[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72DZ3dw5JUg[/embedyt]Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Milk in the Batter Section correspondent, was sewing a costume, when he read Sendak’s Estate: Debating Where the Things Go. Lynn Caponera, Maurice Sendak’s housekeeper and caretaker for more than 30 years, is pushing ahead to burnish his legacy, with a Philly museum suing for most of the artwork amid questions. Most of those questions, Marquel realized, come from the people still living in the Sendak estate in Ridgefield. Marquel decided to take a ride up there and see what was going on.
After knocking, Marquel saw the problem right away. He was greeted by a small little person. In a tight little white suit.
“So I guess you want to see the night kitchen first,” he said.
“Not at all,” I said, “I was more concerned that there might be a lot of disputes going on here. “
“What do you care?” Max asked me.
“Oh I care. Deeply.” I said. “Maurice was the center of my life.”
“Me too,” said Max. “I could eat him up.”
“I know how you feel. Okay what the hell, let’s see the kitchen.” He held my hand and we walked to the back of the house.
“Wow,” I said, “this is where the milk is.” We carefully climbed to the top of one bottle, still holding hands. He pointed. “That’s far and deep. You don’t want to fall. I did that once.”
I kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.” He looked at me as we made our way down.
He held me tightly. “I could eat you up too,” he said.
“Watch out,” I said, “or I’ll eat you up first.” He smiled.
“So, Max, what do they want to do now that Mr Sendak has gone on his trip?” I asked.
“They want to split us up. They want me to go to some museum in Philadelphia. The Wild Things stay here. Pierre is going far away, just like Mr. Sendak, and the airplane is going someplace else. The ships will be shared. But Ms Caponera wants us all to be together. People say no-one will come to see us and we’ll be lonely. But you’re here.” He said.
“I’ll come any time you’re lonely,” I said. I noticed he’d taken off his suit and was stark naked.
“Want to see my bedroom?” He asked.
“You bet. Is it scary?”
“I’ll protect you.”
He opened the door and monsters were all over the walls. I screamed and fell on the bed. Naked Max put on a crown and gave an order. The lights went on and the pictures were now framed. No more wild things. At least no more scary ones.
“I’m the king of the wild things,” he said.
“I know. Everyone knows. Everyone will come to see you be king. Ms Caponera is right.”
“I’m hungry,” he said. I suggested we go to the kitchen where I could make him some chicken soup with rice. I served him at his table.
The giant milk bottle seemed more manageable. Max tasted the soup.
“It’s hot!” he said. He kissed me on the cheek again.
“Where’s Pierre?” I asked.
“He’s in the studio.” He said.
“I can find him.” I left Max and found the studio. Pierre was reading.
“Hi. I’m Marquel.”
“Oh hi. I’m trying to finish Ivanhoe. There’s a lot of books I didn’t read when I was younger.” He said.
“Why not?” I asked.
“I didn’t care. But now I do.” He said.
“I’m glad. I care a lot.” I said.
“About what?” He asked.
“About you, mostly. And reading. I adore reading.” I said.
“So do I. And I adore it here. They want to send us away.” He worried.
“I think Ms Caponera will keep you here.” I said.
He smiled at me and went back to Ivanhoe.
The studio was big and light. I saw in the yard a pile of dirt and two scruffy people playing.
“Are you Jack and Guy?” I asked.
“What’s it to you?” Asked Jack.
“I was worried about you. Where they might send you.” I said.
They both squared off in boxing stances and said, “nobody’s sending us anywhere. Especially a museum in Philadelphia.”
“Well I’m going to speak to Ms Caponera, and I’m sure all my readers will protest you boys being broken up.” They continued circling, throwing mock punches. I left them to their fun.
I went back looking for Max but I saw a young man working on the account books. “What’s going on?” I asked.
“Checking to see how many people we need to make this profitable. I have to count all the people here, you see?” He asked, pointing to some charts.
“You must be Johnny!” I exclaimed.
“Yup. Some people call me One was Johnny. I don’t know why but I don’t mind.” He said.
“You were always one of my favorites,” I said.
He got up and hugged me and I said, “as long as One is Johnny we never need more.” We hugged harder.
I decided I’d seen enough. I stopped in to see Ms Caponera and told her to keep on fighting and that all my readers supported her. I told her Max was as cute as ever. She gave me a look that defies description. I decided to say good bye to Max.
“Bye bye Max. I’ll see you when they open this place with everybody all together.” I smiled at him, kissed his cheek and said, “I could eat you up.” He said the same. I opened the door to leave. He looked up at me. I asked, “How’s the soup?”
He wiped his face with his arm and said. “Good. And it’s still hot.”
I left. It was a nice visit, even if they say you can’t go home again.
***
BY MARQUEL: Greed All Around
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Bravo!
Very mooving
This is no satire. It is just beautiful heartfelt writing. Bravo, M
Very emotional
I enjoyed thoroughlyl