Archie of Outlandish

by Lynnette Kraft

  Tallie sighed. “Archibald, I want to see life like that. I try to, but I don’t always do a good job of it.” She turned to face him. “Your childhood was like a fairy tale and it wasn’t because you had everything a child could dream of. It was because you found happiness right in the middle of your peculiar circumstances. I think you’re pretty wonderful, Archibald Plumby.”

  Archie was a little embarrassed by the attention but also flattered and suspected his expression revealed it. He startled when Tallie quickly grabbed his hand excitedly and said, “Write about your childhood, Archibald! You’ve lived what most kids only dream of!”

  He questioned Tallie with his expression.

  “I don’t mean you didn’t struggle,” she added. “That’s obvious, but you were happy and so many children aren’t . . . even when they’ve been given everything. Archibald, your physical life is so endearing with all your colorful umbrellas, and living underneath things, but it’s your perspective that’s so inspiring. Kids would love to read about your childhood. It would be amusing and motivating. Think of it!”

  Archie seemed to be immediately struck with the same vision Tallie was presenting him. “I think I could write it, but I’m not sure I could illustrate it well,” said Archie.

  “I’ve seen your illustrations,” said Tallie. “They’re good. You have your own thing going on. Kids would love it.”

  “But my handicap is I can only draw by using a reference photo. I can’t draw from my head or from real life.”

  “That’s not a handicap. It’s just your way. We could set up the scenes as you see them, or describe them in your writing, and I could photograph them. Then you would have your reference photo. Do you have photographs of you as a child . . . and your parents?”

  “I’m fairly certain we have plenty of photographs.”

  “Well, you could use those, too, but for the scenes you and I set up together, I’ll just edit you and your parents into the photos I take. It would be easy!”

  Archie looked impressed. “That might work. Yes, you could be onto something.”

  “I totally am! You have to do it!”

  Archie nodded slowly while processing it all. Eventually he looked at Tallie and said, “Is it possible that you, Tallulah Z. Greenleaf, are providing the answer to the most profound question of my last few months?”

  “Yes,” she answered simply and quickly. “I am.”

  They both laughed at her confidence.

  “Is it strange that the title for the story has already popped into my head?”

  Tallie laughed, “Titles are where you begin, right?”

  “Always.”

  “So what is it?” asked Tallie.

  “Archie Underneath?” he said with a question in his voice.

  “Oh my gosh! It’s perfect!” she exclaimed. “But you prefer Archibald. Maybe you should use that.”

  He shook his head. “Archie is what everyone has called me, so if I’m being true to my childhood, it should be Archie.”

  Tallie hugged him and with her arms still around his neck said, “I’m more excited about this than I’ve been about anything in a long time!”

  When she released him, Archie took one of her hands into his and held it for a moment. Looking into Tallie’s eyes, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. It wasn’t something he planned, but he’d always regarded the organic expressions of love as the most cherished.

  Tallie’s neck began to show its usual red splotches, and so Archie said, “I’m sorry. I embarrassed you, didn’t I?”

  Tallie put her free hand on her neck and said with a smile, “I guess they might be induced by charm as well.”

  “Well, thank you for setting my mind at ease.”

  Not quite knowing where the conversation should go from there, Archie and Tallie sat hand in hand, focusing their eyes on the sea, but their minds were only on their hearts.

  15

  Archie didn’t get home until nearly eleven o’clock that night, and since he was meeting Tallie at The Lupine for breakfast at eight-thirty, he knew he should have gone to bed, but he was so eager to begin writing that he couldn’t help himself. He pulled out his notebook and began formulating his story.

  The title, Archie Underneath, kept popping into Archie’s head. Would he use it as part of the story, maybe as a repeated phrase? He wasn’t sure, but he would keep that in mind as he wrote. Either way, he was dead set on the title, because titles, to Archie, were practically prophetic.

  Archie scribbled ideas in his notebook for four hours and by the time he decided to force himself to be finished for the night, he had already come up with a rough sketch of the story. He was excited to tell Tallie about it and hoped he would be able to pull himself out of bed in time to meet her for breakfast.

  It wasn’t like Archie to be late anywhere, but the excitement of the week, as well as a repeat of the nightmare he’d had a few nights before had worn him out. He rushed into The Lupine thirty minutes late and saw Tallie leaning against a wall by the inn looking through a newspaper.

  He hurried over to her and said, “I’m so sorry I’m late, Tallie. I was up much too late . . . or early, depending on how you look at it.”

  Tallie smiled and reached out for his hand. “Don’t worry about it. You were writing, weren’t you?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Remember, I watched you rush off to write your article about the fountain incident. I saw that same look in your eyes last night. I could tell you were dying to get started.”

  “That is how I work. I become inspired and forget everything until I’ve at least put my thoughts down on paper.”

  “I saw they posted your article about the fountain this morning. Do you think people will like it?”

  “I have no idea, but I’ll know soon. People don’t waste time sharing their opinion.”

