The house where I live in San Jose has a small redwood wishing-well in the front garden. I inherited it from the house's previous owner. One day in the spring of 1995, I noticed that the well, which had been there at least six years, was missing. I thought that perhaps some kids had carried it off, as vandalism or for a prank. Its loss did not concern me much, although I was upset to think that somebody had been disturbing my garden.
Imagine my surprise when, after several months had passed, I came home from work on July 9, 1995 to find the well back in place. On the ground nearby was a handwritten note, written in pencil on paper from a yellow lined tablet, a grease stain in the middle. The handwritings of two different individuals appear to be involved, with all except the final paragraph written by the first hand. Here is what the note says:
Dear Neighbor -As you may WELL know your WELL was taken. We meant no harm. We treated the WELL very WELL. It brought us great joy and we felt as if it is one of the family.
Because of my kidney failure and loss of my right arm, It brought a certain peace into our lives.
We know that someday the WELL would have to go back but we still enjoyed its company.
It did serve us in a lot of ways as did we it. We fed it, bathed it, combed it, bread it, and trimmed it.
After being released from Agnews Mental Hospital we now realize the WELL does not talk and can't give us the love we need.
[here the handwriting changes]
Well, Well, Well, here we are at a fork in the road. I must take one and the well must take the other.