Back to the Well

I’ve told this story before, but now it has another chapter.

A long time ago, I decided to purchase the 35th anniversary copy of The Phantom Tollbooth, even though I owned many other copies of the book. But this copy stated that the author lived in my town. I grabbed the white pages (because back then, children, we had to look up addresses and telephone numbers in huge books… if you can believe that) and discovered that he lived 4 BLOCKS AWAY.

I called him at home around 9 pm, and he answered the phone. Rather than berating me for calling so late, he informed me that I wasn’t the first person to call him like this. I told him that it would mean the world to me if I could take him out for coffee.

And with all of the kindness of Tock, Mr. Juster invited me over to his house for tea. After work, I dressed up in a red checkered dress and tied my hair into two braids. I walked the four blocks between our houses and almost chickened out on the front lawn. I am so glad that I took a deep breath and knocked because it turned out to be one of the greatest afternoons of my life. There is nothing quite like getting to have tea with your idol on his porch.

Our lives crossed many times, and when he died, I posted the last picture that we took together. It was at a dinner party celebrating the 50th anniversary of the book. I feel very lucky that I got to see my idol so many times, and the kids got to meet him, too.

But I realized years ago that I had never been back to the house. I couldn’t even remember where it was located. Luckily, the town put up a plaque, and I was able to drive by when I was in the area and see the screened-in porch where we had tea. Everyone waited for me in the car while I walked around the outside of the house, remembering how I felt standing that first time on the front lawn. I was so young. I was so excited. I couldn’t help it; I started crying thinking of that version of me, who is still somewhere inside of me.

I got back in the car, drying my face. It’s a good reminder to go back to a place sometimes.