"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury - Summary

George and Lydia Hadley are parents of Wendy and Peter Hadley. They spare no expense at providing their children with the best that technology can offer. Their house is completely computerized. There are machines to fry eggs, generate food, sweep the house and bathe the children. Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of the Hadley house is the nursery; a room that turns the children's imagination to reality.

At the beginning of the story, Lydia and George step into the nursery and find an African veldt. They witness lions feed on a prey. Then, the lions charge at the couple. The couple run out of the room and slam the door. Concerned with their children's imagination, they consider shutting down the nursery.

Wendy and Peter return from the carnival. Their parents, Lydia and George, discuss the situation in the nursery with them and demand the children change the scene. Denying the claim, Peter distracts the parents as Wendy changes the scene in at the nursery to an enchanted forest. George becomes upset and sends them to their room.

The parents decided to have their psychologist, David McClean, analyze the nursery. David inspects the room and tells George and Lydia that their children may be violent and paranoid due to the threats of George shutting down the room. He advises the room torn down and have the kids brought to him for treatment. George and Lydia agree and shut down the room.

Hearing the news of the destruction of the room, Wendy and Peter plead with their parents. After a while, George allows the room to be turned on for a while only to be shut down permanently afterwards. Sadly, this never occurs. Wendy and Peter lure their parents into the room and close the door to the nursery. Locked in the room, George and Lydia are killed by the lions in the