The last we visited Crowley was in the early spring of 2014.
What has happened since?
Remarkably, as politically extreme as she is, Dotty Mathers is the 1st District Congressional Representative. She edged the more moderate millionaire farmer from Brantley County in the primaries and demolished her Democratic opponent in the general. Since then, Dotty has continued virtually unopposed, her bizarre proposals occasionally making national news. She is a faithful supporter of Trump and is often on the front lines of defending him.
Franny Goodkind successfully became a CNA and is working at the Crowley Baptist Retirement Center, where she much beloved by all. She is studying at Coastal Pines at night, working towards becoming an LPN. Her relationship with Adam Garnett did not withstand the test of time, breaking up in 2018.
Tabitha Steel dropped out of South Georgia College after a year and became involved with a handsome conman, an expert in Ponzi schemes, and in selling worthless export/import items at highly inflated prices. They moved to Thailand, where his import scheme, in conjunction with the Thai mafia, took off big time. So, in Tabitha's dream where she was choosing between Captain Kirk and Yul Brynner, it looks like she chose the King of Siam.
Tabitha's father died in his fields, of a massive heart attack, in 2017. That was the last time she was in Crowley, for her father's funeral. The two Steel sons, Abraham and Johnny, took over the family farm, running it jointly. Six months ago, they sold it, finally beaten down by the changing weather patterns and the Trump tariffs.
When it looked like tolerance of the LGBT community was growing. Angela divorced her husband in 2015 and married Grace Scope in 2017. The times were already changing back again, and the school system forced Angela and Grace out, using other made-up charges as an excuse. Grace eventually got a job in Glynn County schools, but Angela is still looking. Despite the pain, they are happy but considering moving from Crowley.
Coffeetown, USA - the chain beanery that replaced the Honey Dew, went under in just two years. The building has remained empty but was purchased recently by a pair of local investors. Much of Crowley awaits to see who invested and what it will become, but right now, all of that is shrouded in mystery,
Mattie Goodkind did not beat Sarah Rachel Crowley Franks Steel Compton's longevity record of 105. She died on March 15th, 2015. Mattie did follow Rachel's tradition of dying on her birthday, turning 104, on that day. She did not suffer the indignity of collapsing into her birthday cake. She did, however, go out cursing like a sailor. Do not go quietly into the night - that was her motto - and she lived up to it.
Bobby Ray played one glorious season as a backup quarterback for the Georgia Southern Eagles, busted his knee again, dropped out of college, and now splits his time between Delco Auto Sales and Swamptown Vapes. He and Racine Steel coupled and uncoupled multiple times, but they have now been apart for about three years. Maybe this time it will stick.
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I consider Crowley Stories my finest writing achievement. The general public did not agree. No, I have not received negative comments about it (one person was concerned about from whose point of view the first story, Dark Days, was told from). I just have received very little feedback. Although I must concede, what I have received has been very good - just not enough to make it a big seller. Since I did it through BookBaby, I have less control over the marketing, and that is very frustrating.
Bottom line is, I don't know if they'll ever be another Crowley book. But I enjoyed doing this update, and hope to do some more, for those of you who do appreciate my forays into the world of Crowley.
So...
more updates to come!
