A Special Day

A few years ago, my grandson took a field trip to the Kansas state capitol building in Topeka. Since parents and grandparents were allowed to accompany their children, I went along.

After viewing points of interest on the lower floors, we proceeded up the stairs to the top of the dome. From time to time, as we reached different parts of the climb, children and adults would turn around and go back down. Although I am afraid of heights, I was better prepared than most. I had done some research and knew what to expect.

I knew, for instance, that the dome visible from the inside is actually far beneath the dome seen from the outside. As the following picture reveals, platforms and stairs between the inner and outer domes provide access to the walkway around the outside of the copula.

If my memory serves me right, the photo enhances the available light. Apart from the stairway, it was actually quite dark. The photo does do justice to the last segment of stairs which were both narrow and steep before spiraling to the top.

The day of our trip happened to be windy and, not wanting to lose my ball cap, I took it off and laid it on a ledge before stepping outside. After walking around the copula, taking some pictures and enjoying the view, I proceeded back down. I was past the section between the domes before I realized that I had forgotten my cap. Although I didn’t want to go back up, I didn’t want to lose my cap either. I’ll say this; the second time up was definitely easier than the first.

There was a reason I determined to go to the top of the capital that day. My failure to do so as a young teenager hadn’t been forgotten.

That day, my mother and I were driving from Lawrence to visit relatives in North Topeka. We invited Darlene, a neighbor girl, to come along. Darlene and I had shared some special times but none more special than this.

Somewhere along the way, Darlene said that she was familiar with the capital building and could give me a tour—if I was interested. Accordingly, my mother dropped us off at the capital and went on to North Topeka.

Darlene then gave me a fine tour of the building. Unfortunately, it concluded with an offer to go to the top of the dome. I remember how intimidating it was looking up at the dome from the ground floor. I imagined a circular stairway winding around the inside of the dome to the high point in the center. I had to imagine it because I couldn’t see it. I didn’t know then that there were actually two domes with a stairway between. I only knew a stairway had to be there.

So, why couldn’t I see it? I reasoned that the height of the dome must be even greater than it seemed or that the stairway must be extremely small. I didn’t want to disappoint Darlene or look afraid, but I just couldn’t do it.

If she was disappointed, she kept it to herself. We left the capital through an underground tunnel that took us to the state office building. Once there, we took an elevator up to the observation tower. From behind glass windows, even I could enjoy looking out over the city.

A security guard making his rounds noticed us and smiled. It was a smile that said, “Ah, you’re boy friend and girl friend.” I smiled back. I liked the thought.

We were friends. I was too young and immature to be anything else. But our friendship was such that it gave me a foretaste of something more. Whatever it was, it had to be pretty special.

After we finished our tour, we walked down Topeka Avenue and across the old Topeka Avenue Bridge. A few blocks later, we arrived at my great aunt’s house on North Central Avenue. When we finished visiting, it was my turn to treat Darlene. I took her to one of my favorite places: the creamery on the corner of Morse and Kansas Avenue. We concluded our day sharing chocolate malts.

A story like this must sound like an episode from My Three Sons or Leave It to Beaver. But it isn’t. It is just one special day for which I am very thankful.

Michael Riley

September 26, 2019