Summary

The story begins with a married couple, who were on their way to a mental hospital to visit their son for his birthday. They had brought him ten jars of candy. They struggled to choose this gift, because their son considered most man-made objects to be "hives of evil" (par. 1). The couple had been married for many years, and the wife appeared to have lost interest in maintaining an appealing appearance. The husband was once a successful businessman, but he now relied on his brother Isaac's wealth. Isaac was often referred to as "The Prince" (par. 2).

Paragraph 3 introduces a slew of misfortune for the married couple. On their journey to their son's mental hospital on his birthday, the train they were on suddenly stopped. They were forced to take a bus, which was extremely late. When it arrived, it was full of belligerent...