A Healer’s Geste

What you get for reading unbowdlerized stories

Mom: “Dad is going to his new job today.”
Hans: “What is his new job?”
Mom: “He’ll do computer work again.”
Hans: “Will they pay him for doing jobs?”
Mom: “Well, yes, that is why he goes to work. He works so they pay him so we can have food and clothes and a house.”
Hans: “Well, I’m glad he’ll get money. Then you can keep us.”
Mom: “Keep you?!”
Hans: “Yeah. In the Three Little Pigs the Mom has no money and so she has to send her children away.”
Mom: “Well, her children were old enough to get jobs for themselves. We wouldn’t send you or Jaeger or Ilse away when you are small children.”
Hans: “Yeah.”
Mom: “When you are as big as daddy and get your own job then you may want to leave and have your own house, though.”
Hans: “Yes. But I will build a brick house. I wouldn’t want a wolf to eat me.”