The Happiness Machine, unfortunately a disastrous wreck in the end, was an attempt at the good for humanity. After Leo Auffman hears neighborhood men talking about war and “savoring the very bacteria in their porcelain mouths that would one day stop them cold,” he yells at them to stop their talk of destruction. Perfectly timed, Grandfather Spaulding walks by with Tom and Doug, who suggest that, with Leo’s handy-man skills, he build the Happiness Machine. Auffman accepts the challenge, goes hope, and immediately started brainstorming on things to include within the machine. Leo’s wife, Lena, is rather the opposite of optimistic about the idea, but Leo decides to keep at it, meanwhile unhealthily separating himself from his loved ones. Aufman