  “Well, I read it and I think it’s wonderful. It must feel great speaking on behalf of the kids in Outlandish.”

  “It does,” he admitted.

  “Well, I admire you for it.”

  Drinking their coffee and waiting on their breakfast, Archie said, “So today is it.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.”

  Archie shook his head. “I’ve had such a wonderful time with you this week. I’m not quite sure how successful I’ll be at resuming regular life.”

  Tallie laughed. “I was thinking the same thing. Going back to Portland sounds so dull in comparison. I mean, I like Portland, but it’s missing something, you know . . .”

  “What is Portland missing?” he asked completely missing the obvious meaning of her words.

  Tallie looked at him expecting him to be teasing, but when he sat waiting for an answer, she felt embarrassed.

  It hit him suddenly. “Oh. You mean . . . I see.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Well, that was awkward.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said chuckling. “I’m just not, well, experienced in such matters.”

  “And that’s what’s so appealing, Archibald. You’re so different from everyone I’ve ever met. You’re open and honest, but kind and gentle, too. You’re just so . . . genuine.”

  Archie smiled. “Thanks. I don’t think many see me like you do.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” said Tallie. “I think everyone who gets to know you finds you exactly as you are. I don’t think you could hide if you wanted to.”

  “Don’t forget, that’s exactly what I did when I first saw you heading toward me.”

  “But see, even that was a genuine reflection of who you are. There are so many things you could have done, even feeling as insecure as you obviously did. But you did what you were inclined to do instead, and I admire that.”

  Archie remained quiet but seemed pleased with Tallie’s observations.

  “Have you ever had a . .
. romantic relationship?” Tallie asked.

  Archie shook his head and looked off in another direction, feeling a little conspicuous.

  “Don’t feel bad about it. I mean, you’re only twenty, right?”

  Archie nodded and again, looked away.

  “Okay, no more of that. I can tell it makes you uncomfortable.”

  “I’m sorry,” Archie said, embarrassed.

  “So, tell me, what did you come up with during your sleepless night?”

  “A rough draft.”

  “What? Of the whole story?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Oh, it’s a very rough draft, but I have it sketched out.”

  “I guess when you’ve got it, you’ve got it. I’m telling you, Archibald Plumby. This is your destiny.”

  She pointed to his backpack on the floor. “Did you bring it with you?”

  Archie nodded. “Would you like to see it?”

  “Of course!”

  When Archie reached for his backpack, his elbow hit his umbrella stand, and it toppled so he lost his shelter. This did happen on occasion, and it was always a little traumatic when it did. Archie quickly ducked his head down and put his arms up over his head as if the ceiling were crashing down on him.

  Tallie was caught off guard by his dramatic response and only gasped.

  Archie kept his head down and asked, “Tallie, can I get a little help?” He said it calmly but he felt anything but calm.

  “Oh yeah. Sorry!” she said, rushing over to him. She picked up the umbrella and stand and positioned it so it was right next to Archie. “Okay, you’re all set.”

  When he came up, his face was pale and Tallie said, “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

  He nodded. “Just give me a moment. I’ll be fine.”

  Tallie stood and watched Archie closely as he breathed and regained some color in his face.

  “I didn’t realize. I mean, it really is a big deal, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. A very big deal, I’m afraid.”

  Tallie sat next to Archie and rubbed his back, but Archie was a bit humiliated by the whole thing, and he was embarrassed by Tallie’s back rub, even if she was being kind.

  “Can I do anything to help?” she asked.

  “Usually I recover pretty quickly if I’m left alone for a moment. It’s the breathing that helps the most.”

  Tallie removed her hand from his back. “Oh, I’m sorry. Okay, should I leave? Or . . .”

  “No, if you could just go back to your seat please, I promise I’ll perk up soon.”

  Tallie went back to her seat. She wasn’t sure if she should talk or just remain quiet, so she was pleased to hear Archie say, “If you’ll grab my bag, I’ll hold onto the stand this time.”

  “Sure.”

  She put the bag on the table. “Shall we try again?” he asked.

  “If you’re up to it.”

  “Of course.”

  Tallie was happy to see the waiter on his way to their table with their breakfast. She knew it would help them to recover from the awkward event.

  They sat together for the next hour reading through Archie’s ideas and talking about the reference photos she would provide for his story.

  “So, maybe we should go to your house after breakfast, and I’ll get pictures of your bedroom and your dining table, and we’ll set up different scenes in your house and on the beach with forts and umbrellas, and you can get me some pictures of you when you were a child.”

  “This will be so helpful,” he said. “Thank you for suggesting it.”

  “No problem. When I get back home, I’ll edit you into the photos, print them, and send them to you. Would eight by ten be a good size to send?”

  “Yes, that should work well.”

  “I’m so excited to see this come together! I’ll get right to work on it.”

  “What will Gemma think about our working together?” Archie asked.

  “It’ll be my personal project. She won’t even know about it.”

  “I hate to make things awkward for you. I know she keeps you pretty busy. Are you sure you want to do this for me? You can back out right now. It won’t hurt my feelings.

