TRUE STORY

Coastal Maine is known for its extensive reserves of granite. As a result, many quarries are scattered throughout the state. I personally only saw the one in Warren. It’s relatively large in diameter, but I have no idea how deep it is. I do know that local kids swim there in the summer. Despite not knowing its depth, I’ve often thought it would be a good place to dispose of a car for a variety of reasons.

My personal experience with a quarry, which I have never seen, involved the near-drowning of a high school boy (I will call him Jack to protect his privacy) who either fell or was pushed into a quarry in Waldoboro. The boys who were swimming there that summer never revealed the true circumstances.

Jack had never learned to swim; he just wanted to hang out with his friends. When the distress of his being unable to swim became obvious, one of his friends jumped in to rescue him. Thankfully, another boy called an ambulance. Jack was taken to the nearest medical center, where he was treated and barely survived.

Many people are unaware that near-drowning in freshwater is much more serious than in salt water. Fresh water can seriously damage the lungs. Jack was on a ventilator for quite some time and was finally discharged home on portable oxygen.

Once, while picking up one of my children from sports practice at the high school, I saw Jack. He was in a wheelchair and still using portable oxygen weeks after the incident. He looked pitiful, but was obviously able to attend high school.

I later learned from one of the doctors who cared for Jack that he was off supplemental oxygen, walking again, and eventually made a full recovery.

Jack’s disturbing story and my past idea of using the quarry to conceal a stolen car were the inspiration for Secrets in the Quarry.