They tapped his knees with little mallets, tickled the soles of his bare feet, and shone dazzling lights into his eyes. “Say ‘black bugs’ blood,’ Dicky.” “Black bugs’ blood,” stammered Dicky, and looked around anxiously to see what, if anything, the strange incantation might have summoned up. “That’s a good boy,” said the lady in white soothingly. “Somatically okay,” said the biggest man in white at last. He nodded to the other two, and they went out. The big man sat down opposite Dicky and regarded him gravely, but not sternly. He reminded Dicky of his own father in one of his good moods. “Now, that didn’t hurt, did it?” inquired the big man. “N-no,” said Dicky. “We had to give you some tests to make sure you were all right. You _are_ all right. But your parents seem to be a little upset about you. Hmm. Why’s that?” The question was gently authoritative. “I--I--” Dicky stumbled painfully over the truth. “I guess I _laughed_.” The man nodded soberly, and Dicky was aware, with a sudden rush of confidence, that he wasn’t surprised or shocked. It was plain that he wouldn’t be, even if Dicky were to laugh right in his face. Not that Dicky felt like doing that. “Why did you laugh? Tell me, Dicky.” “At some ants.” Dicky’s face felt hot, but the big man’s manner was unchanged. “Do you feel like telling me about the ants?” the big man asked. And Dicky realized that he did. * * * * * Dicky’s mother demanded shakily, “But, Doctor, _what_ did we do wrong?” “We’ve tried to bring the boy up with every scientific advantage,” his father muttered uncertainly. The man in white sighed imperceptibly. Here were two normally intelligent and well-intentioned people. But obviously the explanations he had just given them in terms of reality had not conveyed a great deal to them. Public education, even in this day and age, left much to be desired. He said patiently, “So far as I can tell you haven’t done anything _seriously_ wrong. You’ve provided the child with approved play materials, and you’ve proceeded quite properly in supplying him with safely limited opportunities for aggression against authority. Perhaps you’ve left him alone a little too much. What has happened is that in the absence of adult guidance an unhealthy fantasy element has crept into his play. “When you come back tomorrow, we’ll go over the home environment in detail and I may suggest a few changes. Then, with the prescription I’ve given you, and with Dicky coming to see me once a week, I think we’ll have him entirely straightened out by the time school starts.” “Oh, I hope so!” exclaimed the mother prayerfully.