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Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows

June 17, 2020 by Jim Potter 6 Comments

https://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sheriff-Fay-F.-Browns-Badge-Episode-30.mp3

· Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge:

The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows·

It’s Sunday evening, September 11, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Pearl Albrecht, 15, and Delbert Wright, 14, are visiting while sitting on his front porch swing.

*

“Delbert,” said Pearl, “it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! I’m only fifteen, but Rorabaugh-Wiley is paying me for being me, I mean, for dressing up like Charles Lindbergh.”

“Now, tell me again,” said Delbert. “Does the department store still want to display my plane in one of their front windows?”

“It’s already on display,” replied Pearl, answering the same question for the third time. “The window dresser, Mrs. Entwisle, said she was going to talk to you about offering you merchandise for loaning them the Spirit of St. Louis.”

“Now some bad news,” continued Pearl. “Sheriff Brown told me that Mrs. Anna Kelly, the police matron, wants to talk to me. I told him I didn’t do anything wrong, but he said it was about me smoking fags at the Fall Festival Frolic. Do you remember the old people who were rude to us?”

“Pearl,” said Delbert, “my memory is still foggy about that night because of my concussion. Sorry.”

“Well, a couple of decrepit busy-bodies should have been minding their own beeswax,” continued Pearl. “Instead, they started lecturing me about smoking cigarettes. I can’t believe it, but I exploded, just like my father.”

“I remember Sheriff Brown,” said Delbert, “and that he’s invited us to visit the county jail and meet his dog, Old Pal.”

“That’s right,” agreed Pearl. “He said after the State Fair we’d get together, have a tour of the jail, and eat fresh cherry pie that his wife bakes.”

“I asked Sheriff Brown if Mrs. Kelly could talk to me at school or while my father was at work in the salt mine,” continued Pearl. “I told him that if my father finds out the police want to talk to me, things won’t be pretty at our house.”

*

“I’ve looked everywhere for him,” said Fay, as he and his wife discussed their missing dog, Pal.

“Where could he be?” asked Cora.

“I’m going to drive around the neighborhood again,” said Fay. “Last I heard, the city still hasn’t hired anyone to respond to dangerous animal calls. I might even stop by and talk to the former dogcatcher, James Woodson. He’s been hired recently by the city police force. It just isn’t like Old Pal to run off. I hope he hasn’t been injured.”

“If Woodson’s not the dog catcher, then how can he help us?” asked Cora.

“He might be on emergency call or know who’s taking the calls,” said Fay. “I just don’t want Pal shot the way our Venus was killed, by a police officer. We know Pal’s not vicious and he doesn’t have rabies, but he’s not friendly to strangers.”

“I sure hope Pal will turn up,” said Cora. “At least some people have seen the lost-and-found ad you put in the News.”

“And I was feeling so good,” said Fay. “The county commissioners really came through. I’m so glad to get rid of that old Dodge touring car. On my round-trip to Oxford, the new Studebaker standard-six drove like a dream machine. One of the prisoners even commented that if he ever needs to borrow another automobile, he’ll be sure it’s a Studebaker.”

*

“Are you excited about going back to school tomorrow?” asked Pearl to Delbert as they swayed on his front porch swing in the dwindling daylight. They reflected on their first summer as neighbors and best friends. Pearl, for the first time in a long time was developing a concrete plan to escape her family. She wanted to talk about her future.

“I know I’ll miss seeing you so often if you work after school,” answered Delbert. “I’m not really excited about anything just yet,” he said slowly. “My parents aren’t even sure about me leaving the porch. We’ll see how I’m doing in the morning.”

“You know me,” said Pearl. “I’ll do anything to get out of my insane asylum, my family torture chamber. At school I feel safe, but there’s a chance I may be visited by the police matron tomorrow. Can you believe it, on the first day of school? Now that I’m working, I’ve got to stay out of trouble.” Pearl smiled, thinking of her suddenly bright future.

*

Pearl heard her father yelling as she entered the back door of their house on Avenue A, west.

“I’ve already given you money for Pearl,” he said. “Do you think money grows on trees?” he asked sarcastically.

“Harvey, listen to me,” explained his wife, Mary Adella, “she can’t go to school without school books. It’s just common sense.” 

