Portrait by Melody, age three

December 29, 1983

She draws me with pink eyes, black nose, three nostrils, an orange bracket on its back, prongs pointing up, for mouth. ''You're happy,'' she says. My dress is solid red, a long sack. I have no arms or legs, the feet are sharp ''v's'' protruding from the hem of the dress. Remembering the test for design, I squint at the picture to see if anything floats. Satisfied, Melody tapes me on the wall.