Parents let their child walk to a nearby store and gave her all sorts of protection as precautions. A busybody called the city thugs, who threatened her parents. Now they keep her a prisoner at home.

When I was 6 years old, I walked to nearby stores with just some money and my house keys. When I crossed a street, I took advantage of the traffic lights, which in midtown Manhattan are found at every intersection. There was nothing difficult about it.