around a May Pole. Instead of trying to act like a fairy or a flower you should be trying to be yourself.

I put Raymond in the little swings, which is a tight squeeze this year and will be impossible next year. Then I look around for Mr. Pearson, who pins the numbers on. I’m really looking for Gretchen if you want to know the truth, but she’s not around. The park is jam-packed.

Then here comes Mr. Pearson. He sticks out in a crowd because he’s on stilts. We used to call him Jack and the Beanstalk to get him mad. But I’m the only one that

Critical Viewing: Mood What is the mood of this painting? How is it like the mood of the park?

Ices 1, 1960, Jacob Lawrence. Egg tempera on hardboard. Private collection.