My Father the ?

This week's objet d'Ebay, a picture book about a girl who thinks because her father fetches the paper and balls that he might really be a dog, inspires wonder about what children really think of their fathers.

The really wondrous thing, of course, is the capacity of children to love, no matter who their dad really is. Or, even if he suddenly calls a family meeting to announce he has decided that after 51 years as Paul, after children and grandchildren, he has decided to live the rest of his life as Paula.