  “Besides, you’ve been gone all week. She’s likely already a little upset about that.”

  “No, it’ll be all right,” Tallie answered. “She was working on a project I wasn’t involved in, so I’m sure she didn’t miss me. Should I try to get her to recommend an agent? I’ll bet she knows a few. I could tell her it’s for a friend. I wouldn’t need to mention your name.”

  Archie shook his head. “I’d rather avoid that if you don’t mind.”

  “But what if you can’t find an agent on your own? I think that’s pretty important with a first project, and I’ve heard it’s really hard to get one. Let me ask her.”

  Archie thought about it for a moment and then said, “Let me give it a whirl and see what I come up with first. You never know, I might get lucky.”

  “Okay, but don’t be too stubborn. It’s not like you’d be selling your soul to the devil or anything.”

  “No?” Archie asked.

  “Archibald!”

  “I’m only joking,” he said, chuckling.

  Archie’s mother was home cleaning the house when he and Tallie showed up.

  “Hello, you two. What are you up to this morning?”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Plumby. Has Archie told you about his book project yet?”

  Archie interjected. “I ran out the door so fast this morning, I barely made eye contact with Mother and Father. In fact, I didn’t.”

  “Well, tell her now.”

  Archie proceeded to tell his mother he was going to write about his childhood and that it would be in the form of a children’s book.

  Annella hugged Archie. “That’s a wonderful idea, Archie. How did you come up with it?”

  Archie put his hand out as if presenting Tallie.

  “Oh Tallie, good for you! And Archie, I’m so proud of you. What a big undertaking. One I’m sure God will bless. I always knew He had something special planned for you and your writing.”

  “Thank you, Mother. It’s beginning to seem like the inevitable path for me. I feel it’s being confirmed at every turn. Of course, we’ll see whether I can truly find success in it.”

  “I’m going to create some reference photos for his illustrations,” Tallie interjected. “That’s what we came here to do this morning.”

  “Well, I should let you get to work then, shouldn’t I?” said Annella.

  “Yes, I guess we should get to work,” said Tallie. “But can I get something from you, Mrs. Plumby?”

  “Sure,” she said. “What do you need, dear?”

  “Pictures of Archibald when he was little, well, of you and Mr. Plumby as well. Do you have some you can get to easily?”

  “Yes, I think I can find some,” she answered. “I’ll look for them while you both get started.”

  It took a few hours for Tallie to get all of the photos, because they needed to create each scene Archie had planned to write about, and when they finally finished, they realized they had missed lunch and were approaching the dinner hour.

  “Would you like to go for some shrimp scampi?” Archie asked.

  “Sure, what is it?” asked Tallie.

  “Very large, succulent pieces of buttery, garlic shrimp.”

  Tallie laughed at Archie’s dramatic description. “It does sound delicious, and I am starving.”

  Archie and Tallie finished their meal and decided to end their day on the beach together. Archie brought along his very large umbrella, secured it in the sand with a spike, and they both sat underneath it.

  “What time do you leave tomorrow?” Archie asked.

  “My flight leaves at noon, and I have to get a taxi
to take me to the airport, so I’ll probably leave here at about eight.”

  Archie smiled at Tallie. “I’m glad I’ll be busy writing or I might miss you a great deal.”

  Tallie smiled back. “Oh, you might, huh?”

  Archie laughed.

  “Well, I know I’ll miss you, Archibald.”

  “When do you think you’ll be back to Outlandish? I hope it’ll be soon.”

  “I hope so too, but I really don’t know.”

  “You will write to me though?” Archie asked.

  “Of course I will. And you better write back . . . or will you be too busy writing your book?” she teased.

  “I think I’ll be able to squeeze it in.”

  Archie met Tallie at The Lupine for breakfast at seven o’clock the following morning. They talked while they ate, but kept the conversation light. It seemed neither of them wanted to think about being apart from one another. But when it was almost time for Tallie to leave, suddenly the conversation took a quick turn in the direction of parting words.

  Tallie was the one to start. “Archibald, I followed you that day, months ago, only because I wanted to photograph you, but you turned out to be so much more interesting than I ever expected. I feel like I’ve made a wonderful friend, especially this past week. Thank you for sacrificing your schedule for me.”

  Archie was surprised when she used the word friend, and because he was cautious in his manner and inexperienced in the ways of love, he decided to refrain from saying what he thought he might, which was that he was falling in love.

  Instead he said, “It was my pleasure showing you around Outlandish. I’ll be happy to do it again when you come back.”

  “Now you create an amazing story, and I’ll send you the photos as soon as I get them edited and printed. Okay?”

  Archie nodded and said, “I’ll do my best to impress you, Miss Greenleaf.”

  “I’m sure you will,” she answered.

  Surprised by Tallie’s slight disconnect emotionally, Archie asked, “Is everything all right, Tallie?”

  “Yes, why?” she asked.

  “I was just . . . you seem a little . . . well, you have a long day ahead of you.”