Now, when I say the Carltons were ordinary, I mean it. They were the epitome of average. Just your typical folks, living in the heart of Tennessee, in a quaint little town called Honeytree, population barely scraping 4,000. Mr. and Mrs. Carlton had known each other since childhood, growing up as neighbors, attending the same schools from elementary right up to high school. Eventually, they tied the knot and started a small family with a daughter and a son. Their house was conveniently situated just a block away from where they grew up. Simple, right?
Their lifestyle was just as uncomplicated as they were. They'd show up at the local church every now and then, mainly on Easter Sundays. Their kids attended the nearby school, and they managed a modest farm with some crops and a handful of chickens. They kept things friendly with the other townsfolk, which was crucial in a tight-knit community like Honeytree. Everyone knew everyone's business, and causing a stir wasn't exactly encouraged. It was all about keeping the peace, the unspoken rule of small-town life.
But there was one exception among the Carltons: Mr. Carlton. He was a bit of a maverick, always questioning things. Not intentionally, mind you, but in a place like Honeytree, everything was deliberate. Mr. Carlton was different. He was a businessman, you know the type, always suited up, always in a hurry. He even went to college in the city, which didn't sit well with the locals. They had a saying: "Tumbleweed," for people who came and went like he did. Yet, Mr. was determined. He believed there wasn't a decent college in Tennessee, so he packed his bags and headed to the city. It nearly tore him and Mrs. apart, but he persevered. And boy, did he make it. Despite his humble beginnings, Mr. Carlton climbed his way to the top of the class. Mrs. watched proudly as he grabbed that diploma, though she wasn't as thrilled about it as he was. But young love prevailed, and they tied the knot soon after graduation.
Mrs. never pursued higher education herself, but she didn't mind. Hardly anyone she knew had, so why should she? She spent her teenage years working on her father's farm, learning the ropes. By the time she was 17, she was a seasoned farmer. She didn't feel the same itch Mr. felt to "escape." She loved Honeytree, loved her family, and loved the farm. It gave her a sense of security, something she treasured above all else. More than that, Mrs. feared change. That was the main difference between her and Mr.
Their eldest, Jenny Loo, was a model student in 8th grade. She was polite, hardworking, and devout. Just like her parents, and their parents before them. School was a sanctuary for her, away from the farm work that came with living in Honeytree. Jenny Loo never complained about her chores, but she didn't share her mother's passion for farming. While Mrs. reminisced about her days on the farm with a sparkle in her eye, Jenny Loo couldn't relate. She felt guilty for not sharing her mother's enthusiasm, so she kept her thoughts to herself and her dolls.
Jimmy, the younger sibling, was a typical boy with a penchant for bugs. He'd spend hours digging up soil, lifting rocks, and climbing trees in search of insects. His hands were always dirty, much to Jenny Loo's dismay. But he couldn't help it; bugs fascinated him. They represented something new and different in a town where change was a foreign concept. So, when he discovered a beetle with a red shell instead of black, it filled him with hope. These little creatures were his escape from the monotony of small-town life.
And there you have it, the Carlton family. Now, onto the morning of July 19th. It started like any other day. Mr. was engrossed in his newspaper, Jimmy and Jenny Loo were eagerly awaiting breakfast, and Mrs. was feeling particularly tired after a late night of farm work. But what happened next was anything but ordinary. Mrs. accidentally opened the wrong jar at breakfast, unleashing a jumping spider onto Jenny Loo's plate. Chaos ensued, and in a moment of panic, Mr. intervened and squashed the spider.
What? Did you think it was a different kind of murder? Sorry to disappoint, but as I mentioned earlier, there was nothing unusual about the Carlton family.