Monday, October 10, 2011

King Kim


image: Michael Sowa, from The Little King
via Tess at Magpie Tales

King Kim

You can tell by his lean-back and hands clasped and sceptre hidden, if not by his slight nose-in-the-air and frown, that HM Kim is not a happy father, disappointment written all over his kingly visage, and breakfast ruined.

His disappointment has grown huge, the source is overwhelming, the evidence so gargantuan, his coffee is cold, bitter and venomous. 

He casts a rueful glance heavenward, to his generous monarch-dad, the one with the liberal ideas that encouraged freedom of the press and the relaxation of the old royal codes. 

(No one prostrates themselves at his door; the bows are perfunctory, mere nods before turning away.  No one backs out of his presence; some forget to stand when he enters.)

It is not frustrated pomp that makes HM’s coffee grow cold, nor wounded pride exactly. 

Coffee will cool on many a breakfast table as his subjects read The Daily Grind: 


sources close to the palace reveal the Royal Chess tournament has ended.  ‘I beat him, I check-mated him, in three moves!’ a triumphant Princess Priscilla is reported as saying.’



Thanks to Tess from Willow Manor for the prompt. You can read more Magpies here.
x

25 comments:

Martin said...

There are interesting layers to savour here, Isabel.

Isabel Doyle said...

Thanks Martin, as always.


Note to my Aussie readers - do you see the faint resemblance too? Intended only in a fond way.

Isabel x

anthonynorth said...

This one's unusual. I like it.

Dave King said...

A superb response to the prompt. Fresh, original and well constructed.

Lolamouse said...

Clever! I quite enjoyed this.

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

nicely written... love it!

JJRod'z

Fireblossom said...

Way to go, Pris! yeah!

Deborah said...

Oh brilliantly written! :o)

izzy said...

Ah the devil is in the details! you proved it! thanks.

Kathe W. said...

very clever- enjoyable read!

Brian Miller said...

oh yes, trouble in the royal chambers will certainly make the coffee grow cold...smiles. nicely written...

jabblog said...

A unique slant on this prompt as we've come to expect:-)

Hazel said...

Loved this! "perfunctory" reminds me of Ladies in Lavender.

Lyn said...

As we know, look for the woman! ...Kim had better get a new game! So smart!!

Kathy B. said...

Good going, Priscilla! At first I was reading it thinking of Kim Jong-Il and this photo of him with his son and named heir (I know, weird connection)...

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2010/10/09/kim-north-korea-cp9561346.jpg

Kristen Haskell said...

This completely cracks me up. I really loved it. Brought him down a peg or two.

Words A Day said...

The overwhelming, the gargantuan, the cold venomous coffee...wonderfullly written - and well done prissy:)

Louise said...

Very well done girl-loved it!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this weeks prompt - lots of different responses. Enjoyed this one particularily.

Brigid O'Connor said...

Clever and entertaining, loved it.

brenda w said...

Excellent write. Ending with a cpation was a stroke of genius.

Trellissimo said...

That was a great bit of thinking. :)

Ann Grenier said...

Ah, Princess Priscilla is the culprit! Very clever story of possible reason for the little king's search for just the right words to say to whomever's coffee he stands beside. Good Magpie.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Excellent stuff!

Anna :o]

Tess Kincaid said...

Ah...the daily grind...we had the same vibe...