Mary opened her mouth but stopped before speaking. She looked surprised at what she had just said to her husband. She had crossed an invisible line. Now, she prepared to suffer the consequences.

Pearl stopped before entering the living room. If I go in the room, will that make things better or worse? she asked herself. Trying to read her father was as potentially dangerous as attempting to cross a minefield in a war zone. Does mom need me? Can I help her?” she thought.

Just then, Harvey picked up the shotgun he kept near the front door. He violently smashed the butt of the weapon into Mary’s face. Pearl heard the bone-shattering crack from the other room, causing her to wince and panic.

Screaming, Pearl rushed into the living room, her arms raised, reaching for the shotgun as blood from her mother’s nose spurt into the air and onto her dress. “Daddy, stop!” Pearl yelled. “Stop hitting mommy!”

Reacting immediately, extending his two arms, Harvey shoved the side of the shotgun into Pearl, pushing her away and down to the floor. He then threw the gun towards a chair, but his rage hadn’t subsided. With a balled-up fist he hit his wife again in the face, this time in her cheek.

“Who do you think you are?” he shouted at Mary. “If you had any common sense, you’d keep your mouth shut! Now, clean up this mess and stop crying!”

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

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Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Anna Kelly, Charles Lindbergh Jr., Delbert Wright, Fay Brown, Hutchinson Kansas, Hutchinson Police Department, Hutchinson Police matron, Hutchinson's Fall Festival Frolic, Jim Potter, Kansas Authors Club, Mrs. Entwisle, Old Pal, Pearl Albrecht, Reno County, Reno County Sheriff, Rorabaugh-Wiley, Sheriff Fay Brown, Sheriff Fay Brown's Badge, Spirit of St Louis, Studebaker standard six

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLouise says

    June 17, 2020 at 7:57 am

    As always a great story. Can’t wait for the rest. But I guess I have to. Have a great day.

    Reply
    • Jim PotterJim Potter says

      June 17, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Thank you, Louise!

      Reply
  2. AvatarNancy Julien Kopp says

    June 17, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Jim–I have been reading this on fb, but not getting it sent via email. I have signed up again using my new email address. Hope that takes care of it.

    Reply
    • Jim PotterJim Potter says

      June 20, 2020 at 8:02 am

      Nancy, great to have you back!

      Reply
  3. AvatarGloria Zachgo says

    June 17, 2020 at 11:09 am

    Jim,

    I can’t like this–not because of your writing. Keep writing. I want to hear the comeuppance for this brute.

    Reply
    • Jim PotterJim Potter says

      June 20, 2020 at 8:03 am

      Thanks for your comment, Gloria. We will see.

      Reply

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What People Are Saying

Sean McArdle

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centres on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to give enough detail to bring the characters to life, yet not too much so as to slow down the pace of the developing story. A climactic event affects the main characters and it is at this point Potter’s deep knowledge of people and police procedures really hits home; page by page we read how a seemingly simple, though terrible occurrence, can have huge consequences. To Potter’s credit the story does not have a completely conclusive or simplistic ending. Instead it leaves the reader thinking about how the events of a single minute can affect lives forever. I would whole heartedly recommend this book not as a crime novel or even as a novel about crime but as a beautiful and positive affirmation about what it is to be human and how ultimately it is relationships which matter more than events.

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:24:22-06:00

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centres on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to give enough detail to bring the characters to life, yet not too much so as to slow down the pace of the developing story. A climactic event affects the main characters and it is at this point Potter’s deep knowledge of people and police procedures really hits home; page by page we read how a seemingly simple, though terrible occurrence, can have huge consequences. To Potter’s credit the story does not have a completely conclusive or simplistic ending. Instead it leaves the reader thinking about how the events of a single minute can affect lives forever. I would whole heartedly recommend this book not as a crime novel or even as a novel about crime but as a beautiful and positive affirmation about what it is to be human and how ultimately it is relationships which matter more than events.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/sean-mcardle/

Rebecca

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T11:41:14-06:00

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/rebecca/

Wynona Winn

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:18:33-06:00

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/wynona-winn/

Denise Low

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T11:31:21-06:00

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/denise-low/

Larry Kruckman

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a jail, art fair, powwow, rehab center, courtroom, albinos, and even someone in the throes of postpartum depression. So detailed are the descriptions that they must be drawn from the author’s personal experience. Besides the artfully created characters such as the struggling jailer and husband Tom Jennings, local artist Jesse Thomas, and Native American Joe Morningcloud, there is a tight story line that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Human tensions, love, conflict, joys and sorrows are all there. Magically, all the many pieces come together in a final crescendo, giving hope that even when we find ourselves in big trouble we can survive. This is a novel I highly recommend!

