“Story, gimme story!” The little-boy voice squeaked out through the spacious workroom.

“No story, kid,” a man answered, barely out of his childhood himself. “I’m busy.”

The kid blinked at him. Hard. He squinted his eyes and tried to change the man’s mind with his own. He’d read about that, once.

“Stop making those faces, you’re going to die.”

“I won’t!” the kid shouted. “Story, or you die!” Another squint.

The man smirked. “Fine, but I pick.

“Once upon a time...”

The kid smiled in anticipation; he could tell this one was going to be good.

“The end,” he winked.