o the
surprisingly fortable wood…and…concrete bench。 Cars whizzed by on their way through the
park at Ninety…seventh Street； a nice； sleep…inducing sound。 The sun was strong but there was
plenty of shade； and for one brief second she almost didn？t mind that she was there as a nanny； not
just as some other adult enjoying the park on a nice Sunday afternoon。 Her eyes closed and she
tuned out for a moment。
Then she heard a familiar high…pitched yelp and her eyes flew open。
Who knew she had a maternal instinct？
There was a motion not far in the distance； and Vanessa recognized two familiar blond heads。
She got to her feet and hurried over to where one of the twins was sprawled out on the sidewalk；
clutching his skinned knee and crying。 His brother stood at his side； pointing an angry finger at a
rollerblader lying prone on the sidewalk。
？What？s going on？？ Vanessa demanded； trying to sound authoritative。
？That big boy ran into Edgar！？ cried Nils。
A freckle…faced blond nymphet cheerleader type in hot pink short shorts and a plicated
electric blue sports bra rolled athletically up to the scene。 ？What？s going on；？ she snapped； ？is that
you？re not controlling your kids； and we？re trying to get some exercise here！？
？They？re notmy kids；？Vanessa retorted； kneeling to pat the sobbing Edgar on his head。 ？And you
don？t have to be rude。？
？Vanessa； Vanessa； let？s go home now；？ Nils whined； pulling on her arm。
？Maybe that？s not such a bad idea；？ Lycra Girl mented； kneeling to tend to her fallen
rade。 She looked like she？d rollerbladed right out of a Coors Light mercial。
？Hey。？ Vanessa was in no mood to take crap from some bimbo stranger