Post by teacherdrama on Jul 9, 2022 8:47:28 GMT -5
My query is in the appropriate thread for that. I'd appreciate any feedback.
The man who plead his case to King Stephen and Queen Lenora stood in the center circle in court, hat in hand, eyes downcast toward the royal’s feet. His name was Henry, and he loved his pig. “It’s not that I don’t like Christopher, Your Majesty,” he said, indicating the defendant, “but the pig is dear to me, and I simply don’t know where else to turn.” It seemed the pig had wandered onto Christopher’s property, and the old man who stood next to the petitioner had claimed her as his own.
Jack, who sat behind his parents and was intently interested in his fingernails, could not care less who got the pig. Unless they were horses or dragons, farm animals held little interest for the boy. He had to mentally snap himself back to attention when he remembered what father had said to him in his royal chamber before the session began. “When a petitioner seeks my advice, Jack, you need to pay attention. Watch the details of the case, watch my reasoning, watch how I try to be as fair as I can. It’s essential that you learn, Jack. One day you will take my place, and the people of Firanze deserve a fair and just leader.” His father had sighed as he shrugged a red velvet robe over his shoulders. “I don’t even know if you’re listening to me now.”
Jack had been listening, sort of. Lately, everything his father said to him felt so boring. He’d heard it a hundred times before, and nothing of interest ever happened at these court sessions his father forced him to sit through.
A feeling like a smack hit Jack on the back of his head. His hand shot up and rubbed the spot. He snapped around to see who had hit him. There was no one behind him, but his eyes immediately found the culprit. Gedrall, his father’s court wizard, sitting at his desk on the far side of the throne, was glaring at him. Gedrall was always telling Jack to pay attention, but lately his warnings had gotten physical.
Jack turned his attention to his father, ignoring Gedrall’s glare. King Stephen rubbed his hand over his beard. Jack always wondered when his father made this motion if he was really thinking or making a show of it for his audience.
“The pig belongs to the petitioner,” King Stephen said. “However, since the animal did wander onto Christopher’s property, and property is an important piece of legal bearing, Christopher has a claim to the pig as well. My judgment is to split the pig in half, and each man will have a delicious breakfast of bacon and sausage.”
Christopher beamed. The petitioner looked appalled. “Your Majesty, if that be the ruling, then I’d rather Christopher own the pig. I do not wish her slaughtered.”
King Stephen turned to look at Jack. “See what I did there?” Jack shook his head. To Jack, his father’s ruling had simply made the petitioner upset and rewarded the man who clearly did not own the pig. “Watch.”
The man who plead his case to King Stephen and Queen Lenora stood in the center circle in court, hat in hand, eyes downcast toward the royal’s feet. His name was Henry, and he loved his pig. “It’s not that I don’t like Christopher, Your Majesty,” he said, indicating the defendant, “but the pig is dear to me, and I simply don’t know where else to turn.” It seemed the pig had wandered onto Christopher’s property, and the old man who stood next to the petitioner had claimed her as his own.
Jack, who sat behind his parents and was intently interested in his fingernails, could not care less who got the pig. Unless they were horses or dragons, farm animals held little interest for the boy. He had to mentally snap himself back to attention when he remembered what father had said to him in his royal chamber before the session began. “When a petitioner seeks my advice, Jack, you need to pay attention. Watch the details of the case, watch my reasoning, watch how I try to be as fair as I can. It’s essential that you learn, Jack. One day you will take my place, and the people of Firanze deserve a fair and just leader.” His father had sighed as he shrugged a red velvet robe over his shoulders. “I don’t even know if you’re listening to me now.”
Jack had been listening, sort of. Lately, everything his father said to him felt so boring. He’d heard it a hundred times before, and nothing of interest ever happened at these court sessions his father forced him to sit through.
A feeling like a smack hit Jack on the back of his head. His hand shot up and rubbed the spot. He snapped around to see who had hit him. There was no one behind him, but his eyes immediately found the culprit. Gedrall, his father’s court wizard, sitting at his desk on the far side of the throne, was glaring at him. Gedrall was always telling Jack to pay attention, but lately his warnings had gotten physical.
Jack turned his attention to his father, ignoring Gedrall’s glare. King Stephen rubbed his hand over his beard. Jack always wondered when his father made this motion if he was really thinking or making a show of it for his audience.
“The pig belongs to the petitioner,” King Stephen said. “However, since the animal did wander onto Christopher’s property, and property is an important piece of legal bearing, Christopher has a claim to the pig as well. My judgment is to split the pig in half, and each man will have a delicious breakfast of bacon and sausage.”
Christopher beamed. The petitioner looked appalled. “Your Majesty, if that be the ruling, then I’d rather Christopher own the pig. I do not wish her slaughtered.”
King Stephen turned to look at Jack. “See what I did there?” Jack shook his head. To Jack, his father’s ruling had simply made the petitioner upset and rewarded the man who clearly did not own the pig. “Watch.”
