In American families the evening meal seems to be the most common setting for storytelling. Perhaps it is not coincidental that the emotional satisfaction one enjoys by telling stories is accompanied by the physical satisfaction one enjoys by eating a meal. In fact, families often have dinner traditions which limit storytelling to the latter part of the meal, after the initial urge to eat has been quelled a little, and relaxation becomes both physically and psychologically appropriate.

In some families storytelling is permitted only over dessert. In others it begins at the table and then moves into the more comfortable areas of the house. ...