katherine in the kitchen for what seemed like an hour to William. Once Christopher was gone, William spoke to Katherine, “Katherine, Christopher seems to be very interested in you.”

“Is William Tucksbury jealous?” Katherine said surprisingly.

William looked down almost in shame.

“Oh, William, do not worry. I only have eyes for you. Christopher is a young traveler. He has a lot of time to find a nice young woman. I am just being a friend to someone who needs it.”

William nodded and gave Katherine a kiss.

Over the next few weeks Christopher began coming over every other day to meet and speak with Katherine. It would often happen when William was out farming, since it was the harvesting season. William would return from his work to find Katherine and Christopher discussing whatnot in the living room.

Rumors began spreading throughout the town of an affair that was starting between the two, Katherine and Christopher, but most people did not believe it because of their respect for Katherine and William. William was most displeased when he heard of these rumors and was quick to defend his marriage. He told people that he trusted his wife and she would never love another man, but he was slowly growing mad.

William had to keep up a certain demeanor around the townspeople. He could not let anyone know of his jealousy. So he kept it all hidden inside where it began to grow and pick at him. He dared not speak to his wife of it because he wanted her to believe that he trusted her. Katherine always reassured William by telling him that Christopher was only a friend, but William was becoming a jealous man filled with doubt.

One day in early November William entered a bar and was speaking to some friends. They did not know of William’s jealousy and began praising William for his strength and trust in his wife.

“William, you are a noble man,” they said, “letting your wife speak with this stranger, Christopher Wren, and not making fuss over it, a very noble thing to do indeed. Why I tell you if that was my wife, that boy would be running back to Virginia after I gave him a good beating.”

William’s friend’s praises angered him, but he couldn’t let his feelings be known. So he began drinking.

William rarely drank and when he did it was always in moderation, but now he had to disguise his jealousy. So William began ordering drink after drink, by the time William was ready to go home he was piss drunk. His friends continued to stay on topic of Katherine and Christopher, since it was the only good gossip in that small town. William tried to keep up his demeanor, but the beer had dulled all his senses and the men could tell something was wrong. He quickly bid the men farewell and left for home.

All the way home he stumbled to and fro, and mumbled to himself rude and angry comments. The rage he was building up inside was ready to be released and there was no way of William stopping it in this state he was in.

William arrived to see Christopher and Katherine, through the window, holding each other in front of the fireplace. He burst through the door and immediately Christopher and Katherine stopped.

“I knew it! God damn you Christopher Wren!”

“William stop,” but Katherine was too late, William had leaped forward onto Christopher and they were now wrestling on the floor. Katherine was screaming to William, “It’s not what it looks like,” but William wasn’t listening anymore. He was determined to rid himself of his problem.

Christopher was young and energetic, but William was drunk and angry and much stronger than Christopher. Christopher managed to get up and run to the kitchen which was the only way out of the living room for William blocked the entrance. William followed him quickly and found Christopher standing there holding out his hand trying to stop and reason with William, but nothing was getting through. William grabbed the closest knife to him and screamed as he plunged the knife deep into Christopher’s chest. William was so enraged he pulled the knife out and ran into the living room to his crying wife. She threw a piece of paper at him that happened to be a note that Christopher had written to him. He slowly picked it up and read it:

“Dear William,

I am sorry for any trouble I have caused you, but I know you are kind enough to understand. I am going to join the Union Army to fight the Confederates. I do think your wife wonderful, but believe me sir; I would never dare to break up such an honorable family as yours.

In my satchel I keep my belongings along with a Bible that has helped guide me. I leave it to your family with my thanks for your kindness.

Yours truly,

Christopher Wren”

As soon as William read the note, he broke out in tears realizing what he had done. William ran outside trying to get away from it all, but he only found the townspeople staring at him. They were drawn to the screams of Katherine, but when they saw the bloody knife that William was grasping everyone stood awestruck.

Realizing that everyone had seen his sin, William ran back into the house. Katherine was rushing the children outside and William knew that there was no possible way of changing what he had done. William ran to the fireplace and grabbed the rifle he kept on the mantle. Katherine brought the children outside and in front of the crowd. She held the children and cried as a rifle fired and an angel fell.