Flying houses and A Wrinkle

Yesterday, I moved over to the pack of tiny children working ferociously at their legos to see what new empires or fleets were being built.  The only one who acknowledged my presence was the blond one from this conversation some time ago.  He looked up and smiled and we talked about his newest creation.

Him:  Do you like my house?
Me:  I do!  Why is there no roof on this thing?  What if it rains?
Him:  He already looks irritated with me for asking such nonsense.  So I can build stuth inside it.  I'll add a roof at the end.
Me:  Ahhh, I get it.  You're not done yet.  Well, tell me about it.
Him:  Well this is my room and there's a movie theatre in it that can also play video games and my bed is right here and it's big so my dogs can sleep with me and this is the kitchen and the other TV room and this is the secret entrance where all of the weapons go for fighting the bad guys if they come up the mountain and get over the big pit and this is the other TV room with a couch right here and a chair over there.
Me:  Whoa, dude.  Take a breath.
Him:  Huh?
Me:  Nevermind.  Whatever.  What's this on the side?  A propeller?
Him:  Well, yeah.  He raises his eyebrows, cocks his head to one side and scolds me for asking another dumb question.
Me:  So, wait.  This thing can fly?  Or is this just a fan?
Him:  Oh no, it can flyyy.
Me:  This is maybe the coolest house I've ever seen.  But.
Him:  But whaaaat?
Me:  Where's the bathroom?
Him:  His eyes go wide, and he scans the place nervously.  He's frantic and looking for an answer.  It's right here.
Me:  Inside that wall?
Him:  Yes.
Me:  False.  You just made that up.
Him:  NOoooo  I didn't!  Well, then it's over here.
Me:  Under that brick?
Him:  Yeah.
Me:  No.  That's against code.  And there's no room for a terlet.  And no door.
Him:  FINE!  There is no bathroom!
Me:  So...what then?  Where do people go if the need to 'go?'
Him:  He's pissed off now and turns away.  I don't know.  They just go out the window.
Me:  Okay.  Fair enough.  Cool house, man.


He never got a roof on that thing either, in case you were wondering.

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I diverted from my original reading list and am splitting time between some of Hemingway's short stories which are remarkable, and A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle.   I read the book and it's sequels back in middle school, if memory serves, and I remember they left a very deep impression on me.  The first one received the Newbery Award in 1963, and it is fantastic.  Creating a story that feels so genuinely dangerous and unsettling is a testament to L'Engle's mastery of character building in only a very few pages.

At some point, I'm sure many of us read this one in school or are familiar with the name.  If it's been a while for you as well, I highly recommend a re-read of this classic.