"The Veldt" (short story)

"The Veldt" is a 1950 short story by Ray Bradbury, first appearing the September 23rd, 1950 issue of The Saturday Evening Post as "'''The World the Children Made". '''It follows George Hadley and Lydia Hadley, two parents in a unspecified future who worry as a mechanically advanced house begins to take their role as parents and their children begin to shape the virtual reality in their room for their own desires.

It was featured in the 1951 short story collection The Illustrated Man as the opening story of the collection.

The story has also been adapted into numerous other programs. See Adaptions of Short Stories for more details.

Plot
The story begins with George Hadley and Lydia Hadley concerned with the "nursery" that their children, Wendy Hadley and Peter Hadley, have been using. They notice the overuse of the setting of the African veld and a certain scene of lions on it's "crystal wall" machine.

After nearly escaping a supposed "attack" by the lions that leaves Lydia in tears, they begin to worry even more. They have dinner while Wendy and Peter are at a "plastic carnival" and discuss the problem over dinner. George decides to close the nursery for good, and have the children see a psychologist.

Before the psychologist comes over, he examines the room and demands Aladdin and his lamp and makes a startling discovery - the setting won't change.

When Wendy and Peter come back from the "plastic carnival", George and Lydia demand for them to tell them all about Africa, only to discover that it has changed to a scene with Rima singing a "song so beautiful that it brought tears to your eyes".

Wendy and Peter are sent back to bed immediately while David McClean, the psychologist, comes to the house and recommends the family moves from their new Happy-life House so their children do not become dependent on machines.

As they prepare to leave, Wendy and Peter wish to be in the "nursery" for one last time. George and Lydia allow them but instantly they hear screams coming from the room. George and Lydia rush into the room, however the door shuts as they don't find the children in the "nursery", leaving them in the islands.

The story ends with David McClean visiting the children in the "nursey" while lions chew dead bodies (presumably George and Lydia) in the distance. David McClean leaves and Wendy finally says "A cup of tea?" in silence.