Howdy Doody Time! By Reid Baer When I was very young smiling wasnâÂÂt for fun. It was a visual aid. A family secret and a pathetic charade. In private we fought like demons and suffered like the damned but in public a silly grin was a passing parade, but hey, donâÂÂt tell anybody what youâÂÂre really feeling: sad â or mad â or scared. Just act foolishly glad be- cause you donâÂÂt want that home grown cavalcade of hurt raining down on you for telling the truth and so even today I must say I may put on this mask - put my emotions away even if the cosmos comes crumbling down around me â IâÂÂll tell you everything is swell ⦠but hell! thereâÂÂs a price to pay for one big A-Okay! -
