"Daddy," said Sally. "Will you read us a fairy-story before supper?"
Joe lifted her in his arms and held her high with a grin. "Sure thing, little girl," he said. "Come on into the parlor, Jimmy, and we'll rattle one off."
"I'll get the book," said Jimmy, racing for the bookcase.
Joe seated himself on the easy chair and plumped Sally down beside him. He took the book from Jimmy and made room for the boy opposite Sally. He opened the book and read the title.
"Pandora's Box," he said. "The story of the little girl whose curiosity loosed all the troubles upon the wor...." He stopped suddenly and looked toward the kitchen where Pearl was rattling dishes preparing the supper.
"What's the matter, Daddy?" asked Jimmy. "Why don't you read the story?"
Joe looked down at him. "I will," he said. "But I hope you realize this is only a fairy-tale, and didn't really happen?"
"The man on the television said it did," protested Jimmy.
"On the television?"
"Yes. He said it was almost like somebody had closed Pandora's box, the way things were going in the world these days. And how could anybody close the box if it wasn't real?"