This little girl is standing on the sidewalk with her arms tied behind back. Her wrists are secured with a green nylon jump rope; she is about eight. It takes me a moment to figure out that this is a game, and not some freaky form of punishment being exacted by a missing adult. Her younger sister tries unsuccessfully to feed her sunflower seeds, and then doubles over laughing when the seeds fall on the pavement. This is why kids need backyards.