A man who's down on his luck . . .

Steve Mason trudged between the tables, trailing his wife, Leah and young daughter, Isobel. It had been a rough couple of months for his family and they're financial problems weighed heavily on his mind. Steve and his wife, a lovely and ambitious Filipina had been arguing over money ever since his middle management job had been downsized. The pair were deep in debt and sometimes wondered if they'd be able to pay their mortgage, much less their 7-year-old daughter's college fund. Leah was very traditional, and although she worked herself, she expected her husband to provide the majority of the family income. If Steve couldn't find a way to supplement his salary soon, he feared he might lose his family. Isobel's laughter caught his ears, lightening his mood and bringing a smile to his face. The pretty young girl had found a collection of princess dresses and was wading into them with gusto. Steve pulled himself from his morose thoughts and resolved to find something neat for his daughter. His eyes fell upon a small black case that looked promising.