Andrea Richards is a writer and mother of two who lives in
Los Angeles. She is a fan of imaginary creatures, craft projects that involve
pipe cleaners, and other people offering to clean.
What was your favorite childhood toy?
A child of the early '80s, I loved the movie E.T. The Christmas after I saw it, I asked for everything E.T. My talking E.T. Doll was my absolute favorite of all my movie-related merch, which, since it was made of hard plastic was not good for snuggling but seemed magic—pull the string and E.T. said either "Phone home," "Elliot," "E.T., E.T. E.T.," and "Ouch." I can still hear his voice in my head and though I think now it was probably painted that way, I remember his finger lighting up too. I must have pulled that string a million times and even though he only had four phrases, I never got bored listening to him. A chatty, plastic alien was my best friend.
