Chapter 1
OH YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL
"Mother, what is the man doing to the lady?"
Big blue eyes in a small silky head like a newly hatched chick gazed unblinking. Run quick, birdie, ask mother.
"Nothing, Pussy, he just has his arms around her."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because he loves her."
"Does it hurt when he loves her?"
"I don't know. No, don't go over there—you mustn't disturb the man and lady. Sit here on the grass next to Mother."
Then she is sleepy. Mother's neck is nice and soft.
At home the top part of the kitchen is like grass in the Park. Upside down grass. The bottom part is like mustard. Mustard is good on hot dogs. Baby is hungry.
Five, six
Pick up sticks
Hippity hop to the barber shop
But not to buy a stick of candy
Mother took Lucy when she was six for a birthday treat. Lucy sat in a big barber chair in a little room and looked at herself in the glass. Her hair was long and fine like silk in spider webs but it was the color of oatmeal. Oatmeal is good for you. A lady washed
