THE CROWN HAS DEPARTED: by Alex O Peters
THE CROWN HAS DEPARTED: by Alex o Peters
It was the occasion of his 78th birthday, envoys are trooping into the palace to celebrate with him; *"Enogie gha to kpere!"* May you live long our king.
Encomiums, different voices eulogising the good deeds of the king. His greatness is vast, deft and astute. He is unarguably a rare gem, a leader per excellence.
He looked on, as his beautiful daughters danced to the awe of onlookers, he had been relieved temporarily of his worries. His adorable wives seated next to him, five of them.
*"More foods, more wine. Our people need to celebrate with their king"* The Enogie's younger brother said.
Later after the celebration, at the birth of the moon, he stood at the palace all alone soliloquising; *"I have 5 wives, 33 children, all girls. Who would be my successor? Have the gods cursed me?"*
After thinking for a while, he took solace in the assurance that the last of the five wives, his newest was pregnant, and could probably give him a heir. He braced himself up in optimism and went to sleep.
He ordered that his pregnant wife should be properly taken care of, and this was ensured.
Soon she went into labour, the king was worried and prayerful, his kingsmen were too.
Soon, a servant dashed out of the labour room, *"it is a girl child my King"*, she said. It broke his heart and tears fell off his eyes, but another came out beaming in the euphoria of happiness, *"they are twins my king, you have a son"*
He dashed in himself, though they stopped him from going further, but he has already seen the two babies.
He came out, jumped for joy, called for a party, *"I have a son"* he said.
It was later, they announced that they were actually triplets, two boys and a girl. But, the mother was stolen by the cold hands of death.
He wept profusely, but thanked the gods that he at last has an heir.
But, painfully, the triplets fell sick, and the two boys died.
The king screamed *"Alas! The crown has departed"*, he choked and died.
© *Alex Peter*
It was the occasion of his 78th birthday, envoys are trooping into the palace to celebrate with him; *"Enogie gha to kpere!"* May you live long our king.
Encomiums, different voices eulogising the good deeds of the king. His greatness is vast, deft and astute. He is unarguably a rare gem, a leader per excellence.
He looked on, as his beautiful daughters danced to the awe of onlookers, he had been relieved temporarily of his worries. His adorable wives seated next to him, five of them.
*"More foods, more wine. Our people need to celebrate with their king"* The Enogie's younger brother said.
Later after the celebration, at the birth of the moon, he stood at the palace all alone soliloquising; *"I have 5 wives, 33 children, all girls. Who would be my successor? Have the gods cursed me?"*
After thinking for a while, he took solace in the assurance that the last of the five wives, his newest was pregnant, and could probably give him a heir. He braced himself up in optimism and went to sleep.
He ordered that his pregnant wife should be properly taken care of, and this was ensured.
Soon she went into labour, the king was worried and prayerful, his kingsmen were too.
Soon, a servant dashed out of the labour room, *"it is a girl child my King"*, she said. It broke his heart and tears fell off his eyes, but another came out beaming in the euphoria of happiness, *"they are twins my king, you have a son"*
He dashed in himself, though they stopped him from going further, but he has already seen the two babies.
He came out, jumped for joy, called for a party, *"I have a son"* he said.
It was later, they announced that they were actually triplets, two boys and a girl. But, the mother was stolen by the cold hands of death.
He wept profusely, but thanked the gods that he at last has an heir.
But, painfully, the triplets fell sick, and the two boys died.
The king screamed *"Alas! The crown has departed"*, he choked and died.
© *Alex Peter*
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