Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl named Clara who always wore a green ribbon around her neck.
Her classmate Alfred always asked her why she wore it. She answered, "Maybe if we ever get married I'll tell you."
Clara and Alfred grew up, fell in love, and got married.
Alfred asked her again and again, "Why do you always wear that green ribbon around your neck?"
Clara always said the same thing. "Now is not the right time for me to tell you. You must wait."
Many years later when Alfred and Clara were very old, Clara got very sick. She called Alfred to her bedside and said, "Now I can tell you about the green ribbon. Untie it and you will know why I could not tell you before."
Alfred slowly pulled the bow loose, untied the green ribbon, and Clara's head fell off.