A stranger at the door

National | A social worker with an agenda, sent out by a relative with a grudge, provokes a confrontation that continues to play out in the nightmares of children. How one California family stood up and protected their own rights-and the rights of scores of other homeschool families across the country | Lynn Vincent

I'm a social worker!" squeaked 9-year-old Andrea Taylor, as she maneuvered a little doll toward the make-believe house where her brother held two more dolls, a pretend father and son. "You need to let me in! You've abused your children and we need to investigate! We know you did it, so you need to let us in!" Vicky Taylor, the children's mother, stood listening just outside the bedroom where the children played. It was January in Sacramento.

"I didn't do it, I haven't done anything!" 11-year-old Timothy said in a deep Dad-voice, inclining his Dad-doll toward Andrea for emphasis: "I love my kids, I didn't abuse them."

"You have to let us in or we're going to arrest you!" called the social worker doll shrilly.