Larry Kruckman, Anthropologist

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:27:15-06:00

Larry Kruckman, Anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a jail, art fair, powwow, rehab center, courtroom, albinos, and even someone in the throes of postpartum depression. So detailed are the descriptions that they must be drawn from the author’s personal experience. Besides the artfully created characters such as the struggling jailer and husband Tom Jennings, local artist Jesse Thomas, and Native American Joe Morningcloud, there is a tight story line that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Human tensions, love, conflict, joys and sorrows are all there. Magically, all the many pieces come together in a final crescendo, giving hope that even when we find ourselves in big trouble we can survive. This is a novel I highly recommend!
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/larry-kruckman/

Deb Theis

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller that the reader quickly becomes immersed and has a ‘bonding experience’ with each of the characters, feeling their joy, fear, passion and pain. Jim’s novel speaks to the empowerment of persistence with the characters as they work through their trials. As a therapist, I appreciated the heartfelt struggles from each of the characters and their diversity. I also found value in the novel’s understanding of society’s misunderstanding of both mental health and other conditions in which people struggle. The novel contains rich exposure to various realities that many of us do not know about . . . but should. When I finished this captivating novel, I was wanting to read the sequel! It was an honor and a wonderful, mesmerizing experience reading this book. Congratulations, Jim!

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:20:29-06:00

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller that the reader quickly becomes immersed and has a ‘bonding experience’ with each of the characters, feeling their joy, fear, passion and pain. Jim’s novel speaks to the empowerment of persistence with the characters as they work through their trials. As a therapist, I appreciated the heartfelt struggles from each of the characters and their diversity. I also found value in the novel’s understanding of society’s misunderstanding of both mental health and other conditions in which people struggle. The novel contains rich exposure to various realities that many of us do not know about . . . but should. When I finished this captivating novel, I was wanting to read the sequel! It was an honor and a wonderful, mesmerizing experience reading this book. Congratulations, Jim!
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/deb-theis/

John & Cindy Morrill

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters and the settings in which they live and work. It makes a story more realistic if you can say, I am familiar with the area; I know where that town is or I have traveled that street. It was easy to relate to the characters. In one way or another, I have met them all somewhere in my journeys

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:14:56-06:00

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters and the settings in which they live and work. It makes a story more realistic if you can say, I am familiar with the area; I know where that town is or I have traveled that street. It was easy to relate to the characters. In one way or another, I have met them all somewhere in my journeys
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/john-cindy-morrill/

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental illness. One of my favorite quotes from Taking Back the Bullet is “We’re all just a critical moment from being disabled or mentally ill, and we don’t want to think about it.” The novel also provides the reader an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the individuals, their family, friends, and society. Taking Back the Bullet is a story of forgiveness and overcoming life’s struggles and tragedies.

Morgan Penner

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:25:35-06:00

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental illness. One of my favorite quotes from Taking Back the Bullet is “We’re all just a critical moment from being disabled or mentally ill, and we don’t want to think about it.” The novel also provides the reader an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the individuals, their family, friends, and society. Taking Back the Bullet is a story of forgiveness and overcoming life’s struggles and tragedies.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/morgan-penner/

Dennis Perrin

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Dennis Perrin, educator

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T11:44:55-06:00

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/dennis-perrin/

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Rebecca Schillaci

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T11:46:40-06:00

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/rebecca-schillaci/

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Sheryl Remar

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T11:47:46-06:00

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/sheryl-remar/

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Jane Holzrichter

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:21:41-06:00

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/jane-holzrichter/

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Steve Becker

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:26:21-06:00

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/steve-becker/

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Diana Dester

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:19:23-06:00

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/diana-dester/

Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Karleen Wilson-Moon

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:44:26-06:00

Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/karleen-wilson-moon/

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

Judy Hawk

Sandhenge Publications
5
2017-11-17T18:15:48-06:00

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .
https://jimpotterauthor.com/testimonials/judy-hawk/
16
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