Chasing the Boogeyman — Chapter 2: The Town
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The narrator opens with a John Milton quote about losing innocence and gazing upon darkness, framing the story of Edgewood, Maryland. He explains that understanding the town’s public and private faces is essential to comprehending what was lost during the Boogeyman’s reign.
The chapter first recounts Edgewood’s history: originally inhabited by Native American tribes, visited by Captain John Smith, and later developed around a railroad system. The creation of Edgewood Arsenal in 1917 transformed the area, bringing chemical weapons production and a diverse population. By the late 1980s, the unincorporated community had nearly 18,000 residents with a median income below the national average.
The narrator then describes his personal Edgewood: the house with green shutters on the corner of Hanson and Tupelo Roads where he grew up as the youngest of five children. He details his father’s garage sanctuary, the large back porch, and the yard where he played baseball and threw crab apples at cars. His closest friends were the Cavanaugh and Anderson brothers, and together they roamed the town—playing sports, exploring woods, building forts, and pulling stunts like mooning drivers. They frequented the Edgewood Shopping Plaza, where the narrator bought comics and candy, and also spent time at the library.
Local legends added a darker layer: the Rubberband Man—a tall, thin figure who kidnapped children; a story about a store clerk who peeked into a warehouse and saw an alien; and the Phantom Fondler, who had entered women’s homes and touched them while they slept since 1986. These tales hinted at Edgewood’s hidden dangers.
The chapter closes with two formative snow memories. At age five, walking with his father past Christmas lights, the narrator felt the magic of home. At fifteen, alone after sledding, he saw his house from a distance and realized he would one day leave—a moment of melancholy that inspired him to become a writer.
Key Events
- Historical overview of Edgewood from Native American settlement to the late 1980s.
- Description of the Chizmar family home, including the garage and back porch.
- Introduction of the narrator’s siblings and his role as the youngest child.
- Profiles of his childhood friends: Jimmy and Jeffrey Cavanaugh, Brian and Craig Anderson, and others.
- Anecdotes of summer adventures: the Daredevil Club, collecting toads, throwing objects at cars.
- The Edgewood Shopping Plaza and library as central hangouts.
- Local legends: the Rubberband Man, alien rumors at the Arsenal, and the Phantom Fondler.
- Two snowy, reflective moments: one age five with father, one age fifteen alone on the hill.
Character Development
- Narrator (Richard Chizmar): Shown as a mischievous yet introspective boy. He is the leader of his friend group, prone to pranks (throwing crab apples, stealing Bigfoot hair) but also deeply sensitive—his snow epiphany reveals a budding writer’s awareness of time and loss.
- Friends: Jimmy, Jeffrey, Brian, and Craig are portrayed as loyal partners in crime, their antics illustrating the wild freedom of childhood.
- Family: The narrator’s father is a quiet, hardworking aircraft mechanic; his mother is a caring homemaker. The narrator’s position as the youngest and possibly favored child gives him a unique perspective.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Innocence vs. Darkness: The Milton quote sets up a central theme—childhood innocence is fragile, and once lost, it cannot be regained. The town’s idyllic surface hides its darker undercurrents.
- Dual Faces of a Town: Public history versus private memories, rumors, and secrets. The narrator offers both statistical facts and personal anecdotes to paint a complete picture.
- Nostalgia and Loss: The snowy memories and the narrator’s realization that he will leave home create a bittersweet tone, foreshadowing the loss of community innocence when the Boogeyman arrives.
- The House as a Hub: The narrator’s home with its green shutters, weeping willow, and garage represents the center of his world. Each road leading away is a spoke in his “wheel of life.”
- Childhood Fear and Urban Legends: The Rubberband Man and Phantom Fondler serve as local boogeymen, priming the reader for the real terror to come.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter grounds the story in a specific time and place, making the impending horrors more visceral. By immersing readers in Edgewood’s history and the narrator’s personal memories, Chizmar ensures that the town feels like a real community worth caring about. The introduction of the Phantom Fondler also hints that violence has already touched Edgewood, raising tension before the Boogeyman’s first murder.
Study Questions and Answers
-
What is the significance of the John Milton quote at the beginning of the chapter?
The quote—“Innocence, once lost, can never be regained. Darkness, once gazed upon, can never be lost”—establishes that the Boogeyman’s crimes will permanently destroy the town’s innocence. It foreshadows the central tragedy of the story. -
Describe one of the urban legends mentioned and explain its effect on the narrator.
The Rubberband Man is described as a seven-foot-tall figure who prowls at dusk to snatch children. The narrator once believed he saw him near a playground, which terrified him. This legend shows how local folklore shaped childhood fears and adds an eerie atmosphere to the setting. -
What does the narrator’s second snow memory (at age fifteen) reveal about his character?
While standing alone in the snow, he realizes that he will one day leave home and that all things change. This moment of vulnerability and clarity sparks his ambition to become a writer—it marks his first awareness of mortality and the passage of time.