‘Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.’ I learned that one from founding father Benjamin Franklin. ‘Beware of the drunken Nanny that wants to take you to the park.’ I learned that one from Mildred the Horrible.

I was no dumb kid, see. I knew that Mildred was a bedroom sheet set to the wind and was in no state to supervise any sort of activity. But the park- Central Park! And it was the fall time, to boot. Orange and purple and auburn leaves- not a primary color would be in sight!

I was a sucker for the autumnal equinox, even then.

If only I had known that Mildred had other plans in store. It seems Mildred was less interested in the orange and purple and auburn colors of the foliage. She had another color in mind- green. A kind of green that you don’t find growing on trees.