One might begin a grand story thus . . .

Ah-mei was so tired, she could barely lift her head to nod at the other villagers. The sun has dried up the earth and the all-powerful Dragon King refused to open the sky to water the newly planted crops. My mama had a dancing heart and she shared that heart with me. Elzibah Swan lived on Boston's Beacon Hill in a tall brick house that her great-grandfather has built. I will always remember when the stars fell down around me and lifted me up above the George Washington Bridge. When I was six years old the world seemed a very safe place. In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. In the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon. This is George. He lived in Africa. Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were looking for a place to live.