an unfinished tale

One day as he sat in his cherry orchard, picking and eating the fruit with his children and friends, he realized he wanted something more. He desired everyone in his kingdom to share in the prosperity he enjoyed. He summoned his fairy godmother and asked for her advice.

The fairy godmother told him to be on the lookout for golden eggs with a pink hue. If he left the pinkish eggs in the coop to hatch, they would grow up to become a gold-egg-hatching chicken themselves. King Richard instructed his staff to follow his fairy godmother’s directions.

Several months later, the King was told a pinkish egg had been spotted. Everyone in the king’s household waited anxiously for the hatching of the chick. It hatched. It grew up. And just like his fairy godmother promised, it began laying golden eggs.

King Richard spoke to his advisors and they decided to give the younger chicken to a small city in his kingdom who had faithfully served him and needed some golden eggs. He sent his courier to the city square The courier unrolled his scroll and read King Richard’s proclamation proudly and loudly to the people who had gathered to see what was going on.

“You are hereby notified that your loyalty has been noticed and appreciated by King Richard. As a sign of his favor, he hereby promises to gift you with a chicken that lays golden eggs. Instruct your builders to construct a coop appropriate for this royal gift. Send a courier to King Richard’s court when the coop is ready and the chicken will be delivered to you.”

The people were amazed. They began to think about all the things they would do with the golden eggs that would soon be theirs. But then someone said,

“But who will pay for the coop?”

Within moments the happy dreaming descended into loud arguments. No one wanted to pay for the coop. The stunned courier backed out of the crowd and raced on his stallion quickly back to King Richard’s court. The King, who had been eagerly waiting for the courier’s report, called him to his chambers immediately.

“Well,” King Richard asked quickly, “how soon will the coop be ready?”

“I’m not sure,” the courier replied slowly, “they don’t want to build the coop.”