The Queen's Husband
The First in a Three-Part Special Series of Stories on Leadership for the Independence Day Season
July 4 marks the 250th Celebration of the United States’ Independence from Great Britain. It seems like a fitting time to embark on a weekly series of stories about leadership— three stories about what it means to lead, three stories about kings.
The Queen’s Husband
The Queen’s husband would rise from his bed, stretch, scratch, and go down to the kitchen to have his breakfast. Sometimes he would have oatmeal with honey, other times he might have toast with jam or an egg that he dips with toast. Always with orange juice and coffee.
After breakfast, the Queen’s husband will go to his room and look at his agenda book.
On Monday, it would say:
Monday: Helping Day
He would dress appropriately and off he went.
Sometimes, he would go high on the hill to help the children fly kites before they went to school. Then, he might go to visit Farmer Eddie and help with milking the cows or feeding the pigs and chickens.
Other times, he might go to the library and help B.B. Bauer the librarian—who is very knowledgeable, kind, and has elegant hands. The Queen’s husband might help by stacking books, cleaning, working the circulation desk, or helping people find a book that they’re interested in.
He also might end up at the fire station and help Fireman Utility Bill roll up hoses, clean the equipment, wash the fire trucks and the stations dalmatian Spot, help make Firehouse Chili, or play checkers.
Other times, you could find him helping the groundskeeper at the park, giving a hand to the mechanics that work on the trolley cars, or telling stories to the children at the daycare, or just helping at the Senior Center.
Sometimes, when the Queen’s husband passed, people on the street would whisper, “The Queen’s husband seems to have nothing to do.”
On Tuesday, the Queen’s husband would rise from his bed, stretch, scratch, and go down to the kitchen to have his breakfast.
Tuesday: Fishing
That’s what his agenda said. That is the day he spent with Hertzog the Hermit fishing in the middle of the lake. Catch and release was how they fished.
(But they kept a few to have for lunch.)
While eating lunch, the Queen’s husband and Hertzog the Hermit would have a conversation about spirituality. Hertzog stroked his beard and scratched his balding head and said, “Well, I don’t know, but…”
Then, something was said that was full of wisdom.
“Now that’s a keeper,” the Queen’s husband would say, and both he and Hertzog would smile.
After lunch, the Queen’s husband went to the radio station and gave the weather report and local news. He then spent two hours playing records from all different genres. He called his show Tunes to Help you Swing and Sway through the Day.
Some people would say, “You know, the Queen’s husband has nothing to do but play music and go fishing.”
On Wednesday, the Queen’s husband would look on his agenda. It said,
Wednesday: Helping Day
Once again, the Queen’s husband might help children fly kites or help Farmer Eddie milk the cows. Then again, he might go to the library and help B.B. Bauer do whatever task she needed done. Or head to the firehouse to help Fireman Utility Bill with his chores.
Other times, the Queen’s husband spent time at the Senior Center or filling in for an absent school bus driver. Sometimes, he helped at the daycare and visited sick friends at the hospital. Whatever the Queen’s husband did, he was eager to help.
Once again, the people would say, “It seems like the Queen’s husband has nothing to do.”
Thursday: Soup and Poetry Day
Thursday was the day the Queen’s husband went to the Lion’s Head Social Hall and helped with making the soup. Local farmers donated the ingredients, such as carrots, onions, potatoes, etcetera. After a hearty bowl of soup, the Queen’s husband became the master of ceremonies at the poetry reading. Someone would stand to read a poem or two. There was applause, and then the next person would read a poem or two. At the end, the Queen’s husband, with her permission, would read one of N. Scott’s poems.
Once again, people would say that the Queen’s husband had nothing to do but eat soup and read poems.
Friday: Pets and Children Day
On Friday, the Queen’s husband helped children adopt a pet. He also went to schools to tell stories and show pets to the children.
People would say, “He reads to the children. He must have nothing to do.”
Saturday: Queen’s Day
On Saturdays, he usually spent the day with the Queen doing all the royal things that she asked of him. He went to banquets, dedicated monuments, and visited other kings and queens in other kingdoms.
On Saturday, you would hear the whispers that the Queen’s husband is so busy.
“I don’t know how he has time to do anything.”
When the Queen introduced her husband, she would say:
“This is the ambassador of friendship and goodwill.”
Sunday…
On Sunday, the Queen’s husband would spend his time making breakfast for the Queen and himself. He would read the newspaper to the Queen and tell her about his week.
Just before the Queen’s husband took his afternoon nap, he would sigh. Then, he would say:
“I’m lucky I have nothing to do today.”
I hope you enjoyed this story. If you did, click the little heart and feel free to leave me a comment. God bless and have fun!
Larry
What does your agenda look like?
Books from LarryLand
I have four books now in print:
The Death of Big Butch, a novella about a father’s journey to learn about friendship and provide for his family set in one week in 1974
Coffee in the Morning, my collection of short stories inspired by life, dreams, and fantasy. (And it has a couple poems, too.)
Bookworm’s Magical Journey, my dyslexia-friendly children’s book that explores the concepts of reading via whimsical creatures in the forest. Illustrated by Joseph Swarctz.
Frog and Crow’s Conversation, a fable for children and adults about decision-making. I illustrated the book myself.