For Ellen Braune and Toby and Bruce Dale who make this world a House of Joyful Living For Ilsa Nathan and Jordan Halpern and Susan Mende in loving memory of Curly and Tuz Mende and all the good people of the House of Joyful Living R S For LSW 30 T W
The brick was crumbling The paint was peeling But we called it the House of Joyful Living Long ago when I was small and round and had cabbage curly hair I lived there Whenever we could we climbed the stairs to the roof of the House of Joyful Living Mama climbed slowly Her belly was heavy Something was growing inside
High on the roof was a garden with flowers potted trees stone sculptures a goldfish pond and a hawk's eye view of the buildings around us even the Empire State Building With a mama and papa all to myself it seemed I lived on top of the world in paradise On the roof everyone gathered to read to weed to chat great good grownups with great good names Curly and Touz Frenchie and Horty Dick and Gene vieve Many grownups a bulldog named Nicky but only one child me
Always there was music It came through Mama's radio from other great good grownups with great good names Mendelssohn Mozart and Bach Sometimes we hummed Often we danced Always smiled High above the roof of the House of Joyful Living the clouds paused to gather and watch The pigeons leaned in to listen
