Decline and Fall of the House of Ammun: Fairytale

The decline and fall of the House of Ammun began one very ordinary day at the end of the lunar cycle. It seemed like an ordinary day, at least, to the bustling housekeeper who rounded up stray teacups and dusted crumbs off the side-tables. To young Marcus, the master of the house while his father was away trading, it seemed like a very un-ordinary day! That was because it was the day that his father had promised to return from his trading voyage with a bag full of wonderful gifts and perhaps, if Marcus was very lucky, a horse that he could ride now that he was too old for his pony. And so Marcus dressed with especial care, that his father should see how grown-up he was, and he did not fidget around as much as he would have--

Inspiration: A news summary about the housing market having difficulties.
Story Potential: High.
Notes: Perhaps a Beauty-and-the-Beast sort of twist? Perhaps a standard impoverishment.