Prologue
501 Words
Prologue
The Story of Mister Elephantine
Once upon a time there was a market. One day a farmer nobody had ever seen before came to market to sell his cattle. The stranger said his name was Mister Elephantine.
All the traders in the market were very nervous that day because the King was coming to visit the next day, and so they decided to ask the stranger to test their wares, to see if they were good enough for royalty.
First, Mister Elephantine visited the baker. The baker gave Mister Elephantine a cake to taste. There was not enough sugar, the icing was too hard and the bottom of the cake was burnt.
“What is it like, Mister Elephantine?” asked the baker.
“It is perfect,” Mister Elephantine answered, “Fit for a King.”
Next, Mister Elephantine visited the tailor. The tailor gave Mister Elephantine a suit to wear. The jacket sleeves were too short, the trousers legs were too long and the material was threadbare.
“What is it like, Mister Elephantine?” asked the tailor.
“It is perfect,” Mister Elephantine answered, “Fit for a King.”
Finally, Mister Elephantine visited the carpenter. The carpenter gave Mister Elephantine a chair to sit upon. The legs were different lengths, the back was too low and the cushion was too flat.
“What is it like, Mister Elephantine?” asked the carpenter.
“It is perfect,” Mister Elephantine answered, “Fit for a King.”
The traders in the market were very pleased at what Mister Elephantine had told the baker, the tailor and the carpenter. They helped Mister Elephantine sell all his cattle for a very high price and the stranger was very rich by the time he bid them all farewell.
The next day the King came to market.
First, the King visited the baker. The baker gave the King a cake to taste. The king took one bite of the cake and immediately spat it out.
“What is it like, your Majesty?” asked the baker.
“It is awful,” the King answered. “Nobody should eat this,” and he ordered that the baker be baked to death in his own oven.
Next, the King visited the tailor. The tailor gave the King suit to wear. The King put one arm in the jacket and one leg in the trousers and immediately took it off.
“What is it like, your Majesty?” asked the tailor.
“It is awful,” the King answered. “Nobody should wear this,” and he ordered that the tailor be hanged by the neck with rope made from his own material.
Finally, the King visited the carpenter. The carpenter gave the King a chair to sit upon. The King sat down but immediately stood up again.
“What is it like, your Majesty?” asked the tailor.
“It is awful,” the King answered. “Nobody should sit here,” and he ordered that the carpenter be buried alive in a box made from his own wood with his own tools.
When the King left the market, the traders were very sad and they decided to ask Mister Elephantine what had gone wrong, but nobody could find him. They looked everywhere but nobody saw the stranger again.
Which is why good little boys and girls should never listen to flattery from strangers.
- Writer
