“Giddyup, steeds!” I said. They hadn’t made the trip to earth for a long time, and they were out of shape. That day, it took them more than five hours to get there. But at last they managed to drag the chariot out of the cave onto earth. I looked around. Everything had changed. Earth was green and beautiful. I drove slowly down the road. It was four times wider than the last time I’d driven over it. I stopped at the spot where the tiny village of Guytown once stood. Now, it was a city—Athens.

I drove through Athens. Swimming laps in the Pool of Memory must have done me good, for even with all the new buildings and roads, I remembered the way to Epi and Pandy’s house.

It had changed, too. There were lots of wings jutting off from the main house. And a second story had been added. Lush greenery now surrounded it.

Lots of little guys and girls were playing games in the front yard. They were running and squealing and having a fine time. Older guys and girls were there, too. Then I realized—they were the parents of the little guys and girls.

I sat in my chariot and took in the whole scene. The sky was blue. The sun was warm. The grass was green. The birds were chirping. Earth had become a paradise! Mount Olympus was a paradise, too, of course. But there, all the gods had giant egos. They were always trying to get the best of each other, build the biggest palace, throw the splashiest party. But as far as I could tell, things on earth were harmonious. Some guys and girls were playing games. Others were holding stacks of Pandora’s book. Everyone seemed to get along. I wondered: did Pandora’s book have anything to do with it?

I parked and made my way up to the house, walking through throngs of guys and girls. I passed a couple of gods, too. Cupid was there. From the looks of the guys and girls, he’d been zinging plenty of love arrows. Dionysus stood at one table, pouring wine. Hermes stood at another, selling copies of Pandora’s book. I wouldn’t trust him with a cash box, but it wasn’t my problem. Hera was breezing from guest
to guest. The goddess of marriage clearly saw Pandora and Epi and their big extended family as her own grand success story.

Now I spotted Pandora. She was sitting on the porch swing beside Epi. He was an immortal and looked the same as he always had. Pandora had aged, though her hair was still as pink as ever. She’d put on a few pounds, but was still a beauty. She caught sight of me and waved.

“Hades?” she called. “Is that really you?”

I hurried up to the porch. “It is,” I told her. “Congratulations on your book, Pandora.”     

She smiled.

“Hades!” said Epi. “It seems like just yesterday Pandy and I were sitting right here, and we told you we were getting married. And now look at all this.” He waved a hand at all the guys and girls at the party. There seemed to be thousands of them. Everyone was having a great time.

“Can you believe it?” said Pandora. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Wonderful!” I said.

And then my eye caught sight of a strange figure. It appeared to be an old, bent-over guy. He wore a faded blue robe and a floppy hat that hid the top part of his face.

“Who is he?” asked Pandora.

“I don’t know,” said Epi. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

I stared at the hunched-over guy. Everyone else at this celebration looked happy and kind. But this guy gave off the opposite feeling. I didn’t know why—not yet—but I didn’t like him. Not at all.

The old guy slowly made his way up onto the porch. He approached Pandora.

“Are you Pandora?” he asked in a trembling voice.

Pandora nodded. “Who are you?” she asked.

“I watch your show every day and I—” said the old guy. Suddenly he seemed to lose his footing. He stumbled and fell to the ground.

Pandora jumped up, alarmed. “Are you all right?” She ran to the old guy.

The old guy moaned. “My ankle!” he cried. “I tripped on a loose board on your porch! I’ve broken my ankle!”

“Let’s get him inside,” Epi said. He and Pandora bent down, one on each side of the old guy. Gently they pulled him to his feet. Then, with their arms around him, they helped him into the house.

I ran ahead and opened the door for them. They carried the old guy into the kitchen. I followed to see if I could help. They put him down on the couch.

“Is that better?” Pandora fluffed up a pillow. “Can I prop up your foot?” She tried to slide the pillow under the injured ankle.

“Ow!” the old guy cried. “You’re hurting me! You’re killing me! I don’t need a pillow. I need a bandage! Get your first-aid kit!”

Pandora turned to Epi. “Do we have a first-aid kit?”

Epi shrugged.

“Everybody has a first-aid kit!” cried the old mortal. “Look under your sink! That’s where they’re kept.”

I hurried over to the sink. I opened the cabinet. Sure enough, there was a white box. Red letters on the lid spelled out FIRST-AID KIT. I picked it up. It was surprisingly heavy. I took it over to the couch where Pandora was soothing the old guy. I felt so bad for Pandora, having this happen on the day of her big book party.

“Thanks, Hades,” said Epi, taking it from me. “I guess we did have a first-aid kit after all.”

“Water!” the old guy shrieked. “I need water!”

“I’ll get you some,” said Epi. He handed Pandora the first-aid kit and hurried over to the sink.

Pandora fumbled with the latch.

“Hurry!” cried the old mortal. “My ankle! It’s swelling something awful!”

“Hades, can you hold the box?” said Pandora.

I held the box. Now Pandora put a finger under the catch and popped it up.

“Open it!” said the old guy. “Go on, sweetheart. Open it!”

Sweetheart?

“No!” I shouted, yanking the box away from Pandora. “No-o-o-o-o-o-o!”

But I’d caught Pandora by surprise. She was holding the lid, and as I yanked, it came off in her hand.

There was a giant WHOOSH! and the room filled with thick black smoke. I couldn’t see a thing. But I could hear the old guy shrieking: “Yes! At last she’s opened it! Pandora’s opened the box!”