have to say your prayers. Mae asked him if he remembered his prayers and started him off with, “Now I lay me down . . .” Michael, in his adorable baby accent said, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I’ll pray to Nana Dora and Nana Sadie.” That night he was already under the covers when he remembered and jumped out and said his prayers. I told the boys my own story of how a boy stole my Easter basket from me when I was little. I told them it was a funny
When we got to the studio Frankie saw a lot of children crying for their mothers because the mothers were not allowed in the studio with the kids. Frank walked out crying and refused to go back in. Michael, on the other hand, found a little neighborhood girlfriend named Linda and that was enough to keep him in the studio. Before the show I talked with Happy who tried to help by asking each boy on the show if he had a brother there. Unfortunately he never got to Michael. One of the program assistants asked Michael to talk to Happy but Michael just said no. Meanwhile back at home, Daddy and the in-laws, and Daddy’s staff at work were all watching to see Frankie and Michael. When they saw Michael but not Frankie they were certain about what happened. To top off this perfect day, when Frankie went to bed that night he mixed up a batch of baby powder and water and wet both the boys’ beds with it. They say a day that begins badly ends well. Not that day. WIGGLY AND SHMIGGLY I told Michael I would get him a turtle and also one for his brother. The turtles were named Wiggly and Shmiggly after the boys’ make-be- lieve story friends.
story but Frank was fighting to keep back his tears. Even though I tried to keep it light, when I finished Frank asked, “What was funny about that story?” He was right, it wasn’t funny. HAPPY THE CLOWN
Live television isn’t easy for performers or audiences. Once we took Frankie and Michael to a television studio in Philadelphia to see the “Happy the Clown” show. They watched the show just about every morning. I got up early and made breakfast but the boys were too excited to eat. It took me a while to get some food into them. It didn’t do much good because Michael was so excited he threw up all over himself and his dress-up clothes. We cleaned him up and headed out to the car. On the way Michael stepped into a large dog mess. It was so bad we had to take him back into the house, clean his feet, change his socks, clean his shoes and start over.
Herman’s Song for the Kids
I AM A SAILOR “Clasp your hands in back of you and rock from side to side. As little children doing this was so precious to watch.” I am sailor I come from the sea I come to see if you’ll marry me Will you marry, marry, marry, marry Will you marry me.
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