Fantasy island
By Carol C. Harder
Ten-year-old Phin Taylor could hardly wait.
He was finally going to Ivy Island for the first time to see his “kingdom.”
Young Phin believed he was the richest boy in Bethel, Connecticut because he owned an entire island. Ivy Island was given to him – actually deeded to him – by his grandfather on the day he was born.
He had been told during his 10 years of life that he was indeed the lord and master over Ivy Island – and whatever he said went.
Having his own special island kingdom was something he often reminded his childhood friends about, especially when he felt that he was being given a hard time. He would say, “That would never happen on Ivy Island. It is my island. I am the kind. I rule there.”
Which, of course, gave the kids something more with which to tease Phin.
But Phin never lost sight of his island “paradise.” While other children dreamed of being knights in shining armor, or a princess, or a firefighter, Phin dreamed of ruling over his island kingdom. He envisioned his promised land with rippling streams, miles and miles of white sandy beaches and fields of waving grain.
Phin told himself that he would rule the people of his island with kindness and charity – yet with a firm hand.
And now . . . all those dreams and imaginations were about to come true. After years and years of begging, Phin’s father had finally agreed to take hi to see his island.
The pair traveled for what seemed like an eternity to a young boy whose head was swimming with thoughts of a kingdom at his disposal. (In actuality, the distance was only a few miles by horse carriage.)
As they approached, Phin’s father pointed to the place called Ivy Island.
Upon seeing it, Phin’s heart almost stopped.
Not from viewing all the beauty of majesty of Ivy Island – but from the sudden realization that his kingdom was trulyl no more than five acres of snake-infested swampland – with a few straggling trees. There was no beach. No rippling streams. No fields of waving grain.
There was none of the mind’s thoughts of the young boy; just the reality of life.
Young Phin hung onto this this experience with disappointment and heartache, learning a valuable lesson; one he never forgot.
He had learned that fantasy is often greater than reality.
And Phin grew up to build an empire based on that one learned lesson.
You see, it is a little known fact that one day Phin changed his name to reflect the world he would build; a world that panders to the dreams and fantasies of millions of people; a world of museums and sideshows – and “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
All of this was built from the disappointment of seeing the reality of his own Ivy Island kingdom; owned until his death by the great Phineas Taylor – or P. T. Barnum.