quot;

    "Ifyoupayattentionandlisteninsteadofmerelyhearingthesong,youpickupthetuneinnotime."

    HeshookhisheadandlitanotherCamel."Mindyourelders,ifyouplease,Caruso."

    Itookottobesuchaperfectmimiydad.

    MaryandElizabeth,oherhaooyoungtoknowaer,andtheyacceptedwithoutquestionmybuddingtalentforimperson-ation.Iheybeggedfsallthetime,especiallyintheircribs,whereIdtrotoutalltheuneslike"MairzyDoats"or"ThreeLittleFishies."Withoutfail,however,theyfellasleepasifknockedunsciouseverytimeIsang"OvertheRainbow."IdidameanJudyGarland.

    MydayswiththeDaysquicklyfellintoafortableroutine,andaslongasIstayedihehouseoriheclassroom,allweheweathersuddenlygrewcooler,andalmostatoheleavesturnedgarishshadesofyellowandred,soboldthatthemeresightoftreeshurtmyeyes.Ihatedthhtremindersoflifeintheforest.OctoberprovedariottothesensesandclimaxedthosegiddylastweeksbeforeHalloween.Ikhatpartieswereinvolved,beggingfornutsanddies,bohesquare,andplayingtrithetownsfolk.Believeme,wehobgoblinsdidourshareofmischief—unhinginggates,smashingpumpkins,soapingthelibrarywindowswithcartoondemons.WhatIhadnotexperiencedwasthefolderolamongthechildrenahateventheschoolshadgottenintotheact.Twoweeksbeforethebigday,thenunsbeganplanningaclassroompartywitheaiandrefreshments.Theyhungeandblackcrepepaperaloopsofthechalkboards,pastedpaperpumpkinsandblackcatsonthewalls.Wedutifullycutoutscarythingsfromstrupaperandgluedtogetherourownartisticefforts,pitiablethoughtheywere.Mothers