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What Truly Makes You HappyLoading...
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Madeleine Cham
Once upon a time, a king lived in unhappiness. He had rooms and rooms and rooms of gleaming gold and shimmering jewels and glowing crystals. His kingdom was the largest in all the world, and his knights and officers bragged of his fame and fortune. The feasts he held were legendary, and the leftovers lasted several weeks. He had slain dragons. Conquered kingdoms. Lived in absolute luxury in the grandest, most well guarded palace in the world. (yet).
But he was not happy. He always smiled grandly when strolling through his polished, shining streets. Held parties and parades. Laughed (rather grudgingly) along with spoiled, snarky, snobbish dignitaries. He had to keep up his public appearances, of course. But he was not happy.
And he wanted happiness. Not the fake, proud happiness he had while bragging to other kingdoms of what he had and they did not. He always felt guilty afterwards, anyway. What he wanted was true happiness. Happiness where he wouldn’t care what people thought of him. Happiness where he could smile as he laid down to sleep, instead of having a restless night. Happiness that would help him and fuel him and be him for the rest of his days. He had tried countless potions and shampoo and food but none of it gave him the happiness he longed for.
One day he was in the garden (his favorite place) when he heard a shuffling sound in his cabbage rose bushes. He gasped. “NOT MY FAVORITE SLOW-GROWING RARE ROSE CABBAGE!” he screamed, and chased after the noise, thinking it was a rat coming to steal him of his luxurious cabbages. When he cornered the creature, he was surprised to find it was a puppy with golden-white fur and gorgeous, luminous eyes. She was obviously a stray, her coat was scuffed and she was shivering and limping, and she was the smallest dog he had ever seen. He felt a warm pity and affection growing in his chest at seeing the little creature, but quickly pushed the feeling away. This pathetic creature wanted to rid him of his cabbages. Who would dare?! He scooped the creature up and returned to the palace, intending to dispose of the little thing. Martha, his cook, (also a former vet), met him inside and cooed: “Aww, what a sweet little puppy you have there!” Before the king could protest, Martha had grabbed the little creature and dashed off. “I’m to bathe the king’s pet!” she said, her sing-song tone echoing through the hallways. The king scowled grumpily. Oh well, the king thought. Maybe tomorrow. This surprised him. He usually always finished a task when he started it, but that was fine. He was probably tired.
The next morning, he was surprised to find a warmth near his head. The king found the puppy curled up next to him. The difference from the night before till now was astounding. Her fur was shiny and soft, and there was a small bandage around one of her front paws. She no longer looked as scrawny, but her iridescent eyes were large as normal. A knock at the door startled them, and Martha came in with his breakfast tray. “Nice to see you two getting along,” she said. The king sighed. “Maybe one more day wouldn’t with this... thing couldn't hurt,” he said begrudgingly, and Martha laughed. They spent all day training and playing with the puppy. Before long, it was obvious to even the king that this dog was very intelligent. She had earned a large variety of tricks. Besides that, he realized he hadn't really known Martha, as a person. Turns out she was funny and kind, and enjoyed cabbages just like the king! This encouraged him, and he quickly got to trying to get to know is staff. He made plenty of new friends that day.There was Bob the gardener, Susie the maid, and so many more! The king hardly noticed his face hurt from smiling. He'd never realized that spending time with someone else could be this fun! As he strolled down to his bed chambers, a large grin spread across his face. He knew now what truly made him happy.
But he was not happy. He always smiled grandly when strolling through his polished, shining streets. Held parties and parades. Laughed (rather grudgingly) along with spoiled, snarky, snobbish dignitaries. He had to keep up his public appearances, of course. But he was not happy.
And he wanted happiness. Not the fake, proud happiness he had while bragging to other kingdoms of what he had and they did not. He always felt guilty afterwards, anyway. What he wanted was true happiness. Happiness where he wouldn’t care what people thought of him. Happiness where he could smile as he laid down to sleep, instead of having a restless night. Happiness that would help him and fuel him and be him for the rest of his days. He had tried countless potions and shampoo and food but none of it gave him the happiness he longed for.
One day he was in the garden (his favorite place) when he heard a shuffling sound in his cabbage rose bushes. He gasped. “NOT MY FAVORITE SLOW-GROWING RARE ROSE CABBAGE!” he screamed, and chased after the noise, thinking it was a rat coming to steal him of his luxurious cabbages. When he cornered the creature, he was surprised to find it was a puppy with golden-white fur and gorgeous, luminous eyes. She was obviously a stray, her coat was scuffed and she was shivering and limping, and she was the smallest dog he had ever seen. He felt a warm pity and affection growing in his chest at seeing the little creature, but quickly pushed the feeling away. This pathetic creature wanted to rid him of his cabbages. Who would dare?! He scooped the creature up and returned to the palace, intending to dispose of the little thing. Martha, his cook, (also a former vet), met him inside and cooed: “Aww, what a sweet little puppy you have there!” Before the king could protest, Martha had grabbed the little creature and dashed off. “I’m to bathe the king’s pet!” she said, her sing-song tone echoing through the hallways. The king scowled grumpily. Oh well, the king thought. Maybe tomorrow. This surprised him. He usually always finished a task when he started it, but that was fine. He was probably tired.
The next morning, he was surprised to find a warmth near his head. The king found the puppy curled up next to him. The difference from the night before till now was astounding. Her fur was shiny and soft, and there was a small bandage around one of her front paws. She no longer looked as scrawny, but her iridescent eyes were large as normal. A knock at the door startled them, and Martha came in with his breakfast tray. “Nice to see you two getting along,” she said. The king sighed. “Maybe one more day wouldn’t with this... thing couldn't hurt,” he said begrudgingly, and Martha laughed. They spent all day training and playing with the puppy. Before long, it was obvious to even the king that this dog was very intelligent. She had earned a large variety of tricks. Besides that, he realized he hadn't really known Martha, as a person. Turns out she was funny and kind, and enjoyed cabbages just like the king! This encouraged him, and he quickly got to trying to get to know is staff. He made plenty of new friends that day.There was Bob the gardener, Susie the maid, and so many more! The king hardly noticed his face hurt from smiling. He'd never realized that spending time with someone else could be this fun! As he strolled down to his bed chambers, a large grin spread across his face. He knew now what truly made him happy.