THINGS I LIKE...


Contents	THINGS I LIKE... I like to lie on my stomach, slung over Daddy's knee, with my arms and legs dangling like wash on a line, I like to play chess, checkers and dominoes, but only if I win. If I don't, I don't. I like to listen to a beetle scratching inside a box. And on Sundays I like to crawl into bed beside Daddy so we can talk about our dog. As soon as we move to a bigger apartment we're going to buy a dog and train it, and feed it, and it'll be a very intelligent and bouncy dog, and it'll steal lump sugar, and I'll wipe up all its puddles, and it'll follow me around like a devoted dog. I also like to watch TV, no matter what the program's about. I like to breathe into Mommy's ear. But most of all I like to sing, and I always sing very loudly. I love stories about Red Army cavalrymen who always win their battles. I like to stand in front of the mirror and make faces like a Punch and Judy show. I also like sardines. I like to read stories about Kanchil. Kanchil is a small, smart, naughty gazelle with quick eyes and tiny horns, and shiny pink hooves. When we move to a bigger apartment we'll buy a gazelle, and it'll live in the bathroom. I like to swim where it's shallow so I can hold onto the sandy bottom. At parades I like to wave a little red flag and blow a tin horn. I like to call people up on the telephone. I like to hammer and saw, and I can make clay heads of warriors and bisons. I also made a clay wood grouse and a big cannon.' I like to give everything I make away as gifts. I like to chew on something when I read. I like company. I also love grass snakes, lizards and frogs. They're so quick. Whenever I catch one I carry it around in my pocket. I like to keep a grass snake on the table when I'm having lunch. I like to hear Gran scream: "Take that disgusting thing away!" and then dash out of the kitchen. I like to laugh. Sometimes I don't feel like laughing at all, but I make myself laugh. I force myself to, and before you know it, everything really does seem funny. I like to hop and skip when I'm feeling good. One day Daddy and I went to the Zoo, and I was hopping and skipping around him on the street. "What's this all about?" he said. "I'm skipping because you're my daddy!" He understood. I like to go to the Zoo. There are wonderful elephants there. And a baby elephant, too. When we move to a bigger apartment we'll buy a baby elephant. I'll build him a garage. I like to stand in back of a car when the motor's running and smell the gasoline fumes. I like to go to an ice cream parlor and eat ice cream and drink soda pop. The pop sends prickles up my nose and makes my eyes tear. When I run down the hall I like to stamp my feet and make as much noise as I can. I love horses, because they have such kind and beautiful faces. I like so many things!