Day 1: Portraits of Guilt

Recognize my friend here?
It's a somewhat attractive vine, or so I thought. I didn't see much of it growing up in New York City.
So when my kids were scouting around our back yard a few years ago, looking for the perfect tree in which to build a treehouse, I didn't see any reason why the big (in truth, huge) maple out there wasn't a fine choice. 

Later on, the itchy blisters, huge and about to burst, bubbled up and I became better acquainted with Rhus Tox. 
Not a friend at all. 
We abandoned the maple and moved on to their second choice.
And the hardy New Englanders around me taught me the simplest of childhood rhymes: "Leaves of three, let it be". 
Now you tell me.

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