The book, BONJOUR, MR. SATIE, was published in 1991 and publisher G. P. Putnam’s Sons decided to celebrate its publication with a party at a very non-children’s-book-like location: a nightclub in NYC, Tatou. Tomie was traveling in the U.S. and would meet me in the city. He left a suitcase and his NYC clothes in New Hampshire. Tomie called me from his hotel room after I arrived and asked me to bring his clothes to his room. And that’s when I learned the answer to the question I had been pondering during the nearly six hour trip to NYC: Why was I traveling with my suitcase and Tomie’s empty suitcase? I went to his room and explained my mistake and offered to return to New Hampshire to get his clothes. He chuckled and said he’d work with what he had and maybe buy something new the next day. After laughing about my lapse the next morning with Marilyn Ducksworth, head of all publicity at Putnam, she said she’d arrange for car service for the day so Tomie could go shopping in Manhattan, and shop, he did. He bought clothes for the party and the stay in New York, and he also bought shirts that he later realized didn’t fit him, a $700 raincoat (no rain was forecast), and many other items of clothing. The party was great. He looked great. And the story of my error was retold over and over again. (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
