Pandora’s curiosity sparked. What was inside this strange, intricate box? Fortunes that were waiting to be revealed? Rubies and gems galore? Pandora thought about all the wonderful things that were hidden inside the box. Her fingers inched toward the clasp that held the box shut, but she pulled then back quickly. Jupiter had specially cautioned her not to open the box. But why would he give it to her if she was not to open it?

            Day after day, and night after night, Pandora thought about the box. It was no help with all the visitors pestering her to open it. Even cooking, Pandora’s favorite hobby, and best way to get her mind off things, was no help. The box sat in a lonely corner in Pandora’s mansion, tempting people to open it.

            Finally, Pandora could not stand it any longer. She quietly tiptoed to the box, so the gods above the heavens would not be woken up. Taking a deep breath, Pandora yanked the top open. The whole room was filled with mournful noises, and black ghouls floated out of the box.

Pandora tried to shoo the ghouls back into the box, but they floated away, out the open window. Pandora closed the box, with much difficulty. Sitting on it, and squishing it, Pandora closed the box on top of the last ghoul trying to escape. One thing she didn’t know was that the last ghoul was a white one, unlike the other black ones. The other ghouls all brought sadness and distress to the world, whereas the last one, locked up in the box, brought hope.

Pandora sneakily went to her bedroom, slowly and carefully, and got under the covers, pretending to be asleep, so the gods would not wake her and yell at her. The gods, however, were not tricked.

“Pandora! You have disobeyed my rules! Not only have you let out Sorrow, Pain, Greed, Illness, and Death, you have locked Hope in the bottom! Go hurry, and open the box, so that Hope is free to join the others and help this dreary world!” Jupiter called from the heavens.

Pandora’s heart sunk. She had let out the dreadful ghouls, but not the only good one? Her heart thumped as she rushed downstairs. She could already hear the sounds of distress coming from the open window. The birds were letting out a distress call, too!

Opening the box, fast and without any hesitation, she let Hope free. It was, indeed, a good ghoul. Before leaving, it let out a shimmer of colorful light, and then proceeded out the window. The sounds immediately stopped. The birds happily chirped, and sang their joyful songs once again. Pandora sighed from relief, but also guilt. She had brought upon the earth many appalling things, but had brought up Hope, which helped everyone of the dreary earth.