ATM, I think it was a combination of your height (long legs), looking down from afar,lol, the crossed eyes, and the quarter.
If the monkey was from Vegas, it was probably wondering where the dollars or the jewelry was...!?!
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Unfortunately, many of the neighborhoods I grew up near, have changed (not for the better). Debbie was from a nice neighborhood (at least, at the time), though, north of the Sunrise.
(Grand Avenue, Baldwin Diner, Freeport boat launch, Escapes Night Club in Merrick, et.al....ah, I remember well.)