The King's Piece
Standing on the side of the road the stranger stood beckoning. Each carriage to pass him by showing rush to avoid him. A beggar he was not wanted in this area. He had come from a short distance when falling upon bad luck and now he was looking for a new start. Several vehicles passed before he saw a rich looking coach approach with flags on the side. Surprisingly on pulling closer the person to stick his head out the window was the king. This startled the man but encouraged the king with enthusiasm as though something was needed to say. The king yelled "Stop" to the driver of the coach and soon they were at a halt just a little past the man. "Come here" yelled the king. The man gingerly approached the king and begged a hello. "How are you my good king" the stranger beckoned. The king not amused frowned at that and replied with "AT MY BEST GOOD MAN, but what of you"? "How can you beg in such a rich community" the king spoke. "Here; here's a pair of mitts and a hat. These should help see you do better in this cool air and put you on your way". "Thank you good king" and the man nodded at the king. The king yelled at his driver then; and off they went. The king feeling a sense of accomplishment that something in the world was right. The stranger elated by all this attention put on the mitts and hat immediately as though the king was wise and had to know HIM for trying. Soon the sun was coming to a set and the stranger continuing to beg felt as though the day had been a success and grew tired with his excitement. As darkness fell; he found a place near a large rock to provide him some shelter. A lean-to and some fern branches cut the wind and offered him some warmth while he slept. The next morning the sun came full brightness and blinded with heat. The deep blue sky added a sense of good day but also ominously said something is too good to be true foreshadowing his days new efforts. He arose to a steady but slightly warmer wind than the day before but felt as though the mitts and hat might still be useful and put them on to start the new day. It wasn't very long before several carriages began to pass him again. The day went on like this for awhile as the beggar begged several coins of the day's traffic. That being said he assumed business was improving until he saw the rich carriage again approach. Had the king wanted to be more generous he wondered. Soon he heard the king say pull over and a wave told the stranger to approach. "What are you still doing out her begging after I've given you good wear to up and go" the king said abruptly. "I'm just a simple man" spoke the stranger. "I'm looking to make good". The king saw that the man was weary and offered him a sandwich saying "This should help you get on your way" and the man accepted. Soon the king pulled away after a few pleasantries and the day was once again the strangers to beg. The beggar now unsettled wasn't sure what to do now should the king stop again. He thought about it the rest of the day and on through the night as he rested. The next morning he arose refreshed but with some apprehension the king might reappear to chastise him. Surely then he could explain better to the king his intentions. And that's just what the next day brought. The king that is. Not the explanation. Harshly the king yelled "Stop" to the driver and they came to a halt. "What is this I'm given you hat, mitts and I've given you food and yet you still persist in begging here". "Stranger; move on I say". "You have no business here". "What could you possibly need". Aggressively the king handed the man a piece of paper. "Here - this is the deed to a small property". "Take this and settle man". The stranger not wanting to upset the king took the paper, thanked the king and the king soon rode off with his carriage man to see a beautiful day. The stranger was very confused and didn't sleep well that night. The next morning went well with a few donated coins and food items but it was money that really set well with him. Then bad luck on the horizon saw the king's carriage coming by again. Frightened; he didn't know what to expect from the king. The king once again pulled over and yelled profusely at him. "What is this I see you do still"? "I have given till it hurts and you still continue to beg". "I need a job dear king" he spoke. The king agreeing fully said "On with you then". "But sir" the stranger said. "I can't find work". "Here" and the king handed the man some clothing out of a spare bag in the coach. The man thanked him as the king explained "This will help you get a job". The king soon left and the stranger still pan handling went on to the next day dreading the king's approach. And yes; it happened as the carriage pulled up and a red-faced king said "I don't understand". "With all I've given you; what else can I do"? The king then handed the man a work permit to build a house on the property he had given him. "Take this to the castle and have my workers fill this order" and he drove off. The stranger now humiliated as people passed said to himself "Perhaps the king is wise but would it not be wiser to move on"? Then the stranger went off to the castle to have the work order filled. After doing so he walked back to the same location he had previously been begging and started to beg again. Money was good in this area. The day was going very well until the king got word from one of his citizens that he was still pan handling. The king rushing to the scene found the man begging just as the citizen had said. "What is going on here" he spoke to the stranger. "Sir; good king, I must have money". And the king said "I gave you food, shelter and clothing and you still want more". "What ungrateful man are you?" "Come with me" and the man got in the king's carriage and headed towards the castle. Upon arriving at the castle the king had him escorted to the prison where a psychiatrist was issued to him. The psychiatrist finding the request unusual when receiving the request. However after talking to the man and the king the psychiatrist had his answers and could assess the man better now. He approached the king and gave him the verdict. "The man is sane my king". "What is this; you say" the king replied. "I recommend you release him king". "But what of his illness my physician"? "I gave him all three essentials of life and he still refuses to leave". "True said the psychiatrist; but he had them already". "What; yelled the king". "Then I'll hang the man" bellowed the king. "No; good king, he just can't accept them because he can't afford to pay your taxes". "He had a house already and it's taxes he can't afford on his salary working". "He's about to lose his house and only needs money for taxes until he finds a better paying job". "The king exasperated sighed and said "I had no idea". "What of this money solving a problem, how could I be so blind"? The king had the man released from jail and once again the man went back to the side of the road to resume begging. Now; not as frightened the king would stop and chastise him, he felt more confidence begging. At least until the king came by again. "Halt" he yelled to his driver and the carriage came to a stop next to the beggar. "I apologize" the king said with a smile. "I see you returned the deed to the property when you were at the castle". "The beggar smiled and said "The taxes on two properties would sink me dear king" and the king laughed handing him a token. The stranger looked confused. "Why not money good king"? "A king knows the value of money" and drove off. The beggar confused; put the token in his pocket and called it lucky. The next day the king didn't come by and the token had a new value. The stranger thought about peace and clenched the coin. Maybe it was of value but not the root of all Evil. Perhaps the king was wise afterall. Evil; but wise thought the stranger. And the beggar went on to beg for income-tax the rest of the day. Afterall; no one owns property but the king. And he rents it to all who don't have money. That's the law. The man put down his hat and filled it with coins and went on thinking about the day tomorrow would bring. The king stared back from one of the coins and winked. "It was just the sun" the beggar said and went back to his work. Peace might come at a price thought the beggar.
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